Need to be more productive? Then stop doing these things…

The furious pace of business these days pretty much demands that you need to be as productive as you can possibly be every minute that you are running your business. Humans tend to be creatures of habit even if those habits are counterproductive and not helpful to their overall life. Changing your mindset, changing your attitude, changing your focus, is what will get you to where you need to be. If you have been stuck lately, you probably need to stop doing a few things that are likely killing your ability to be more productive than anyone else.

• Stop making excuses for why you didn’t get something done. That may be the number one productivity killer of all time. Patting yourself on the head and telling yourself that you tried isn’t going to cut it. Anyone can try. Do that enough and you won’t have a business anymore. Lay the blame where it belongs and change your mindset.
• Stop being a people pleaser and collapsing in grief anytime someone disapproves or looks to find fault with you. Most people just want to blend in with the heard. Leaders, entrepreneurs, have no interest in that. If you want constant approval and awarded self esteem, go get a dog. If you want your visions and dreams to happen you must take explosive and direct action right now regardless of the reviews. Besides, if what you are trying to do was easy, everyone would be doing it.
• Fear will cripple you. If you are constantly anxious and fearful you will be unable to take any action. Stop wringing your hands all day. Keep doing that and that just becomes your day. Make a plan and do your plan. Take the calculated risk. That is what separates the herd mentality from those that actually achieve and produce what they want to achieve and produce. Plan and execute. Most people fail because they never pull the trigger.
• Finally, if you need help, go out and get it. You can’t be strong and dominant in all areas of your endeavor. So, find those who are strong where you are weak and find those great worker bees who can take a great idea and run with it until it materializes. The great actor or actress isn’t that remarkable without a supporting cast to make a memorable film. You may need your quarterback but you also need those guys up front blocking.

-Written by Kevin Sawyer