Tag Achieving Goals

Being More Productive as We Begin 2026

Steve Keating Leave a comment

A new year has a way of resetting our perspective. As 2026 begins, productivity isn’t about doing more for the sake of busyness—it’s about doing what matters with clarity, intention, and sustainability. The past few years have taught many of us that burnout is easy to reach and hard to recover from. This year, productivity should feel supportive, not exhausting.

Here are practical, realistic ways to be more productive as we step into 2026—without losing ourselves in the process.

Redefine What “Productive” Means

Productivity is often mistaken for constant motion. In reality, it’s about progress. Being productive might mean completing one meaningful task instead of ten shallow ones. It could mean resting so you can show up stronger tomorrow.

As you begin the year, ask yourself:

What outcomes actually matter to me this year?

What activities move me closer to those outcomes?

What can I let go of?

When productivity is tied to purpose, it becomes easier to focus—and easier to say no. So never allow yourself to think that being busy is the same as being productive. I would submit to you that if you didn’t get closer to a goal on any particular day, then no matter how busy you were, you were not productive that day.

Start With Fewer Goals

There’s a temptation at the start of a new year to set ambitious, packed goal lists. The problem? Too many goals compete for your attention and dilute your energy.

Instead, choose:

One primary focus for the year

Two or three supporting goals

This creates direction without being overwhelmed. You can always add more later, but starting small increases your chances of follow through.

Build Systems, Not Just Motivation

Motivation is unreliable. Systems are dependable.

Rather than asking, “How can I stay motivated?” ask:

How can I make this easier?

What routine supports this habit?

What reminder or structure keeps me consistent?

For example, instead of relying on motivation to work out, place your workout time directly after an existing habit, like waking up or finishing work. Productivity grows when actions become automatic.

Plan Your Days the Night Before

One of the simplest productivity habits is planning for tomorrow today.

At the end of each day:

Write down your top three priorities for tomorrow

Identify the most important task and plan when you’ll do it

Clear mental clutter by writing everything else down

This allows you to start your day with intention instead of reaction. You’ll spend less time deciding what to do and more time actually doing it.

Focus on Energy, Not Just Time

Time management matters, but energy management matters more. Pay attention to when you feel most focused, creative, or alert.

Ask yourself:

When do I do my best thinking?

When do I feel drained?

What tasks require high energy vs. low energy?

Schedule demanding work during your peak energy hours and reserve lighter tasks for slower moments. Productivity improves when your schedule works with your body, not against it.

Reduce Digital Distractions

In 2026, distractions are more refined than ever. Notifications, endless content, and constant connectivity quietly drain attention.

Simple steps can make a big difference:

Turn off non-essential notifications

Set specific times to check email or social media

Create “focus blocks” with your phone out of reach

You don’t need more willpower—you need fewer interruptions.

Leave Room for Rest

Rest is not the enemy of productivity; it’s the foundation of it.

If your schedule is packed with no margin, productivity will eventually collapse. Build in:

Breaks throughout the day

Days without heavy commitments

Time to reflect and reset

Rest allows your mind to process, your creativity to recharge, and your motivation to return naturally.

Reflect Regularly

Productivity isn’t something you set once in January and forget. It’s something you refine.

At the end of each week or month, reflect:

What worked well?

What felt draining or unnecessary?

What needs adjusting?

Small course corrections throughout the year lead to big improvements over time.

Move Forward With Intention

As 2026 begins, remember that productivity isn’t about perfection. You will have slow days, off weeks, and moments when plans fall apart. That doesn’t mean you’re failing—it means you’re human.

Choose progress over pressure. Choose clarity over chaos. And most importantly, choose a version of productivity that supports the life you want to live—not one that consumes it.

Here’s to a more focused, balanced, and intentional 2026.

How to Determine Your Core Values

Steve Keating Leave a comment

Our last post focused on setting and achieving real goals. But we didn’t invest a lot of time in an essential step in the goal setting process. That step is determining your core values.

Your core values are the guiding principles that shape your decisions, actions, and ultimately, your life. They reflect what truly matters to you—your priorities, beliefs, and what you stand for. But how do you find these values, especially when life’s noise can make it hard to hear your inner voice? This post will guide you through a practical, introspective process to determine your core values and start living in alignment with them.

Why Core Values Matter

Core values act like a compass. They help you navigate tough choices, set boundaries, and pursue goals that feel meaningful. Without clarity on your values, you might feel lost, unfulfilled, or pulled in directions that don’t resonate with who you are. Knowing your core values empowers you to live YOUR LIFE and make decisions with confidence.

Step-by-Step Process to Identify Your Core Values

Here’s a clear, actionable approach to uncovering your core values. Grab a notebook, set aside some quiet time, likely lots of quiet time. Determining your core values is serious business, give it the time it deserves. Now, let’s dive in.

1. Reflect on Peak Experiences

Think about moments in your life when you felt truly alive, fulfilled, or proud. These could be personal achievements, meaningful relationships, or even small, quiet moments that left a lasting impact.

• Questions to ask:

• What was happening during those moments?

• Why did they feel so significant?

• What about these experiences made you feel aligned or “at home”?

Example: If you felt most alive while volunteering, values like service, compassion, or community might be at play.

Write down 3-5 peak experiences and jot down the feelings or themes that stand out.

2. Identify Moments of Discomfort or Conflict

Sometimes, your values become clear when they’re tested. Think about times when you felt frustrated, angry, or out of sorts—moments when something just didn’t sit right.

• Questions to ask:

• What was happening that felt “off”?

• What boundary or belief felt violated?

• What would have made the situation feel right?

Imagine you felt uneasy when someone pressured you to compromise your principles at work. What are your core values? Integrity, honesty, or something else?

List a few situations that bothered you and note the underlying issues.

3. Explore Your Role Models

Think about people you admire—family, friends, public figures, or even fictional characters. What draws you to them?

• What qualities or behaviors do they embody?

• Why do these traits resonate with you?

• How do their actions reflect what you want to stand for?

Example: If you admire someone’s courage to speak their truth, values like authenticity or bravery might be important to you. Write down 2-3 role models and the qualities you respect in them.

4. Brainstorm a Values List

Now, start creating a list of potential values. Here’s a short sample of common ones: honesty, freedom, growth, family, creativity, justice, adventure, security, kindness, respect, achievement, balance.

Look at your notes from steps 1-3. What words or themes keep popping up?

Don’t overthink it—write down any value that feels relevant, even if it’s vague.

Aim for a list of 10-20 values to start. You’ll narrow it down later.

5. Narrow Down to Your Top 3-5 Values

A long list of values can feel overwhelming, so let’s refine it. Your core values are the ones you’d fight for—the non-negotiables that define you.

Group similar values: For example, if you wrote “honesty,” “truth,” and “integrity,” combine them into one.

Prioritize: Ask yourself, “If I could only choose one value to live by, what would it be?” Then the next, and so on.

Test them: Imagine a scenario where you have to choose between two values (e.g., security vs. adventure). Which one feels more “you”?

Aim for 3-5 core values that feel deeply true. For each, write a sentence explaining what it means to you.

Example:

• Value: Growth

• Meaning: I’m all about learning, growing, and stepping out of my comfort zone to become the best version of myself.

6. Check in with Your Life

Take a look at your current life—your relationships, career, hobbies, and daily choices. Do they match your chosen values? If not, where’s the disconnect?

• Questions to ask:

• Where do I feel most connected to these values?

• Where am I compromising them?

• What small changes could bring me closer to living these values fully?

This step isn’t about judgment—it’s about clarity. When things don’t align, it often means there are areas where you can make intentional changes.

Putting Your Values into Action

Once you’ve figured out your core values, they become a guide for making decisions and growing. Here are a few ways to live them out:

• Set goals aligned with your values: If “connection” is a value, make sure to spend quality time with loved ones or build new relationships.

• Use them to say “no”: If something—like a job or commitment—goes against your values, give yourself permission to say no.

• Check in regularly: Revisit this process every year or during big changes to stay true to yourself.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

• Choosing “should” values: Don’t pick values because society, family, or culture expects them. Choose what feels authentic to you.

• Being too vague: If a value like “happiness” feels too broad, dig deeper. What kind of happiness? Joy through creativity? Peace through balance?

• Ignoring trade-offs: Living by your values can mean tough choices, like leaving a comfortable but unfulfilling job. Be ready to prioritize what matters most.

Final Thoughts

Determining your core values is a personal journey, but it’s one of the most rewarding steps you can take toward a meaningful life. By reflecting on your experiences, narrowing down what truly matters, and aligning your choices with those truths, you’ll build a foundation for authenticity and purpose.

Remember, take your time with this process. The key is to start, trust yourself, and let your inner compass guide you.

What’s one value you think might be at your core? Share in the comments—I’d love to hear your thoughts!

All About Goals

Steve Keating Leave a comment

If you’re a golf fan, then odds are you’ve watched golf on TV or maybe even attended a tournament or two. Just imagine watching your favorite player bombing a drive down the middle of the fairway and then hitting their approach shot within a foot of—a foot of nothing because there was no hole on the green. Nothing to shoot for, no way to finish the hole, no point in playing at all.

That seems foolish, doesn’t it? Putting all that work in to master hitting a golf ball long and straight. Then practicing endlessly to control the ball so you can stop it on the putting surface. And then…and then there is no then.

It’s like baseball with the base. Basketball without the basket. Football without the ball. And it’s like life without goals.

Now imagine waking up each day with a clear sense of purpose, knowing exactly what you’re working toward in your career, relationships, health, and personal growth. How cool would that be? That’s the magic of setting goals—not just in one area, but across every area of your life.

Goals are your roadmap, guiding you through the chaos of daily demands and helping you build a life that’s balanced, fulfilling, and aligned with your core values. It’s just a whole lot easier to keep going when things get tough when you know exactly where it is that you’re going to end up.

Having true goals is absolutely transformative. They transform an ordinary life into an extraordinary one. Here’s how.

1. Goals Give You Clarity and Direction

Life can feel like a mishmash of responsibilities, distractions, unexpected and sometimes, unending challenges. Without goals, it’s easy to drift aimlessly, reacting to whatever comes your way. Setting goals in areas like career, health, relationships, finances, and personal development gives you a North Star to follow. They help you define what success looks like for you—whether it’s landing a dream job, running a marathon, or deepening your connection with loved ones.

For example, a career goal might be to earn a promotion within two years, while a personal goal could be to read one book a month for self-growth. These targets provide clarity, so you’re not just “going through the motions” but actively steering your life toward meaningful outcomes.

It is amazing how many people can’t easily define what success means to them, that’s the telltale sign they lack true goals.

2. They Create Balance Across Your Life

Focusing on just one area—like pouring all your energy into work—can leave other parts of your life neglected, leading to burnout, strained relationships, or declining health. Goals in multiple areas encourage balance. By setting intentions for physical fitness (e.g., exercising three times a week), mental well-being (e.g., practicing mindfulness daily), and relationships (e.g., scheduling weekly family time), you ensure that no part of your life is left behind.

Think of your life like a wheel, with spokes representing health, career, relationships, spirituality, and more. If one spoke is missing or weak, the wheel wobbles. Setting clear goals keeps the wheel turning smoothly, helping you live a well-rounded life.

3. Goals Fuel Motivation and Progress

There’s something super motivating about working towards something you’re passionate about. Goals give you a reason to get out of bed, even on tough days. They break down big dreams into manageable steps, making progress feel achievable. For instance, if your financial goal is to save $10,000 for a home down payment, you can create smaller milestones, like saving $500 a month. Each step forward builds momentum and a sense of accomplishment.

This applies to every area of life. A health goal to lose 20 pounds becomes less daunting when you focus on eating more vegetables daily. A relationship goal to reconnect with friends feels doable when you commit to one coffee date a month. These small wins keep you motivated and remind you that progress is possible.

4. They Help You Prioritize and Manage Time

Time is limited, and without clear goals, it’s easy to waste it on distractions or obligations that do nothing for you. When you have goals across different areas, you’re forced to prioritize. You start saying “no” to things that don’t align with your vision and “yes” to what moves you closer to your goals.

For example, if you’re aiming to improve your mental health by journaling nightly, you might cut back on mindless scrolling. If your career goal is to learn a new skill, you’ll carve out time for online courses instead of overcommitting to social events. Goals act like a filter, helping you allocate your time and efforts wisely.

5. Goals Foster Resilience and Growth

Life isn’t a straight path—setbacks, failures, and obstacles are inevitable. Goals give you something to hold onto during tough times. They remind you why you’re pushing forward, whether it’s to build a stronger body, a thriving business, or a closer family. Even when you hit a snag, working towards a goal is like a superpower that teaches you resilience, problem-solving, and adaptability.

Plus, pursuing goals in diverse areas encourages personal growth. A spiritual goal to practice gratitude might deepen your perspective, while a creative goal to write a book could unlock hidden talents. Each goal is like a stepping stone, helping you grow into a more awesome, capable version of yourself!

6. They Align Your Life with Your Values

At their core, goals are about living intentionally. When you set them thoughtfully across all areas—career, health, relationships, finances, personal growth, and beyond—they reflect what matters most to you. This alignment gives you a sense of purpose and fulfillment that’s hard to find otherwise.

For instance, if family is a core value, a goal to have weekly game nights ensures you’re investing in those bonds. If independence drives you, a financial goal to pay off debt puts you on that path.

Without goals, it’s easy to drift aimlessly, swayed by external pressures or fleeting whims. Goals anchor you to your values, ensuring your life reflects who you are and what you stand for.

How to Start Setting Goals in All Areas

Ready to unlock the full potential of goal-setting? Here’s a super easy way to do it:

1.Reflect on Key Areas: Consider categories like health, career, relationships, finances, personal growth, spirituality, and hobbies. Ask yourself, “What would make this area of my life feel more fulfilling?”

2. Set SMART Goals: Make your goals Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. Instead of “getting fit,” aim for “walking 30 minutes five days a week for three months.”

3. Start Small: Don’t overwhelm yourself with dozens of goals. Pick one or two per area to focus on, ensuring they’re realistic and meaningful.

4. Track and Adjust: Review your progress regularly—weekly or monthly—and tweak your goals as needed. Life changes, and your goals should evolve with it.

5. Celebrate Wins: Acknowledge every milestone, no matter how small. Rewarding yourself reinforces motivation and makes the journey enjoyable.

The Ripple Effect of True Goals

When you set goals in all areas of life, they start to work together like a well-oiled machine! A health goal to sleep better boosts your energy for work. A career goal to network more introduces you to friends who enrich your social life. A personal growth goal to practice patience strengthens your relationships. This interconnectedness creates a positive ripple effect, where progress in one area lifts the others too.

Goals aren’t only about reaching objectives; they’re about becoming the best version of yourself. They give you a roadmap to live a purposeful, balanced, and joyful life. So begin today to dream big and plan out what you want in every aspect of your life. Your future self will most definitely thank you!

Keeping the Main Thing the Main Thing

Steve Keating Leave a comment

I once had the opportunity to hear Steve Jobs speak. He was talking about focus and said, “When fishermen cannot go out to sea, they repair their nets.” He also said, “In simple terms, even when you can’t do your main thing, always do something that relates to your main thing.”

I thought, and still think, that it is amazing advice. But through the years I’ve discovered one major problem with that. The problem is most people, and I do mean most, have almost no conscious idea what their main thing is.

That means, of course, that they have no way of knowing if what they are doing at any given time relates to their main thing. It’s that lack of focus on their main thing that prevents them from reaching their full potential and living their best life possible.

So how can someone determine their main thing? Well, it requires knowing the purpose or priority that drives you. Discovering that purpose most often involves a good bit of self-reflection and focused attention to your natural inclinations. Here are some things to pay attention to as you seek your own “main thing.”

Alignment with Core Values: Your “main thing” usually aligns closely with your deepest values. If you value creativity, your main thing might involve artistic expression. For those who value service, it could be about helping others.

What Energizes You: When you’re doing your main thing, you tend to feel a unique kind of energy or flow, even if the work is hard. It might feel like time flies by or that you’re at your most effective.

Recurring Interest or Skill: Sometimes, a consistent theme in your interests, talents, or natural skills is a clue. If you find yourself drawn to similar projects, activities, or areas of study over and over, that could be pointing you toward your main thing.

What You Prioritize: Even if life demands a lot from you, notice what you naturally protect in your schedule. If there’s something you prioritize despite being busy or tired, it likely matters deeply.

Internal Reward: Your main thing tends to feel rewarding internally rather than because of external validation or rewards. You may not need a lot of external encouragement to keep at it.

Feedback from Others: Sometimes, those close to you can see patterns that you don’t. They may recognize your main thing in ways you haven’t yet, especially if they see how it impacts you or how often it comes up in your life.

Long-Term Fulfillment: If you think about the future, does it feel satisfying to picture yourself doing this for a long time? Your main thing typically offers fulfillment over the years rather than moments.

People who focus on their main thing are more successful. That’s good, but what’s even better is that they are happier, more confident, more fulfilled, and less stressed out.

But there can be no focus on the main thing until you know the main thing. Put some effort into determining your main thing, and it will pay great dividends. Not only for you but for the people in your life.

How to Develop Perseverance

Steve Keating Leave a comment

There are many very talented people who fall short of reaching their full potential. They are even more people who set forth on a journey towards success who never reach their final goal or destination.

Many of those simply gave up before they reached their goal. Many of those would have reached that goal if they could have just pushed themselves a little further. But they lacked one of the most important attributes of successful people. That attribute is perseverance.

Perseverance is so critical because with every endeavor comes challenges and obstacles. On every journey towards success there will be times of fatigue and stress. There will always be instances where quitting seems like the practical and perhaps only alternative. But sometimes doing what’s practical is the least practical thing to do.

People with perseverance understand that achieving ultimate success often requires doing the unconventional and many times doing it when they would much prefer not to. If you’re not certain that you have the perseverance required to succeed I have good news for you. You can develop it.

Developing perseverance involves two things. You must cultivate a mindset of success and adopt certain practices. These things help you stay committed to your goals despite challenges and setbacks. Here are some of those practices to help you develop perseverance.

• Set Clear Goals. Define specific, achievable goals that align with your values and aspirations. Having clarity about what you want to achieve will provide you with a sense of direction and purpose. You are never too old to set a new goal and it’s never too late to adjust a goal if circumstances dictate it.

• Break Goals into Smaller Tasks. Divide your goals into smaller, manageable tasks. This makes them less overwhelming and allows you to focus on making progress one step at a time. Never forget, all progress, big or small moves you closer to your goal so never let small steps dissuade you from pushing forward.

• Maintain a Positive Attitude. Cultivate a positive mindset and believe in your ability to overcome obstacles. Instead of dwelling on setbacks, focus on what you can learn from them and how you can improve. Your attitude is always your choice and choosing a positive attitude might be one of the most important choices you’ll ever make.

• Develop Resilience. Understand that setbacks are a natural part of any journey. Learn to bounce back from adversity by building resilience and adapting to challenges.

• Stay Committed. Commit to your goals wholeheartedly and prioritize them in your daily life. Avoid distractions and stay focused on what truly matters to you. Share your goals with people who care enough for you to hold you accountable. None of us exactly likes accountability but we all do better when we have it in our life.

• Practice Self-Discipline. Develop self-discipline by setting routines and sticking to them, even when you don’t feel motivated. Consistent effort over time leads to progress and eventual success.

• Ask for Help. Surround yourself with supportive friends and family. Also, seek mentors or peers who can encourage you in tough times. Stay away from negative naysayers who are not on the path to success and would like to knock you off yours as well.

• Celebrate Progress. Acknowledge and celebrate your achievements, no matter how small. Recognizing your progress can boost your confidence and motivation to keep moving forward. Remember, all progress is progress and therefore worth celebrating.

• Learn from Setbacks. Embrace setbacks as an opportunity for growth and learning. Analyze what went wrong, extract valuable lessons, and use them to improve your approach in the future. Some people would say setbacks are the same as failures. The difference is setbacks are mere interruptions. Setbacks don’t become failures until you choose to not pick yourself up and begin again.

• Stay Flexible. Be willing to adapt your strategies and approach as needed. Sometimes, the path to success may require adjustments and course corrections along the way. The most successfully people expect the unexpected. They know “surprises” are likely to happen and they actually plan accordingly.

• Visualize Success. Use visualization techniques to imagine yourself achieving your goals. Visualizing success can help you stay motivated and focused on your desired outcome. In all likelihood, if you can see it, you can do it.

• Practice Patience. Understand that success often takes time and perseverance. Stay patient and trust the process, even when results may not come as quickly as you’d like. Just make sure you’re not mistaking patience for procrastination. Patience allows you to gather information while resting up a bit. Procrastination stops your momentum and most often leads directly to true failure.

By focusing on these practices and making them a daily habit, you can change your mindset. You will gradually develop greater perseverance and resilience to overcome challenges and achieve your goals.

You will be unstoppable!

A Vision and a Plan to Achieve It are Two Different Things

Steve Keating 3 Comments

It’s interesting when I ask people about their future plans. They tell me things like “my plan is to be debt free in three years.” I respond by saying that’s a terrific vision, so what’s the plan to get there?

I often see a deer in the headlights kind of look. 

That indicates to me that most people don’t understand that merely having a vision does absolutely nothing to ensure you achieve it. A vision of your future come from dreams and the attainment of that vision comes from planning.

Almost all people believe having goals is important. Many actually have written their goals down. Few however, have any kind of a formal plan for how, and when, they will achieve those goals. They can only hope it will somehow magically happen. 

I suppose it’s possible but personally I’ve never seen hoping for magic actually lead to success. 

The development of a true plan requires a complete examination of your starting point, your “As Is” or current situation. You need to be very honest here and not sugar coat the starting point on your journey to success. If you try to fool yourself in this step every other part of your plan will be wrong. You’ll demotivate yourself before you even have a chance for success.

You also need to have a clear vision of your future. Where you are going and why you want to go there. This is the “Should Be” part of your plan. Keep in mind, this is not your goals, this is where you end up when your goals are achieved. 

Now that you have that end result in mind you need to decide what you’re willing to give up to have it. Life is a trade off. Many people think in terms of what they are willing to do to achieve their vision. They fill their plans with all the things they will do to make it happen.

But they forget they only have 1440 minutes a day. If they are busy people most of that time is already used up. If you’re going to do new things to achieve your vision then you’ll almost certainly have to let some of the things you had been doing go. Build those into your plan as well. Be realistic about the time you’re willing to commit, failing to do that will result in the failure of your plan. 

Now you can set some goals. These goals are the stepping stones on your path to success. You’ll want some short term goals, some medium term goals and some long range goals. All the goals must align, what that means is that the accomplishment of each short term goal should get you closer to one of your medium term goals. 

The accomplishment of each medium term goal should get you closer to a long range goal. The accomplishment of every goal should move you closer to your actual vision. Be careful when setting goals, if they stretch you too far you could give up on them. If they don’t stretch you far enough then you’ll likely never see that vision come to life. Be realistic!

Now the truly important part. The timetable! When will you begin? I mean exactly when will you begin? Spell this out down to the minute. Not next month or next week. The plan must say I will begin at 8:03am on Monday the 27th of June. Be precise. 

Every goal needs a precise start time and achievement date and time. I’ll begin working towards this particular goal on July 13th at 11:51am and I’ll have accomplished it by August 21st at 2:02pm. 

Your plan also must include the ultimate accomplishment date. When EXACTLY will the vision come to life. 

Imagine the motivation that comes from knowing exactly what you’re doing everyday and exactly why you’re doing it. That’s powerful. 

Now, here’s where most plans go off the rails. “Stuff” as they say happens. And that’s perfectly okay because part of your plan includes periodic reviews to adjust the time frames for the goals and maybe even adjust some of the goals. The most common mistake in planning is tossing the plan in the trash as soon as the first unplanned obstacle pops up. 

Adjust, adapt, innovate and keep moving towards your ultimate vision.

The most successful people are steadfast in the pursuit of their goals but they are flexible in that pursuit. Let the “stuff” happen, but don’t get stuck in it. 

On a another subject…I’m trying something new on Twitter. It’s called “Super Followers.” For $5 a month, that’s 17 cents a day, people can follow a part of my Twitter stream that is for subscribers only. It features short videos of me discussing leadership topics, sales tips and ideas for better overall relationships. I’m assuming there will be far fewer Super Followers than the million or so people who regularly follow me on Twitter. That will give me the opportunity to answer questions more throughly than I can on regular Twitter. Most of the answers will come in the evening cause we all have day jobs, right? Think of it as ”mentoring on demand!”

My goal with SuperFollowers is to build a better connection, one where I can perhaps help more and have a greater impact. I’m hoping it gives me a chance to mentor to a wider audience. It’s still new, we’ll see how it works. It’s a $5 dollar investment that may be the extra “push” you need to get to where you want to be. I’d be honored to be able to help get you there. 

You can find more information by clicking the Super Follow button on my Twitter profile page IN THE TWITTER APP. http://twitter.com/leadtoday Give it a try if you’re so inclined, and if you are, be sure to let me know how I’m doing and how I can be of even more help.

The Absolute Unimportance of…Almost Everything 

Steve Keating 6 Comments

A former colleague of mine used to get himself worked up over the littlest things. But just when you thought he was about to blow his top he would stop, take a breath, and say out loud, “Well, the heck with it, this won’t matter in a hundred years so why worry about it now.” 

After hearing him say that about 100 times it got me to thinking what exactly will matter 100 years from now. The answer I came up with was “almost nothing.” I mean that seriously, unless I find a cure for cancer or discover life on a planet in a distant solar system most anything I do today will be long forgotten in 100 years. 

I mean this seriously too…do not take what you do too seriously. Most of us are not that big of a deal. Most of what we do is just not very important. 

Most people would disagree with that because they confuse urgent things with the important things in life. A former United States President, Dwight Eisenhower once said he had two kinds of problems, urgent and important. About those problems he said, “The urgent are not important and the important are never urgent. 

Too many people spend their time on the urgent things of life. They do so at the expense of the important things of life. If you’re not sure of the difference let me tell you how I look at it. 

Important things are activities that have an outcome that leads to us achieving our goals, whether these are personal or professional. Urgent activities are those things that we think demand immediate attention. They are usually associated with achieving someone else’s goals.  They are often the ones we concentrate on and give immediate attention to because the consequences of not handling them can be immediate. 

The most successful people have a longer view of life. They balance the important with the urgent much more effectively than less successful people. Of course one of the reasons less successful people struggle in this area is because they lack formal goals to guide them in their decision making. 

Few things in life I can guarantee more than this…if you lack real goals in life then you will spend your life helping people who do have real goals achieve theirs. 

So here’s a few of questions I’d encourage you to ask yourself on a very regular basis. How much will what I’m about to do matter in 30 days? How much will it matter in a year? How much will it matter in five years? 

Then act accordingly.

Let me give you one little example that my wife taught me many years ago. You have company coming over. The company are some friends from work. Your two toddlers have made a mess of the house. You HAVE to get the house cleaned up before the company arrives. Your kids WANT you to read them a story.

Which one is urgent and which one is important? Which one will matter down the road? When you change jobs in a few years you may not ever see those work friends again. But you’ll never get those 30 minutes of story time back again. 

The mess in the house will wait. The kids will not. 

I am always fully aware of the absolute unimportance of almost everything I do. That in no way makes me less important as a person. It in no way demeans what I do. It does allow me to have better balance in my life. It allows me to consciously make decisions to at times sacrifice the important for the urgent. But I know I’m doing it and I know why. 

I know for a fact that this post won’t matter in 100 years. But I hope it matters to someone today and I hope for your sake, that someone is you.