This year (2010) is a unique one for me, because I’m switching gears. This isn’t necessarily a situation where I’m offering some kind of advice and saying you should do this too, but it’s where I’m at, and I wanted to share it with you.
I plan on kickin some ass this year. Here's what I'm doing to gain focus. Will you join me?
I’m using 2010 as a detox period. Low information diet (as Tim Ferriss calls it), focus and implementation. In other words, I’m executing this year. Here’s what I’m changing:
- I’m reading very little. I have about a dozen books, and I have most of them on audio.
- I’ve cut out about half of my RSS reader.
- I’ve canceled all magazine subscriptions.
- I’ve written a short plan for the year. Instead of my usual 40-50 page plan, my plan for
2010 is 2 pages long. Some travel, a couple vacations, a couple conferences, a couple product launches. That’s it. - I’ve deleted most of my email subscriptions.
- I plan to focus less on consulting and more on product creation. It’s simply more leveraged and offers a tremendous value to my clients.
This is the deal. 2010 is about doing less. And I expect it will, at the same time, see a significant amount of growth for my business. I expect to increase sales, because I won’t be doing anything but dollar-productive activities when it comes to business. I want to spend my time writing, networking and creating new solutions for my clients that offer better value than ever.
I don’t want to underestimate the value of reading, education and hard work. I also don’t want to give the impression I’m planning on kicking back this year. This isn’t the case. There’s much work to be done. I’m just cutting out all the B.S. and focusing on getting results. For one year, I want to do nothing but kick ass.
What do you think? 2010 is a year of execution for me. Will you join me?
Great post!! I went on an information diet immediately after reading 4HWW several years ago. I check email 4 or 5 times a day BUT I only spend time responding 2 or 3 times. That is down dramatically from the 20 – 30 times a day I would read and respond to emails. But the biggest thing I have changed is the news… I do not read any newspapers. I don’t watch the news. I only check certain blogs and even then its usually weekly…
I also use a timer… when I am reading blogs, or using Twitter etc… I set the timer so I don’t get sucked in for hours.
I’ve been doing this for 3 or 4 years and I’ve yet to miss out on anything that was important to me or to my goals.
Can’t wait to see what you produce in 2010!!
Nice, Julie! I love the idea of using a timer. I honestly feel putting hard limits on your email time is crucial. If it’s social, fun, etc, take your time, but if it’s business, GET IT DONE!
It seems like many people are taking some advice from Tim Ferriss, I’m glad you’re one of them. I truly believe in ‘Product Creation’ over promoting someone elses products/services any day of the week.
I truly believe you can package up your consulting in a box and mass sell it. Great luck to ya, I look forward to it.
2010 isn’t going to be ‘The Year of XYZ’ for me so to speak. I will still continue to invest. I have recently decided that I will self publish an amazing book, again, product creation vs. promoting other products.
Again, best of luck to ya.
I agree Nick, and I appreciate your feedback! Yes, turning consulting into a packaged product is definitely what I’m shooting for. Nothing high tech or crazy, but the hardest-hitting, most valuable info I go over with clients. Real estate works for you, and I love that. It’s funny that real estate is what got me into this business to start with. I’m planning on investing in more rentals after I get this business up and running a bit more. I remain a huge advocate of real estate investing!
Hmm. In the 1990s I worked way too much and did not have cable. Kurt Cobain died, Clinton lied under oath about Lewinsky and Y2K made a mess of the all things technical (in my opinion). I was way out of touch and OJ’s trial was the trial of the century.
I can say being detached from distractions is great, but instead of never watching the news, would suggest to, at least, watching 2 hours of news a week. That way you can stay connected and be of good use whenever you may need to make small talk or give an educated opinion of current events. After all, how will you know what to call the media on if you are oblivious that a national discussion is taking place?
right on Gregory! I agree…moderation is the key. It’s funny, because I WAS tuned in for the whole Clinton fiasco you mention, and I feel the opposite. My life would have been just fine and dandy if I hadn’t consumed all that crap
ha. I certainly don’t feel like I’m cutting myself off from the world entirely, just not OVER consuming media I don’t need to. Cutting it down to an absolute minimum for a period of time.
This sounds a lot like what I’m doing! I moved to another country and was forced into the low info diet because of limited internet, but I kind of liked it so I’m sticking with it.
It’s liberating and frees up time to stare at the wall, although I do have a window now right in front of me, so that definitely helps!
Haha! I’m definitely a fan of windows myself Henri
Congrats on your move…+ low information isn’t restrictive; it just means you can make full use of everything you take in. Rock on man!