Doing Less Can Achieve More
So far, my 2024 hasn't gone as planned.
As I wrote about in a previous Newsletter "Life is Messy", it's rare that our lives play out exactly the way we had hoped. Often, just when things feel on track, the universe will throw us a curve ball that requires us to change direction.
I don't know about you, but this seems to be the recurring theme since 2020 when the pandemic taught all of us to "pivot left" then "pivot right" and then "pivot again".
And here we are in 2024, and we're still pivoting.
Let's not bullshit ourselves. The current economic climate is tough. Every single day I speak to small business owners who are struggling. Leads are drying up, construction costs are rising, project budgets are cut, clients are shopping around and all the while we're managing the escalating costs of living at home.
So what do we do?
Do we throw our hands in the air and give up? Do we just work harder in order to get the results we want/need, running ourselves into the ground? Do we succumb to feelings of overwhelm and fear?
While I don't have all the answers, I know that the above strategies won't really get us to where we need to be. They will send us to a place that is dark, lonely and exhausting.
Sometimes it can be a challenge to hold a position where people look to you for answers. Rarely are the answers straight forward, especially regarding business choices in periods of economic hardship. I'm navigating the same challenges that all of our members are facing.
One thing is certain. Things will improve.
Until that time, we need to find ways to survive. I believe that the best way to do this is to prioritise and focus. And let me tell you, the time is now.
To prioritise, we need to be clear on what's important. This also requires us to understand that sometimes "pressing and urgent" does NOT equal important (as per the Time Management Matrix developed by Eisenhower in the 1950's and further developed by business leader Stephen Covey). Sometimes the squeaky wheel needs to be ignored.
For me personally, I have a set of primary priorities that are non-negotiables:
My health (physical, mental and emotional). I'm not good to anyone else (family, friends, clients) unless I am "well'.
My partner Brendan.
My family.
Close behind these priorities are my loyal TDC members who have committed to my coaching programs, events and trips. Their experiences will always be an absolute priority to me.
At the start of the year, I set plenty of lofty goals in all areas of my life: personal, professional and wellbeing. Circumstances in my personal life have forced me to re-evaluate those goals, necessitating some dramatic re-prioritisation.
Moving forward, I'm choosing to do less, so I can achieve more. By "achieve more" I mean giving everything to the things in my life that matter most to me. I invite you to consider doing the same!
As you read this newsletter, I'm taking 2 weeks of well-deserved holidays with my beautiful partner, adventuring through Thailand. On my return I'll be focused heavily on making the final arrangements for our Melbourne Design Conference in August, with my sights set on Palm Springs in February next year.
I'll also be working closely with our Premium Group Coaching members to help them assess, analyse and (if necessary) re-prioritise their goals for 2024.
This is the last in this current series of Newsletters. I'm hitting "pause" to focus on other priorities in my life, including being of service to my aging parents as they navigate this difficult chapter of their lives. A big part of being of service to them is being present and able, and to do that I also need to prioritise my own health.
For those loyal members who have been so supportive with my Newsletters, don't worry! I'll be back later in the year.... Until then, I invite you all to reassess the priorities in your life so you can achieve more by doing less.
Stay well, and always be kind.
Andrew
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