Part of the nature of being a creator (which you are), is that you always have more you want to do than you are able to do. This is why productivity is so essential. It doesn’t matter how many great ideas you have if none of them ever happen.
Early in my career, I used to be enamored of “idea people”. Perhaps you know the type. They always have brilliant idea. They are innovators, inventors, and out-of-the-box thinkers. They see the big picture of the world and the ways that they can serve and improve.
However, within a relatively short order, I went from enamored to frustrated. I would see these idea people months or years later, and all their brilliant ideas were still in their heads. They hadn’t found a way to put their ideas in action. They hadn’t found a way to share their gifts with the world. I think that’s one of the reasons I’m drawn to coaching therapists. Many of you are idea people but need help taking the actions necessary to manifest those ideas. My worked has allowed me to move from frustrated to collaborative. I can collaborate with my clients to turn their ideas into reality.
I began to realize that an ounce of action was worth a pound of creativity. Accomplishing something, even if it isn’t brilliant, is where it’s at. Because brilliance takes time to evolve. One of my favorite authors, Wallace Wattles, says, “Do today’s work to the best of your ability. Give no attention to tomorrow’s work until tomorrow.” That quote has guided me professionally, because it keeps me from getting stuck in my head with everything I have to accomplish.
I know when I’m feeling overwhelmed, the thoughts start spinning and spinning in my head. I’m spending a lot of TIME on something, but I’m not really accomplishing much. I have a client who experiences this phenomenon as well. She refers to it as her “energizer bunny” mode. In this place, I get so caught in “how am I going to get all this done” instead of doing today’s work to the best of my ability.
For me, the solution is often going back to focusing on the task at hand. I ask myself, “Is this the most important thing for me to be doing right now?” If the answer is yes, I just allow myself to let go of everything else that’s in my head. Over the years, I have learned to have faith in doing today’s work to the best of my ability. If I can do this task well, then I can do the next one well, and this will create a flow that gets me back into the clarity and focus I need. For the client I mentioned earlier, she’s learning to step away from her work to clear her head and come back to it later.
You’re probably like most of my clients. You started your year with clear goals and big plans. You know exactly what you want to accomplish. As we begin to move through the year, this is where the rubber meets the road. Here’s how to test whether you are taking the action you need to accomplish to reach your goals for the year:
- Are you staying focused on your top priorities?
- Are you using your time effectively each day and week?
- Are you spending 5 – 10 hours per week working ON your practice?
- Do you have an effective time management system that you implement?
If you are unsure of how you are going to turn your goals into reality, or if you need a system to better manage your productivity, join us for my Private Practice Breakthrough Live Event. And if you are one of those idea people who has trouble turning your ideas into reality, I highly recommend you attend. You’ll get just what you need to share your gifts with the world.To get more information and register for the event, click here.