Why it’s so important to reflect before taking action
We live in a work culture where perpetual motion is valued highest. A constant state of activity and optimisation is more or less the only respected way to be working in your business. When things aren’t going as we’d hoped or we get disappointment, we tell ourselves we’re not doing enough; when things go really well and we get a big success then we say it’s no time no rest on our haunches, we need to make the most of this, do more of what’s working. Our view of business is action-centric, and if you’re not doing something you’re automatically failing.
I don’t want to downplay the importance of action-taking here. Ultimately, if you’re not doing anything you’re not doing anything – without your input, there is no output. There can also be a tendency (I put myself in this bracket) of waiting to be asked or for something to happen to you, which can lead to weeks or months of nothing happening. This is I think in part due to not wanting to appear pushy, and also because of the half-truths we see shared on social media of people we look up to getting asked to do this and that. I have always said that the only difference to people who are making their business work and those who aren’t is that the former are doing it – doggedly pursuing the work that’s going to get them where they want to be.
Action is important, yes, but only if it’s the right kind of action. There is the work you do when you’ve not looked up from your screen for week, you feel behind and you’re just desperately trying to doggy paddle your way to the shore whilst making sure none of the 58 bags you’re holding get wet. And then there’s the work you do when you’re closely aligned with your goals and business direction, when you understand your priorities, when you know where your strengths and value lay and are gliding in an effortless front crawl through the waves. There is, of course a chasm between the two – in terms of the quality of the work, the focus of the work, and the quality of your life.
In my experience, both personally and through working with clients, the difference between doggy paddling and front crawl is reflection, and the cruel irony is that when you’re in doggy paddle mode, reflection feels like the biggest waste of time there is. “How can I sit and reflect and journal when I’ve got all this stuff to do?!”. The trouble is, when we’re in the thick of action mode, we start to pick up baggage without really questioning it. As we start one thing we notice something else that needs doing, an email pops in we need to react to, we start again on the original task, we get a new idea we want to follow, we see something shiny and new on Instagram and want a piece of that action. And somehow, even though we started with one task, we’ve now got five. They sneaked in under the radar and there were no checks in place to stop them.
A regular reflection practice is really helpful to stop things before they become embedded in your routine – I do check ins a couple of times a month and there’s always a “hold on, why the hell am I doing that?” moment. A reflection not only helps you to notice and let go of unnecessary baggage tasks you’ve picked up, but also maintains a close connection to your goals and business vision. Especially if you’re someone who tends to write goals down in a notebook that you close and never open again, a reflection habit will keep those goals front of mind and plan tasks that are going to get you closer to them. This is how you become the front crawl swimmer – knowing exactly where you’re going and the techniques and actions that are going to get you there most efficiently, no distractions.
If you’re really in the weeds, it will take more than a monthly check in to get you out of them. Particularly if you’re having more existential questions around your business, like “what do I want?”, “which projects should I pursue?”, “what direction do I want to take this in?”, a deeper reflection is necessary. This is a longer drawn out process that will require time and patience, so first, you need to give yourself the acceptance that you can’t just concentrate really hard and everything will be fine. There needs to be a broader assessment of your work and your life combined, what is working well, what isn’t working well, and what exactly is it that’s the crux in those cases. You need to challenge your assumptions about yourself and what’s possible for you, and think as objectively as you can. To get everything out of your head and in the open where you can sort through it, rather than have it swirl like a whirlpool in your mind.
Ultimately, you need to get to a place where you’re dealing with specifics, rather than the general questions. You can do something with “I need to build more creativity in my life on a day to day basis” or “I want to start making x product”, rather than “which direction should I choose?”. When you take action based on specifics, towards a realised goal, that action is focused, effective and efficient. There will always be a little bit of doggy paddle in our work, but we want to get to a place where we can leave all the baggage at the side and shoot off, unburdened, into our front crawl.
If you’re feeling that you need a bit more front crawl in your life, perhaps struggling to choose a direction or follow through on your ideas and goals, my new programme Immersion is going to help you establish a reflection practice. In fact we will spend the first month of this 3 month programme in reflection mode in order to help you take the best actions in months 2 and 3, and you’ll get a reflective workbook every month too to help you get into the habit. I’d love to have you join and immerse yourself in your business so you can confidently tackle these issues and move forward sustainably. Click here to find out more.
