How to Succeed in Business? Do less!

There are many merits of being lazy.

Come on, don't be lazy, be a bit kiasu* and read on. I promise you this article is not about sleeping.

Norwegian Morten T. Hansen discovered in his academic research that it’s not a case of “talent” or “natural ability” or the willingness to “work hard” that results in successful outcomes.

Rather, he found what is even more important to success is the ability to MASTER SELECTIVITY.

“Whenever the top performers could, they carefully selected which priorities, tasks, meetings, customers, ideas or steps to undertake and which to let go. They then applied intense, targeted effort on those few priorities in order to excel.”

At work, this principle means that we should seek the simplest solutions.

The fewest steps in a process.

The fewest meetings, fewest metrics, fewest goals & so on while retaining what is truly necessary to do a great job.

As few as you can, as many as you must.

Laziness is the road to progress, but?only when it is combined with intelligent thought and high ambition.

Lazy AND intelligent managers achieve exceptional results and make the best bosses. Because let's face it, all successful business careers flow from?a few critical decisions, made infrequently.

Don't think it comes easy though. The best lazy managers have acquired their laziness by working at it for years.?

I myself tried hard to become lazier throughout my life … but?it’s been a struggle!

I know that I achieve more when I work less.

I have my best ideas when I take the time to mindfully listen.

To listen to the voices in my head.

Do you also sometimes have those voices in your head?

Do you listen to them?

I know that the voices in my head may not be real, but they have some darn good ideas!

Some say our brain is most intelligent when we don’t instruct it on what to do – something people who take showers discover on occasion. So they say.

I have my best ideas when I am cycling (and have no paper to jot them down, damn it). Not sure how many of my ingenious make-the-world-a-better-place-ideas have gone with the winds.

Your WHY

I still find it hard not to feel at least a little bit guilty about being lazy.

And then I remember …

... someone who always says ‘I am busy’ is either declaring incompetence (and lack of control of his/her life) or trying to get rid of you or both.

All those busy people are stuck in the Do-Do Trap: So busy doing that there is no time to step back and think about HOW and especially WHY one is doing things.

Be different. Be lazier!

Only by being economical with your energy and attention can you make it count when it matters.

The world is not 50/50. The world is 80/20 (as our common good friend Vilfredo Pareto has established).

Now, first, you need to know WHY you want to be lazy.

Never be lazy when it comes to finding your WHY!

Certainly not easy, but you'll be happier for the trouble and it will provide you the fuel for your effective laziness.

Who says hard work pays off in the future? Laziness pays off now!

But once you know your WHY don't apply your "laziness-skills" on NOT thinking for yourself!

What are your thoughts on stopping with our busyness and instead focusing more on the business of laziness?

"Not being busy is a competitive advantage. Most people are so strapped for time they can't take advantage of lucky opportunities or quickly resolve unexpected problems. Maintain a bias toward action, but leave room for the unexpected." - James Clear

“There is no pleasure in having nothing to do. The fun is having lots to do and not doing it.” – John W. Raper

“The most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” – Mark Twain

"I observe here in Singapore there’s a premium on busyness — on having a deficit of time. Why are we so willing to trade in our time for money when time is limited but money is not?" - Andy G. Schmidt

* This Singaporean term can be translated into English as "afraid to lose out". Like many proverbial expressions, it can have both positive (like in this post) and negative connotations but is generally negative. It is used to refer to someone who thinks of themselves first and is always trying to get ahead in one way or another. The English equivalent would be "overcompetitiveness".