Feeling overwhelmed is common in today’s fast-paced world. I recently found myself caught in this whirlwind. I was starting to feel maxed out – racing to keep up with various responsibilities and projects.

Initially, my instinct was to double down and try harder. That was precisely the opposite of the advice I give to my clients. It took me a few weeks to see this.

When I did, I realized I needed to say “no” or hit the “pause” button on two significant projects. These were endeavors I had invested in financially, wanted to do for years, planned for, and anticipated substantial returns from.

I couldn’t do it all at once. Two other priorities were threatened: My clients and finishing my new book, Train to Lead. These were at risk of being sidelined due to trying to do too many good things at once.

To provide optimal service to my clients and ensure the success of my book, I needed to limit myself and focus. Some good ideas needed to continue to wait.

“Do you always stay focused?”

A client recently asked me this. He was frustrated with competing demands on his time.

Because I’ve built and taught tools for productivity, he assumed I never encountered similar challenges.

I wish. I often face distraction and overwhelm. The tools don’t eliminate the potential for that. But they do mitigate and manage it. And they help me self-correct when I get distracted or overwhelmed.

If you are interested in what these are, download a free copy of How To Accomplish More Without Doing More. This addresses the basics of priority and time management. But once you get those down, a new challenge will emerge:

“How do you choose between too many good things?”

Once leaders learn to focus on what’s essential and declutter their schedules (the basics) – they start to gain traction. Traction creates a new challenge.

Now, they are effective at getting things done. This tends to generate ideas for more interesting or valuable things they could do. And others have ideas for them too. And all of those options may be valuable and on-mission.

But they can’t all be done. At least not at the same time. 

Getting bogged down by good things is still getting bogged down. However you spin it, mud is mud.

This underscores the importance of clarity. Here’s a free framework for strategic decision-making between multiple on-target options.

Strategic Framework for Navigating The Good Things

• Craft Crystal Clear Values and Vision: Clearly defined values and vision serve as guiding lights when determining priorities.
  • Try to do things that manifest your values.
  • Never compromise your values.
  • Only pursue activities that move you toward your vision.

• Define Your One Thing1: Identify the pivotal task that, when accomplished, renders other tasks either easier or unnecessary. Do that.

• Delay gratification and sequence: Many leaders just get impatient. Just because you can’t do everything at once doesn’t mean you sequence things and work through them. As the saying goes, “Most people overestimate what they can do in a day and underestimate what they can do in a year.” 

That’s it. Here’s a re-wording just because this article is so short:

1. Know what you are trying to accomplish.
2. Take the next, best step to accomplish it.
3. Don’t do other things.

What if I can’t tell what the ‘Next, Best Step” is?

When choosing between apples, it rarely matters that much which one you pick. (One of my readers is the CEO of Tree Top – he might disagree with me.) But for the most part, we are trying to make distinctions without a difference.

As my friend and coach Craig Ballantyne says, “Success loves speed.” A fast, good decision is superior to a slow, perfect decision. Just pick something and move.

Take good care,

Christian

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1 The “One Thing” concept comes from Gary Keller who wrote the book, The One Thing.