Less Drama, More Fun

12 Limiting Thoughts About Success

Are You a Struggler

Be More, Have More

Maintaining Your Dreams

Surfing the Waves

ARE YOU A STRUGGLER?

CEOs, executives, and managers everywhere are recognizing that the old systems just don’t work anymore. Most people find that working harder actually decreases their productivity. The solution? Let go of the old and build a new effectiveness model.

Let’s begin with the distinction between effort and struggle. Effort involves using your mental and physical power; struggle is massive effort laden with emotion. Strugglers accept the social belief that in order to get what you want out of life, you have to work hard—that nothing worth having comes easily, as in the maxim “No pain, no gain.” Some even believe that struggle is noble. Nothing is further from the truth! Don’t confuse the need to be consistent with working hard.

You can tell if you are a struggler if you want everything now. You jam everything into your schedule and get frustrated when you can’t get it all to fit. Remember, doing it ALL is irrelevant; doing what matters is what’s important. By doggedly forging ahead, you’ll deplete your energy and then feel overwhelmed and stressed out. This will impair your judgment, no matter what your IQ is. There’s a quaint Dutch proverb that goes like this: “A handful of patience is worth more than a bushel of brains.”

Life is complex and becoming more so. Strugglers feed that complexity by their reluctance to simplify their lives. They overpromise and often underdeliver. They don’t say no. Unfocused and easily distracted, their attention shifts to the crisis of the day, which usually takes them off course and leaves them feeling empty. Does this sound familiar? Then it’s high time to shift gears. Here are some fundamental steps:

1. GET CLARITY. Stop focusing on being busy, looking at the clock, rushing from one appointment to the next. He who juggles the most projects does not win. Instead, start prioritizing. Ask empowering questions before you begin your day:

Focus only on one project at a time, in order of importance. Practice saying no to nonessential tasks and delegating. Train your coworkers and staff to value your time by first valuing it yourself.

2. RESTORE ENERGY. Stop stealing time from sleep. Get sufficient rest for your body type. According to Dr. Charles Morin, author of “Relief from Insomnia: Getting the Sleep of Your Dreams,” both major components of sleep are essential for sustaining peak performance. Non-REM (rapid eye movement) sleep regenerates your body, while REM sleep sharpens your mind.

To preserve your energy during the day, keep your mind in the present. Most people dissipate energy by either replaying the regrets of the past (“I should have done …”) or fretting about future events (“I’m concerned that X will happen” or “I’m concerned that X will not happen.”) If you were playing tennis and your mind was in the past or the future, you’d miss the shot! How do you think not being in the present moment affects your job or business? Tell yourself to be here now.

3. TAKE ACTION. Stop accumulating incompletes. All the incompletes hanging over your head claim a piece of your mental and physical energy. What are incompletes? Age-old to-do lists, piles on your desk, unread magazines, tolerations (ask your coach about this one!), conversations you’ve been meaning to have. Anything that is unresolved will drain the energy you need to be effective. Do your spring cleaning and get it handled now; otherwise, it becomes one of your biggest time-wasters. Toss that old magazine and schedule that appointment. Taking action creates space to complete your work; following through on your intentions maintains your integrity.

[This piece is an updated version of an article originally published by Barbara McRae in this newsletter in 1999; we are proud to announce that it also appeared—and can still be viewed—at http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/mcrae.html]

Copyright © 2003 by Barbara McRae. All rights reserved. If you wish to reprint this article, please contact me at barbara@enhancedlife.com. Thank you!

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