Say it with me, “Thank you for asking but if I take on one more thing my family will never see clean underwear again.”
That’s right, say it. Memorize it. Post it on your computer screen. Post it on your bathroom mirror. Just make sure you don’t forget it.
I have a tendency to take on a million projects at once. I never want to let an opportunity pass and I hate to turn people down. I am always looking for experience and new ways to express myself. I have probably another dozen or so ideas and projects on the backburner that are just dying to become a priority. Yet, they sit and simmer on the backburner because distraction walks in with another opportunity or project with a deadline. Our backburner ideas rarely have deadlines and when they do we know the only one who is affected by it is us…so back on the backburner it goes.
Eventually, we are swamped with projects and deadlines along with our personal goals and family life. Family life alone can take up most of our time. We have so many things competing for a large chunk of our day. We know family is the most important but business is another way of supporting our family. It can be frustrating to work all day and feel overwhelmed while our children are playing and living is moving on without us. That happens when we take on too many projects that are frankly not worthwhile. Why do we do this? Because we don’t want to miss the golden ticket. Opportunities only come around once and if we miss it then our business will sink to the bottom of the ocean. If you believe that then I have some swamp land I want to sell you. Yes, there are some golden ticket opportunities that only come around once in a lifetime. More likely, opportunities have a way of resurfacing every now and then. There is always another campaign, promotion, and deal around the corner. The only real opportunity that doesn’t come around again is time spent with family. So, wash a load of underwear and take care of your family. Let the rest fall into place after that.