“Work smarter not harder.” - Duh!

The way we approach annual goals, meaning our specific work practices as opposed to sheer effort, does indeed provide greater results. Think about those goals you have previously identified for the year. Are you making forward progress? Is your pace of progress on track?

Confined only by walls you build With the mid-year mark approaching, circle back on those goals and key activities being engaged. Are you working harder? Smarter? Neither? Both?

If you find yourself working harder, be aware! You are spread too thin and falling into the complexity trap. Thus, working smarter holds great truth. Confirm that you have clear direction, reclarify your goals, and literally focus on “fewer” activities.

The smart way to work is literally “do less, then obsess.” By no means does this imply slacking off – quite the contrary. Author of Great at Work, Moten Hanson, sums it up perfectly – “As few as you can, as many as you must.” By this he means we should do everything possible to discard non-essential activities. Take the fewest steps – while retaining everything necessary to do great work. Rather than “do more, then stress” we should “do less, then obsess.”

Reconfirm those goals. Recognize the most critical activities needed. Invest huge efforts into each activity and obsess over them!

What will you obsess about?

Please share your thoughts in the comments section below as I learn just as much from you as you do from me.

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