Is that Absolutely Necessary?
Some songs get stuck in my head more than others, A Perfect Circle’s, So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish, is one of those songs. Lyrically, it’s clever, provocative, and sarcastic. That’s what I’ve always appreciated about Maynard James Keenan’s projects: everything is intentional and pushes you to determine the message.
Time is money, and money is time…
We wasted every second dime….
I’ll spare you the rest of the lyrics, but the message that resonates most with me is how much time we spend running around doing things that are not actually important. Maybe they make us feel important, but they really aren’t. It’s a hamster-wheel struggle, and the struggle is real.
For example:
Do you really need to check Twitter three times before lunch?
Is your Facebook feed going that much for you?
If you didn’t live in your inbox, would you get less email? And would any of it seem less urgent? Would most of it?
What if you <gasp!> put your phone away after dinner and didn’t sleep with it next to you?
Sure, you’d have to buy a different alarm clock, and you might actually have to talk to your family, but have you ever thought about what you’re missing by trying not to miss anything?
I’ve been known to scroll through Twitter when I’m looking for a good laugh, sports updates, and even when I’m bored. I’m not self-righteous when it comes to this stuff, so to that end I’m very aware of how unproductive all of this technology makes me too. Once you get going, it gets really noisy. You can’t seem to make it stop, and there’s more to keep up with. It’s not long before the point is missed altogether.
I know people who can’t sell to a prospect unless they’ve been qualified by a click funnel campaign first. I know salespeople who can’t work a trade show or networking event because they’ve never connected with anyone without the use of a keyboard. The technology is there to assist with, not replace, the nuts and bolts of selling.
It’s taken me the better part of three years running my business to realize that most of the things I thought I needed to do don’t really need to be done at all. The blog is nice. I really love writing the weekly emails to my audience. Having a solid reputation on LinkedIn is worthwhile, but if push came to shove, I could make a living selling my services door to door within 5 miles of my house.
I want you to ask yourself a question, right now:
At the most basic level, what do you need to do to continue to grow your business, and what are you doing that probably isn’t as productive (or necessary) as it feels like it is?
Once you answer that question, I want you to ask yourself another question…
If it’s not absolutely necessary to your success, does it need to be done?
When you sort out the unnecessary, you will find less distraction, more focus, and more growth. I also think you’ll notice a lot more quality energy to share with your clients and your closest family and friends (you know, the people you say you’re working so hard to support in the first place).
It’s easy to get caught up in the hamster wheel of unnecessary tasks.
Step off the wheel. Assess what’s really important and necessary. Then act.
Jeff Bajorek
Real. Authentic. Experience.
There’s a big difference between knowing how to sell and being able to. Jeff Bajorek spent over a decade in the field as a top performer. He’s been in your shoes. He knows what it will take. He can help you succeed.
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