Less

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I’ve been doing a lot lately. Too much of a lot lately, actually.

I pride myself on being able to handle multiple things and yet not multitask. Josh Long and Drew Wilson call it being “multi-minded” in their book EXECUTE, and I like that idea. I’m definitely multi-minded, but I’m not into multitasking.

Even still, I need to do less. Because then I can do better.

Here’s something that my friend Patrick Rhone said on his now-defunct enough podcast:

“Life ends. Don’t wait to begin it.”

Which reminded me of another quote:

“In the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.” – Abraham Lincoln

I’m not saying that I don’t think I’m doing what Lincoln suggests. But I also don’t think I’m leaving enough room as of late for that life to take place within my years.

I was having my regular coffee date with my pal Jim to break away from my usual “productivityist” space. Because of this, I was able to really hone in on what I really need to do now. I need to plan what’s next. Not do what’s next, but plan what’s next.

Why?

Because I have the awareness to plan, but not the energy to do.

The phrase “less is more” is one worth heeding. Less makes sense because it is more manageable and more focused. More is less manageable and less focussed.

Indeed, less really is more.

So I need to shift gears, and go from doing to planning – even if only for a short while in order to recharge my batteries. Then I can do better once that’s done. What I’ve done will still keep going (and bringing in income) and anything low energy that needs doing will get done.

But the big stuff — the stuff that will require a lot of energy, time, and space — won’t. At least not yet. When I’ve reduced my workload from more to less through proper planning, then it will get done.

And it will get done exceptionally well.

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