Productivity Through Zero-Based Thinking
Is there anything in your life that, knowing what you now know, you would not start today if you had it to do over?
In a previous blog, I mentioned the four ways you can generate more results in less time. These included:
Do more of certain things.
Do less of certain things.
Start doing something you are not currently doing.
Stop doing something you are currently doing.
The first two were addressed through the discussion about Pareto’s Law (the 80-20 Rule) and using your hourly rate to decide what tasks you should be optimally completing.
This blog will focus on the fourth – using Zero-Based Thinking to stop doing something you are now doing.
What is Zero-Based Thinking?
Zero-based thinking is recognizing that 95% of daily activities are completed based on habits. Breaking these habits requires you to ask yourself regularly:
Is there anything in your life that, knowing what you now know, you would not start today if you had it to do over?
Reflecting on Zero-Based Thinking in Business
Think about your business. Do you have any current products or services you would not offer today, knowing what you now know? Is there a market you are in that you would not now enter? Are there customers you would not take on? Employees you would not hire? Processes you would not adopt? Channels of distribution you would not use? Sales and marketing strategies you would not follow?
Reflecting on Zero-Based Thinking in Life
You can even use this to apply to your life. Habits you have that you wouldn’t re-start? Relationships that you would not enter? Money you would not invest?
If you answer “yes” to any of these, then why do you continue to pursue them? When you started that thing, it made sense. But that was then. Things and circumstances change and modifying your habits to represent your needs of today is an important reflection, but only if you are brutally honest with yourself.
Implementing Change
Okay, so you have outlined some things that are no longer serving you. Now, the question becomes, what are you going to do about it? Some things are easy to extradite yourself from, but others not so much. Either way, knowing they don’t serve you is the first step in removing them from your routines so your time and resources can go to things that positively impact you and your business.
Want to learn more? Let’s connect.
Adapted from “Effectiveness 2.4 Focus Your Time Zero-Based Thinking” by FocalPoint Coaching and Training Excellence, Copyright 2018, by Brian Tracy and Campbell Fraser. Reprinted with permission.
