It's Tuesday at 2:00pm! (PST Time: I live and work from Southern California)
GO.
Last week, I shared a post that was titled STOP. The challenge was to take some time as the New Year is starting to do some evaluation and some thinking, and that in doing this, you may find that you need to STOP some things in order to create space to START some things. I hope you were able to pause for a moment to do that.
I appreciated Ty's note from Spain following my note:
"While I really appreciate the idea you are sharing, STOP is not my word in 2021. Like you, forces outside of my control forced me to STOP almost everything several months ago, and it impacted my life in an unprecedented way. In fact, the impact was more dramatic than the ensuing pandemic (which has been an added layer to it all)! Consequently, a significant time of reflection and reevaluation of basically everything ensued. Frankly, I didn’t enjoy it…especially at first…but I began to see the value of it all in time. The beauty of being forced to STOP for me was in the sifting. God used the STOP to cull a lot of extraneous activity from my life, and consequently created new opportunities for me GO in more fruitful and productive paths.
So, here’s my plan for 2021: YIELD my plans and decisions to Jesus, and GO hard (within and despite constraints imposed from outside my control)!"
Thank you Ty for sharing this. It's a great reminder and challenge!
In Rory Vadens book, "Procrastinate on Purpose", he begins with making 4 statements that really resonated with me. I'll give a brief description of his statements, but I encourage you to read this book.
He's talking about "Priority Dilution" which he defines as the "new procrastination". He says,
"We delay the days most important activities by consciously or unconsciously allowing our attention to shift to less important tasks."
He goes on to share that many times, procrastination is associated with being lazy, apathetic or disengaged. Procrastinators just never seem to get things done on time, or at all.
On the contrary, Priority Dilution affects top performers and chronic overachievers because for them, the harder they work, they seem to fall more behind. They are spread thin, overwhelmed and under-rested. They seem to be constantly putting out fires, and they live in a state of constant interruption.
Does that sound like you? This sounds like me at times...
The issue with Priority Dilution is that you're simply not focused on the right things.
Vaden goes on to share these 4 statements:
1) I thought I was busy...
We love to glorify being busy. We love to complain about being busy because it makes us appear to be more important or valuable.
Vaden says this: "You are not a victim. You are in charge. You are capable. you are powerful enough to decide what you will and won't do with your time. But one thing you are not is too busy."
2) I thought balance was the standard...
We've been taught that a healthy work-life balance is the goal. The truth is that balance is impossible to achieve.
Vaden says, "Embrace the season. Embrace the focused imbalance". He talks about putting your time and energy heavily into things to get results. This energy shifts as you define your goals and priorities, but if you strive for balance, it will be difficult to get things done.
3) I thought "leisure" was the goal
Many of us have the idea that the goal is retirement and the day when we don't have to work.
Vaden says, "Work is a fundamental part of life and a source of deep satisfaction. We were created to work. Work produces happiness and great rewards that fill our lives with joy. Work is one of the most honoring forms of worship that we have!"
4) I thought "being effective" was the highest pursuit
Many of us think that if we just work at being more effective, we'll be able to do more.
Vaden says, "Effectiveness is from the Latin root word effectus, meaning 'to bring about, to make or do.' Basically, effectiveness is not just about doing, but it's about results."
So, I move from telling you to STOP, to telling you to DO MORE?
NOT AT ALL.
JOIN ME:
As I work to focus on the RIGHT things. (Stop and Start)
As I focus not only on doing, but on results
As I realize that while I won't always be able to live in balance, I will be able to handle the things on my plate, by adjusting, applying different energy, and at times putting all of my energy in one place, for a time. This is what life is... a constant adjustment and state of change and challenge. It's never been perfectly balanced.
As I use all of my God-given strengths, gifts and passions to impact as many people, as many leaders and as many organizations as possible. I'm going to work hard because it is one of the ways I worship!
As I look for ways to impact in all the domains of my life, for all of my life! This means my personal life, my family, my vocation, my faith and my community.
"Success comes down to choosing the hard right over the easy wrong. Consistently." Rory Vaden
"Distraction is a dangerously deceptive saboteur of our goals." Rory Vaden
"Action is the cure for fear." Rory Vaden
Things I'm Reading, Listening To, an Watching This Week:
Rory Vadens book, "Procrastinate on Purpose". He talks about a paradigm-shift in how to get things done! Vaden has another book, "Take the Stairs: Seven Steps to Achieving True Success."
I listened to this playlist about 4 times this weekend as I was trimming a tree in our yard. I'm surprised by the depth that comes from Bob Dylans Music! Bob Dylan Essentials on Apple
OK, there may not be a lot of demand for white board sessions, but you should stock up on these pens for when you're called back to the board. These are the best markers I've ever used! V BOARD MASTER
OK, I get a "Word of the Day" sent to me by Word Genius. Today's word was "Ailurophile" which means "A Cat Lover". Used in this sentence: "My daughter Rheanna is an ailurophile at heart." I'll try to use this word in an upcoming Zoom call I have today...
GREAT NEWS! For those that contributed to the "Service Dog for Oscar Andres in Ecuador", I'm happy to say that this has been fully funded! Thank your for your participation in helping this great family in Ecuador!