The ACE Methodology

The ACE Methodology

Aug 25, 2023

One of the things I am discussing a lot lately is how to transform the way you operate in a way that would provide more results in less time. And along with that is why I needed to design a new framework for focusing my thoughts on the things, I think, matter most in my life.

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In short, many people ask me why I need to develop a new method when there are plenty around to choose from (like the GTD system, the Covey Approach, the Building a Second Brain, or the Tony Robbins’ Rapid Planning Method).

Well the answer is rather obvious! Because none of the above covers my requirements in totality.

So check below why I needed to develop my own method/approach to manage things and continue my course of actions!

A Personal Story

Well let me confess something. As I age and my responsibilities increase (such as family, young children, daily household tasks, chores, work duties, and personal projects), I need to discover new methods to accomplish everything.

I had to change my mindset and re-engineer the ways I used to work, in order to keep up with all the things I need to do, and produce, at minimum, the same results. I struggle to prioritize my time and often get caught up in daily tasks, errands, commuting, and reactive actions. As a result, I lose focus on the things that are truly important to me.

Two basic factors for that are the growing requirements of my 2 daughters and the fact that I’m working on a fixed location in a dedicated project each day for 8 hours, something that diminishes my agility and flexibility in my working habits.

I struggle to adopt any of the above well-documented systems because I have a lot to keep up with. These systems required a flexible schedule and addressed more on CEOs, project managers, and entrepreneurs.

However, not all entrepreneurs are created equal! Many times there are solopreneurs that get a difficult time to cope with all the things they should do, while they lose the everyday battle with the endless chores, errands, and the things that needs to be done. The same thing applies to many knowledge workers and small business entrepreneurs that need a new method and tools for Getting Things Dome.

My Requirements

All the above systems mentioned have been developed to optimize your efforts and time NOT FOR PROVIDING extra time, focus, energy, and new opportunities. And I need exactly that! A system to optimize my time spend and efforts while would guarantee an assured level of quality and results.

I need to change my mindset to ensure a better quality of life and work. I need to learn how to manage the things and limited resources I have at the moment.

I needed a system to:

  • Help me gain clarity and focus on a daily basis.

  • Do what you have to do daily without losing energy and motivation.

  • Gain momentum and find the right motivation to keep on doing the things I need to do, the things I should do, and the things I want to do.

  • Help me not to lose vital information or data on the process.

  • Keep my life and work in balance.

  • Provide me opportunities for growing, health, and fitness for a regular period.

  • Allow me to connect with important people, associates, and partners.

  • Provide me room and time to see my friends and connect with new people.

  • Support me in focusing on the things that matter most to me and my family.

To do so, I need a new method or approach to help me gain more time, energy and opportunities in the process. I need to:

  • Take into account my core values and principles, my character, my quirks, my personal habits and specific working habits and rituals

  • Become intentional or bring about the results I am envisioned.

  • Reflect on what has been done, and design the things and tools I need in order to do better my work.

  • Employ augmented working structures and habits to automate many aspects of my work and assign essential work to people who can carry it out.

  • Do less work while producing more results, more money, and more assets.

  • Use whatever resources I had and still have results.

  • Make sure to allocate time for deep work processing.

  • Focusing on a 80/20 mindset while I would adopt a growth mentality for my life and work.

  • Gain more energy, clarity, and focus, while allowing me to find out more opportunities during the process.

  • Enjoy the process and maintain a high level of motivation.

  • Help me to do the things I need to do in a better way and with better results.

  • Support me in finding balance while I am optimizing and scaling up my work and myself towards the directions I have chosen and designed.

Well, there are a few! Today, I need to do these tasks to improve the living and working conditions for myself and my family in the future.

And that’s how I came up with the ACE approach. ACE stands for Alignation, Compose, and Execute or Evaluate approach. It is an approach to help you tune up who you are to your values, your principles and help you set up goals you can do in a more effective manner.

Your main life and business goals should be based on who you are, including your values, principles, and beliefs. Filter the available tasks based on what you can do and what you have to do, considering your time, energy, attention, availability, and convenience.

Where to Start

The first thing you should do if you want to follow the ACE framework is to clarify what you want from life and business and become more specific in the results you want.

In that context, you must decide what you want to create, what you need to invest or learn to overcome obstacles and create a clear path to achieve your goals.

You need at first to align your main life, business, financial, relations, health, fitness, etc. goals to who you are and how you have learned to bring the results you want. You need to clearly explain and reaffirm your motivation for each life or business goal, the results you aim for, and how you plan to achieve them.

What do you think about that? Is there a chance to adopt an approach to your daily activities?

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