Client / Project Development Meditation Exercise
In order to get what I have to do done, I have to be able to choose what to do next now without wasting hours and energy (both of which are at a premium these days.) To do this I have to gain a perspective on all of the things on my plate, which requires a certain distance. Here's one way to do that:
- Clear off your desk and close all the windows open on your computer.
- Cultivate a distance and perspective: what sort of responsibility is this?
- Begin to think through all the things that you have (posses) to do.
- Think about the state of that project / relationship / etc...
- What is your next step? Visualize yourself doing it.
- Make a mental note of any thoughts, emotions, etc... that arise while meditating on that task. (Just note it, don't follow where it will lead.)
- Move on to the next thing.
Doing this makes it less likely that I forget things and let them slip away. It also helps me shake out the unhealthy connections to my responsibilities so that I can make the best decision on what to do that my current sensibilities allows.
Why does this come up?
On any given day as an entrepreneuer it's common to juggle up to a dozen different things. These may be simple discrete tasks such as answering a question, filling out a form or writing (or paying) an invoice. Some are more involved concrete tasks such as performing the next step in an ongoing project or preparing for a meeting. Others are potentialities or more theoretical tasks such as sending out an email to keep a perspective client or parter excited about an idea or project that you're cultivating or researching a skill set that seems as if it will help you strengthen a weak area in your work.
Pretend that this desk is my brain and you'll get the idea.
Things to do vary widely and require vastly different forms of attention and action. As these responsibilities build up, they can become overwhelming. I find that the hardest thing about my job is keeping the things I have to do in perspective so that I can make determinate choices about exactly what I should be doing now so that I can do it. When I can't make a clear choice I feel like a guy using an old gas powered lawn mower; no matter how much I pull the chain, the engine won't engage.