Get Out of Your Own Way

Get out of your own way – when you first start out, you’re driven by fear of failure. As you progress, that fear turns from fear of failure to fear of success. Not because you don’t want success. But because you don’t think you deserve it. You do. So, get out of your own way and let success happen to you.

Take Responsibility

Take responsibility – life is up to you. Things will go wrong. People will anger you. But you’re still responsible for your actions and your life. No one else. You. The sooner you realize you are the one making all the decisions, life will become easier. It’ll become more fun. And it will be magical. Have fun and remember: it’s all up to you!

Take Massive Action

Take massive action – life is too short to stick your toe in the water. Get in the game. Mix it up. Throw a lot of shit against the wall…don’t worry about what sticks… clean up afterwards. Oh, for Pete sakes, don’t think linear and take action sequentially (one item at a time). Think and act simultaneously…take many actions at once…take massive action.

Keep It Simple

Keep it simple – figure out what you want and go for it. When life gets complicated, slow down and focus on what you want. When people get stupid, slow down and focus on what you want. When clients get lost, slow down and focus on what you want. When things go wrong, slow down and focus on what you want. See? Keep it simple.

Effective Leaders Get More Done in Less Time – Part 2

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Continued from last week…

Learning to Be Lazy – learning to be lazy may sound contradictory, but it’ll invigorate you and allow you to get done what needs done. Learning to be lazy is simply figuring out what you need to do and procrastinate on everything else.

For example, let’s say it’s summer time and you have a list of things to do:

Cut Grass
Paint the Fence
Attend a Networking Event
Create a PowerPoint Presentation for a Speech

What do you do first, second, and so on? Well, of course, this depends on your goals. So, let’s say your #1 goal is to grow your business. That means cutting grass and painting the fence MUST go on the back burner…they’re not in sync your #1 goal. Therefore, you need to procrastinate doing them.

Instead, you go to the event and meet new contacts…they’ll either become new clients/customers, or they’ll lead you to new clients/customers. Then, you can come back to finish your presentation. After all, your speech will help you get your name out there…as well as make sales. Finally, after those two activities are complete, you can finish the grass and fence.

I’m not saying to NOT do the other tasks. I’m simply saying: do the tasks that move you forward and procrastinate on the rest. Once your important tasks are complete, start the unimportant tasks.

By doing so, you’ll be able to get done what needs done. Again, your priorities depend on your goals. Just know what you want and take action toward what you want. Simple!

Love the Word: NO! – it’s one of the first words babies pick up on and use endlessly. Ironically, it’s the one word we all have trouble saying as we get older. No?

There are many reasons it’s hard to say no. Maybe you feel bad about saying it. Maybe you don’t want to hurt someone’s feelings. Maybe you feel obligated. Or pressured.

Whatever the case may be, if you ALWAYS say yes, you’re committing your time to things that may not fit your #1 goal. That’s why learning to say no and love saying it can really benefit you.

You can say no to going out with friends. You can say no to going to that networking event. You can say no to the invitation you just received in the mail. You’re allowed to say no. Learn to love it.

By loving the word no, and saying it with authority when it’s the right time, you’ll open yourself to bigger opportunities. Yes, saying no can be exhilarating. Saying no can be worthwhile.

Sometimes, when you say no to one thing, you can say YES to another. And that other thing may be better for you and your dreams in the long run.

For example: saying no to having a drink with co-workers can mean you say YES to 30 extra minutes with your kids…or alone time with your significant other…or time just to sit in the dark with your favorite drink and embrace the silence.

Learn to love the word no, so you can start saying YES to other, more important things!

Stop Perfecting – one of the biggest wastes of time is trying to be perfect. Fact is it’s impossible, so there’s no use in trying. That’s not to say you shouldn’t shoot for excellence. Excellence, yes. Perfection, no.

It’s when people try to be perfect is when they waste time. They look at every little detail 3, 4, 5 times. Fix one thing and repeat. What a waste!

Listen, leaders are action takers. They take action and move on. If something needs fixed, they come back later and fix it, if need be.

They don’t get caught up in the details or minutia. Sure, they make whatever they’re working on WORK and look good…but they don’t fret over the little things…and they certainly don’t sweat the small stuff.

Remember this: Good is good enough.

Again, that’s not to say you should be okay with average. No. You’re better than that. This phrase is just to remind you that perfection is unattainable and it’s time to move on to your next activity or task.

Do your best. Do what you can. And remember: good is good enough; move on; succeed.

So, there you have it. The 7 strategies effective leaders have learned and mastered that make them the leaders they are. Learn and lead!