- [Voiceover] Many people, not all, suffer from what I call BSOS, which is bright and shiny object syndrome. You know what I'm talking about, it's that desire to chase every great idea or opportunity that pops into your head. While it can sometimes lead to success, it most often leads to distraction, and a lot of incomplete initiatives. What we want to do is be more focused. I'm gonna provide a few tips to help you overcome this bright and shiny object addiction.
Number one, most important, is to know yourself. People who are distracted by lots of bright and shiny objects often do so because they're not clear about what they do best. The more you know yourself and your strengths, the easier it is to focus your actions on only those strengths. If you need help on figuring out what those are, you might want to check out my course on discovering your strengths in the library. Number two is to choose one annual target.
Pick one big thing that you're going to accomplish each year. Not five, not 10, not 12, one. Make it the year of something, like the year I'm going to get a raise, or whatever it is, and focus on that one thing. By having one thing in your mind, it tells yourself, I am not going to pursue other opportunities this year. If I want to pursue a new opportunity, I'll have to wait until next year. Number three is to celebrate your successes.
Your brain is hard-wired to focus on negative events. That's not necessarily a bad thing. That helps you protect yourself from danger. But we also want to take extra time to emphasize successes when they appear. By doing that, you'll acknowledge that you are getting success by focusing on what you do best, and that will give you an extra layer of protection of chasing after random opportunities. Number four is get better at saying no to others.
When they ask you to get involved in whatever it is that they're doing, ask for them to send the request via email. Number five is get better at saying no to yourself. When those great ideas pop into your head, put them on what I call the perhaps list. Then you can review that list at some point in the future, perhaps when you're coming up with your next year's annual goal. You can overcome BSOS. All it takes is a little bit of focus, and the more you focus on what your strengths are, the more likely you are to have success.
Author
Updated
4/15/2019Released
4/11/2016Productivity expert Dave Crenshaw provides techniques on a wide variety of topics, designed to help people better manage their time and ultimately become more productive. Tune in to learn about everything from managing emails and calendars to setting priorities, collaborating with coworkers, reducing interruptions, crafting a "productivity mindset," and creating a more comfortable and effective work environment.
Have an idea for a future video from Dave? Submit it using our course feedback form. If you want more time management strategies now, we recommend watching Dave's Time Management Fundamentals course.
- Reducing interruptions
- Dealing with feeling overwhelmed
- Responding to quick questions
- Making the most of meetings
- Following up
- Implementing a closed door, open calendar policy
Skill Level Intermediate
Duration
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Introduction
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Welcome43s
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1. Time Management Tips
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Power tips for sending email3m 14s
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Positive procrastination3m 15s
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Remove the "busy" tag2m 58s
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Manage digital interruptions4m 19s
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Make the most of meetings2m 52s
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Follow up on delegated items2m 58s
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Become tech savvy4m 33s
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Focus on the person2m 37s
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Time management for students2m 59s
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Ending meetings with action1m 44s
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Building a not-to-do list2m 46s
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Avoiding the crowd mindset2m 58s
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Placing a value on your time3m 30s
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How to schedule a meeting3m 35s
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How to develop flexibility4m 19s
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The trouble with texting3m 48s
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Create a perhaps list4m 58s
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Reduce attention switches4m 46s
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Adapt your favorite app4m 33s
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Make time to get more time3m 49s
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Read vs. unread email3m 52s
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Make time to have fun3m 57s
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Create a morning ritual3m 23s
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When to create new homes3m 26s
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How to reduce spam3m 48s
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Why repetition saves time2m 48s
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Productive passwords2m 3s
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Productive web browser tips1m 51s
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Writing a productive email1m 55s
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Commit to your calendar1m 54s
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What to say instead of ASAP1m 46s
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Set voicemail expectations1m 43s
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Set email expectations1m 46s
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How to use an inbox1m 41s
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How to use an outbox1m 53s
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Video: Overcome opportunity addiction