050: Not Doing List

You can make extraordinary progress by doing nothing.

Are there things that you would benefit from not doing?

I’m not talking about things that are morally right or wrong. I’m talking about what is most beneficial.

Sometimes doing something means you won’t be able to do a more important thing. For example if I consume 500 hours of football in a year, I have 500 hours that I cannot spend reading.

Other times doing something might mean diminishing returns. For example for the past 2 years I’ve been working on portfolio pieces. Now I have the opportunity to have the work I’ve done serve as a portfolio. Maybe I can take a break from doing portfolio pieces so I can focus on the work, and pursue authored projects.

SO that’s my not do list:

1. Don’t make any portfolio pieces this year.

2. Don’t Consume 500 hours of football this year, ( maybe I’ll do 20)

3. Don’t add to my years goals until I’ve completed everything on my current ‘Goals’ list.

It’s not enough to focus on to do lists. We also need ‘not do’ list. With practice, you’ll be amazed how easy it is to make progress by “not doing.” In other words by doing nothing.