Which levers must I pull?
Time is a limited resource, so when it comes to focussing our time and attention on those things that will make a difference in the future, it’s as important to learn to say “no” as it is to say “yes”.
We often fool ourselves into thinking that pleasing and constantly saying “yes” to whatever arises will bring success, but saying consistently yes to the wrong things slowly but surely invites fatigue, lack of focused achievements and even resentment.
The Kyocera philosophy clearly states that to “Project Our Abilities into the Future”, we must “focus on that point in the future, by which time we will be able to achieve the goal. This will force us to think of ways of elevating ourselves to meet higher targets and train ourselves to raise our abilities.”
By pausing to consider whether an action will make a positive difference to the future, we give ourselves the opportunity to rethink, reframe and to rather focus on pulling the right levers for success.
To help you decide if something is the right lever to pull, ask yourself:
Is this
(a) important,
(b) a maintenance job that just has to be done,
(c) not important for now.
In this context, it’s helpful to not only keep a “to do” list, but also a "not to do" list, which includes activities or issues that you’re in the process of removing from your life.
Saying “no” or “not now” is a growth strategy. An intentional “no” is rooted in saying “yes” to your core interests and what truly matters to you and your business. Your success is defined as much by what you reject as what you accept.
It can be said that ~ your “no” makes your next “yes” more valuable because you’re being very clear about what levers need to be pulled.
Hence, learning to say “no” to the right things, can ultimately lead to success.
Hazel Mosai - Business Development Manager: Public Sector - KYOCERA Document Solutions South Africa
