LifeThought: When things aren’t adding up, start subtracting!

When things aren’t adding up in your life, start subtracting. – Unknown

For way too long, I’ve been a “Yes-Man”! I have a tendency to say “yes” to too many things and, as a result, I often find myself trying to do too many things and, as a result, not doing any of them to the best of my ability. Can you relate?

Most of us are simply too busy. We’ve bought into the myth that multitasking is a good thing. It’s not! Many studies show that by focusing on one task at a time you can get more things done with higher quality and in less time than by trying to do multiple things at once.

I highly recommend the book “The ONE Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results” by Gary Keller & Jay Papasan. It will open your eyes to how you can be more successful by focusing on one thing, the most important thing, at the time, instead of trying to do many things at once.

This is not only true in the tasks and activities of our lives, but it is also true in our relationships.

Examine your life to see how many relationships–friends, family, co-workers–you are trying to maintain. A careful examination will probably show that you are spending too much time trying to please too many people. Saying “no” more often will allow you to say “yes” to the people who really matter in your life.

Busy doesn’t equate to success. Busy people say “yes” to just about everything. Extraordinarily successful people say “no” to just about everything. Which do you want to be: busy or successful?

If you are not getting the results you want from your work or your relationships, instead of adding something else, give a seriously look at your life to see what you can start subtracting.

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Do you agree or disagree with what I’ve written? I’d love to hear your comments!

2 thoughts on “LifeThought: When things aren’t adding up, start subtracting!

  1. Laura Babbitt

    Bruce, your thoughts help me a lot. How very kind it is for you to provide guidance through email. I’ve decided I’m going to work on balance this year. This feels like a helpful site for that. What are you working on in 2014? Thank you, and blessings on your work.

    1. Bruce Post author

      Laura, thank you for your comment and kind words. Finding balance in our lives is a worthy goal, but it can also trick us into giving equal time to unequal priorities. I’d like to encourage you to strive to give higher priority, time and energy to the important things in your life and less to the less important! I’m working on the very same thing this year!

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