SUPPORTING ACTIVITIES vs DIRECTIONAL ACTIVITIES
Hello, end of Summer! I will savor every final moment with you, but Fall will always be my favorite. Kids returning to routine, sunny cool mornings, and college football to name a few reasons why. The shift from Summer to Fall feels a lot like the reset of a New Year to me. An opportunity to double down on activities and experiences that have the most impact on the life you want to live and the identity you are creating for yourself.
The Pareto Principle suggests that 20% of what we do yields us 80% of our results. Is what you are spending time on or worrying about right now, in the 20% bucket? Regardless of what you are working toward, are the activities you’re engaging in moving you closer or further away to your desired outcome? Just for fun, let’s pretend--you’re not much of a runner but you want to be, so you decide to train for a 10K race. Supporting activities would include things like, researching a training strategy, registering for a race, getting the right shoes, the proper clothes, the water bottle, all the things. Getting ready, is great but it doesn't get you to the finish line. Directional activities are decisions that have direct impact on progress toward your goal. In this example, a directional activity would be going on a run, lifting weights to build strength so you can run more efficiently, stretching to gain mobility, all the things that work on running.
When you think about your world, what directional activities have the greatest impact on your desired outcome?
How much time are you spending engaging in directional activities compared to supporting activities?
What’s one directional activity you can do today to get you closer?
Directional activities build confidence, increases competence, and yields your greatest results. This week, I invite you to pay attention, make note of how much time you spend on supporting activities vs directional activities. September is coming my friend, where are you being invited to make a shift?
