Getting Started with Pruning
Pruning is best practiced in your monthly and quarterly checkpoints. You are looking for projects or commitments that you believe are inhibiting your ability to effectively perform the red-zone activities in your life. These commitments may be very good things that you took on with the best of intentions and sincere optimism but that are now beginning to become more obligation than opportunity. They may also be brand-new ideas or opportunities that you feel a strong urge to act on but that are ill-timed because of the lack of hours or resources to devote to them.
Some questions to ask when evaluating potentially prune-able activities are:
- Is this having a negative impact on my red-zone efforts or my overall ability to stay energized in my life and work?
- Has this become more obligation than opportunity? Have I lost my passion for and interest in this?
- Could this be deferred until later and have a greater effect?
- Am I unhappy with my current results?
- Do I have a nagging sense that I need to go in a new direction with this project?
If the answer is yes to any of these questions, then you may want to consider eliminating the project from your plate. As you do, you will likely find that the increased space in your life yields new insights and ideas for your more pressing projects.
Another thing to consider is that saying no doesn’t mean forever. You’re just trying to make sure that the places where you’re choosing to expend your energy are appropriate for the priorities of the season. It’s likely that something you say no to today will become one of your top priorities next month. You need to give yourself permission regarding what you’re choosing not to work on as well as what you are choosing to work on.
Pruning Yields New Opportunities
Don’t be surprised if your willingness to endure a little temporary discomfort by cutting away good but ill-timed projects and opportunities yields an abundant harvest of new ideas and exciting prospects.
Be wise about the commitments you make and the way in which you manage your energy. It could be the single greatest determining factor in whether you are the superstar who burns out on the altar of short-term productivity or the one who thrives for a lifetime.
* Source: The Accidental Creative by Todd Henry