Designate the Strategic
October 5th, 2007 | Michael Q. Pink
I am wrapping up my four part series on personal productivity as modeled by the rainforest. In the previous three sessions, we discussed the importance of Eliminating the Unnecessary, Automating the Mundane and Delegating the Tactical. Now I want to get to your core competency as the CEO of your life. What are you the very best at? What gives you remarkable fulfillment? This is what you really want to do, free from the time wasters and time consumers that have plagued your life. It’s where you soar at the stratospheric level like an eagle overseeing the fields and forests, planning the next move from a place of strategic advantage.
In the rainforest, plants have certain designated responsibilities that only they can fulfill. They are wired or created to fulfill those roles and everything about their DNA beckons them to fulfill their primary purpose. The fourth law, therefore, is to Designate. By that I mean, designate your time, your resources, your heart, your mind, your strength to that thing you have burning in your heart, but as much as possible, do it at a strategic level.
In a business sense, I think of it as Designating the Strategic: marking out strategic planning and execution as my primary focus. This is what I do best and it is the one thing I cannot delegate to others. The vision you have is uniquely yours and while you may find others to share in that vision, you have the primary responsibility of developing the strategy to fulfill that vision. If you are bogged down in the unnecessary, the routine or the tactical, you may never get your dream off the ground.
Be certain to set aside considerable blocks of time for strategic planning, sharpening of the vision and clarity of understanding for desired, measurable outcomes. Spend time thinking through and developing your own proprietary processes and systems. They have equity and value. Without them, you have a job, but with them you have a future that is sustainable with less of your direct time and involvement.
Until next time, be fruitful, then multiply!
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October 5th, 2007 at 10:01 am
“Until next time, be fruitful, then multiply!”
At this point in my business this is exactly what I NEED to be doing, and was told to do at a meeting just last night. Thanks again for your words, and being one of the spokespersons for our Heavenly Father. I am praying for HIS direction, and this seems to be part of HIS “road signs” for my life. HE has done great things! HalleluYAH! Blessings to you Michael Pink.