For a few years, I impersonated a fictional comedic character in some of my keynote speeches. I traveled with a full outfit consisting of make-up, a wig, “sensible” shoes, and an entire old lady outfit to change myself into Ida B. Wright, an 87-year-old lady from the imagined town of Clam Juice, Alabama. I would recap/close a conference or convention in a humorous way.
And, yes, if you are wondering, it did not make my wife and kids exceedingly proud to know that I dressed in old lady clothes.
I received some strange looks while getting ready in the restroom or when offering an explanation to the TSA agent when my luggage was inspected!
It was both very fun and a lot of work.
The preparation time to write comedy material with business takeaways for my audience was significant. It was also a distraction from my speaking focus.
All the time that was used working on the bit was time I couldn’t use on other parts of my speaking career and business.
It was really off brand plus there were way more important tasks that needed focused attention.
Ida B. Wright was wrong, and I had to let her go.
So, after a speech in Branson, Missouri nearly a decade ago, I left all of Ida’s accoutrements in a hotel with a note to donate or trash.
R.I.P. Ida.
For years, I celebrated that my ADHD-like personality allowed me to do a lot of different things when in fact, doing so many things was holding me back.
Doing too many things may be holding you back too. We just can’t be all things to all people.
Imagine how much more effective you could be if you took some tasks off your plate. If instead of trying to accomplish a heroic list, you put your focus on doing less, better. Perhaps you could streamline some of your work processes, outsource administrative or time-consuming tasks which don’t utilize your strengths and background or just plain stop doing things that disrupt your efficiency.
Regularly evaluating your work tasks to spend your energy on what matters most, is crucial.
By intentionally focusing on work that you do well, your productivity, output, and your success rate could soar.
Years ago, I asked my father, who was newly retired, why he didn’t have an email account. He told me adding something new would take way from activities he enjoyed. Email, he reasoned, would prevent him from accomplishing things that mattered more to him than constantly monitoring messages.
Maybe you are distracted too.
Maybe you have so many work or personal interests that the focus of your work is diluted.
If you add something new, think about what you can take away.
Addition can be good but subtraction may be even better.
Steve Jobs once said, “Deciding what not to do is as important as deciding what to do.”
Wise words for all of us.
Stop doing so much and watch your productivity soar.
