Part 1 – Focus on ONE goal
One of the challenges leaders face is that feeling of overwhelm when there are just so many things requiring attention, focus and solutions.
I’m facing that challenge in terms of this blog: my goal was simply to write about focusing on one goal. But I’m finding a whole lot of other really good, but distracting things I could add.
Warren Buffett is famous for his 3-step 5/25 approach:
1) write a list of 25 goals/things you want to achieve,
2) circle the top five most important goals,
3) ruthlessly say NO to the rest
Buffett’s method is similar to the Pareto principle of 80/20, in which you achieve 80% of the results or effect from 20% of the effort/time you commit to it. I wrote about this recently here. And you can take the 5/25 approach one step further by reducing your top five to ONE.
But, I hear you cry, the other 20 (or 24) are important too. Or perhaps it’s all the other distractions that constantly demand your attention and make you lose focus. Whatever it is, you can only do ONE thing effectively at any one time (please note: this is not a walking/chewing gum debate!). Everything else becomes a distraction and you lose focus on doing your best at that ONE thing.
Following Warren Buffett’s model you must avoid the rest. Apply ruthless elimination and say NO to almost everything. The benefit is clear. Get your ONE thing done really well, and you succeed, which is so much less stressful than doing half a dozen things rather poorly.
For me, the other principle that applies in this context is that of KISS (keep it simple, stupid) – a US Navy design principle from 1960. Or perhaps you’d prefer a quote from Leonardo da Vinci; “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication”. You might even think of the journey of a thousand miles, or eating an elephant. Whichever picture or reminder you like, the rule is the same: what ONE thing are you going to do? Do it well!
If you’d like help with establishing your goals, avoiding overwhelm or improving your focus please contact me to talk further.