Yesterday, I published an article about how to cure Entrepreneur's Attention Deficit Disorder. As I continue to treat myself for this incredibly devastating disease, I am also learning that I don't have to work as hard to achieve astounding results. This really hit home during a recent staff meeting with my husband business partner.
We were reviewing some of our 2009 milestones and discussing some of the things we are behind on. (Sad but true.) When I commented that we need to work harder on that particular thing, he replied, “We don't need to work harder. We just need to work to our focus.”
When he repeated it, a light bulb went off in my head. Working hard can be likened to doing a lot of stuff, expending a lot of energy and wringing a lot of hands. That's what happens to me when I'm doing something that I enjoy personally but which is doing nothing for me business-wise.
On the other hand, when I first focus with unrelenting diligence on a particular thing that is oh-so-good for my business, I accomplish more without doing a lot of stuff, without wasting energy and without wringing my hands. Things just flow more smoothly.
To try to put this to work for you, select one specific goal you want to accomplish. Set a deadline and then think. (Remember what I said yesterday.)
As you think, record things that need to happen in order for you to achieve the goal. Put your pen down, close your eyes and think some more. Write down more things that need to happen in order to achieve the goal. Put a date beside each one of those things.
Now, don't fret or worry. Where that thing is concerned, do nothing except what's written down. As you go, you may have to add a thing or two, but that should be the exception, not the rule. (After all, you did think about it before you started writing.)
If you do this on an ongoing basis for all of the projects you are working on, you never have to worry that you're not working hard enough. It doesn't take long to make this a part of a system that really works.
Question: Does this make sense to you? It sounds simple, but it really works. If you try it, let me know what you think.
