Tip: What’s On Your ‘NOT To Do’ list – Stop These Habits
There are thousands of articles, books, TED talks, workshops, webinars on how to effectively prioritize your ‘To do list’ to get everything done. The most important aspect of your day is to access what things you need to STOP doing.
You have habits and behaviors that are tripping you up and holding you back.
Having worked with people from all walks of life and professions as I have, I notice effective and ineffective patterns. Especially, these seven (7) all too common things that hold you back.
Take a deep breath and read this list. As you read, ask yourself which ones you need to stop doing right now and which ones you can change later.
- Stop procrastination—putting things off, until tomorrow, is a motivation killer. Prioritize: 1. Urgent & Important, 2. Urgent & Not Important. 3, Important & Not Urgent, 4. Not Urgent & Not Important (A fun item to have/do if possible). Then, access your ‘To Do List’ accordingly as you complete each item or add an item.
- Stop taking advice from those who aren’t on your path. Too often people take advice from people who have no experience in the area they need help. Would you take financial advice from a high school drop-out? The answer is no unless she/he has amassed wealth or significant success. It doesn’t make sense. I understand there might be other things that are holding you back. Self-awareness is a critical skill you need to develop. Improvement in any area of your business and personal life will increase your success.
- Stop blaming others, things or circumstances–Lack of time—too busy, Lack of Results, etc. Everyone is busy. Yet, some people get more done in the same time. Time or lack of it, aren’t the issues. You have the same amount of time as everyone else. If you have difficulty meeting deadlines, either you are setting unrealistic time or you have difficulty prioritizing and driving the project to the deadline. You need to analyze how long it takes to complete each step and plan accordingly.
- Stop avoiding responsibility—Take responsibility for the good, the bad and the ugly. When you fail to take responsibility no matter how insignificant the issue, you are then blind to what needs your attention. You have a team, but that doesn’t mean you are off the hook. The end-result is still on you—the boss, team leader, entrepreneur. Achievers delegate the tasks, but not the responsibility.
- Stop being possessive of yours or others’ ideas. As the boss, team leader or entrepreneur, your ideas are integral to what excites and motivates yourself and employees. The spark of an idea has what placed you on your path. However, ideas are rarely a home run in one swing. Your idea gets the ball rolling. Accept your ideas will be tweaked and modified. That is the good news you hired a talented team to take ideas to the fullest extent. An excellent book, Getting To Plan B, is full of examples of companies adapting from the original idea. Google initially refused to allow advertising which seemed too commercial. Plan B was devised and it has worked well.
- Stop assuming YOU can do it alone. You are either an employee or an entrepreneur, not a super-hero. You need to continue your growth, educate yourself on business acumen and relationships. You need to learn the right tools for your responsibilities. No one reaches great heights of success and can say, “I did it all by myself.” If someone says that, they are not acknowledging all those who contributed.
- Stop being the ‘Pleaser’ for everyone and everything. Everyone wants to be liked. Being liked isn’t important. Being respected is the key. People can like you and not respect you. When you cultivate respect you have a strong foundation to create a strong personal and work environment. Achievers seek results, not approval. Stop chasing being ‘liked.’
Studies reveal that developing a conscious plan helps you get started with overcoming bad habits. Telling yourself, “I’m going to stop wasting time surfacing the internet,” expecting to succeed is foolhardy. You need to have a well-defined plan to create a positive habit to replace the bad habit.
About Dr. Dorothy:
Dorothy M. Neddermeyer, Ph.D., Metaphysician – Certified Hypnosis Practitioner, Author, and Speaker. Dr. Dorothy facilitates clearing blocks, fears, and limiting beliefs. You can live the life you desire. She brings awareness to concepts not typically obvious to one’s thoughts and feelings.http://www.drdorothy.