This is a great interview with some fantastic photos from Joe about his new book, Lay of the Land. I got a copy of the book when it first came out, and I devoured it. I had no idea it was going to be part memoir and I absolutely loved the story that Joe shared — I read through it in one day.
Your business functions as a product of how you have designed it
If you are a business owner or CEO, the current state of your business is a result of the decisions you have made up to this point… the goals you have set… the things to which you have said yes and no. If you don’t like the hours you work, the cycles of your revenue, the clients you serve…. start making new decisions.
Side note: if you’re a small business owner and you’re interested in the new training, email desk@blancmedia.org to let me know and I’ll be sure to let you know when we open up enrollment for the next pilot group (around the end of October).
Quote of the Day →
Love this quote from Adam Grant on procrastination: “Many people procrastinate because they’re waiting for their motivation to rise. They forget that getting started is what leads their motivation to rise. Passion is not a prerequisite for progress. It’s often the result of progress.”
Meaningful Productivity is a Byproduct of Clarity
You can’t spend your time doing work that matters if you don’t know what matters in the first place. Or, in the words of Peter Drucker: *”There is nothing so useless as doing efficiently that which should not be done at all.”*
USB-C Dual Wall Outlet →
We often charge our phones at one of the side counters in the kitchen. And a few years ago I swapped the standard-issue wall outlet for this one that has a couple USB-C ports. And it’s been fantastic. It offers a 30W charge — so it’s powerful enough for fast-charging on our iPhones and it can easily charge our iPads and even my MacBook Air.
Are you out of control?
I was just recently reminded of a time when my friend Dan Mall shared about how he replaced the phrase “I don’t have time” with “it’s not a priority”.
He wrote: “Recently, I’ve tried to stop saying, “I don’t have time.” It insinuates that I’m a helpless victim to the all-powerful stream of hours that mightily passes me by. It’s easy to adopt an “Oh well” attitude to what you’re giving up. It authorizes my apathy. Instead, I’ve replaced it with the phrase, “That’s not a priority.” Suddenly, I’ve taken control of my own decisions. I’ve taken responsibility for what I do and don’t do. I’ve added clarity, condemnation, and encouragement, all in 4 short words.”
For me, especially as a business owner, things changed significantly for me when I realized that I alone was in charge of how I spend my time. I have to be the one to decide for myself what the most important use of my time is, and I have no excuses if my schedule feels out of control.
Minimums and Maximums
I think it was Greg McKeown who I first heard suggest the following:
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Have a minimum amount of time set aside for the good, the deep, and the essential things.
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Have a maximum amount of time set aside for those things which are shallow and not essential.
Plan vs Strategy (and why a plan is not a strategy) →
So, the YouTube algorithm popped up this HBR video up for me a few days ago during my rowing workout (TMI?). Anyway, I loved the differentiation here between a plan and a strategy. By separating them out, it forces you to reach a deeper clarity about what winning looks like and how you intend to win.
If your book was just one sentence… →
… what would it be?
The 3 Waves of Productivity
When talking with Cal Newport a while back, he shared with me about the 3 waves of productivity:
- First there was Efficiency
- Then Intentionally
- Now Meaning
These three waves go in order and each one serves the next. You begin by just trying to be more efficient. Then, once you’ve discovered how to save time, you begin to focus more on making sure you’re being proactive with how you spend your time. And then, lastly, you move toward meaningful productivity — where you take back all that time you are saving and you use it for the things that matter.
Thus, as you can see, you need all three to get the true benefits, and it’s not until you get to the third wave that you start to see all the benefits. It is in the third wave — Meaningful Productivity — where you start to produce more valuable work and you find your work more meaningful.
Most people aren’t taught the tools they need for the most important things in life
Such as how to have healthy relationships. How to manage your money. How to take care of your body. How to be in control of your schedule. How to accomplish your goals.
We are told that these things are important. And, if we are fortunate, then we may even see these things modeled for us in our life. But we are rarely actually given the skills, mindsets, and information we need in order to live them out in our own life.
10 Tips to Help You Stop Procrastinating →
Here are 10 tips to help you stop procrastinating that thing
- Set a short timer
- Ask someone to help you
- Get a focus buddy for accountability
- Only do one thing at a time
- Time block your tasks
- Go on a short walk and think about what you’ll do when you get back
- Ask someone else to do it (delegate)
- Answer “why” 3 times
- Don’t be perfect; focus on good enough
- Leave your phone in a different room
Which number is most helpful for you?
For me, I lean on 2, 5, and 9 the most: I work more efficiently when I am collaborating with someone else; time blocking my day helps me stay on track; and I’m a chronic over-thinker who has to be reminded to stop overthinking things.
Try 1 + 5 (Clarity + Action)
Speaking of how it’s okay to make a decision without knowing every last detail… Consider this: one drop of clarity plus 5 minutes of action. I have found that action brings clarity, and then, in turn, more clarity fuels more action. It’s a fantastic cycle. And so, when you’re stuck on something, you’d be surprised how much progress you can make (and how much clarity you can get) in a short amount of time.
Do Less
You don’t have to take action on every idea. You can make a decision without knowing every last detail and option. It’s okay if you don’t finish every book you start. You don’t have to respond to every email you receive. There’s no need to push every project to the max. Having breathing room — a little bit left over — is perfectly acceptable. In fact… I would argue that it’s preferred.