Embracing My Inner Hummingbird
For years now, one of my goals has been to focus.
I have all kinds of quotes about the power of focus, and I know that you get a whole lot further with something if you can focus on it and make it a priority.
In fact, one of my favorite focus-related quotes is:
“Take up one idea. Make that one idea your life – think of it, dream of it, live on that idea. Let the brain, muscles, nerves, every part of your body, be full of that idea, and just leave every other idea alone. This is the way to success, that is way great spiritual giants are produced.”
~Swami Vivekananda
So I was excited when I saw the link to the Prioritizer that Consciously Frugal had in her post about prioritizing goals.
“Great!” I thought, “Maybe it’ll confirm what feels like the priority to me, if I have to pick one.”
The Prioritizer turned out to be a fickle little thing, only working when I just entered a single word for each goal, but what it eventually spit out was this:
Yup, three out of my four major money-related goals (get my business very profitable, pay off our house, take some expensive trips, and have enough money for retirement) were tied for my #1 priority.
I saw that and laughed, because it’s so typical. I just can’t decide, and you know what, that’s ok. I’ll probably get to all of the goals a little slower, but I’ve been driving myself crazy trying to focus when in fact I am a hummingbird.
It’s time to just go with who I am, and maximize the advantages that brings me. There ARE some, really. Maybe I should stick to one garden as I buzz from flower to flower, but that’s enough of a focus to still make steady progress.
Focusing IS the best way to really make significant progress. When you put all your energy into one thing, you go a whole lot further (and certainly a lot whole lot faster).
But if you’re like me and you’re just not built for focusing long term on a single thing, maybe you’ll join me in implementing some things I read about in Daniel Pink’s book Drive.
FedEx Days and 20-percent time
FedEx Days are what an Australian company called Atlassian has on occasion. They’re days when their employees can work on whatever they like, but they have to produce the results the next day. (Get it? Overnight.)
20-percent time is similar. Google offers 20-percent time as one of their perks. Their jobs page explains, “We offer our engineers “20-percent time” so that they’re free to work on what they’re really passionate about. Google Suggest, AdSense for Content and Orkut are among the many products of this perk.” So basically 20% of the time, they’re working on whatever strikes their fancy.
Letting your creativity fly like that probably makes the things you’re already doing a whole lot more interesting as well. There’s something about a little inspiration that livens up your life.
I suppose I’m kind of like you then; I don’t have just one main goal, I end up juggling a couple.
I was not aware of 20% time but I think that’s the way to go. Keep the employees creative and happy, and it will only come back to the company in productivity. Genius.
P.S. I saw my first hummingbird in California last Jan. It was pretty neat looking, red and black.
Moon, that was the first I had heard of 20% time too. It sounds really cool. (And hummingbirds are so fun to watch.)
I’ll be a hummingbird with you!
I’m flitting around starting another Roth IRA, building up our emergency fund, and paying off our mortgage…I’m a hummingbird all the way.
We need a hummingbirds unite t-shirt!
LOL! That would be hilarious to explain to people!
Yanno, I think it’s easier if you have some goals that are blocking other goals–like debt, for instance. That was at a clear 100 on my list. But if it’s all growth, goodness and prosperity? Yeah, a little harder to decide. However, I still managed to not to have any ties. :P Too funny!
Oh, I think it’s just me. I can never pick one thing, at least not for very long. But I did find it funny that somehow the thing didn’t force you to prioritize. It seemed like it was, but then bang, 3-way tie.