Compliments of Mark Smiciklas via Flickr

Long range projects, grandiose plans with finish lines years in the making can alarm even the most ambitious go-getters. But we must remember that Rome was built in stages. Divide and conquer is the order of the day when planning (and attempting) large assignments.

I plot mine using MS Outlook: first, by making a list of things I wish to accomplish, then employing the color coding scheme to delineate tasks. Each undertaking is then broken into sub-tasks, and slotted timeline fashion within my electronic calendar.

Completing tiny chunks of large projects provides a sense of accomplishment, propelling me forward to achieve more. The learning, insight, and epiphanies that occur as a result of progressing are part of the learning process – growth spurts that would not have occurred had I attempted to finish the entire project in one fell swoop. Bite sized components spread over time ensure quality, preventing last minute feelings of staggering frustration.

During my dissertation I received some sage advice.
How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.