One of the hardest lessons to learn in our connected age is to do something, rather than nothing. This blog is a perfect example.
I won't speak for anyone else (as my wife is the exact opposite of me), but here are some of my weaknesses:
- Analysis Paralysis - It's so easy to get data these days, and then let the data overwhelm. It's a skill to identify what's important, pay attention to it, and discard all else
- Demanding Perfection - When I was in school, I learned that a '95' was a great grade, but '100' was better. Getting '100' got me a lot of positive reinforcement - so there's a tendency to try to get '100s'. That's very bad. This issue has been noted succinctly as "Don't let the Perfect by the enemy of the Good (enough)." It's very true. Getting something good accomplished is far more important and beneficial than planning something great that never gets done.
- Losing Site of Priorities - What's more important - Delivering for a client or answering email? Drafting a blog or reviewing LinkedIn? The first question is easy (isn't it?); the second not as much. When time is the most valuable currency, it must be spent (and saved) wisely. I need to make sure I focus on what's important now (because it does change, depending on time and circumstances). Are you familiar with the Agile Development Methodology? In a lot of ways, one needs to learn to live life like that - get the most important things done first, then go to the next. Periodically re-rank. Continue and repeat.
- More is Less - Be brief. When you can make the point in three words vs. thirty, do it. Yes, it's hard. When one has a tendency to verbosity (hmm, who could that be?), it's very hard. But keeping it brief and clear has tremendous value.
And that's it for today. Get it done, Make it Good (enough), Don't let it get in the way of more important priorities, and be brief. Okay?
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