As a leader, there are few practices as effective as journaling. I recently pulled out one of my journals and read from a page dated “Day 115 In Old Blue” - referring to the old blue cabin my family and I lived in while we built our new home.
Reading that journal entry brings back old memories, especially of listening to Tim Ferriss’ The 4-Hour Workweek on audiobook. Focusing on productivity must have been inspiring me on that particular day because on that page, I have written:
“Am I being productive, or just active?”
Right below that question, I asked myself:
“Am I inventing things to do to avoid doing the important?”
A final little scribble at the bottom says:
“You create stress because you feel like you have to.”
There are so many times in our lives when we feel that we can’t possibly have any extra bandwidth for more stress. Yet, we constantly fill our minds with to-dos that somehow magically become must-dos.
If we are going to build a life of true wealth, then we need to protect those parts of our lives that prepare us for our future while enjoying our present.
What aspects of today are we wasting on must-dos that aren’t necessary?
When The Must-Dos Steal Your Joy
We don't have a single ounce of extra bandwidth in today's society. We find ourselves constantly needing to make a financial or wealth-based decision - and we feel as though we have to make it fast.
Think of the last time you had an investment opportunity to buy a “lifestyle asset” - something like motor toys or a trailer that gets you and your family out into the adventure of life.
But then you don’t act. You don’t move on to that opportunity because you procrastinate or focus on the wrong must-do list.
Let’s be honest: It’s far easier just to stick our heads in the sand than to do something - even something that will bring us closer to our goal of personal wealth and happiness.
When those big decisions about lifestyle opportunities arise, wouldn't it be nice to have extra bandwidth in our brain to make those leaps of faith?
Boosting Your Bandwidth
The key to recovering your bandwidth is found in reprioritizing your time and efforts.
What is driving your ultimate happiness? Knowing that makes it very easy to start separating your current tasks into two camps:
Those tasks that bring you closer to your goals
Those tasks that you are creating to stay busy and procrastinate
Maybe you are creating stress because you feel like you have to.
Many business leaders and entrepreneurs feel that a state of constant growth-based chaos means that they are successful. It becomes the standard operating procedure for success.
What if your success doesn’t have to feel like that? What if you are at a point where you could potentially put your business on cruise control - and take back the bandwidth you need to live the life you’ve always wanted?
It’s Time To Take Down The Roadblocks
Stop trying to put up roadblocks that keep you from creating more obstacles. You shouldn’t be busier today than you were ten years ago!
Business expert Michael Gerber put it best in his book “The E Myth”: You're not actually a business owner until your business can run for 30 to 60 days without you. You should be able to step away from your daily leadership and invest in those lifestyle assets or activities and come back to a smoothly-running, profitable business.
Getting to that point requires leaps of trust and strategic delegation. With your team, yes. But most of all - with you.
What are you creating today that is keeping you from achieving your dreams of true wealth today?
Write those down, then cross them out. Find ways to free up your time so that decisions can flow freely and you can start living a life of fulfillment right now.
Want to hear more great lessons on life, happiness, and true wealth? Check out the Picture of Wealth podcast - hosted by Dustin Serviss. Discover the tips, tricks, and insights that unlock a life well spent. Listen today where you listen to podcasts.