You Can’t Rush Results

My wife is a nurse and had to work this past weekend, which put me on dad duty.

For lunch, we usually have Uncrustables or chicken nuggets. But for dinner, I decided to cook chicken cutlets, the way my mom used to make.

I started heating two pans on high — the Always Pan (which is amazing), and an old iron sauté pan. I added a generous amount of oil to both (hot oil is the key here).

Then I started prepping the chicken, beat the eggs and poured the breadcrumbs.

Except what I didn’t realize was the iron pan heated way faster than the Always Pan, which is what I usually use.

I turn around to see smoke billowing out of the iron pan as the oil burned off.

I opened the windows, turn on the stove fan, and the ceiling fan, and sent the kids outside.

It was too late though. All of smoke alarms on the main floor went off.

My fatal mistake? I assumed “hotter” meant cooking faster.

But that is seldom the case. Instead, I made a bigger mess, and almost burnt the cutlets to boot.

They were still mad good though.

See, I tried to rush the results by rushing the process. But most things take time.

It’s as true in cooking as it is in automation.

On Saturday, I told you about my latest desk setup — while simultaneously stressing that this was an incremental build over years.

When you start automating, it’s the same. On the latest episode of Streamlined Solopreneur, I talk to mom and business owner Kim Caloca-Madden about this very thing: begin by automating simple, repetitive tasks that consume time.

Examples include task management, calendar synchronization, and email responses.

By starting small and taking little things off your plate, you can start to see gains, create more space in your schedule, and learn what’s possible.

My challenge for you: Think about an easily repeatable task that you might be able to take off your plate.

And if you want to learn more, listen to my interview with Kim Caloca-Madden.