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Do you really know yourself? Have you thoroughly identified, examined and analyzed your thought patterns, activity routines, preferences, abilities and comfort zones? Probably not. Most people never take the time to truly understand how and why they do what they do. Are they afraid of what they will find? Do they judge themselves too harshly? Find too many areas that fall short? What if we look at it in another way? What if instead of judging, berating and spending time and effort trying to improve and change everything that you or "current business wisdom" thinks is wrong; you instead just decide to go with what you've got and learn to make it work for you? Why do we have to label everything good or bad? How about, it just is! This does not mean that you stop striving for efficiency, growth, knowledge and success, but just don't place quite so much focus on it. Perhaps one of the most overlooked, but often most critical component of maximizing your productivity and business and personal success is finding and using what works best for you as an individual or your company as an entity. The news is full of both people and organizations that seem to break all the rules, yet in spite of or maybe because of their quirks still become wildly successful and seem incredibly content. What if your "comfort zone" isn't such a bad place to spend maybe 80% of your time? What's comfortable for you? Some preferences or styles to consider:
For example, my husband prefers to run outside in any weather, at 4AM, in 45 degrees at a moderate pace; while I prefer to run outside as long as it is reasonably nice, at 7AM, in 60 degrees at a good clip, but I take walk breaks if I need them. Both work. I prefer to work at a very fast, focused pace in a solitary environment with music in the background or on my iPod to shut out the world. I also work in comfortable clothes and sometimes in my pajamas and slippers. Others work at a slower, but steady pace and prefer noise or co-workers around them. Many people feel better working in professional attire and make-up. I'll admit that the "experts" including me on occasion have been proponents of "dressing for success" and I still agree on the whole, but if you are one of the few for whom that doesn't feel "right" then by all means ignore that piece of advice. Many a best-selling novel or million dollar deal has been made while wearing "flannels!" Do you prefer to start work early at 5AM, keep "office" hours starting at 9 or are you most productive in the evening? Do you separate each "job," client or project and draw a clear boundary between each as well as your private life or do you intersperse all types of work, play and family and that seems to work for you? Do you prefer to communicate in person, via phone or by email? All are valid and have different advantages and disadvantages. The key to this strategy is to know what is most effective for you. If something is not working for you, i.e. you really could get more done if you got up and started working before the kids woke, but you stay up too late watching TV and don't get out of bed, then by all means CHANGE IT! But if you enjoy conducting business in your bathrobe at noon in your bunny slippers, then just don't use video conferencing please! |