#WakeUpWednesday Myth Busting; Activity Does Not Always Equal Productivity
The definition of insanity, you know the saying, “doing the same thing over and over expecting a different result.” What I find so interesting about this notion is that so often we find ourselves doing activity for the sake of doing it, focusing on what we know and playing it “safe” instead of taking risks and learning something new in favor of gaining results.
So then, how do you know if you're doing the right activities and thus truly driving productivity?
Having walked through this question myself multiple times, I have created a resource for those that are struggling to achieve outcomes. My goal is for you to have a way to evaluate current activity and to explore how to evolve the activity to accomplish true productivity. The following ideas are from my own experience of embracing change and evolving as a means for getting things done.
At the end of each day, how much energy do you have?
Have you ever met someone and you were baffled by how much they got done in a day and managed to still be pleasant and excited about what they are doing?
That person more than likely knows where they are going and is taking daily action in alignment with where they want to be. This is a person that has tapped into what they love to do and are renewing their energy all day long, investing activity in where they are going.
At the beginning of your day, do you have clear objectives or do you “wing it.”
When you are part of a system that has a strategy and a desired outcome, there is no question about what your daily activities should be. My experience is that once I decided where I was going and reverse engineered a plan, my daily actions also became very clear. Getting clear on your desired outcome, generates a clear daily path resulting in activities that are productive.
Ask yourself, Do I know where I am going and why?
Once you have asked yourself that question, the next action is very obvious. Decide where you want to go. I love this question, because it is not exclusive
to business, this is a BIG LIFE question. What do you want? Where do you want to go? Who will be making those choices? The neat thing is, to me, is that you get to make it up! And then decide what organization you would like to be a part of, what kind of role you would like, if you are going to have children or not. The world is your canvas, paint!
It is very difficult to demonstrate your effectiveness if the activities you are engaged with are not in alignment with creating results. Often times, it takes feedback from others and input because you might not see an alternative to the path you are on, because it has been all you know. In my life, I have experienced feedback and opportunities that have allowed me to see that sometimes the actions I am taking and using up all my time on are not actually generating any results, and therefore not being productive. Start with these questions and then start asking for input, ask a neutral third party what they think, discover new ways of doing things. Ultimately, realize that you have the capacity to create whatever you want in life and that taking action towards your end goal is up to you and readily available! Be productive by taking the action in alignment with where you want to go and don't forget to enjoy the journey along the way.
Lindsey Rainwater is a consultant and coach to the fitness and wellness industry. She specializes in business development and leadership. Currently she is working with the Fitmarc Team helping Health Club owners all over the south central region of the united states propel their business forward via group exercise solutions. For more information about Lindsey, follow her @lindseyrainh2o, all content posted at www.lindseyrainh2o.com