Addition by Subtraction
What have you subtracted to focus on the most important?
We all want more time. Not a day goes by where I don’t think to myself.
“There are never enough hours in the day.”
“Where does the time go?”
“I’m so busy”
How many times have you said these things to yourself? I bet it’s far too often. For me, it seems like this summer they’ve been almost a daily thought.
But I realize that I’ve been missing the boat on an important aspect about my time, goals and priorities as they pertain to both my personal life and businesses.
Our focus should actually be on trying to understand what we’re doing with the time that we already have available to us.
The issue is that we can’t ever remove anything from our “busy” schedules or say no to something new.
Finding ways to subtract or what to subtract is hard.
We’re pushed to add. Adding always benefits others. Not always ourselves. Nobody likes to say no. That’s why we’re always adding. The challenge is subtracting. Subtraction leads to achieving maximum effect.
The psychology of subtraction is you’re removing or taking something away. But in reality, you’re subtracting something to add focus on the more important. It allows more time, money, resources to focus on your goals and priorities.
Derek Sivers wrote the following.
The least successful people I know run in conflicting directions, are drawn to distractions, say yes to almost everything, and are chained to emotional obstacles.
The most successful people I know have a narrow focus, protect themselves against time-wasters, say no to almost everything, and have let go of old limiting beliefs.
Subtracting the unimportant, unproductive to focus on the most important and productive. The focus should be on your passions and goals.
The practice of subtraction allows for some form of replacement that could yield an immeasurable return personally or professionally. Subtracting something out of your schedule allows for you to pursue or try something that you’ve never had the time to explore. What results could this have?
This can work both personally and professionally. Here are a few examples.
Subtracting your bad clients to allow more focus on your best clients.
Subtracting the average or under performing (i.e. marketing ad spending, target/niche market, tactics, employees) to focus your time and money to the best performing.
Subtracting yourself from doing a certain task(s) and allowing someone else to do them.
Subtracting out a certain expense(s) to instead invest that money.
Subtracting something you dislike doing to instead use that time to do something you’ve always wanted to try.
What type of effects would these have on you, your employees or your family?
Ever wonder why some doctors, attorneys and advisers at certain points stop accepting new clients? Bigger and bigger isn’t always better. Sometimes there are limits and they know their limits, until it affects the overall quality of their product or service and personal life.
Sometimes a step backwards is required to take two steps forward. Long-term benefits outweigh the short-term pain.
The result of the subtracted has the possibility to equal a life altering addition for you or others. Be spontaneous and don’t be afraid to try something new.
Subtract the unimportant, unproductive items to focus on adding to your most important aspirations.
“Simplicity is about subtracting the obvious and adding the meaningful.” John Meade
Thank you for reading! If you enjoyed Spilled Coffee, please subscribe and/or give a gift subscription for others.
Spilled Coffee grows through word of mouth. Please consider sharing this post with someone who might appreciate it.