book.chapter Take stock

The first step to getting more done is determining what matters most to you. Without specifying the outcome you want, activity alone is pointless. Figure out what is truly important to you in life. To set yourself up for success, build a strong foundation first. Pause to define the one outcome you want above all else. Take a high-level view of where you are now versus where you want to go. If areas of your life lack direction, stop whatever momentum is leading you astray. Reduce time, effort and possibly money spent on what currently limits you. Ask yourself if you'd still choose certain investments if starting today. If no, divest, admitting you were wrong to move forward. Don’t let yesterday’s mistakes steal tomorrow’s potential. We’ve all hastily sent an email then instantly regretted it. Better to pause first and think things through. There are many real-life situations where we act rashly. Pausing, even briefly, enables smarter decisions. A few seconds is all we need to intentionally choose our direction, stay on track, and keep moving the right way. Marathon training provides a useful model for life. Most plans prescribe short runs four days a week, a long run once a week, and two rest days. Similarly, workweeks should have intense bursts of activity punctuated by regular breaks to recharge. Though counterintuitive, resting between work enables greater productivity overall. Elite athletes have structured off-seasons to pursue other interests, then intensive “spring training” to hone fundamentals. Similarly, professionals can benefit from periodically shifting focus to avoid stagnation. Time away often provides fresh perspective upon returning. Psychology shows we naturally seek out information confirming our views, ignoring contradictions. Businesses easily fall into this trap. To avoid such blindness, make efforts to spot industry differences rather than similarities. Encourage dissenting opinions on strategy. Continually question assumptions. The common question “What do you do?” defines many people by their work. Consequently, job loss leaves them feeling adrift. Avoid this by nurturing diverse passions like parenting, friendships, hobbies and volunteering. Develop multifaceted interests so that disruption in one area still leaves you grounded. We each have natural talents which come easily yet seem difficult for others. Recognize your own potential and allow yourself to excel. This is simply part of being human so embrace your strengths. Many operate on a simplistic event-reaction-outcome sequence: something happens, they react instantly without thought, and an unhelpful result follows. Spontaneous reactions often yield poor outcomes. Far better is to pause when events occur, consider potential reactions, and respond in a way producing the outcome you want. This applies directly to time management. Keep your desired outcome in mind throughout the day to stay focused on what truly matters. This helps avoid the common trap of busyness without meaningful progress. In summary, taking a high-level view of what matters most in life is the first step to getting more done. Define the one key outcome you want above all else. Build a strong foundation by pausing to think through decisions and resting between intense work periods. Pursue diverse passions so that disruption in one area still leaves you grounded. Recognize and embrace your natural talents. When events occur, pause to consider potential reactions rather than reacting spontaneously. Keep your desired outcome in mind throughout the day to stay focused on what truly matters and avoid the trap of unproductive busyness. These behaviors will help you see yourself and the world more clearly, tap deeply into your resources, and intentionally choose the right direction in life.