As you write your to-do list for the day, do you feel like a vine, nudging and nudging your attention from one mundane task to the next? There is essential work on this list, but you only focus on picking out the items, whichever is more important. How do you choose what to focus on when you give in under the gigantic pressure of obligations? What if someone told you to burn that to-do list, then handed you a blank list and asked you to write a short “success list”? Could you do it? What would you write?
A success list focuses on a small number of tasks—the essential few—essential to achieving your long-term goals. These tasks are the most important things you can do right now to grow exponentially. You are not looking for balance here. A balanced life means you never push yourself to extremes, and success lies in those extremes. In The One Thing:The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results , Gary Keller writes:“The question of balance is really a question of priority. When you change your language from balance to prioritization, you see your choices more clearly and open the door to changing your destiny. »
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A to-do list encourages multitasking, even when research overwhelmingly reveals that multitasking is ineffective. On the other side of the coin is your hit list, which promotes focused time. You create focused time by eliminating distractions and interruptions (social media, redundant meetings, emails, phone calls), which make up 28% of the average workday, and devoting fixed hours to the most important work every day. The morning is ideal for doing your crucial work because your willpower has not been exhausted by tedious tasks. With focused time, you can get meaningful work done in fewer hours. You don't need overtime; you need efficiency.
Set three specific goals that you can achieve right now that will result in measurable progress toward your dreams. Be bold in your actions and never fear failure. Success is built on failure. Devote time to your small vital number. When you give your full attention without distraction, every day, you get more done in less time. It also means that you need to schedule time off. Plan vacations and activities that recharge you. Focusing on a few essential people allows you time off as you spend more focused hours elevating yourself to new heights. It takes courage to abandon several half-fulfilled dreams for tunnel-tunnel vision on your big dream. Ready?
Related: 4 things you need to make your wildest dreams come true
This article originally appeared in the December 2017 issue of SUCCESS magazine.
