As point 1 about clarity allows for a better relationship with point 2 regarding focus, point 3 builds upon your ability to focus. So, if you struggle or are stuck here, then something is off with focus or clarity; work backwards.

For myself, time management comes down to understanding what it is that I am good at (or great at) and only I can do, and prioritizing that. I used to think that I had 100 things to do, but really, after some deep reflection and clarity, I realized there were only 3 things I needed to do, and I needed to do those things really well.

You see, I have a clear vision, and that vision requires me to produce an offering that only I can create. This offering is not menial or low quality because such quality could not produce the vision I have. If I spend my time managing 100 things, I won't have enough time to manage the three things that will make the biggest impact. I'll end up half-assing the important stuff because I'm too busy doing things I think I have to do.

You know what? I would use the 97 tasks as an excuse to avoid doing the big three because the big three were also the scariest. The big three required my whole heart and my deepest focus, which also required me to let go of many other things that were ultimately “comfort-zone distractions.”

Comfort-Zone Distractions?: Yes, exactly that, and I kind of have a feeling you know what I’m talking about. 😉

Here is my List (find your own, maybe) of the TOP THREE Tasks, that have the biggest impact on reaching my vision.

  1. Create Original and Valuable Content*, in my unique voice.*
    • This is paramount because the product must succeed. It must be valuable and so good that people want more. For this to be discovered and pulled out from within me, it requires courage, genuine humility, and deep focus.
  2. Build and Nurture Relationships that serve my stated company vision and mission.
    • I cannot do this alone. It's bigger than me. I need to build this vision with others, and these others are people who appreciate what we share, customers who pay for what we share, and people who help us share what we share. This can only happen through relationships. I make it a priority to understand these types of people and schedule focused time to connect with them. Naturally, in a deeper understanding of these people, it helps me create more valuable content for them.
  3. Prioritize Organization, Systems, & Delegation
    1. As I work, I aim to develop organizational systems and processes that can be duplicated by others. This way, when the time comes, I can do one of two things: 1) delegate the task to someone else (an outsourcer), or 2) my process of doing the task becomes faster over time because there is a system in place.

A major obstacle for many people (as I've discovered through my own experience) is assuming that there are things you must do or possess, when in reality, you don't. This leads to a scattered list of multitasking objectives that keep you in your distracted comfort-zone, while giving you the false impression of productivity. Then, you wonder why you’re not making any progress.