26/12/2022
"If you chase two rabbits, you will not catch either one." Russian Proverb
For ages, it has been impossible for an individual or company to achieve success by creating so many products or providing so many different services when they are just starting. They start small with a single product or service and then expand into other things.
In most cases, we don't get results not because we're not good enough or don't work hard enough. Often, however, we overlook the fact that results are a byproduct of our approach. It's not just what we focus on but also how we do things that matters.
When we are overwhelmed by the amount of work that needs to be done, remember the words of Ross Garber. "There can only be one most important thing. Many things may be important, but only one can be the most important."
Let's consider these:
1. Go small. Don’t focus on being busy; focus on being productive. Allow what matters most to drive your day.
2. Go extreme. Once you’ve figured out what actually matters, keep asking what matters most until there is only one thing left. That core activity goes at the top of your success list.
3. Say no. Whether you say "later" or "never," the point is to say "not now" to anything else you could do until your most important work is done.
4. Don’t get trapped in the "check off" game. If we believe things don’t matter equally, we must act accordingly. We can’t fall prey to the notion that everything has to be done, that checking things off our list is what success is all about. We can’t be trapped in a game of "check off" that never produces a winner.
Going forward, we should remember that while we may have so many goals for the upcoming year, we can only see results when we focus on one thing at a time and set the priorities right. The words of Arnold H. Glasow: "Success is simple. Do what's right, the right way, at the right time."
To be more. To do more. Please read "The One Thing" by Gary W. Keller and Jay Papasan.