Does anything like the below ring true for anyone or heard someone else say this?

“I would like to focus on some of the larger goals while adding value to the team, as well as time for my own development.”

“When are you planning to deliver these?”

“It’s busy at the moment, so when it quietens down I will look to progress them. Once I have the (Content/Details/Plan) I can tell you when this is possible.”

I am one of the above, at times I have time to progress one or two things and move various tasks forwards while others slip back. Other times, everything stops while 1000 fires rage around me with something invariably burning to the ground. It’s tough at times to look around and be pro-active when so much of someone’s time can be re-active by nature.

My own infliction also centres around being a bit of a perfectionist, I won’t send that mail, complete that task or contact that person unless I know its 100% correct. It rarely is correct but go with me for a moment on this.

To pour fuel on the fire, our world is only getting more complex and busy. So once it seemed we had time to move forward on something, now its lucky if once a week it receives a mouse click.

My Own Example

At the end of last year, I have been meaning to spin up a podcast to interview people on how they are productive, what makes them tick, what tactics do they use to be successful or achieve. Starting with the network around me and expanding out.

Now five months in, I’ve hardly lifted a microphone to record anything

  • Stuck in an endless loop of perfectionism of making sure I have the perfect set of questions or plan. Knowing full way it won’t be perfect out the box (if ever).
  • Then letting other tasks get in the way thus meaning not spending any time on this
  • Being fearful of what peoples reaction would be, both of if they heard it or that I am so behind on what I wanted to do, retreating further

Commit and Figure the Rest Out Later

The solution to overcome all of these and more, Commit. Yes just commit.

  • Commit to a time or date
  • Commit to someone your intention
  • Commit by putting it in writing for the rest of the world to see

We have a natural ability to figure things out as we go along. Everyone will have an example where once they committed to something, put that mark on something and drove towards it. It’s scary at times as there is risk, potential risk of failure as well as risk of showing up badly.

Just believe that you will figure it out and you will be successful.

My call to action, that thing you are putting off, that scary thing. Go and commit and make it happen. Good things will happen as a result.