Priorities
Why we are like Gumby
We’ve all heard of Gumby. Many watched the TV show. Some may have even had the toy that you could stretch, bend, twist and fold.
Aren’t we all in some way like Gumby?
We’re pulled, twisted, turned in every which direction.
Kids pull one way, friends, family and work another. You know the feeling.
The feeling of being stretched too thin which creates a sense of exhaustion, stress and anxiety. You’re overwhelmed.
We have so much going on and so much to do. There are many times we have no idea which direction we’re going. The day is over before we know it and then wonder where the day went.
This is what happens when you don’t slow down and have clear priorities.
If you want to continue feeling burnt out, stressed and exhausted, keep trying to be like Gumby.
I know this firsthand because this is what’s happened to me. It isn’t fun. Thankfully, I took the time and aligned my priorities. This was the only way I could find to defeat the Gumby-like feeling.
No matter how hard you try, you can’t be everything to all people. There is only one of you and only so much time.
Then why do we all allow ourselves to be stretched in every direction hoping we don’t break?
The answer I believe is the fear of disappointing someone or saying no to someone or something.
Everyone is fighting for your time. Everyone wants to spend your time for you. Come do this. Why aren’t you doing that? Where are you?
Relate it to your personal life, your business or your career. It’s no different. We’ve all gone through it.
If you don’t prioritize your time and your life, someone else will for you.
There comes a point where you have to say that’s enough. You need to learn to say no. I’m going to focus on this. You need to prioritize your life and what’s important to you.
Something I used that helped me is called The Eisenhower Matrix. This idea came about by President Dwight D. Eisenhower who said the following in a 1954 speech.
“I have two kinds of problems, the urgent and the important. The urgent are not important, and the important are never urgent.”
Stephen Covey, author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, took what Eisenhower said and developed this visual tool. This has helped me focus on my priorities and cut out the things that are unimportant and sucking up my time. It’s so simple, yet we don’t follow it.
Our priorities shape what we do and what we accomplish. You have to focus on what you prioritize and what you want to do.
Your spouse, parents, coworkers, employees, bosses or friends can’t tell you what your priorities are. Nobody knows what your priorities are in life other than you. You have to figure it out for yourself and set your priorities from there.
When determining and setting your priorities, use The Eisenhower Matrix for help to avoid being like Gumby. Then remember these two visuals.
The Coffee Table ☕
Blair duQuesnay wrote an interesting piece called Should You Self Insure Your Home? This isn’t the first I’ve heard this and it won’t be last in the very fast changing world of home insurance. Believe it or not this is starting to happen.
I enjoyed reading Getting the flywheel spinning from
who writes . Nothing worth starting is ever easy. You’ll stumble and even go away from it like Maddie did. Showing up and continuing to show up is where the small victories start to form.
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