How do you accomplish everything?
People often ask me this question. For a while, it puzzled me. Do I really accomplish more than other people? I keep in touch with a lot of active, busy people all doing fun things, so I’m not sure I’m the exception.
But if it’s true, well, I think there are essentially three related answers.
First of all, I don’t accomplish everything –
I don’t like to talk on the phone, so I make an average of two phone calls a day. I don’t watch TV, I don’t drive, I don’t go to meetings that exist for the purpose of having a meeting, and I don’t do things out of obligation. These things can take up a lot of time if you let them. Stop doing them, and you’ll have much more time.
Second, I love what I do –
It’s much easier to accomplish “everything” when “everything” consists of things you are incredibly excited about. This makes a tremendous difference in comparison to trying to accomplish things you are dispassionate or only semi-motivated by.
It’s easier to trip over this concept if you have a job or other ongoing commitment you don’t enjoy—but if that’s the case, it just makes it all the more important to spend the rest of your time on things you’re motivated by. (If you lose 40 of your best hours a week to something you don’t care about, don’t you want to make the most of the remaining hours?)
Third, I accomplish a lot of things because I work at them –
This is perhaps the answer that some people tend to miss the most.
I work as much as I can, every day, from wherever I am. I carry a paper notebook with me everywhere, and my laptop bag almost everywhere. I outline ideas and project notes on the bus. I write emails in the back of taxis taking me to or from the airport. When I go to sleep, the notebook is on the floor beside the bed in case I remember something I need to do in the morning.
Two weeks ago in Toronto, I had a great gig at Indigo Books with Neil Pasricha and a bunch of other fun people. The whole gig, from setup to mingle to talk to Q&A to signing to “bookstore stuff” to small afterparty, took about four hours. Great turnout, great people, grateful author.
After it was over, I went to Starbucks and replied to emails for two hours. Then I started writing this post. The next day, I had a day off from the tour, but I didn’t do much sightseeing. Instead, I went back to another coffee shop and worked for most of the morning and afternoon. I like seeing fun people at the meetups, but without all the time I spend working by myself, no one would care and no one would come out.
Please understand, this isn’t bad or unhealthy—I have a great life. I do what I want. I visit 20+ countries a year. I just wrapped up a book tour to every U.S. state and Canadian province. Everywhere I go, I hear amazing stories from remarkable people. This is the life I’ve freely chosen with no regrets.
***
Perhaps one final example would better illustrate the third answer. Steve Cohen, the “Millionaire’s Magician,” was profiled by my friend Jonathan recently. I loved this quote from Steve in the interview:
I want to address the incoming emails I receive from magicians around the world who ask me to teach them how to replicate my career. They come visit my show, which is sold-out weeks in advance, and say, “I want that.” The problem is that they only see the final result. They do not see the years of struggle and creative thought that went into creating that result.
Here you can see the behind-the-curtain: the years of struggle and creative thought. Many of us don’t like to hear about those things, but that’s how it goes: nothing works unless you do. Without an ongoing struggle to conquer resistance and produce something meaningful, there is no path to success or renown, at least not the respectable kind.
Don’t accomplish everything; just do what counts.
Spend as much of your time as possible doing work you love.
Work smarter and harder.
That’s pretty much it.
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Image: Mikey
February 4, 2011
John Galt
Let there be no confusion – it is almost always true that people have more time available than they think. If you maximize the utilization of time in general, you will become shocked at how productive you can be. Figure out what is important to you, and then dedicate all of your energy to those things. You’ll be shocked at how much you can accomplish.
February 4, 2011
kyle
It is really easy to get distracted. Next thing you know it is time to sleep and my list is still left undone. I must concentrate!
February 5, 2011
Christian
Enjoyed the take-away. Work smarter and harder. When you have an overabundance of love for what you do, it makes it much easier. My Father has always told me; do what you love. Make it your life; and your work.
February 6, 2011
Ricardo Bueno
I think that folks tend to focus (or go after) that BIG result. They chase and dream of turning into an over-night success. When really, you get there by putting in the work little by little…little victories, day in and day out that inch you closer to your goals day by day. That’s progress.
When you can go to bed with a sense of accomplishment, knowing that you did something good today (helped someone, completed something), and wake up ready to rock the day ahead, you know you’ve done good.
That’s the way I think of it anyway and that’s how I tackle each of my days. I love what I do. And I love knowing/feeling that I’ve worked hard to accomplish something today whether it’s helping someone reach their goals or moving myself closer to mine.
P.S. Picked up a copy of your book yesterday… Read it today and hope to finish it tomorrow. Great read amigo, great read…
February 6, 2011
Anthony
Its all about real thinking, not just positive thinking that will get you there. Great inspiring article.
February 6, 2011
Roy
This is a great article Chris. I love how the “secret” is to work harder and smarter. There are no shortcuts, no schemes, just DO.
February 6, 2011
GutsyWriter
I shocked my 85-year-old dad when I visited him in Paris, ten days ago and ended up going to Starbucks at Chatelet-les-Halles, with my laptop and working on my synopsis for five hours straight, rather than visiting museums or the Centre Pompidou. I actually enjoyed seeing how Parisians order their lattes and Chai teas, something I believed would never have caught on, twenty years ago, and yet I realize, we’re all the same, all over the world. You know what I mean.
February 6, 2011
Craig Shank
Just like bad habits pile up, so do good ones. You become complacent one step at a time, but you can also become exceptional one step at a time. Little changes over time can lead you to the life and habits you want without burning out or getting overwhelmed.
February 10, 2011
Jon Wilburn
“Don’t accomplish everything; just do what counts.”
True words. I have been told this by many a mentor. We simply cannot do everything. I wanted to at one time, and it’s still a struggle to get focused on a few things. More and more I see the importance though.
Thanks,
Jon
February 19, 2011
Hans Lussenburg
Most definitely worth reading and a joy to read at that. I loved every minute I did not waste on reading this most excellent blog posting.
Your post also reminded me of what Jeffry Combs, of Golden Mastermind and More Heart Than Talent fame, often says. “The TV is the great income reducer, turn it off or get rid of it.”
Thank you Chris for your most excellent thoughts and advise. As an ADD type, this sort of advise is the mother-load of practical and applicable information. Thank you so very much Sir !
Hans Lussenburg
)
Nanaimo, BC
July 14, 2011
Jetaun
This is something I’ll have to start putting into practice. I don’t do enough of getting done what I want to get done and more time doing what doesn’t fulfill me or further my own dreams. Now that I’m planning it, it’s not as difficult as I first believed. Actually seems like it will be easy once I take the first step.