LIFE IS WORTH COMPETING FOR. HOW TO WIN YOUR DAY EVERY DAY THREE WAYS YOU CAN COMPETE TO WIN TODAY. TEAR UP YOUR TO-DO LIST Every time I ask a room full of business leaders about how many items are on their "to-do" list, inevitably I see hands raised at "5...10..15...20." I even had someone show me his once that read 30 items he "had to get done ASAP." A number of us are incredibly efficient at our to-do list while remaining ineffective at the work that *actually* matters. We remain busy constantly checking items off of our list - only to add 3-4 more for every one we remove. The first step to winning your day is getting rid of that "to- do" list and start focusing on what needs to get done - your most important work - and what you control. YOU DON'T NEED TO GET "EVERYTHING" DONE. QUIT TRYING "TO DO" EVERYTHING SO YOU CAN DO THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS.
Transcript
L I F E I S W O R T HC O M P E T I N G F O R .
HOW TO WIN YOUR DAY
EVERY DAYTHREE WAYS YOU CAN COMPETE TO WIN TODAY.
TEAR UP YOUR TO-DO LIST
Every time I ask a room full of business leaders about how
many items are on their "to-do" list, inevitably I see hands
raised at "5...10..15...20." I even had someone show me his
once that read 30 items he "had to get done ASAP."
A number of us are incredibly efficient at our to-do list
while remaining ineffective at the work that *actually*
matters. We remain busy constantly checking items off of
our list - only to add 3-4 more for every one we remove.
The first step to winning your day is getting rid of that "to-
do" list and start focusing on what needs to get done - your
most important work - and what you control.
Y O U D O N ' T N E E D T O G E T " E V E R Y T H I N G " D O N E .
QUIT TRYING"TO DO"
EVERYTHINGSO YOU CANDO THE MOSTIMPORTANT
THINGS.
THREE YARDS AND A CLOUD OF DUSTWoody Hayes was a legendary football coach atOhio State University from 1951-1978. He wonfive national championships and is a member ofthe College Football Hall of Fame. He is famous for coining the phrase "Three yardsand a cloud of dust" because in his opinion, asuccessful play was one that gained threeyards.The quarterback would take the snap, turnaround and give it to the running back, who wouldfocus on getting just three yards.It was uglyfootball - pound the ball inside and wear youropponent down after enough runs up the middle. It was boring to watch. No one would have madeESPN Sportscenter highlights from gaining threeyards. It was ugly football. But it worked.Success works the same way.Success is sexy - reaching our goals, postingonline, and achieving results is the fun stuff. Butthe work to get there? Ugly and boring - but itmoves us forward every day. Look at your "to-do" list again. RemoveEVERYTHING except the 3 most important tasks.
Just three. Look at everything you *think* needs to get donefor work, your side hustle, or goal. Carefullyreview each and then pick the three mostimportant. That's your focus for tomorrow. Get those threedone so you move to 2nd down and 7. Before you go to bed tomorrow night, look at yourlist, and write down the 3 most important thingsyou need to do the next day. Do them. It's now 3rd down and four yards to go. Repeat the next night for the following day'sthree target items. Fourth and one. Then a first down. It seems small - only 3 yards at a time. It's notmuch to talk about, it doesn't seem to *really*move you far forward, but trust that it is.99-yardtouchdown drives are still scored one yard at atime. Get your three yards every day this week,
YOUR
FO
CUS
CHO
OSE
S YO
UR F
ATE
.FOCUS ONLY WHAT YOU CONTROL
Our attitudeOur actionsOur efforts
Weather? No control of that.Boss? No control of his/her bad mood.Spouse? No control of him/her either. There are a number of experiences andinteractions you'll have this week that areoutside of your control. Try as you may toinfluence them, you don't control them. You can't change certain people's behaviors oractions. You can't help if your boss is mean toeveryone. And you can't even help if "nothingseems to go your way." But you always control your controllables.
We only control 3 things in this life:
Controlling our controllables is a major key towinning our day - especially when things don'tseem to "go our way."
T H E K E Y T O L I F E I S N O T L E T T I N G W H A T ' S O U T S I D E O F Y O U R C O N T R O L D I S T R A C T Y O U F R O M W H A T I S .
We may be mad at how someone treats us -but we still 100% choose how to respond. We may be upset that we got passed over fora promotion - but we still 100% choose ourattitude and actions to improve ourpositioning (or find a new job). We may be un-motivated to work on ourgoals today - but we still 100% controlwhether we're going to choose to take actiondespite the motivation. The key to succeeding in life is to not let theuncontrollables distract us from focusing onwhat we control. Successful people have baddays, they get upset, and they don't alwaysfeel motivated. But instead of focusing on what they can'thelp, they remain resolute in focusing onwhat they do. Their attitude. Their effort.Their actions. Something will happen this week outside ofyour control. Don't let it cause you to losesight of what's still in your control.
L I F E I S W O R T HC O M P E T I N G F O R .
ADDITIONALRESOURCES TO
HELP YOUCOMPETE EVERY DAY
WEEKLY MINDSET DEVELOPMENTSubscribe to the Compete Every Day Podcast on iTunes, Spotify, Google Play, or your favorite
playlist to receive a new show every Wednesday with conversations & content to help you win
your work, workouts, and life. Learn more at Podcast.CompeteEveryDay.com
ALIGN WITH OTHER LEADERSWe have a community of a few thousand leaders who are working to show up better for their
goals, their work, & their families. If you want to be sharpened, encouraged, & connected with
ambitious people, join the conversation at Facebook.com/groups/CompeteEveryDay.
HAVE A QUESTION?Still stuck on how you can capitalize on your goals, your day, and compete more effectively for
