Beware the barrenness of a busy life.
~ Socrates
One thing I’ve always been good at in business is eliminating the unnecessary. I can easily identify the 1-3 most important things that need to be done on any given day, and that’s what I focus on.
Even if those are the only things that get done, it’s a successful day. Over time, a bunch of days like that add up to successful initiatives.
On the other hand, you’ve got people who fill every moment of their day with … something. Meetings, calls, networking lunches, more meetings, more calls.
A busy day, certainly. But not an effective one.
Do less to do more well
Over at Fast Company, Away’s founder Jen Rubio shares the way her startup thrives with the same philosophy. It simply comes down to figuring out what’s essential, and eliminating the rest.
Seems smart, right? But it’s perceived as counter-intuitive because “busy” has been falsely equated with productive:
You might end the day with fewer items crossed off your to-do list, but you’ll be using your most precious resource — time — on the things you know are driving the business forward in the most meaningful way. It’s this kind of work that will bring you the greatest results, whether you’re an employee or an entrepreneur.
You must, however, be able to identify what is truly essential. Easier said than done?
Choose what to do wisely
Not all tasks are created equally, which means it’s up to you to choose what’s truly important and put that first in line.
If you later get to the other stuff on your list, great — but if not, you’ve still pushed your work forward in a meaningful way. On the other hand, choosing to cross off a bunch of non-essentials first in the name of being “productive” is not even remotely effective.
Start each day by asking yourself, “Is this the most important thing I can use my time and skills on right now?” If the answer is no, consider whether you can eliminate it, delegate it, or replace it with something with higher impact.
It can be tough to operate like this when you have a boss who doesn’t have the necessary ability to prioritize. Which brings us to another thing I’ve always been good at eliminating as unnecessary — a boss.
Do Less to Achieve More (Fast Company)
