Dematerialize.

Here’s some advice I need, because I am 57.

90% of papers that are filed are never needed again.  

When in doubt, throw it out.

If it’s not necessary to keep it, it’s not necessary to print it.

I do like to “think on paper”, but I can dematerialize more, saving trees, ink, clutter and time.

How about you?

Individuals win trophies. Teams win pennants.

How well does your team work together?  Is there harmony?

Does your leadership support the whole team, or just the superstars?

Hurry vs Urgency

A business owner has great responsibilities and a lot to do.  They often look like they are in a hurry.

(Of course, if you don’t care much and are coasting, then you have neither hurry or urgency.)

“Hurry” comes from lack, and a sense of panic that there isn’t enough to go around.  It’s fear-based.

Urgency however is a positive choice and gives you energy and drive.

If you can recruit a good team and delegate to them and empower them with responsibilities so you don’t need to do all the things you are doing now, then you can choose to spend your time on things that will move your business forward and have a sense of urgency about it.  You can feel in control and forward motion.

If the horse is dead – get off.

I talk about grit and the long run and not changing horses.  It takes a long time to get really good at something and a long time to build a great business.  This is true.

We can overcome many problems with innovation and determination and persistence.  But some we cannot overcome.  Or, maybe we can overcome them, but with great effort and time – maybe a lifetime.  And if we put the same effort and energy into something that would bear fruit faster and easier, we’d be much farther ahead.

We may have “sunk cost bias”.  We have so much time and effort and money sunk into a business that we don’t want to give up.  But if we are in a dying business, have no gross margin, or have chronic problems we have been unable to solve, it may be time to get out to make room for a better mission to dedicate our life to.

If the horse is dead, get off.

Going the distance.

All great achievements come from single-minded concentration over time.

Clear intentions and elevated emotions for the mission drive you to the goal.

Are you STILL obsessed?