Inspired by Karen Strunks Big Daring Blog Post Challenge! I am writing a post that I am hoping will be me pushing myself out of my comfort zone.

Last week at an excellent workshop on email marketing I was challenged by Randy Tate (as was everyone else in the room) as follows:

“What would your business look like if you did everything you said you were going to do in the next 12 months”

My instant, and possibly glib, response to this was “Well it would look awesome!” (there’s the Lego Emmet reference)

But for me, as I would think for many business owners, the question deserves some focus so again – What would your business look like if you did everything you said you were going to do?

I then thought well I do not know what my business would look like but I know the rest of my life would look pretty shocking! I mean if I did everything I said I was going to do, in business, I would have no time for friends or family let alone myself!

Why do I think this?

The only sensible conclusion is that I clearly ‘say’ that I am going to do far more than I actually have time to do. I am either agreeing to things or over committing. Possible reasons:

I’m not good at saying no – like many I like to please others. I think that some people genuinely want to help others and say yes before thinking it through properly. For me I know my default answer to nearly everything can be yes.

I want to do lot’s of things in my business. I think I have lots of good ideas but lack the time and sometimes the skills to implement them. Strangely I am not the best person to do all things for my business. Even where if I was the best person to do all of these things it is probably not always the best use of my time.

So what is the solution for me. Well as per the title I am committing myself to these, and more, for the next 12 months:

1. Say No. Make no my default when asked to do something extra with my time. Saying this, I want to say no properly meaning don’t just say no but explain why – it is a no and hopefully make a suggestion that could help such as who may be better placed to help.
2. Commit to my yes’s and my intentions
3. Commit only to things that I know are important – if they are not important to me why am I committing to them
4. Have an ideas book – where items go in that are just good ideas that I can review regularly to see if they make the commit list
5. Do less things but do them well
6. Delegate tasks to employees and or virtual staff
7. Commit to so everything on my list that I commit to.i.e. Do everything you say you are going to do.

If you want to continue the conversation please join me on Twitter – @philoakley