I was sure I heard this phrase from Tony Fadell on a podcast 4 years ago, but I can’t find attribution or the interview so I’m taking ownership of this quote.
I know we deal with distractions daily, so this has become my guiding mantra. Goals are the only way I move forward. Big goals, small goals, business, personal, etc. Someone shows up with something shiny, even if its cool, and if I can’t figure out how this aligns with my goals, I pass.
Opportunities are everywhere. Distractions are everywhere. For years it was impossible to tell the difference between the two. I often joked “There’s no such thing as good ideas or bad ideas, there are only IDEAS” and this feels like an extension of that.
A few years ago, I would take on almost anything my job would throw at me with the idea that all this would yield new roles, new responsibilities, recognition. And it worked! But the problem is as I took on those responsibilities I came to realize they weren’t really what I wanted. I worked hard to get further down a path toward goal I hadn’t considered if I really wanted.
It isn’t just work, it comes up in my hobbies, my social life, etc.
I’ve taken improv classes and performed several times with various improv groups. I loved it! I have a great time with it! But I’m starting to feel like I’ve “done that” and while I want to maintain relationships with those folks I met in that community, I’m far more interested in seeing how far I can do to make a name for myself as a performer. That is inline for what I wanted for myself as a kid, as an amateur social media personality, etc. I tried stand up. I kept trying. I did OK. I put open mics on my calendar. I got paid a feature spot!
Doing well at comedy is still my long term goal. I’m keeping that on board. But I’m also in the middle of working on growing a podcast. I got asked to work the Radio Milwaukee Fall Ball. Any time I spend going to open mics takes time away from my short term goals. This is the balancing act. Now that short term goal is completed and I go back to carving time for performance.
It shows up in my health too. I can’t just say “I want to get in shape” I need to set a goal of running in a race, and being ready by that date. When I don’t have something on the calendar, it is much easier to put off the workouts. The journey is the thing, and I’ve learned that a goal is how I know to start the journey.
So this is the rough method I’ve come up with, with apologies to Jay Papasan and “The One Thing“
- Write out everything you want to do
- Arrange each item in order of your passion and importance
- Group similar or subsequent goals together
- Prioritize ones with deadlines
- Know that anything that makes the list is important, even if it isn’t important right this second.
This is also a coping mechanism for the side effects of ADHD. My mind is always pulling in different directions, so having that checklist is great for when I feel the intensity of executive dysfunction take hold. I know I either need to find the thing that sparks joy and dopamine. Failing that, I’m going to power through the most important/least enjoyable task. If I’m not going to get that hyperactivity boost no matter what, I might as well do the housework or maintenance item that isn’t fun no matter what.
Blogging might seem like a distraction, but when my goal is to raise my profile online, getting you to read this far is a huge win. Thanks.