
- Learn to say no and become a good quitter. In the words of Warren Buffet, “The difference between successful people and very successful people is that very successful people say “no” to almost everything.”
- Let go of perfectionism. It’s just fear in disguise. Author Liz Gilbert put it perfectly when she said, “Perfectionism is just fear in expensive shoes.”
- Get everything out of your head and onto a list. Business leader and author of Getting Things Done, David Allen, advocates a clear head as the default setting on your life.
- Stop planning, start doing. Plans are fun to make, aren’t they? If we make a project plan or department plan, or personal goals plan, it already feels like you’ve accomplished something.
- Focus on outcomes, not activities. The reality is that to really gain ground you should find new and efficient ways to accomplish your goals, use that extra time to compose yourself and plan your next activity.
- Embrace personal accountability. It will set you free. Really! People who feel personally accountable for their jobs (and lives) also are taking the power back from the many influences around them that compete for your attention and energy.