Chasing Our Tails

ever feel like you're doing a whole series of anything in particular?

very busy achieving not much at all?

going around in circles (professionally, emotionally, socially, financially, physically )?

to make a decision, do not follow through on it?

to lose weight, put it back on?

Save some money, spend more?

Stand up for yourself, himself a compromise?

Stand up for yourself, himself a compromise?

...

two steps forward, three back?

...

two steps forward, three back?

...

to get motivated, get unmotivated?

In addition ... things are great.

They say insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expect a different outcome.

This is what many of us do.

We know it's dumb.

but we do it anyway.

While we intellectually understand "if you want to be different, we need to do different concept, too many of us seem to be trapped in a perpetual cycle of frustration.

chasing the tail of one hundred and first

Yesterday morning I spoke with a man whose life is chaotic to say the least.
Chaotic and do not meet them.

He works three jobs (two part-time), spends two hours a day traveling to and from these activities, the study of the time, he has a girlfriend he can not see, is overweight, constantly starting and stopping weight -loss efforts and fitness campaign, constantly beating up due to lack of willpower, not eating ... then eat too much, is frustrated, there is no money in the bank, despite his three jobs, is still paying off debt is not a business venture, and in general .... one is miserable, frustrated puppy.

He's got three p.m. ball in the air ... and he can not be manipulated!

As I was talking to him I began to see how difficult life event.
He was encouraged to get ahead.
But not in a productive, smart, this-is-fun-and-reward-way, more in a. .. "kill-yerself-by-the-time-yer to thirty five '... way.
More in a. .. 'go-as-mad-as-you-fall-down-from-exhaustion'.... way.

If you looked up the word disorganized, you'd see a picture of him.

He did not have a (smart) plan.

He was chaos.

That got me to thinking about the amazing ability we all have to chase our tails.

I've gone through moments of my personal journey and evolution of my job where I felt like I was constantly chasing my tail, makes way too much time and energy, for how little return on my investment.

Here's what I learned:

(1) We can not do ten things (i) at the same time (we think we can, we can not).
When we spread ourselves too thin (time, energy, resources), we tend to do ten things badly, but a few things well. One of the biggest lessons I learned in business is the importance of surrounding yourself with great people who have the skills, abilities, time and knowledge that I do not .... and then letting them do what I can.
If you do not have the luxury of helpers (as I have not for most of my life), it is crucial that you have priority, to do some things well and put other things on hold.
Do not do ten things badly.

(2) It is important that we get space, clarity, perspective and distance from our daily grind. It is impossible to be objective about it ... when we are in him. Sometimes when we are away from our typical situation is when we have the best head-space and make the best (big picture) decisions. Have you ever noticed how much clarity and perspective you get on your life / career / relationships when you are on vacation or away from their "normal" state.

(3) be continued.

and quietly.

Stop rushing.

Stop chasing tail.

For a moment ... or a few moments.

Step out of chaos and repetition, even for an hour.

on a regular basis.

pray, read, think ... explore the spiritual you.

Turn off the phone, TV, computer (you'll be fine), noise and listen.

Listen to that still, small voice.

Stop drowning out the real you with mayhem.

Stop stunting their growth and development with non-productive, un-rewarding busy-ness.

Find a place where you can turn the switch to 'off' and just be.

When I'm quiet and still, when I really heard of .... me.

(4) Use a mentor, friend, coach will help you gain perspective among the chaos.
I find someone who will tell you what you want to hear. Find someone like me who cares .. But the blunt, sometimes offensive (!) and honest. Short-term pain ... for some long term benefits. Too many people surround themselves with 'fans' who constantly tell them what they want they want to hear.
When you ask for feedback, do not ask with fingers in their ears.
At a meeting a few years ago I asked my staff to the need to change to become a better boss.
They told me.
Mmm, there's a reality check for you.

(5) oldie but goodie: work smarter not (necessarily) harder. Some of us have this stupid belief that it takes sweat, suffer and grind our way to the top. Some discomfort is necessary (as we discussed), but hey, it makes it harder than it should be just stupid! For a long time I have made ​​my life harder than it needed to be, because I did not make the best use of my time and skills.
I created additional, unnecessary work and trouble for myself.
Ask yourself these three questions:

) Am I to (whatever that is) the most efficient way?

b) What can I do right now to change my status (or at least start the wheels turning )?

c) How is my attitude (beliefs, perspectives) contribute to the cycle of frustration?

(6) As boring and obvious that this piece of advice is ... Many of us still do not seem (I hate sounding like a typical personal development guy, so forgive me ):

set goals, have a to-do lists, create plans, work schedule ... be structured and organized .. so that your productivity is up and their frustration is down. Most people do not set goals, plan and manage time effectively (if at all).
Do not get up tomorrow and do what you did today ... Just because it's what you've always done.

If you always do what you've always done ... You'll always get what you always got!

If you were a common tail-chaser, maybe today (even now) it might be time to stop.