Don’t laugh, this is me learning to surf….for the non-surfers out there, this is not as easy as it looks! I am proud to say that I was abIe to stand up a few times!
In Business things can often feel like a struggle to stay afloat. Waves constantly splashing over can make it difficult to hold a Vision. That is why it’s important to regularly sit above the crashing waves, remind yourself of where you’re going and ensure your activity is prioritised according to the Vision (and not just the squeaky wheel).
There’s a theory called the law of diminishing returns which is based on the 80:20 rule and suggests that 20% of the work drives 80% of the return. This is never going to be exactly right – it’s an average observation across many businesses. If you accept the validity of the 80:20 rule, the 10th most important problem in a business contributes a tiny percentage of value compared to the most important one – the point being that careful prioritisation is important. An hour spent on problem #1 can be infinitely more valuable than an hour spent on problem #10. The art lies in knowing what’s problem #1 and what’s problem #10. That isn’t always easy.
If this is not clear and the waves are crashing over you, then one of two things are probably happening. Either your Vision isn’t clear…or your priorities are not being driven by your Vision. Happy surfing!!