The Danger of ‘I’ll Deal with It Later’

Hello!

?

How are things?

?

Good? Bad? Ugly?

?

Well regardless of how you're feeling, I'm hoping this newsletter will spark some insight and get you thinking about how things can be even better!

?

A few conversations have happened recently where I've noticed people aren't necessarily stepping up and facing things, but instead are keeping them out of their focus for now and leaving the problem for another time.

?

I liken this to when you find mould in your house.

?

Maybe you find just a little bit in the corner of the room, and you think to yourself ‘I’ll get to that some other time'.

?

You then see it enough that it kind of blends in, become part of the wallpaper, and as it is normalised it reduces any urgency and need for your attention.

?

However, a few days go by and seemingly overnight this small patch of mould can spread to cover a huge section of the wall, becoming a much bigger problem that now immediately requires your focus.

?

This is the story I am hearing so frequently (not the mould one, the idea of people ignoring problems), that I wanted to discuss it today.

?

The question we should start asking ourselves is

?

‘What am I ignoring?’

?

Here's some of the examples I've heard recently…

?

- Ignoring the need to get organised

- Ignoring the need to clean

- Ignoring the reality of your financial situation

- Ignoring the underlying issues in your relationship

- Ignoring the fact you're not actually happy

- Ignoring health issues

- Ignoring the things that have bothered you but need confronting

?

Quite a list eh! And I'm willing to bet at least something from this list speaks to you.

?

I find the problem is that when these types of issues arise, unless they feel important enough or we have the capacity to confront and deal with them promptly, they slip into this weird limbo area where we know it's a problem, we know it needs facing at some point soon, but we are willing to wait and react to it when it becomes an even bigger problem.

?

I mean even as I'm writing this, knowing I'm guilty of ignoring things, I can see how stupid this strategy is.

?

I may be wrong, but sometimes it feels like we are held back by a bit of overwhelm, being scared away by the idea of how we are going to solve the problem.?

?

It's in these moments that I find momentum is more important than completion.

?

For example, if it's a health issue you're experiencing and putting off, the focus doesn't need to be on fixing it right now, but it should absolutely be about identifying and taking the first step, which is likely to be tiny, and that's okay.

?

We also have to consider the consequence of leaving things to sit.

?

Another example is how if you have underlying issues in your relationship that you have not addressed, the problems this can cause by sitting and letting them fester can result in the demise of the relationship, which could have been totally avoided if we dealt with the situation in real time.

?

Ultimately what I'm asking of you is to take stock of your current situation.

?

I want you to not just look at what's happening on the surface, but what has been bubbling away underneath.

?

And I want you to start doing something about this.

?

I'm not saying solve the problem, but I am saying to bring it back into reality and into your awareness, as once it's there you'll be in a place to start acting on it.

?

Each of these things we carry weigh us down, and the longer we hold on to them, even if it's not something we are actively thinking about, makes moving forward harder than it needs to be.

?

Whatever this newsletter has brought up for you, my ask is that you don't try and hide it away.

?

Instead, take the first step to resolution.

Quote for the week

?

”If you keep sweeping things under the rug, you’ll trip over it and fall flat on your face. Don’t ignore problems, fix them!”

- Tony Gaskins

Recommendation

?

The Ideal Team Player

By Patrick Lencioni

?

'In his classic book, The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, Patrick Lencioni laid out a groundbreaking approach for tackling the perilous group behaviors that destroy teamwork. Here he turns his focus to the individual, revealing the three indispensable virtues of an ideal team player. In The Ideal Team Player, Lencioni tells the story of Jeff Shanley, a leader desperate to save his uncle’s company by restoring its cultural commitment to teamwork. Jeff must crack the code on the virtues that real team players possess, and then build a culture of hiring and development around those virtues.? Beyond the fable, Lencioni presents a practical framework and actionable tools for identifying, hiring, and developing ideal team players.? Whether you’re a leader trying to create a culture around teamwork, a staffing professional looking to hire real team players, or a team player wanting to improve yourself, this book will prove to be as useful as it is compelling.'

?

I am a huge fan of Patrick Lencioni's books, simply because they are so easy to read, and I love the fact that they are fables rather than super structured business books.

?

There is so much in this book that will be relevant to either a team you've worked in, a team you currently work in, or a team you lead.

?

The ideas are laid out really clearly and gives you lots to step away and think about.

?

Also not a huge book and really engaging!

Life Hack

?

Suri Toothbrushes

?

I wasn't sure about this being a life hack, but it turns out lots of people I know also use this and have the same glowing review that I do.

?

Suri offers sustainable electric toothbrushes designed to be recyclable and repairable, which ticks a great sustainability box.

?

And what's more, they look great, work really well, have amazing battery life and even come with a UV cleaning case.

?

Definitely the best toothbrush I've owned so I thought it was worth sharing!

How can I help you?

If you want to hear more about what I do and how you can work with me, send me a DM or email me at?[email protected]

I hope you have a fantastic week, and I'll be back in your inbox next week!

Haydan