Deciding what Not to Do

In today’s fast-paced world, where countless opportunities and distractions vie for our attention, the ability to decide what not to do is as crucial as choosing what to do. I recently read a book filled with stories about mishaps that landed people in the ER, Medical Mayhem , and though the exact sources couldn't always be documented since they happened years ago and in various parts of the world, they align with many stories told by first responders happening every day. One story that made me laugh involved a man in London who decided to install a hot tub in his one-bedroom apartment despite having no plumbing experience. He connected a garden hose to his kitchen sink to fill the tub, which resulted in the entire building getting flooded. To make matters worse, he developed mild hypothermia after sitting in the cold water for hours.

Another amusing story is about a man in Vienna, Austria, who tried to use superglue for home repairs. Somehow, he ended up gluing his fingers to his forehead while trying to get a closer look at something. These funny yet cautionary tales remind us how a seemingly simple decision can have unexpected consequences and how hindsight really is 20/20.

Whether you’re managing a podcast, writing an article, or leading a business, focusing on the right tasks—and consciously eliminating others—can be the difference between success and burnout. This article and podcast explores key principles to help you prioritize effectively, ensuring that your efforts yield the maximum impact without overextending yourself.

One: Prioritize Impact Over Volume

One of the biggest challenges in any creative or business endeavor is the temptation to do everything at once. We’re often driven by the fear of missing out (FOMO), leading us to take on too many tasks, spreading ourselves too thin. However, the Pareto Principle, also known as the 80/20 rule, suggests that 80% of our results come from 20% of our efforts.

To implement this, start by identifying the activities that produce the most significant outcomes. For instance, if you're running a podcast, focus on the episodes or topics that resonate most with your audience, aligns with your mission and drives the most engagement. If an episode or topic consistently underperforms, it might be time to reconsider its place in your content strategy. The same goes for writing—concentrate on the articles that generate the most traffic or feedback and consider cutting those that don't contribute significantly to your goals.

Takeaway: By prioritizing impact over volume deciding what not to do, you free up time and resources to excel in the areas that matter most. This doesn’t just improve your productivity; it also enhances the quality of your work, allowing you to deliver value consistently without burning out.

Two: Understand Your Core Objectives

Clarity on your goals is fundamental to deciding what not to do. Without a clear understanding of your core objectives, it’s easy to get sidetracked by activities that seem urgent but are not necessarily important.

Start by clearly defining what success looks like for your podcast, article, or project. For example, if your primary goal is to build a loyal audience, focus on content that strengthens that relationship, such as regular engagement through social media or newsletters. If your goal is to establish thought leadership, prioritize in-depth, well-researched content over frequent but shallow posts. Once your objectives are clear, anything that doesn’t directly contribute to achieving these goals can be deprioritized or eliminated.

Takeaway: When you know what you want to achieve, it becomes easier to say no to tasks or projects that don’t align with your vision. This strategic focus ensures that your time and energy are invested in activities that bring you closer to your desired outcomes. I suggest you write that focus down and keep it handy as you refer to it often.

Three: Avoid the Shiny Object Syndrome

The allure of new ideas, tools, and trends can be incredibly distracting, pulling you away from your core mission. Known as the “Shiny Object Syndrome,” this tendency to chase the latest and greatest can dilute your efforts and hinder progress. I recently encountered a situation where I fell into the trap of shiny object syndrome with a new tech tool. I spent countless hours setting up a system, only to realize that it would continuously consume a significant amount of time going forward. This distracted me from focusing on my most important priorities, reminding me of the importance of staying aligned with my core objectives.

Stay disciplined by sticking to your original plan unless there’s a compelling reason to pivot. Before adopting a new strategy or tool, evaluate whether it aligns with your existing goals. For example, if you’re considering a new social media platform for promoting your podcast, ask yourself if it’s likely to reach your target audience better than your current channels. If the answer is no, it might be wise to stick with what’s already working and not to be so scattered in your approach.

Takeaway: New doesn’t always mean better. This also applies to new technology tools. By focusing on what’s already proving successful, you can deepen your impact and avoid spreading yourself too thin across multiple projects or platforms.

Four: Establish Boundaries and Learn to Say No

One of the most powerful words in your vocabulary is “no.” It’s essential to establish boundaries to protect your time and energy, ensuring you can focus on the tasks that matter most. However, saying no can be challenging, especially when new opportunities come your way or when you’re trying to be helpful.

To effectively say no, first, assess whether a new opportunity aligns with your core objectives. If it doesn’t, politely decline. Even to yourself! For instance, if you’re asked to collaborate on a project that requires a significant time investment but doesn’t offer clear benefits aligned with your goals, it’s okay to pass. Similarly, if a task isn’t the best use of your unique skills, delegate it to someone who can handle it more efficiently.

Takeaway: By establishing clear boundaries and saying no to non-essential tasks, you can maintain focus on your most important work. This not only enhances your productivity but also preserves your mental and emotional energy for the tasks that truly matter.

Five: Recognize Your Limits and Leverage Your Strengths

No one can do everything and trying to do so often leads to burnout. Recognizing your limits and focusing on your strengths allows you to produce high-quality work without overwhelming yourself.

Take an honest inventory of your strengths and weaknesses. I cover this in my New Way of Doing Business course with the Core Common Denominator. I also cover it in my book, Women at Halftime . Focus your efforts on areas where you excel and seek help or delegate tasks where you don’t. For example, if you’re a strong writer but struggle with graphic design, concentrate on creating compelling content and outsource the design work to a professional. Similarly, if you’re great at hosting podcasts but find editing tedious, consider hiring an editor to handle the technical aspects.

Takeaway: Leveraging your strengths ensures that you’re spending your time on tasks where you can add the most value. By acknowledging your limits, you can avoid overcommitting and ensure that each project you undertake is executed to the best of your ability.

Six: Regularly Review and Adjust Your Focus

Finally, it’s essential to regularly review your activities and adjust your focus as needed. This is extremely important, especially for creatives. What was important six months ago might not be relevant today and being flexible allows you to adapt to changing circumstances without losing sight of your overall goals.

Set aside time each month or quarter to review your progress and assess whether your current activities are still aligned with your objectives. For example, if a particular series of products isn’t resonating with your clients or audience as expected, it might be time to pivot to new products,topics or formats. Similarly, if a marketing strategy isn’t yielding the desired results, consider reallocating your resources to more effective channels.

Takeaway: By regularly reviewing and adjusting your focus, you can ensure that your efforts remain aligned with your goals, allowing you to stay on track and continue making meaningful progress.

Conclusion

In a world full of opportunities and distractions, the ability to decide what not to do is a critical skill. By prioritizing impact, understanding your core objectives, avoiding distractions, establishing boundaries, recognizing your limits, and regularly reviewing your focus, you can ensure that your efforts are directed toward the activities that truly matter. This strategic approach not only enhances your productivity but also leads to more meaningful and fulfilling life.

One of the biggest challenges in any creative or business endeavor is the temptation to do everything at once. We’re often driven by the fear of missing out (FOMO) Deborah Johnson

Additional Resources

A New Way of Doing Business online course: If secretly wondering, "How Do I Start & Sustain a Business in today's tech-savvy world without getting overwhelmed or discouraged?" this course is for you!

Hero Mountain Summit online course: 5-month online mentorship to cultivate self-leadership skills, and achieve personal and professional growth. Individual & Group

Women at Halftime book by Deborah Johnson

Stop Circling book by Deborah Johnson

?Medical Mayhem: A Collection of True Tales, Epic Fails & Side-Splitting Stories That Landed People in the ER ?by Malvinia R. Thorpe

The Host

DEBORAH JOHNSON, M.A. has 25+ years working as an entertainer, composer, producer, author and speaker. Her keynote, "The Hero Inside" stirs audiences to not settle for merely playing as an accompanist to their dreams. Rather, it is to call upon everything they have inside to be soloist & center stage in pursuing & accomplishing their dreams and potential. This can include pursuing a new avenue or expanding on a current area of business, especially at mid-career or the halftime of life. Get more free downloads & links at: DJWorks . Websites: DeborahJohnsonSpeaker.com ; GoalsForYourLife.com ; DJWorksMusic.com