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I’ve noticed that very few people focus on doing what’s important; ideas that actually matter in the big scheme of things. Most people do whatever is next on some list, or just fill time with whatever task is easiest. I’m often guilty of this myself at times. We focus on working hard and getting lots of tasks done, but focus very little time and thought on the actual impact of what we’re working on.

Focusing on what matters changes how we think. Instead of showing up each day to get tasks done, we must show up to make an impact. DataSync is my primary form of reference for this. We constantly battle ‘getting stuck in the mud’. It’s a term we use to describe getting distracted by details and ideas that don’t really impact the bottom line. They are good ideas, but they don’t have maximum impact on our future.

An important principle that must be applied to focusing on what matters is ‘opportunity cost’. Now matter how many hours you work, it’s important to focus on projects that will create the greatest impact on moving your goals forward. Should you work on a project that will generate $1 or another that will generate $10? The answer is obvious. However often we find ourselves doing tasks that are easier or we’re comfortable with, rather than asking the question “what can I do today that will impact progress most?”. Doing this every day will change how you think about time management. Right now I’m reading Drucker on effective management (“The Effective Executive“), and this management genius makes an important point about time management. Drucker points out that what makes executives successful often isn’t their ability to focus on doing things (accomplishing tasks), but instead their ability to make decisions to focus on the right things. Anyone who’s motivated can get tasks done and be pretty darn busy working on these tasks, but an effective person focuses on doing things that actually matter.

Remember, sometimes the busiest people are also the most ineffective. I know so many people who claim to be ’super busy’, yet when you look at what they are actually impacting, it’s really little or nothing. They are just keeping up with the hamster wheel they have created for themselves. People who impact the world refuse to be too busy to focus on things that matter. Instead they constantly reassess their priorities and align their day with long-term goals that they have considered thoroughly.

Next time you feel too busy to think, understand the decision you are making. You’re making a decision to focus on things that may not make any difference at all. You may end up working endlessly on something that just doesn’t matter. You may need to ditch ideas and projects if they aren’t contributing to making an impact. We all have the desire to matter, make sure you don’t lose sight of the importance of doing what matters.