In previous blogs, I’ve talked about the book 10x is easier than 2x and how it’s changing the way I approach life, both personally and professionally. What didn’t occur to me until I started trying to apply these principles to my life is that this process forces you to lose control.
If 20% of what you do in a day produces the most impact in your life, the remaining 80% is stuff that just fills your time and doesn’t move you forward. That 80% is usually filled with activities that make us “feel busy” rather than the ones that produce desired results.
When you begin implementing the process of “outsourcing” to your WHOs (delegating) you quickly realize that you’re handing over control of 80% of your activities to your WHO(s)—the person or people whose gifts and talents complement your own. I’ve lost control of my calendar, which is uncomfortable, but the person who I’ve given control over that is living in her own 20% by managing my calendar and is energized by it.
When you give up control of things that aren’t in your area of genius, you’re giving up things you weren’t created to do, but you’re also giving up control of areas where you may be competent, but not impactful. That can be difficult, especially if those things are tied to your ego or identity, but becoming a person who lives their life on purpose, to become the WHO God created you to be for others, only happens when you’re willing to give up control. The control we don’t want to give up is usually tied to things that make us feel good about ourselves but may not make much of an impact.
When you begin handing control of parts of your life to other people, you’ll find it gives you time to do what you were created to do. We’re so entrenched in the ideas we learn from our parents, our teachers, our coaches, and society in general. “You’re not good if you don’t struggle through things you don’t want to do,” “You have to pay your dues before you can do what you enjoy,” and on and on. I don’t know about you, but I’m tired of struggling. I want to live a fulfilled life—not just my own personal fulfillment, but the fulfillment of serving others in ways that create the most impact for the rest of my life.
Years ago, before I ever heard of Who Not How or Working Genius, I was in a training where the speaker was talking about how to be the most effective we can be. The instructor shared a story about a gentleman who was gifted at closing deals—knowing what I know now, that was his working genius. One thing he took pride in at home was the fact that he did all his own yard work. It was something he wasn’t particularly gifted at, but it was important to him to do it and to teach his sons that no matter where you are in life, you still have things you have to take care of yourself.
One day while he was doing yard work, he blew out his back. The unintended consequence was that he had to have surgery and undergo extensive rehab afterward. While he was recovering, he missed out on closing several really large projects. He missed those deals because he was doing something that was not in his purpose and also, something he physically wasn’t meant to be doing. Not only that, but he didn’t even get the intended results in his message to his sons. Unintentionally, he revealed the cost of doing something that made him feel good about himself instead of living in his purpose.
When I’m doing work that is not in my working genius, and I have the resources to pay someone else to do it, which would allow me to live more in my genius, I’m doing myself a disservice. Not only am I doing myself a disservice, but I’m doing others a disservice as well. However, by focusing my resources, providing others the opportunity to do jobs that aren’t in my area of genius, I am being a blessing to them.
That story hits me personally, because I realize now that I was also living in someone else’s WHY and hoarding resources by doing something that fed my own ego (taking care of my own yard). This is a great example of why we need to let go of being in control.
However, make sure you have a plan to fill that time with things that are in your working genius. The abuse of giving up control is doing nothing with the time you’ve gained.
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