“So what do you need to do together with your life?”
Tim Ferriss sat throughout from me, at a boutique lodge by a brackish seashore in Lamu Island, Kenya.
It was July, 2011. I used to be simply shy of 26 years previous.
It was an enormous query, and greater than something on the earth at that second, I wished to impress him.
He had been my hero for years, I had learn his first e book 7 instances, and his capability to seemingly bend actuality to his will round him was already gaining legendary standing.
We had run into one another and had a pleasant alternate, simply two Lengthy Island boys on the health club in Cooper Sq., NYC a couple of years earlier, and when the chance to spend 10 days collectively touring arose along with his newest e book launch, I jumped throughout it.
I advised him a bit about my burgeoning profession in equities buying and selling, my targets and desires. I had misplaced my dad unexpectedly the yr earlier than, and I used to be clearly nonetheless spinning a bit.
He thought for a minute, and eventually stated: “Do you need to go to North Korea?”
I couldn’t course of the query – “Why?” was all I might muster.
Tim: I feel it might be good for you, my good friend is operating a mastermind group there.
Me: Who’s your good friend?
Tim: I can’t inform you that, he’s a personal however well-known individual.
Me: Are YOU going to North Korea?
Tim: No.
Me: {File not discovered}
Suffice to say, I didn’t go to North Korea, however after I obtained dwelling and recovered from the malaria I contracted that very evening on the journey (mosquito nets, individuals) I obtained an electronic mail from Neil Strauss, who had simply gotten again with a small group to North Korea for a brand new mastermind group he had began, to assist males evolve into their finest selves.
Not prepared to tempt destiny by ‘refusing the decision’ a second time, I rang his crew up, and joined immediately.
Little did I do know, I’d lastly enter my entrepreneurial incubation interval, surrounded by individuals who I’d study invaluable classes with, touring the world, and eventually changing into a extra productive, efficient and aligned model of myself.
Now I’m simply shy of 40, and for a few years I’ve been constructing, main, becoming a member of, and serving to individuals launch and scale numerous mastermind teams, all of the whereas assembly and studying from all sorts of profitable individuals.
Masterminds are nonetheless my primary hack, the one factor I’d deal with if I might solely deal with one factor. Executed proper, they’re the most important pressure multiplier in my life.
3 of the companies I’ve began have hit the 7 determine mark, and I’m nonetheless in love with the sport, studying, rising and sharing what I study as I’m going.
One factor I consider holds quite a lot of entrepreneurs again is a failure to persistently prioritize and keep on observe towards their targets.
All of us need what we do to matter, as a substitute of attending to the top of the day and feeling such as you ‘did quite a lot of stuff’ however nothing necessary obtained finished.
It additionally sucks when there’s extra ‘month’ on the finish of the cash.
Each entrepreneur has additionally confronted that overwhelming feeling of staring down an extended checklist of duties, unclear on the place to begin. It’s straightforward to get misplaced within the swirl of to-dos, conferences, emails, and messages that demand our consideration.
Nonetheless, with out clear priorities, progress stalls, and because the good e book says: “And not using a imaginative and prescient, individuals perish.”
Or binge watch Netflix and doom scroll on Insta.
The power to hone in on what issues most is usually what separates the people who find themselves thriving from simply surviving or worse, giving up solely.
On this article, we’ll discover a couple of key productiveness hacks and mindset shifts to assist entrepreneurs (such as you!) prioritize successfully, keep movement, and obtain outcomes that really matter.
Tony Robbins RPM
Probably the most impactful ideas I discovered from Tony Robbins is the RPM technique—Outcomes, Goal, Huge Motion.
Merely put, it’s about getting clear on what you need (outcomes), understanding why it issues (function), after which aligning your power and actions to realize it (huge motion).
Many individuals have countless to-do lists, checking off small duties that preserve them busy however not essentially productive. They haven’t outlined what success appears to be like like or why it’s necessary to them. Whenever you outline your outcomes, you get readability. Whenever you perceive your function, you construct drive.
And if you decide to huge motion, you create momentum. 1% higher per day doesn’t look like a lot, but it surely compounds, 3778% higher in a yr, in actual fact.
The three×5 Observe Card Approach
One of many easiest, simplest hacks I’ve adopted for prioritization comes from, you guessed it, Mr. Tim Ferriss: the three×5 be aware card approach.
Each night, I write down 3-5 high-priority duties that have to be accomplished earlier than anything the next morning. You’re pressured to be clear, exact and temporary, and you’ll’t match an excessive amount of crap on the cardboard.
For me, one of the best time to sort out this checklist is correct after I get up, throughout my best hours.
Earlier than checking my cellphone, emails, or social media, I dive straight into this prioritized work. This has the twin profit of making a transparent path for the day and benefiting from my peak psychological readability.
Issues which are priorities for the longer term, are placed on the calendar to be positioned on one other card for one more day, or discarded if they’re now not related after we get there.
I work on priorities and train within the morning, and talk and take calls within the afternoon.
I try to get rid of, automate, or delegate something and all the things that’s not a thousand greenback an hour activity or extra.
That’s it.
What makes this methodology highly effective is its simplicity. It forces you to confront what really issues and can transfer the ball ahead every day. When your duties are restricted to solely a handful, the impetus to execute on these particular objects will increase, and the chance of attaining them turns into larger.
Reaching movement, that state of full immersion and heightened productiveness, is essential for tackling high-priority duties successfully.
Steven Kotler, a world main movement professional I had the pleasure of getting dinner with not way back in Scottsdale AZ, shared a easy hack that has helped him write 14 books and counting, lots of them bestsellers:
Edit your writing from the day gone by.
This methodology eases you into movement since you’re revisiting present content material, which naturally engages your thoughts and eliminates the friction that usually comes with beginning recent.
In my very own routine, I mix this idea with one other productiveness hack—listening to the identical songs on repeat.
I do know it would sound odd, however taking part in tracks like “Animals” by Martin Garrix and “Tsunami” on loop offers a rhythmic background that helps me keep centered for hours. No lyrics, no distractions, and also you practice your mind to understand it’s ‘go’ time when that individual music comes on.
With that type of sustained focus, I can simply knock out 2,000-3,000 phrases in a sitting. Lately, I used to be capable of prove a 42,000 phrase manuscript for my 4th e book in 21 days.
The secret’s beginning instantly within the morning. Don’t wait, don’t hesitate. Leap straight into it, and movement will comply with. Begin the place you’re, and preserve going. You bought this.
When to Shift Priorities: Well being, Household, Enterprise
The problem of priorities isn’t simply realizing what to deal with; it’s realizing when these priorities ought to shift. For entrepreneurs, priorities ought to fall right into a hierarchy: well being, household, and enterprise.
- Well being First: In case you’re not wholesome, you’ll be able to’t assist anybody else. Bodily and psychological well-being is the inspiration upon which all different achievements are constructed.
- Household Subsequent: These are the relationships that make life value dwelling. Success with out somebody to share it with is the last word failure. A scarcity of household focus can result in attaining outcomes that really feel empty. This contains not simply your default household, however your loved ones of selection, your trip or die individuals, your sisters from different misters, your brothers from different moms.
- Then Enterprise: Your profession is important for offering the assets to assist your life, but it surely mustn’t come on the expense of your well being or household.
Nonetheless, life is unpredictable, and there are occasions when imminent hazard, sudden alternatives, or private emergencies necessitate a brief shift in priorities.
The secret’s to acknowledge when to regulate with out dropping sight of your final imaginative and prescient and targets. And getting again on observe as rapidly as attainable.
the significance of constructing and sustaining relationships.
Right here’s a fast overview of how the matrix works:
- Low Outcomes / Low Relationships: Folks received’t be part of or keep in your group (e.g., mastermind, crew) in the event that they don’t see outcomes or really feel related.
- Low Outcomes / Excessive Relationships: If individuals are solely in your group for the relationships, they’ll finally really feel like they’re simply paying to hang around with mates, resulting in dissatisfaction.
- Excessive Outcomes / Low Relationships: Folks get the outcomes they need however depart rapidly as a result of there’s no sense of household or connection conserving them engaged.
- Excessive Outcomes / Excessive Relationships: The candy spot. Folks keep, obtain their targets, construct significant relationships, and assist unfold your message to others, making a cycle of development and success, together with that recurring income all of us must thrive.
The aim for any entrepreneur, chief, or group builder is to attempt for this high-results, high-relationships quadrant. This stability creates sustained success, whether or not in enterprise masterminds or different ventures.
I consider that relationships are to be prioritized larger than money- they’ll and do grow to be infinitely extra helpful as time goes on, and the best relationship on the proper time can create infinite cash.
Steve and Steve at Apple, Invoice and Steve at Microsoft, Larry and Sergei at Google, Mark and Sheryl at Meta, and so forth.
Taking good care of individuals, including worth to their lives, and persistently constructing over time implies that you have been there earlier than they ‘blew up’ when everybody now desires a chunk of their success for their very own causes.
All of the ‘Johnny come latelies” have to face in line whilst you can proceed to be a helpful and trusted good friend, confidant and associate, rising and profitable collectively.
Individuals are at all times shocked at who I do know, and I might write a complete e book simply on that one slim subject, however I’ll depart you with a pair inquiries to ponder for now: ‘Do it’s good to know all the things if you already know all people? How are you going to dig the effectively earlier than you want it so you’re by no means thirsty for the remainder of your life?”
It’s not onerous, per se, but it surely does require self-discipline, consistency and giving a rattling. Your values aren’t your values except you’ll be able to select them when selecting is tough. When selecting them means you might lose one thing else you worth, at the least within the quick time period, to win the lengthy sport.
The Tony Hawk Story: Realigning Priorities
Upon getting readability in your priorities, the subsequent step is to speak them successfully. Whether or not it’s inside your loved ones, crew, or broader group, clear communication is essential to make sure everyone seems to be on the identical web page and understands the explanations behind your selections.
Transparency fosters belief and eliminates pointless friction. By aligning your priorities together with your actions and phrases, you create an atmosphere the place these round you already know what to anticipate and the way to assist you.
Take, for instance, the legendary skateboarder Tony Hawk, as associated on the “Blocks” podcast with Neal Brennan.
For years, Hawk would make his household depressing if he missed a trick after engaged on all of it day.
The frustration he felt would spill over into his interactions, creating stress at dwelling. They weren’t enrolled in his imaginative and prescient. He felt remoted, they felt disregarded.
Finally, his household helped him realign his priorities, and he adopted a more healthy perspective on his efficiency.
Remarkably, this shift didn’t make him a worse skater—in actual fact, it made him a happier one.
This story is a strong reminder that as we undergo life, our priorities should evolve, particularly once they’re inflicting destructive externalities in {our relationships} or well being.
Development doesn’t at all times imply sacrificing what’s necessary to you; typically, it’s about reshaping your method to create a extra sustainable concord between your priorities.
Stability could also be elusive and never an amazing goal to intention for, however an amazing music has a concord that ebbs and flows to create an exquisite expertise.
Constructing Wealth and Sustaining Priorities
For entrepreneurs seeking to construct wealth, the trail isn’t at all times easy.
As you develop, your priorities ought to shift in a manner that protects your wealth whereas fostering development.
Consider it like this:
- Revenue First: The quickest technique to wealth is to extend your revenue. Deal with buying abilities like management, negotiation, gross sales, and private growth that can help you commerce up for greater and higher belongings and revenue streams.
- Safety and Security: When you’ve constructed a basis, the subsequent precedence is defending that wealth by diversified investments, emergency funds, and danger administration. That is HARD as a result of what obtained you right here, received’t get you the place you need to go subsequent. You have to study to play offense AND protection to win video games persistently, and know when to modify gears and why. In any other case, all the things you constructed might go away.
- Development and Danger Buckets: With safety in place, you’ll be able to then search development alternatives and take calculated dangers, whereas persevering with to maintain ‘the principle factor the principle factor’ and develop your revenue, whereas leveraging your capital successfully over the long run, creating and buying belongings that can help you obtain monetary escape velocity.
Balancing these monetary priorities together with your private {and professional} targets will can help you create a life the place success doesn’t come on the expense of well-being or achievement.
On a private be aware: I’ve gotten all of this flawed earlier than, and this text is simply as a lot a reminder for me as it could additionally enable you.
It’s my honest hope that at the least considered one of these methods enable you discover what you’re on the lookout for, since you are value it and deserve one of the best in life.
Wherever you’re in your journey, I see you and it will get higher. Preserve combating the nice battle.
Okay, let’s recap:
Key Takeaways: Your Information to Prioritization
- Begin Every Day with Intentional Motion: Use the 3×5 be aware card approach to determine 3-5 high-impact duties every night earlier than signing off.
- Discover and Shield Your Move: Interact in actions that enable you obtain a state of movement, like modifying work from the day earlier than or listening to a repetitive playlist.
- Outcomes and Relationships: Use the to make sure you’re hitting the mark in each areas, and conserving your eyes on the prize.
- Alter When Vital: Be versatile and prepared to shift your priorities briefly primarily based on well being, household, or enterprise wants.
- Lead with Transparency: Talk your priorities successfully to create alignment with these round you.
- Construct Wealth with Prioritization in Thoughts: Deal with rising revenue first, then transfer on to safety, development, and calculated dangers.
By understanding and making use of these rules, you may make every day rely, obtain your targets extra effectively, and shock your self with how your productiveness skyrockets.