Got a project, either personal or for work, where you can't seem to get going? And thinking about what to do next has become a burden? 

Whether it's where to get started on a massive project, how to get yourself noticed by those who make decisions about your future, or ways to take better care of yourself, here's a quick way to make some headway today:

1. Get out a pack of 3x3 stickies, 3x5 cards, or letter-sized paper you can cut into 10 pieces. If making a list better suits your process, open up an Excel file as a starting point.

2. List 10 actions you could take that would get you going. They might be small or big, difficult or easy, risk-free or over-the-top. For example, if it's ways to take better care of yourself, jot down to 10 things that will make you feel good.  If it's how to get noticed, write out 10 actions you could take to have that happen. And for that large project, list the top 10 actions that will ensure success. Don't censor yourself. Some actions you list will likely have sub-actions, but leave those out for now.

3. Separate the items into 2 piles, hard and easy.

4. Get at least one easy one scheduled or done within 7 days. For those in the “hard” pile, arrange according to difficulty. Take the easiest of those and break it down into sub-actions. Get started on one sub-action within 7 days.

This will give you a sense of movement and accomplishment. And that gets you from feeling paralyzed to feeling free.

(C) 2009 Denise Brouillette, San Francisco, CA. All Rights Reserved.

Denise Brouillette is the president of The Innovative Edge LLC and The Women's Edge in Leading.