Goals, Clarity, and Less

Do more goals lead to mo' better results?

I'm not so sure. In fact, I'm pretty sure that isn't the case. And I think I have some evidence to support it.

I've watched some corporate clients struggle over time. Their customers are  merging or choosing to go out of business. The marketplace is shifting from the U.S. and Western Europe to Asia, Eastern Europe, India, and South America. In the past, one of their businesses would have an outstanding year and compensate for bad times in the other units. Now all are having a tough time.

Here's what I've observed: The longer the bad times continue, the more the business units tend to increase their number of goals. It's as if the solution to everything is "more."  People are multi-tasking on multi-tasks. The results haven't improved. Plans are becoming more complex.

It seems to me that  there are always a few critical things that each of us do, whether we're a company or an individual. I really think the most productive thing that they could do at this point is stop. Get clear on 3-5 important items and stop doing all of the activities that are masquerading for goal-oriented productivity. Focus everything on the key areas. Then allow a reasonable period of time to see what happens before adding or changing anything.

Increased clarity combined with fewer focused goals can provide the time needed to perform the important things well.  

What do you think?

Comments

[Beth Robinson]

I agree completely. I've certainly proved the case in my personal endeavors, more than once. And at work, the more projects I have to work on the more they all get stretched out in calendar time, if not in project hour time, unless clear priorities are set.

The problem is it's a truly painful process psychologically, at least for me, to have to let go of what seem to be opportunities and to deliberately ignore areas that you KNOW need improvement in order to pursue the focused goals. One emotional response I've had to saying no while staying focused is "I'm not trying hard enough", even though I know intellectually that's not true.

[Steve Roesler]

Beth,

I recognize (too well) what you are saying here.

There seems to be something related to the "achievement gene" that simply fights back when trying to let go of an opportunity-- even though you know darned well that you can't do it all. And I think it's related to the "If I just try harder" gene:-)

As a young guy I was convinced that the key to being successful was saying "yes." Now I am more convinced that the real key is giving a well thought-out "no."

[peter vajda]

Interestingly enough, this character is actually composed of two concepts....water and the color of nature. The notion is to know what is pure in one's self (here: values, motives, purpose...) so that one's integrity and authenticity can show through in their life choices.

When one is overwhelmed, when one approaches life with an "everything is urgent and important" (multitasking?) mindset, one's mind, body and spirit become "cloudy", i.e, confused, foggy and disoriented, and this is the place where stress, confusion, mistakes, errors and misguided notions of "what's right" flood the mind. It's like be-ing polluted.

When we fly at 30,000 feet over a city that is covered in a sickening, polluted haze, this is a metaphor for what our mind is like in this state. Here we lack purity of purpose, freshness and clarity, and so we experience a sense of choking, or constricted throat, breathing in the upper chest or neck area, or feeling toxic, or having a sense of our head actually feeling full, tight, and our vision is a bit blurry...the somatic elements of fear of letting go (always being 'vigilant' that we might "miss" something), of stepping back and stepping out of our life to see what's true...because we are caught up in this need to do/be/have everything, and now....

For many of these folks, talking the time to "clear the air" - their mind - through self-reflecting, breathing, meditating, going for a walk, journaling, prioritizing, organizing, scheduling, is very much the challenge...often unmet for the ego-driven need to hang on for dear life to every and all possibility. The fear of letting go of something is unconsciously like "dying". So, muddy water, muddy mind...and pollution takes its toll - eventually.

[Dean Fuhrman]

Steve -

"Increased clarity combined with fewer focused goals can provide the time needed to perform the important things well."

Totally agree.

To be able to do something I think you need some space. More of everything will only crowd out that needed space and the result will be the haze that Peter Vajda notes.

So a bit from the Tao to accompany the thought -

We join spokes together in a wheel,
but it is the center hole
that makes the wagon move.

We shape clay into a pot,
but it is the emptiness inside
that holds whatever we want.

We hammer wood for a house,
but it is the inner space
that makes it livable.

We work with being,
but non-being is what we use.

[Lisa Gates]

Steve,

It's just fascinating to watch where we go with this post. The persistent, spirited craving we have for connection, meaning, relevance, peace -- can't really be abandoned because from 8-to-5 we have a job, can it? More and more and more we see people bringing their humanity to work, and finding ways to specify what's really important. Less is more. Seems to me the only time more is more is when it's more of less.

Lisa :-)

[Joe Raasch]

Hi Steve,

What do I think? I'll tell ya...

I know an organization that just went from 133 goals to six. What a joy! There was incredible clarity in carving out the 'six' - truly focusing on the organizational mission.

I expect there could be fallout from various internal and external stakeholders when their goal(s) are no longer top of the list.

What about that?

Cheers,

Joe

[Steve Roesler]

Peter,

I read through your comment 3 times for clarity:-)

What jumped out at me was this: I think that if you gave that mini-speech to most people, they would nod and say, "Yes, of course. That is absolutely true."

But there wouldn't be an observable change in most of those who were in full agreement.

Then it occurred to me that that is the exact "punchline" of your comment. In order for people to change something, they would have to say "no" to something.

It is far easier to say "yes" to that which is true than it is to act upon a "no" that will bring about the truth in one's life.

[peter vajda]

Hi, Steve,

That's exactly the point. 98% of the population takes an intellectual approach to change, understands the need for change, agrees in principle, loves to talk about it...and all that. But, fewer than 2% ever DO anything about it, and stick to it (and 2% is a lot of folks, however...). No surprise even the majority of heart attack patients who've had serious surgeries revert back to self-limiting and self-sabotaging behaviors within 18 months to two years after surgery. Better the devil I know than the one I don't. "Safer" that way.

[Steve Roesler]

Dean,

Many years ago I worked at a college; one of the Deans was also quite an accomplished illustrator. I was eager to learn "how to draw" well.

His response: "First you must learn to see the empty space. Anyone can draw what 'is.' The true artist makes use of the emptiness that others don't see."

[Steve Roesler]

Lisa,

"Seems to me the only time more is more is when it's more of less."

That is a heck of a line. You will see it again, with attribution:-)

[Steve Roesler]

Joe,

Good to see you.

Now that is some kind of accomplishment. I've got to ask: What did it take to allow that to happen?

[Steve Roesler]

Peter,

Yes, I've seen the heart statistics. They really make one go "Hmm?"

I am fascinated watching an almost fanatical emphasis on the accumulation of knowledge, mastery of the brain and the notion that, through science, we will somehow gain control over the world in which we live. As I watch, it appears that the angst and energy spent in the quest to gain "more" control is a deceptive substitute for living the life than one has already been given.

[peter vajda]

You make a great point Steve, IMHO; somehow and in some way, many feel brain mastery is supposed to replace "consciousness"-that if I can get the right spots to "light up", well, then I've got my life mastered; the deal is that the heart and the soul are jettisoned so that, robotic-like, inner peace, happiness and well-be-ing and the like simply come with a bio-feedback, check-mark-this area-of-the-brain-approach to life and living so that we're all living on the happiness end of the continuum in perpetuity, poof- a continuum with only one end. Hmmm.

Consciousness is not just some by-product of the human brain mass. Consciousness is all pervasive. It is in everything and is everywhere. Our individual human consciousness exists within and is a part of a universal consciousness. Consciousness exists long before a brain develops.

Too, there can be no knowledge without emotion. We may be aware of a truth, yet until we have felt its force, it is not ours. To the cognition of the brain must be added the experience of the heart and soul, for me a "no-brain-er".

[Valeria Maltoni]

I'd add "all in good time." Clarity develops over time when we are willing to stick our neck out and develop a sense of what we need first to get to what comes next. Notice that I did not say "all at the same time." It's not just semantics. The more we want at once, the less we know what we have and what is attainable.

[Joe Raasch]

Hi Steve,

What did it take? Lack of progress. The goals don't change, right?

Joe

[Steve Roesler]

Hi, Valeria!

Maybe the best example of "in good time" is the process of wine-making. Who wants "Vintage this morning"?

You used two words--"need" and "want"--that really come into play here. When I watch people focus on what they want, there often seems to be an immediate abundance of forced activity. Yet when they keep it simple and think in terms of "needs," the process is very different.

[Steve Roesler]

Joe,

So the pain finally got great enough to do the sensible thing?

[Karin H.]

Hi Steve

Late to the party again, sorry. But still hope to add something on the subject.

"The longer the bad times continue, the more the business units tend to increase their number of goals. It's as if the solution to everything is "more."

I agree, a wrong 'mind-set'. When the going gets tough, we stick even 'more' to our hedgehog concept: keep doing what we're good at. That's a goal on its own, specially when doubt sets in.
When you know your UBP (Unique Buying Proposition) and you're foundation of your business is built on and around this: you'll be alright - even in the toughest times of times.
(See my own blog post on the very subject)

Plus, you are in a much more relaxed state of mind, you don't have to franticly search or follow the next 'big thing' that will make things better - you're already doing fine. And strangely enough, this relaxed state of mind you transfer to your prospects who feel more comfortable with you than with hectic, frantic, 'got-to-get-the-sales-because-times-are-bad' other companies.

Karin H. (Keep It Simple Sweetheart, specially in business)

[Steve Roesler]

Karin,

I'm glad you had a chance to join the discussion.

Why?

Because you set a good example for what we are talking about. I've watched as you have grown the online business(es). The methodical way you have approached it is the opposite of the frantic, let's-do-everything-and-see-what-works style that one sees so often.

When someone reads your Keep It Simple blog, they can be assured that you practice what you are preaching.

Keep on keeping it simple. . .

[Karin H.]

Cheers Steve ;-)

I just keep coming back to the 'simple' books and methods you and others have recommended to me over the lastfew years. Some have been written years or decennia ago, but still hold true in these frantic, filled with technology times. So, following in their footsteps does make life simpler - in a good way.

Karin H.

[Jo]

Having lived through the steep decline of the economy in Zimbabwe, I concur. Ditch the bad business and concentrate on what works!

It is disconcerting to find that you make more money in 2 hours a day than you used to in 12, but there it goes. Revenue drops from millions, but profits double.

Are you familiar with the 4 hour week? We should be celebrating! At last, a chance to live!

[Steve Roesler]

Karin,

With all of that information floating around for many years, doesn't it make you wonder why humans continue to think that there is some magic potion that has yet to be discovered?

Thousands of years ago the wise King Solomon stated: "There is nothing new underneath of the sun."

We continue to quote King Solomon and then go on to ignore his wisdom.

Go figure.

[Steve Roesler]

Jo,

I'm on board with the 4 hour work week. But here we are on Saturday still talking abut work!

Hmmm...time for an updated self-assessment:-)

[Karin H.]

Only the wisdom of new realisation Steve ;-)

And as for talking about work on a Saturday, what about working on Saturday? ;-) (and Sunday for that matter?)

Karin H

[Steve Roesler]

Karin, you have described the joys of self-employment and entrepreneurship.