productivity. Priorities. Calendar.
There are a lot of buzzwords out there right now (and they all seem to start with the letter P!) that are meant to help us make the most of our time and efforts.
But in all the fuss about how to do more things, there is surprisingly little talk about what exactly we should be doing. Are all “to do” items the same? Checking things off a list does not guarantee that we ourselves are making progress.
growth activities
Some things on our list need to be done, and one could argue that they are “important”. Many people fill their days doing client projects and customer service. After all, we have to keep our promises. But those are not growth activities.
Of course, we also fill a surprising amount of our time with “distractions.” Some are more obvious than others. Many of us waste hours reading and responding to emails, which may seem like “work”, but how productive are we really?
How many of your activities are true “growth activities.” What things will grow your business? Expand your impact? Does it allow you to make a bigger difference? Does it really serve its purpose?
When you really look at it, those things happen in two main ways. When you create things. And when you connect with people.
To create
As a content creation coach, these types of activities are very important to me. I see the power of creating new things. To put your ideas into tangible pieces. Whether you’re writing a blog article or a book, creating a show, shooting a video, making a new presentation… creating things creates value.
You are increasing your business assets. You’re putting valuable things on the market (even if they don’t cost money). You are giving value that expands your value and inevitably comes back to you.
I often ask people, “What are you building next to grow your business?”
The most powerful thing about creating content and other pieces in your business is that it gives you something new to share. Creating something new means nothing if others don’t see it.
Which brings me to the second type of growth activity…
Connect
When you connect with other people, that’s when all kinds of magical things happen. You could end up with a new client. You could find out about a fantastic opportunity. You could impact that person and create a ripple effect in their life and beyond.
The incredible web of possibilities that exists in a conversation with another person is enormous. There is a true art to finding the places where your interests, needs, and abilities intersect. That’s why it’s called “networks”!
Being able to impact someone else is at the core of our purpose. Each of us brings our own area of expertise and focus to every interaction, of course. But if we approach it openly, every conversation is an opportunity to live our purpose.
That is real growth.
And business growth follows real growth.
I’ve been spending a lot of time connecting with other people lately. And I often share stuff I’ve created with the people I’m connecting with. Sharing value and making a difference. win win!
Looking at your to-do list, how many items involve creating something new or connecting with others? (And sitting at your computer typing emails doesn’t count!) Identify some real growth activities to put on your schedule.
Let’s create and connect!