Less But Better
“The wisdom of life consists in elimination of the non-essential” - Lin Yutang
I’ve noticed that gaining success in areas like… work-life balance, financial freedom, career growth, diet, parenting etc. all come from adopting the concept of “eliminating the nonessential”. Focusing your efforts on the “vital few instead of the trivial many” always gives you the biggest bang for your buck. Eliminating what you don’t need and focusing on what is most important is the key to winning in each of these areas.
As I reflect on my most recent years of executive leadership and work toward building a new winning strategy, I am keenly focused on understanding what tasks I spent my time on that created little to no return; and what efforts create huge home runs. What were the things done by default and not design, and what needs to be eliminated. Focusing on the essential is how you create a powerhouse platform and monster success in a short timeline…. LESS BUT BETTER
Where can you tweak things in your life to do less but better?
Notes that Resonated:
Are you investing in the right activities
Money returns, time doesn’t…. Time is the most important currency
Is what I'm about to do today connected to what I'm going to value over the long-term?
What would make the next 12 months truly valuable?
Stop making millimeters of progress in 100 directions. Focus on the things that are absolutely vital
It’s not getting more things done. it’s about getting the right things done
Once you stop saying yes to everything, you can focus on what really matters
Peter Drucker- “Efficiency is doing things right, effectiveness if doing the right things”
Stop being busy and start being productive
What single repeated action would give me the highest return or momentum to your goal?
What are the dominoes that you need to line up to fall in order to hit your goal?
You are going to have to sacrifice good things to get the best things
Push past Fear- You can only lose what you have but what you can gain is limitless
What would you do tomorrow if you were absolutely certain the Lord was with you?
Don’t fight the current; start listening to the wind & row in that direction
“If you don’t prioritize your life someone else will” -Greg Mckeown
Things to read:
This is a super quick read filled with reminders on how to focus on what will provide you the most return and most aligns with your goals.
This is a really great book about defining what really needs to get done and maintaining the discipline to do it.
Podcasts to listened to:
#658: CEO Coach Matt Mochary- Tim Ferris
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-tim-ferriss-show/id863897795?i=1000602325050
Cultivating your purpose:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hidden-brain/id1028908750?i=1000600685109
Videos I watched
Working your Network:
Define your fears… to conquer your goals- Tim Ferris
Goals and Fears Exercise: Write down your fear. Write down the worst-case scenario. Write down a reasonable outcome. Write the best-case scenario. Write down how to mitigate the risk. Write down your plan forward.
Top Quotes:
Coincidences are God's way of remaining anonymous -Albert Einstein
“Life is a constant tug of war between destroyers and creators” - Burn the Boats
“Lost ground can always be regained- lost time never” - President Franklin Roosevelt
“Easy choices, hard life… Hard choices easy life” -Jerry Gregorek
Silence is the best reply to an idiot
“You can not hit a target you don’t set” - Strategic Mindset
Productivity:
Make a list of the things you need to do more of and less of… what are the virtual few items that need to get done to perform at your best. Shrink, delegate or eliminate the rest.
image source: https://pin.it/5dNQ6Ni
Market Notes:
Jerome Powell gave markets indication that tightening may be nearing an end
In the US, ~$550 billion has removed or transferred out of smaller/ regional banks and put into large banks creating liquidity concerns
Deutsche Bank share price decline and excessive withdraws along with suggestions commercial real estate risk being the next bubble creates additional fears and unrest in the financial markets
Futures are projecting the Fed will be forced to drop rates this year
US new home sales increase for third month in a row. Regional mixes vary. Prices for new home sales also increased to an average price of $498,000. (research)
https://www.haver.com/articles/u-s-new-home-sales-increase-further-in-february
Food & Drink:
Dirty Martini Dip
https://pattietierney.blogspot.com/2021/12/dirty-martini-spread.html?spref=pi