Are you frustrated with your current rate of progress? There are seven types of busy that could be holding you up, and chances are you’ll identify with at least one. Here are a few tips on how to overcome them.
Everyoneโs busy, but that doesnโt always equate to being productive. Identifying which kind of busy you are โ and implementing some simple changes to your approach โ can help stop the cycle of going nowhere, fast.
โBadge of honourโ busy
You believe being busy equals being significant. Keeping your schedule jam-packed makes you as important as everyone else โ itโs how you create your worth.
This can be a trap for solo entrepreneurs, particularly if, early on, you feel you need to โjustifyโ your new business to VIPs, such as partners, friends or family. Donโt fall for it. Instead, stand back and ask โwhat is the purpose of this task?โ before taking it on.
Be ruthless and only commit to activities that will propel your small business (or family) forward.
โNobody does this as well as I doโ busy
Youโd like to cut things out of your schedule, but youโd probably end up doing them anyway, because nobody else does things โproperlyโ. You believe youโre the only one who can complete everything to your exacting standards. One of your most-used phrases is, “here โ let me do it!”
Delegating parts of your business is vital to success. If someone else can do it more easily than you, better than you or in a shorter time frame than you can, let them. Free your time for the aspects of your work and family that really matter.
โRunning awayโ busy
There is something big that you really should attend to: something tricky in your work or personal life that youโve been avoiding. Instead of tackling what should be first on your list, you fill your diary with less necessary tasks so you โdon’t have timeโ to face the important stuff.
‘Running away’ busy is a trap! Stop running and start slashing through your top priorities.
โComfort zoneโ busy
You want to launch something ultra exciting in your business โ but itโs a big step and youโre scared. What if it doesnโt work out?
Staying busy keeps you in your comfort zone and protects you from taking risks. The busier you are, the longer youโre โoff the hookโ and safe from potential failure.
The discomfort zone is where the action happens. Itโs where youโll meet success. Itโs where your competitors hang out… so go and get uncomfortable.
‘People pleaser’ busy
You have a need to be liked. โYesโ comes out of your mouth before you even consider an alternative response.
What if you say โnoโ and they donโt like you as much? What if thereโs conflict? Itโs easier and safer just to take the request on and say yes, youโll do it, even if youโre exhausted.
Whether itโs business networking, advertising, coffee chats or meetings with potential affiliates, business owners need to become savvy with the invitations they do and donโt accept. Be polite, honest and assertive in saying, “this is not for me right now.”
โFlappingโ busy
Youโre disorganised. You spend a huge amount of time looking for things that youโve misplaced. Youโre regularly late for appointments. You leave everything until the last minute. The first thing you do when youโre overwhelmed is write a Facebook status about it.
Your lack of organisation creates chaos and manufactures extra work. It takes you much longer to accomplish things than it could, because youโre focused on flapping.
What is one task that you can do today to move you further ahead than you are now? Starting small is preferable to not starting at all.
โScared to askโ busy
You feel like a fraud. Youโre not sure you understand what youโre really doing.
Rather than seek clarification from a mentor or friend, you go to enormous lengths to try to work it out yourself. Youโre scared of asking silly questions and choose to complicate your life in an effort to avoid these. Youโll send emails rather than call, then waste time waiting for a response.
Time is money. Successful business people dive into vulnerability and splash around in it, asking silly question after silly question. So strip off and jump in!
To read more, visit www.flyingsolo.com.au.
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