Being Effective vs Efficient
I was reading a real estate investment book recently that discussed the difference between being EFFECTIVE vs EFFICIENT. I have always expressed to my clients that I am efficient, but now I realize, I should focus on being effective. Here’s why.
The author, Brandon Turner, described the difference in this way:
- The difference is getting stuff done right vs. getting the right stuff done.
- The difference is watching your business vs. watching your business grow.
- The difference is managing your life vs. changing your life.
- The difference is looking cool on the football field vs. scoring touchdowns and winning games.
Many people focus on being efficient. They can get a lot of stuff done, they have systems and processes in place, and they maximize their schedule. I thought to myself, that describes me. But then I read more.
“Being effective, on the other hand, is the practice of continually making the right moves and accomplishing important tasks. You can be incredibly efficient, crossing off items on your to-do list, but if those tasks aren’t getting you closer to your end result, toward the goal, you are not being effective with your time. Therefore, to work less and get more done, it’s vital that you continually zone in on being effective in all that you do.”
Here’s a tip. Consider adding a block of time to your calendar three days a week to remind yourself to evaluate your actions to make sure you are doing the most important things to move closer to your goals. To supercharge your productivity, try to eliminate dead space in your schedule.
Identify your MINS
Here’s a final suggestion. The author explains that dead space is caused by one essential thing, you don’t know what the next task really is. Therefore, “the first step in minimizing dead space is to identify what your Most Important Next Step (MINS) is on your journey. What is the smallest action you can do next to move your goal forward just a bit? You’ll likely find that, surprisingly, it’s usually something quick and easy to do.” What’s your MINS? Not sure? Ask a friend to help you, join a mastermind group, seek out a mentor. Now, block off time on your calendar to do that task. Take action. Think about being efficient vs effective.
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