We all have these important tasks to do that would make our business, well-being and life so much better.
Things like: consistently marketing our business to get more visibility with our ideal clients, following up with prospects that are interested but haven’t moved forward, looking at and managing our finances well, or increasing our networking activities to build valuable connections.
In terms of our own wellbeing, it might be exercising regularly, getting enough sleep, taking time for self-care, spending quality time with our loved ones and having difficult conversations with the people in our lives.
All of these are important tasks that if we did them regularly would make a massive difference to our business and wellbeing. Of course, more could be added to that list as well.
Often, we can find ourselves resisting these important tasks, even though we know they are the best thing we can to do and will make a real difference.
So why is that?
Well usually the important tasks are also uncomfortable.
They are not the easiest. They often bring up resistance and an uncomfortableness that we naturally want to back away from.
Obviously, we are all different so handle situations differently. But as humans we do tend to want to take the easy way out.
We like the “easy” way. The magic button. The secret strategy that is quick and requires little time and energy.
Just look at how successful get rich quick schemes are! And all the online courses, promising quick and easy results.
We don’t like the thought of consistent work over a long period of time.
Yep, there’s nothing sexy or exciting about that! It sounds incredibly boring!
But that is usually what it takes to get real, sustainable success in any area of business and life.
Instead of doing that, we will put up the reasons and excuses of why we can’t do these important tasks. Hoping an easier way will come along.
Or we will literally ignore the important tasks and take ourselves down a path filled with pain and struggle as the consequences of not doing these actions builds up over time.
The great news is that it doesn’t have to be hard to do these important actions. Yay!
Because here is the thing. Consistent steps over time compound!
It’s like compound interest when investing. It can be hard to start. You don’t see many results for a while. But over time that consistency compounds and pays off big time.
It can definitely be hard to be consistent, but if we can make it happen, everything gets so much easier over time.
Let me share with you my “just a little bit more” strategy to get those important tasks done
Yesterday I really didn’t feel like going for my morning walk. My energy levels were super low and my motivation was non-existent.
I’ve made my morning walk a habit because it is so important to my health, wellbeing and my business. It is a non-negotiable action for me. Even if it is pouring with rain I am out there walking.
This makes it easy to get it done because it is just a habit.
But occasionally there are days, like yesterday, where I am trying to talk myself out of it.
I was doing a great job at giving myself an out.
But deep down I knew it was the right thing to do to go for the walk.
So I implemented my “just a little bit” strategy. This strategy involves talking myself into doing just a little bit. The first step.
I talked myself into getting out of the car and doing just a 5 minute walk.
Simple enough and although it wasn’t easy because of my resistance, it was doable to convince myself to do a super short walk.
Once I got out and moved a bit, my energy and motivation started to shift slightly. So once the 5 minutes was up, I gently nudged myself to do “just a little bit more.”
Afterall the hardest part is starting, and now that I had started the walk, the resistance was dropping.
“Get to the other side of the park.“ Which I did.
And then “Just walk to the beach and back” Which I did.
And then “Let’s walk around the waterfront for just a bit”
In the end, I clocked in a 1 hour and 7 minute walk.
Pretty decent considering I didn’t want to get out of the car!
My body, emotions and mind were so happy for it. My energy levels were way higher all day because of it and I got into work once I got home. I ended up having an epic client call and getting other important tasks ticked off for the day as well.
Something I know I would have struggled with if I hadn’t got the walk in because my energy was so low.
So, what are the important tasks that you need to do for yourself and your business to move it forward?
And could this “little bit more” strategy help to make progress on them?
Here’s to you doing the important actions to create your own amazing business.
I am opening a couple of places in my 1:1 Coaching Program in October. So if you are ready to move your business forward and create meaningful results, then let check out the details of the Kaizen Coaching Program here.
