There are some secrets to success that we have all been told. Whether it was by a colleague, mentor, or friend, there are some false truths we’ve all held onto while trying to make it in business. While the hearts of the advice-givers may have been in the right place, the information you’ve been fed isn’t entirely accurate when it comes to triumph. In fact, there are three specific lies you’ve been told that could potentially hinder your ability to make it rather than help you reach your pinnacle.
Lie #1: Everything Matters Equally
While each facet of your business requires the same level of care and attention while you’re working on it, it won’t produce the same results and thus shouldn’t be placed at the same spot on the priority list. There is a specific rule that undermines what you’ve been told about everything mattering equally and that’s the 80/20 principle. The 80/20 principle shows that just a small amount of your effort is what leads to the majority of your results.
This means that your priority list should be broken up into sections; the could do’s and the should do’s. The should do’s should always take precedence because they make up the 20 percent efforts ratio that’s going to lead to your victory.
Lie #2: Multitasking Equals Productivity
Multitasking has become a buzzword when it comes to productivity. Being able to complete two tasks at the same time would obviously save you time, right? The problem with this thinking is that it’s not only wrong, it’s hindering your ability to give your all on either project. By switching between tasks, you leave the door open for potential distractions that will end up costing you the time you were trying to save by doing two things at once.
Take for example a scenario in which you are checking your email and receive a phone call. You were focused on the email at hand and then you were focused on the phone call. When you return to the email, it’s highly unlikely you will pick up exactly where you left off. You were probably forced to reread the entire email. This is what is known as the switch cost. Switching between two different tasks will cause you to lose time while you reorient yourself to your original task.
Lie #3: Discipline Is The Key To Success
Discipline is a word that is used often in business as a way to let people know that if they want to succeed, they have to be disciplined. While it’s all good and well to be focused on your goals, discipline is not what drives you to where you want to be; habits do that. It takes discipline to form a habit, but once the habit is in place, it no longer requires the discipline it took to get there.
These lies are not only harmful to success, they can hinder your ability to truly focus on what needs to be done. By adapting to these new truths, you can reach the level of achievement you’ve been dreaming of.
Colin Bradford is a certified MAPS and The One Thing, Coach.