Overwhelm

Guest Contributor: Chris Barrow
Chris' Posts - Chris' Blog

I don't know about you - but there are some days when there is just too much to do and not enough time to do it?

Take the example of a typical morning:

1. My alarm is set for 5.00am - a 5-day a week habit because I love being an "early-bird";

2. As usual, the first 2 hours is rapid response to client emails - I pride myself on that customer service standard;

3. By 7.00am, my incoming is usually cleared and I can take a shower and enjoy some breakfast before the rest of the day, which can be:

a. Working in practice with clients;

b. Presenting as a trainer, consultant or coach;

c. Leading a corporate acquisitions team or

d. Just enjoying a "desk day" of preparation and thinking.

4. The first two of these activities create income, the third is designed to create wealth and the fifth is about staying organized and smart!

It all sounds very polished.

So why is it that, after waking at 5.00am this morning and clearing my incoming by 7.00am, by 9.30am I am sitting at my desk and feeling completely overwhelmed?

Because I just stopped what I was doing and decided to calculate just how much leadership, management, personal organization and preparation I have to do right now.

I made a list.

I time-evaluated the list.

You know what answer I came up with?

5 days.

I have 5 days of "desk" work on my desk as well as a very busy life in the first three categories mentioned.

Lucky me - its great to be busy and in demand.

BUT

1. I just had a call from a prospective client that I met at a trade show last September asking "where are you?"

2. I have my next desk day in a week from now;

3. I am averaging less than 1 desk day a week;

4. I have targets to meet in the first three categories.

So I'm in overwhelm - sitting here with glazed eyes and light chest pains before setting off on another 36 hours of business travel.

And, what (you may think) has all this got to do with Mastermind Groups?

Because that's where I am going to go next - for two reasons:

1. A good proportion of them will tell me that they feel exactly the same way - and that will make me feel much better (and not a failure) and

2. They will listen, add their experiences, share the solutions that have worked and the books, DVD's, on-line resources and coaches that have helped them and

3. They will make me accountable to put in place time-activated solutions.

You know what?

I know the answers.

1. More time (for thinking)

2. More people (for delegation) and

3. More money (for re-investment).

But my Mastermind Group will leave me with no hiding place.

I will have to do something about it.

And that is priceless.