Really Important Things
Sometimes, I hear things so consistently across nearly all of my clients that it amazes me. Lately everyone seems to have that really important thing that they just can't seem to find the time to get to.
Whatever it is - creating a new product line, launching the new website, hiring someone to delegate to, etc. it's always something big that would significantly move their business forward. In many cases, that thing has been on the to-do list for a very long time.
Full disclosure: I've got one of those things, too. Customer work comes first, and this very important thing keeps falling to the bottom of the list.
I notice some common threads for these really important things - they won't be easy, they'll take time, and we may need others to help. And sometimes, we resist doing these things due to fear, which disguises itself into a message saying, "I don't have the time". No wonder we've avoided them!
So, as I look at my really important thing and brainstorm with clients about theirs, here are some ideas we've come up with to finally get it done!
Find an accountability buddy. Ask a friend or colleague. And if you have a feeling that it's fear (and not time) that's truly holding you back, consider hiring a coach.
Schedule working sessions with others where you're all working on your respective big thing. Whether this is in person or virtual, these sessions help.
Hit pause on some non-critical things to make space for this work. Face it, something's gotta give. Can you take a week or two (or whatever you need) off from your normal non-client-related commitments (pause the newsletter, social posts, learning, cooking, etc.) to start chipping away at the really important thing?
Block off a half day or full day each week and move everything else to the other days. This will mean saying no to some things you normally say yes to (repeat after me, something's gotta give).
Change your venue. There's something about a change of location to pull us out of our day-to-day work and allow space for something different. So, trade houses with a friend, check into a hotel for a day, or rent an Airbnb. And don't forget to put an out-of-office message on your email.
Now it's your turn - what are you willing to do to finally get your really important thing done?