A former business partner would tell me this all the time when we were setting up a financial planning practice. Any time I would get sidetracked with fun little projects to add “value” to the business he would bring me back down to Earth with “Remember James, the main thing, is to keep the main thing the main thing!”
He was right. When you set a goal you should evaluate what steps you’re taking to reach that goal. If something that you’re doing is fun, productive, and creative or whatever, yet is taking your attention away from the “main thing” (your goal) then, perhaps you shouldn’t be doing it, or at least limit the amount of energy you expend on it.
When preparing for my first triathlon I got very distracted by all the gadgets and fun gear that comes along with the world of
triathlon. I completed V02 max testing, underwater swim stroke analysis and nutritional coaching. Near bankruptcy, I purchased the Computrainer, Garmin 910xt GPS watch, the Transition Specialized Tri bike, clip-less pedals with Specialized Tri-vent bike shoes, Zoot slip-on running shoes, a Kiwami one-piece tri-kit, Xterra full body wetsuit, Catseye odometer and cadence counter, Zipp race wheels, compression socks, and more spandex related clothing than any man should own. I tried different workouts from Beginner Triathlete, Joe Friels Triathlon Bible, Evolution Running, and practiced 3 different swimming strokes from 5 different sources. I spent so much time learning about triathlon, researching products to do a triathlon that I lost focus on what it takes to finish a triathlon.
He was right. When you set a goal you should evaluate what steps you’re taking to reach that goal. If something that you’re doing is fun, productive, and creative or whatever, yet is taking your attention away from the “main thing” (your goal) then, perhaps you shouldn’t be doing it, or at least limit the amount of energy you expend on it.
When preparing for my first triathlon I got very distracted by all the gadgets and fun gear that comes along with the world of
triathlon. I completed V02 max testing, underwater swim stroke analysis and nutritional coaching. Near bankruptcy, I purchased the Computrainer, Garmin 910xt GPS watch, the Transition Specialized Tri bike, clip-less pedals with Specialized Tri-vent bike shoes, Zoot slip-on running shoes, a Kiwami one-piece tri-kit, Xterra full body wetsuit, Catseye odometer and cadence counter, Zipp race wheels, compression socks, and more spandex related clothing than any man should own. I tried different workouts from Beginner Triathlete, Joe Friels Triathlon Bible, Evolution Running, and practiced 3 different swimming strokes from 5 different sources. I spent so much time learning about triathlon, researching products to do a triathlon that I lost focus on what it takes to finish a triathlon.
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