What's On Your Short List?

Do you ever feel like you are busy every minute of the day, and still don't have time to do things that are truly important?

One thing consistently successful leaders do differently and better than anyone else is taking action on the right (most important) things.  How do they tame the distractions that plague the rest of us?

They create their "short list".

It's a simple two-part process.  The first step is creating your personal short list of the most important non-negotiables in your life.

• Values (The key driving forces of your life?)
• Standards (The clear line that defines what is truly UNacceptable)
• Goals (The absolutely MUST do things on your bucket list?)
• Relationships (Who are the most important "long-term" people in your life?)
• Belongings (what would you grab if your house caught on fire?)
• Activities (What pastimes are the most important to you for optimal physical/emotional/spiritual/mental health?)

Once you identify your short list(s), it becomes very clear what to say "yes" to - and just as importantly, what to say "no" to.  Both of which keep you from wasting time and energy - allowing you to be the most productive on the things you care most about. 

The next step is to use your list as a guide in creating your schedule.  Start with plugging in the non-negotiable priorities on your list first.  Then, if you have extra time/energy, fill in the rest with the next most important things.  When you are done with your time (you can't manufacture more of it), you say "no".

Yes, there are consequences for saying no, but the most successful people share that the temporary discomfort created by that transition always gives way to a high-performance, more aligned life of integrity.

How do you prefer to invest your life - in the things that you are passionate about, or settle for less?  Nothing will change unless YOU change your actions.

Think about it.  But more importantly, do something about it...today!

Discovering Your/Their REAL Priorities

Sometimes, interpreting priorities can seem difficult. Whether making decisions for yourself or trying to better understand someone else, getting a handle on inner values is a critical step in this very important process.

So, is there a surefire way to eliminate the mystery of someone's true internal priorities? Absolutely! All you need to do is watch where they invest their resources of time, money, and energy.

When something is important to a person, they will spend more hours focusing on that issue. You can easily measure how much time and money they spend and observe how much effort they choose to spend as well. Yes, choices. These behaviors are not by accident - they align with what's inside. Inner values/priorities leak out in the form of behaviors. This is why we typically communicate better in person - depending more on observable behaviors than merely relying on their words.

Keep in mind that the same goes for you as well.

If you're ever unsure about what is most important to you, think about the things that you choose to focus on every day. What are your priorities when spending the most precious elements of Life (time and energy) or the token of the value we bring to society (money)? These will be very strong indicators of where your internal passion/values are.

Think about it. But more importantly, do something about it...today!