Read This If You're Not Sure You're On The Right Track
What are the steps you've taken so far?
Are they working?
If you're not sure, have you been specific about what needs to happen for a "success?"
Here are 3 things you need to define:
- What specifically are you trying to accomplish?
- What changes might you try and why?
- How will you know that a change is an improvement?
It's easy to get caught up in how huge an idea or vision is.
It's a lot harder to define it, consider how to make it more achievable, and measure results.
Once you're finished thinking big, remember to think small.
2 Minute Action
Ask yourself this question and answer it in 2 minutes.
Is what you're doing 1) helping you understand the problem or 2) helping you take action?
Do this and you'll have direction.
Why Minimalism Isn't Right
Do fewer, more impactful things.
I bet you've heard some version of this before, so let this just be a reminder.The idea isn't to get you to stop doing what you're doing or to ask you to start some new way of doing things.Consider this a reminder.
Here are some examples:
Warren Buffet knew he didn't have the time or resources to invest in everything or even a lot of things. So he picked a few companies that were highly likely to succeed and tripled down on them.Herb Kelleher knew that Southwest Airlines couldn't compete with every airline in the industry. So he picked a few routes, a few customers, and delivered exceptional service. He won customers for life and has become one of the most profitable airlines in history.Jim Collins did a study of some of the top companies in the world and wrote a book about what he found. He found that companies who had the "Hedgehog Concept," the idea that they knew "one big thing," were monumentally more successful than companies who knew about a lot of little things.Those of you who have been following me know that I preach all the time about "minimalism" and the value of living and operating within one's means.Really, it's not minimalism. Honestly, that word just sounds like I'm a smelly, raggedy hermit or something.
Consider it ESSENTIALISM.
By focusing on what matters, you can avoid what doesn't.That means letting go of bad things, small things, as well as good things and pretty good things.As Derek Sivers coined: "Hell yes, or no!"
2 Minute Action:
What are the essential, non-negotiables in your life and work right now?What are the things that, if you didn't do them, nothing bad would happen?What are the things that, if you didn't do them, something bad would happen but nothing catastrophic would happen?I'm not telling you what to do--I'm just asking questions that you can ask yourself to help guide your actions.Comment, reply, and let me know what things you think you can stop doing and on what you think you might need to double down.
2 Mindsets That Make (Or Break) People
There are basically two fundamental mindsets you can have.
Developmental Mindset
Someone with a developmental mindset believes that hard work builds skills and that skills are the fundamental tools for success. Sure we each have talents and are predisposed to natural advantages, but hard work and deliberation are powerful multipliers that propel people to constantly outperform themselves.People with this world view spend their time ensuring that they are the dumbest person in the room and that they are constantly redefining themselves as slightly improved versions each day.
Fixed Mindset
Someome with a fixed mindset believes that they were born with a innate traits that equip them for success. Sure we can each work hard to achieve things, but being a genius or a prodigy far outperform any efforts one could endure to reach success.People with this world view spend their time ensuring that they are the smartest person in the room and that they are constantly asserting their pre-existing brilliance to anyone who will listen.
2 Minute Action
Which are you?Commit to making a 1% improvement today and choose something small, or ask someone for feedback, today.It only has to take 2 minutes.Remember, you get to choose which of these mindsets you believe.