5 Lessons Learned
When Starting Something New and Important

Starting something new that matters is awesome and awful. It’s exhilarating and excruciating. As the late Jim Rohn would have put it, “It’s the challenge that makes the experience.”

Photo Credit: Jeff Sanders

A month ago I signed my first book contract and my life has flipped upside down in more ways than one. As I discussed in one of my latest podcast episodes, last month was unreal in its complications and its simultaneous abundance of opportunities.

We all want more, but in the same breathe we dread the moment it arrives because we have no idea how to respond. It’s easy to make assumptions and predictions about our own future behavior, but when the tables turn and you get what you asked for . . . watch out.

It’s about to get real.

Dreaming of a New Day

When we dream of new opportunities we rarely dream about the work it takes in the moment. We dream about going to college, getting married, buying our first house, signing out first book contract, holding our first child, or getting that long awaited (and highly deserved) promotion.

What we don’t dream about are the late nights, the sweaty palms, and the ever-increasing blood pressure. What happens when we get what we ask for? We get it all — the good, the bad, and the perceivably-unmanageable chaos of everything we never expected.

As I have recently launched myself headfirst into a new book I have also learned a few critical lessons in goal achievement and life balance.

It didn’t take long. I have only been working on the book for a few weeks and already my daily schedule has transformed into a new monster I’m still trying to tame.

Here are five lessons that have become abundantly clear in the wake of my new adventure.

1. Previously Important Goals are No Longer Important

In January I was totally immersed in training for a 50-mile ultramarathon, one of my life’s bucket list goals. I was serious about it — committed. I was invested in the process — totally sold.

I exercised 48 days in a row in the beginning of 2015 and created the most effective training schedule I have ever had. But (and this is big), I didn’t plan for the unforeseen.

I didn’t expect the unexpected or plan for my schedule to to be thrown out the window. Sure, I planned for hiccups, mistakes, and days when I just didn’t feel like running.

But, I didn’t plan to nearly eradicate running (my most important goal of the year) for a book (my now most important goal of the year).

In the matter of a few days I began focusing all of my efforts on the book. I knew I was missing workouts but I really didn’t care. My previously important goals for the year were trumped by a new and highly important endeavor.

Lesson learned: when life hands you an opportunity that could transform your life, be willing to drop everything and run as fast as you can.

2. Every Day Matters

I have mentioned the Seinfeld Strategy a few times recently — and for good reason — it works.

The Seinfeld Strategy is the simple concept of marking an ‘X’ on your calendar or habits tracker every day that you spend time on your most important priority.

I had a feeling in my gut that this strategy would matter when the book popped up, but I didn’t realize how critical it would become, or how quickly.

Working on what matters every day is not only a good idea, it just might be the only way to truly do anything. Okay, that’s a bit extreme, but think about it. If you claim to love basketball but you only play once a month, do you really love it?

If you have a big project just waiting to be finished but you watch TV after work instead of tackling this now guilt-ridden goal, will it ever really get done?

This may sound harsh and it should. When we don’t spend time on the things that matter most to us we are shooting ourselves in the foot on purpose. We are demeaning our own potential and giving ourselves a place to hide in the shadows.

Lesson learned: if you want to spend time on something you care about, spend time on it every day. No exceptions.

3. Focused Blocks of Time Crush Every Other Strategy

About this time last year I wrote an article that I called The Best Productivity Strategy I Have Learned This Year. In that article I praised the one strategy that has brought my own effectiveness to new level: focused blocks of time.

On a weekly basis I use this strategy once or twice. However, with my new book writing schedule I have increased this to a four, five, or even six days a week, depending on my other commitments.

I have dramatically increased this one strategy for one key reason: it works better than anything else I have ever tried.

That may not sound like much, but I’m a self-proclaimed productivity junkie for a reason. I try lots of strategies. I experiment, tweak, and adjust.

I download new apps, listen to new podcasts, read new books, and buy new products, all in an effort to gain even a slight edge on my own highly-productive workflow. In my experience there is nothing that even comes close to dedicated focused blocks of time.

Lesson learned: working on one task without distraction is the supreme method to accomplish anything, especially anything that requires real mental fortitude.

4. I’m Okay With Imbalance

I hate saying this because my whole life I have fought for balance. I desperately want to be able to make time for running marathons, growing my business, spending ample time with my wife, friends, and family, AND pursuing my endless parade of new ideas — all at the same time.

But, there’s no denying that beast of a 24-hour obstacle we all face every day. Time is finite and our goals are infinite.

We want more than can accomplish and we bite off more than we can chew. We strive for endless accomplishment only to end up with endless regret.

Imbalance is the answer because it’s the only logical conclusion. Something won’t get done. Some project won’t get finished.

Some super-important, all-encompassing goal of yours will NEVER happen — ever. That’s life. That’s the brutal nature of the beast.

Lesson learned: when in doubt, cut something and find fulfillment with the remainder. It’s not pretty but it works.

5. Seasons Make Life Fun and Memorable

Growing up in the midwest of the United States I was exposed to a beautiful variety of seasons. Summer was hot, winter was cold, and the two rainy seasons in between brought their own unique flavor.

Seasons are valuable. They give us an excuse for holidays and quirky theme parties. They also give us focus.

Seasons provide the context for our current most important projects. Last fall I was in a financial season. Over the winter I was in a running season. As Spring approaches I am clearly entering a book-writing, house-buying, and espresso-chugging extravaganza.

The way seasons work is that you acknowledge them and then fully embrace then. Just as we are better off not being the party-pooper at the Christmas potluck, we are better off not denying our own current season of life.

Your season defines your current reality and gives it meaning and purpose. Whether it’s easy and fun or hard and unbearable, own it. Live in it. Suck all of the life out of it that you can.

Lesson learned: where you are right now has a bigger context and a higher purpose. Don’t miss the party.

How Do You Respond to Sudden Change?

My new wild ride has clearly revolutionized my thinking, the approach to my day, and my overall goal achievement strategy. But, I want to know what happens to you when you begin an adventure.

How do you respond to change? Do you jump in feet first or hide in the shadows until you’re forced to come out?

I know, tough question. Feel free to respond on my facebook page.

Next Week

Next week on the blog I will be beginning a new series about how to make time for your side hustle.