When asked how he thought about the next 5-10 years in his business, Peter Dering - founder of Peak Design, a $100M travel/camera accessory ecom business - put his hand up to his face, and said, “This is how far I can see. Six inches.”
Principle: Whatever hinders your task is your task
If you’ve ever accomplished a goal you’ve had for 5 years, you already know: that’s not how you expected to get there when you set the goal.
The truth is, you’re almost never capable of mapping a jungle you’ve never hacked through before. It’s sort of funny the way we always think we can.
Instead of mapping, face the direction you want to go, then focus only on hacking the vines six inches in front of your face.
Tactics
The Pareto Principle says… you already know.
But the math keeps getting more sexy if you keep zooming in. In a heavy-tail reality, 1% of efforts can yield roughly half your results. If it’s the right 1%.
If you have a team (or are even just solo) start 3 days in the week by spending 30 minutes identifying today’s 1% efforts.
It’ll feel pointless and like a waste of time (especially while customers are sending complaint emails, phones are ringing, and inboxes are filling up), but trust the process, padawan.
The important quadrant will beat the urgent quadrant every time if you give it its due.
When those 30 mins are over, ignore your email and go right to work on those 1% moves.
Habits
Start 3 days next week using this method. You’ll get so much done, you’ll probably add a fourth.
God speed,
Mike
Today’s inspiration: How to Start a 100 Year Old Company