If you want to know what we’re up to, be sure to read Installment #1.After interviewing hundreds of superachievers, many of whom you have seen grace the cover of SUCCESS magazine, I have found about a half-dozen key distinctions of superachievers.
In this series I will outline one of the BIG strategies and a 5-point plan to dramatically increase your productive output, while significantly lowering your stress and schedule burdens.
Superachiever Distinction No. 1:
It’s NOT what the superachievers DO that separates them from everyone else…
I am constantly asked, “What do Richard Branson, Steve Jobs, Warren Buffet and the like DO that makes them so successful, productive and wealthy?”
What’s supremely interesting is that what they DO has little to do with their extraordinary success. It has more to do with what they DON’T DO.
Steve Jobs: When asked what is the thing he is most proud of what he and Apple has created, this was his answer: “I’m as proud of what we DON’T do as I am of what we do.”
Warren Buffet: When asked for the No. 1 key to his success, this is his consistent answer, “For every 100 great opportunities that are brought to me, I say ‘NO’ 99 times.”Isn’t that interesting?!
You see, saying “yes” is easy.
Yes I have a minute
Yes I’ll take the call
Yes I’ll take on that project
Yes I’ll come out for happy hour
Yes I’ll have another drink
Yes I’ll have dessert too
Saying “no” is much harder. And I have learned it is the master skill of the superachievers and their ability to succeed—extraordinarily.
Put it this way: For everything you say “yes” to you are saying “no” to something else… and you only have so much time. For most people, the ability to do MORE is impossible, you are already overwhelmed and working yourself to exhaustion 24/7.
In a world where we are constantly being tugged on from a thousand different directions, your ability to be productive and ultimately achieve your big hairy audacious goals has more to do with all the things you DON’T do versus the things you do.
When Mark Parker started as CEO of Nike he was on a call with Steve Jobs and Steve gave the new CEO some advice. Steve said while Nike makes a lot of great and quality products, they also make a lot of crap. Steve suggested Mark have Nike stop making the crap (see the video here).
While you might produce some quality work during your day, I bet you do a lot of crap (time, energy and productivity-sucking activities) too. Take Steve’s advice, “stop doing the crap” so you have the time and creative capacity to produce more quality and on-goal results.
Peter Drucker: “There is nothing so useless as doing efficiently, that which should not be done at all.”
Kenneth Cole: “Success has less to do with what we can get ourselves to do and more to do with keeping ourselves from doing what we shouldn’t.”Doing more is not the answer. Doing less is. Say “no” to more things so you can say “yes” to the right things with greater focus and depth. This is the key to more efficiently and expeditiously achieving your goals.
Assess yourself:
Look at your calendar last week. Ask yourself, What should I have said “no” to? What took your time, attention, focus and energy, but wasn’t on target with your top few major goals?
Now, look at your calendar for next week. Ask yourself, What should I say “no” to? If it won’t move the needle on any of your top few goals “D” it—Delegate, Delete or Decline. Here is your new slogan: Just DON’T Do It!
And look at all your lists—your to-do list, project list, task list, new idea list, new features list, etc. Ask yourself, Which should I say “no” to?
What is the hardest thing you have trouble saying “no” to? What are your productivity-crushing addictions? The first step toward change is acknowledgement. You are among friends. Confess in the comments below.
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