DO/DELEGATE/DUMP

I’ve been reflecting… and trying to get my life/act together for 2013.

I went back to something from a 2003 Journal:

• DO: Stop trying to ‘do‘ everything! “I can’t let go.” “I micro-manage.” “Easier to do it myself.”

The goal is to ONLY DO WHAT ONLY YOU CAN DO.

To get the best example of this concept in action, read Michael Gelb’s (one of my favorite authors) wonderful book, INNOVATE LIKE EDISON. In essence, Edison believed his ‘job’ was to THINK and CREATE. He brought on hundreds of super-talented people to help EXECUTE.

*This book also reinforces that EVERYTHING’S A PROJECT! And, EVERY PROJECT HAS A TEAM, LEADER, a TEAM, etc.

• DELEGATE.

Sounds simple, but always hard to figure out WHAT (to delegate) and to WHOM.

What could you DELEGATE immediately that would free you up to ONLY DO WHAT ONLY YOU CAN DO.

I cut this quote out of Success Magazine on the 19th of July, 2012. I think it captures the big idea. It’s from Richard Branson. Chief Virgin. 300 companies. 34 countries. $2.1B in revenue.

“One of the best bits of advice I can give other leaders is to try to put yourself out of business.

Try to find people to take over 99% of what you do, which will then free you up to THINK about the bigger picture.”

DELEGATE… 99% of what you do!

Small example: 2013 marks the 30th Anniversary of The Suddes Group. In all those years, I can count the number of checks I’ve written on probably one hand. (And that was only in an emergency.) I hate accounting, accounts payable, accounts receivable. I’m no good with money. (It just doesn’t mean that much to me.) So… there’s always been somebody to take care of this. My company role is to to think and make rain/generate revenue through IMPACT and VALUE.

Note: Jim Collins uses this same mindset to help him research and analyze his concepts, hiring a bunch of the ‘best and brightest’ to help him.

• DUMP.

I know. Again, way easier said than done. Stephen Covey created his brilliant ‘Quadrants’ and made Quadrant IV all about DUMP. (Not Important. Not Urgent.)

Here’s another way to look at ‘DUMP’.

Create 3 lists:

1. Things I WANT to do.

2. Things I HAVE to do.

3. Things I neither WANT to do nor HAVE to do.

Throw away the third list.