I know why I’m stuck. Here’s what I’m going to do about it.

It happened. I’m in a rut. A bit ironic, because I teach a full-day workshop called From Rut to Strut. Now I need to practice what I teach.

Let me share more about my state.  I’m busy!  Never been busier.  But I’m not growing.  As a person, I am not growing.  And as a business, I am not growing.

Stuck in a rutWhat I’ve learned is I’m confusing activities with productivity.  Activity is being busy.  Making and completing to-do lists.  Reacting to the incoming emails and phone calls.

Productivity is proactively doing the right activity that is a means to the end.  The tasks that support the goal.  Ask yourself; “What is the goal?”  Then ask; “What do I need to do to get there?”  That list of tasks are in direct alignment of the goal. Your goal!

Ok, so you don’t have any goals.  Let me remind you, if you don’t have any goals, you will be spending your time, talent and treasure supporting someone else’s.  One Saturday morning, my neighbor, Bob, called me up and asked, “What do you have planned for today.”  I said, “Nothing.”  He replied with, “Great, can you come over and help me build a retaining wall?”  What could I say?  I didn’t have any goals that day, so I helped him complete his.  Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed working with Bob and was happy to help, but I often think of that day when I feel myself working more on others’ demands, then the demands I need to put on myself working towards my goals.

How can I prevent this stuck-state from happening again? First, let’s look at the past and determine where the downturn occurred.  If we cannot discover that, we are doomed to repeat it and relive this inoperative state.  Looking back, I experienced the most conversations and growth when I was blogging more.  I had a run of kicking out a blog a week.

Second, what was I doing to be able to write a fresh blog every week?  Well, I was reading a chapter or two from a professional development book every day.  This stimulated the creative side of my brain and I wrote a blog.  A byproduct of blogging was I became a better trainer and speaker.  My presentations were fresh and focused.

Third, what is stopping me from reading more?  I may be tempted to give you an excuse at this time and that would not be uncommon. The answer is my own distractions.  My lack of focus.  That is something I can control and manage.  As John Maxwell says, “You will never change your life until you change something you do daily. The secret of your success is in your daily routine.”  Is your routine supporting your goal?  Are your habits supporting your goals?

Often I talk with people that want more.  They want more sales, more money, more transactions, etc.  But they don’t want others to help them.  I ask them, “What are you going to do tomorrow that you are not doing today, that will give you the results you want which you don’t currently have?”  Silence. They have nothing planned.  No new routine.

What caused me to climb out of this rut? I recently heard a quote from Charlie Jones. He said, “You will be the same person in five years as you are today except for the people you meet and the books you read.”

Who do you have around you that makes you a better person?  Who are your influencers? Who do you want to be in five years?  If you don’t take control of your time, make goals, take action, you will be part of someone else’s plan.

MSI-Logo_square4

Comments

  1. Margarita McAlexander says

    I need to thank you for this good read!! I certainly loved every bit of it.

    I have got you bookmarked to look at new stuff you post.

  2. Thank you so much for the post. It’s insightful. And I love that you shared that you give a workshop on getting unstuck and that you were stuck. Me too. I guess we’re human. I appreciate knowing I’m not alone. Thank you.

Trackbacks

  1. […] – Current Book: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People – Scott – BLOG –  I know why I’m stuck. Here’s what I’m going to do about it. – Bill – Video – 2 Minute Selling Tips : Know Your Top […]

  2. […] – Current Book: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People – Scott – BLOG –  I know why I’m stuck. Here’s what I’m going to do about it. – Bill – Video – Working More Effectively with Others – […]

  3. […] Mentions: – – Current Book – The Success Principles by Jack Canfield – Bill – Blog: Stay Mentally Strong When Sales Are Weak -Scott – Blog: I know why I’m stuck. Here’s what I’m going to do about it. […]