Something different (but super important)
“Follow effective action with quiet reflection.
From the quiet reflection will come even more effective action”
- Peter Drucker
This is one of my favourite quotes, and a timely reminder that we have to slow down to speed up.
It’s beyond marketing, and business - and taps more into how we approach our week.
How we do one thing, is how we do anything, and I’ve realised if we truly we want to grow [marketing, business, personal], then we need to allow time to pause, and reflect.
This has a trickle down effect across every aspect of our lives.
As business owners, there is a never ending to-do list, and it’s hard to truly ‘switch off.’
Even if we start with good intentions, it only takes a few hours and a few phone calls to deviate from the plan and put out the biggest fire first.
Reading quotes are great, but putting them into action is even better.
Personally, I recognised it’s hard for me to switch out of consumption mode - I love learning, and I am always glued to a new book, article, podcast, or audio series.
On one side, it has been great in rapidly building my expertise.
But, I also had to recognise, that I was depriving myself the time to reconcile the information I had in front of me, and using that as the cornerstone for my next step.
The answer isn’t always found in the next thing, but can often be revealed in what is already there.
I have to say, my greatest work (and realisations) have come from when I deliberately scheduled in time that forced me to reflect.
I’m a total calendar nerd, so I have the below set up on recurring.
Every night before I go to bed (15 minutes)
Every Sunday (30 minutes)
Every 30 days (60 minutes)
Every 90 days (90 minutes)
To make the most out of the time, I deliberately schedule in an activity before hand where I can’t look at a screen or be distracted by something else, which has been crucial in supercharging this time.
I’ll usually run through one of the below;
Running / Cycling
Going to the gym
Playing sport
Yoga
Meditation (I do TM)
Acupuncture
Sauna / Steam
Float Tanks
Massage
Swimming
The forced reflection has given me huge insights into cause and effect relationships in business, marketing, and my personal life.
I can honestly say these hours have paid the biggest dividends, more than anything.
Like anything, it all starts with a strategy, and the commitment to see it through, and iterate as we go.
Zac
ps. if you want to use my checklist I use for these times, just let me know and I’ll send it over