Have you ever noticed that some tasks seem to take exactly as long as you give them? It’s not just your imagination—it’s a real thing called Parkinson’s Law. It says that “work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion.”
In simple terms, if you give yourself six months to finish a project, you’ll likely take six months… even if you could have finished it in six weeks. The extra time doesn’t make it better, it just allows distractions, overthinking, and other priorities to creep in.
The Business Impact
I see this all the time with the business owners I work with. They set big annual goals, restructuring a department, creating a new sales system, or improving internal communication, and then spread the work across the entire year. The problem is the longer the timeline, the more the urgency fades and the slower progress becomes.
By the time December rolls around, that “year-long project” is still unfinished, morale slips, and the goal quietly carries over into another planning session.
Focused Urgency and Forcing Functions
What if, instead of stretching that goal across twelve months, you gave it your full attention for one focused month? Imagine gathering your team, clearing non-essential meetings, and dedicating all energy toward that one objective.
Intense, focused effort compresses time and builds momentum. When people see progress quickly, excitement grows, and systems start locking into place. You don’t need more time—you need more clarity and focus.
Here’s a practical rhythm I recommend:
- Choose one meaningful business improvement (not three, just one).
- Set a clear, non-negotiable 30- or 60-day deadline.
- Assign clear ownership and track progress weekly.
- Celebrate tangible results, then move on to the next focus area.
If you give yourself deadlines, and other people rely on you to get it done, then you automatically create a forcing function for completion.
Something to Think About
Ask yourself: What goal am I stretching into a year-long effort that could be achieved much faster with intense, concentrated focus?
Maybe it’s something like defining roles, documenting core processes, or rebuilding your leadership meetings. Whatever it is, shorten the timeline and give it real attention. You’ll be amazed at how much more you accomplish—and how much lighter your business starts to feel.
If you’re ready to stop letting Parkinson’s Law set your pace and start working with clarity and focus, let’s talk. I help business owners identify the roadblocks slowing them down and design systems that bring relief and results—without waiting for another “year-long” plan to kick in.
If you need a project management template, reply to this email and I’ll send something your way.
PS-If you’re reading this and thinking, “That’s exactly what’s happening in my business,” then the next step isn’t another planning session. It’s diagnosing your systems.
In a focused paid strategy session, we will:
- Map where your execution pipeline is leaking: structure, roles, processes, or rhythm.
- Identify the 3–5 core systems you need to develop (or fix) to support your next stage of growth.
- Outline a practical, owner-friendly roadmap so your team can see, understand, and actually stick to the plan.
If you want your next plan to work instead of just exist, let’s fix the foundation. Email us at info@germanbusinessconsulting.com.
Stephanie German is a business coach for small businesses focused on strategy and impact who are ready to take action with scalable guidance without the non-sense. She directly works with owners, founders, and leaders through a specific framework to compress time, increase income, and boost productivity. Find out ways to work together here.