Lately, I have been concentrating on staying focused on the most important matters.  I mean extremely focused.  That type of focus only happens when I'm able to separate the few important matters and forget about the rest of the to-do list.

Not a new concept, I believe it is called prioritizing and has been around for a long time.  Prioritizing is the simple system of rating each item on the to-do list by importance on a particular day. The prioritizing of a list of 12 items doesn't help with my focus, however, since a list of 12 items keeps pulling, kicking and screaming for attention like an undisciplined child.

Classifying some of the matters on the list as W.O.T. (Waste Of Time) has helped me streamline it.  The result is a greater chance for focus without the W.O.T’s carrying on like a roomful of five year olds competing for my shaky attention span.

Identifying your W.O.T.’s is easier when you apply the popular “Rocks, Pebbles and Sand” story. The abbreviated version follows.

Rocks, Pebbles & Sand

A philosophy professor fills an empty glass mayonnaise jar to the top with rocks about 2” in diameter and says, “ Is the jar full?” “Yes”, said the class.

He then poured a box full of small pebbles into the jar as he shook it. Naturally, the pebbles filled the spaces between the rocks. “ Is the jar full now?”, the professor asked. “Yes”, said the class.

He then poured a box of sand in the jar, which filled all of the remaining space. “ Is the jar full?”, the professor asked. “Yes”, said the class.

"Now," said the professor, "I want you to recognize that this is your life. The rocks are the important things - your family, your health, your children, your friends - anything that is so important to you that if it were lost, you would be nearly destroyed.

The pebbles are the other things that matter, like your job or business, your house, and your car. The sand is everything else. The small stuff."

"If you put the sand into the jar first, there is no room for the pebbles or the rocks. If you spend all your energy and time on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are really important to you. "Take care of the rocks first - the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."

That’s the rocks, pebbles and sand story for easy visualization of prioritizing. The sand needs to be swept off your to do list on a regular basis. The rocks are the items that require your attention. When rocks are neglected, they are often thrown back at you. As you learned in childhood, that will leave a mark!

There is an exception for including sand on a to do list. The exception is when it is preceded by, “Beach vacation, play in sand.” Enjoy the summer.

Making time to plan is one of the eight strategies for success I work on to help owners grow their business. Would you like to know more? click here

"Time is an illusion. Lunchtime doubly so." -- Doug Adams

"An unhurried sense of time is in itself a form of wealth." -- Bonnie Friedman

"Trust men and they will be true to you, treat them greatly and they will show themselves great." -- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Following my own good advice, I recently took the afternoon off to go sailing with my rock throwing friends from childhood. Keith, Paul and I were invited by Greg for a sail on Greg’s sailboat on Lake Ontario. Greg and Keith learned to sail and race under the strict tutelage of Keith’s dad and are very comfortable at the helm of a sailboat.

A great afternoon of lively discussion with perfect sailing weather had to come to an end and we jibed for the return to the harbor. The harbor entrance was no different than most harbor entrances on Lake Ontario; it was framed with two large breakwalls that protected the harbor from Lake Ontario’s days of turmoil. It opened up to a wider harbor filled with boats, docks and obstacles.

Keith, our constant source of new ideas, said, “ Lets sail back to the slip with no motor power, just like the old days with the dinghies.” Greg’s jaw dropped almost to the deck of his new boat. I read Greg’s mind by the expression on his face. He was thinking, “Wouldn’t be prudent. . . ."

Keith grinned, grabbed the wheel and said, “Get ready to tack before we hit the sand bar!”

My thoughts were that this is going to look like a sharp, high speed turn into your driveway on two wheels and coming to a stop before you smash the garage door.

The afternoon cocktail group of retirees at the yacht club watched the 28 foot boat perform five short tacks flawlessly just like a small boat. At one point, “Will you look at that, Martha. . . .” was heard from the retirees.

During the fun, as we dodged boats and docks, Greg turned the boat motor on. As waning momentum ushered the boat into his slip with Greg driving and the motor idling, he admitted he never had to put the motor in gear.

Finesse separates the uncommon from the common.

Thanks for reading. Please forward this newsletter to anyone that you think might enjoy it. The subscriber list continues to grow thanks to your efforts.

Newsletter topic ideas and comments are always welcome. Send me an e-note.

Life is short, ride hard.

Doug

I also write a weekly electronic newsletter for Professional Horsemen. If you are interested in the business world of horsemen, or have friends in the horse business,take a peek. I am spurring others on to help me promote this newsletter.