In January, I wrote about my new goal for the year. I plan to do less, and to get more results from doing less. That means I’ll be refining everything I do until I’m only doing the things that are most effective for me. I’m stopping a lot of things.
But does that mean I help less people? Does that mean I say no when people ask for my involvement in their projects or my assistance? No.
I’ve actually said yes to every project people ask me to be involved in. I’ve agreed to write an e-book with a company. I’ve agreed to speak at two conferences—one in India. I’ve even agreed to help my church with their stage designs. But at the same time I’m doing less. Let me explain…
I’ve found, it’s not helping others that makes me feel overwhelmed. It’s when I take suggestions from other people about what I should do. “You should totally add _____ to Sunday| Mag.” Or, “You should make Mopho.to more like ______.”
On a daily basis I get so many great ideas for all my projects. It seems almost everyone I talk to has some great insight into what would make my projects better. But I’ve said no to almost every suggestion.
That doesn’t mean I’m not listening to counsel. That doesn’t mean I’m not working to make my projects better. But I’m not letting people’s good suggestions dictate how I spend my time. If an idea works, I implement it in my own time and when I feel it’s right. If the idea is an amazing idea but just isn’t right for me, I don’t do anything about it.
I believe it’s not helping people that sucks our time and energy away from us. It’s doing the “good” things that we “should” be doing—things that actually aren’t adding any new benefit or effectiveness to our lives.
What if we cut all that out?
