How do we get something new started?

Most of us have heard the analogy of the rocks in the jar. This is where we are told if we start with the big rocks first, then add smaller rocks, and then eventually the sand, everything perfectly fits in. If we start with the reverse of the sand first, then the rocks, the jar overflows. If you don't know what I am talking about check it out on YouTube http://youtu.be/6_N_uvq41Pg

Whilst this quite rightly is a good analogy for understanding where we should focus our attention, the thing I worry about is that it points to the fact we jam pack our lives. I am quite good at it. I hold down a full time busy marketing role, I coach in StrengthsFinder (which in itself is a fledgling business), I juggle as much time with family and friends as possible, I read, I exercise.

In contrast, I was shared a great analogy from a good kind man recently that when a fire is starting to fade, what we think we need to do is put more logs on the fire. However, what we need to do is take logs off. For the fire to intensify it needs oxygen. When we get stressed we often get caught in routine, fatigue, frustration or rushing. These factors can be counter productive. We are more likely to make mistakes and have a negative impact on others as we amplify and often over use our strengths.

The lesson? To start something we really need to stop something. A simple exercise I often encourage people to do to help create capacity is by writing three lists on a page under the headings start/stop/continue. Once done, share it with someone you trust for some feedback because often it is hard to get perspective on our own lives. So what are you going to give up so you can start something new?