Work Less, Contribute more
About 4 years ago, I wrote down four words that I was determined would drive my future.
Work Less, Contribute More.
I had a vision of spending less time doing the things that don’t matter and spending more time on the things that do. And spending more time doing fun things.
When I look back on all the things I’ve done in my career, the greatest satisfaction has always come when I felt like I was contributing to the success and growth of others. I love seeing people do good things. I especially love seeing people do good things they never dreamed they could.
Even working for nearly 30 years inside of someone else’s company, my favorite thing was always the people. I felt like their success was my success.
Either way, what I wanted to do was contribute to people in such a way that their success grew. Which, in turn, would drive the success of their business.
After all --- People ARE Business or, is it, Business is People?
So, when I wrote down the words, Work Less, Contribute More, I felt like I wanted to pull back from feeling like was “working” all the time. You know that feeling. It feels like work. I didn’t know what it WOULD feel like, I just knew what I didn’t want it to feel like.
A funny thing happened over the past year. If you look at my schedule, you would say I’m an idiot.
My schedule has been unbelievable. Out of town about 60% of the weeks. Travel. Hotel beds and restaurant food. 10-12-18 hours a day spent on problems and challenges for other companies.
In those weeks that I’m at home, 6-hour conference calls, approx. 100 emails a day, countless texts and phone calls.
I’ve, literally, taken one week off in the past year. And, I was used to taking about 6 weeks off every year.
After this year of starting my business and being fortunate enough to have few folks believe in what I may be able to contribute to them, I am happy to say that I’ve succeeded.
You may see that I’ve worked 60-80 hour weeks but, honestly, inside of those hours, I spent 10 or less working on stuff that doesn’t’ matter. Those hours feel like work.
The rest of the hours don’t. They feel like a contribution. It’s hard, challenging and wildly satisfying.
I can finally admit that I “get it” – the old adage is true (mostly).
Find something you love to do and you will never work another day in your life.
I have to do some things I hate doing.
Paperwork, billing, taxes, etc. Other than that, the rest if easy. Fun. Rewarding.
If you’ve read this far into what seems like some sort of confessional, I have a wish for you this new year.
Work Less, Contribute More.
You’ll love it.