Every year, every single year, it’s easy to be surprised by how quickly December arrives. We just went through a December, right? Yet, I’m guessing that’s not what you’re thinking about
That’s because every year, every single year, it’s easy to forget, and to face a January full of possibility, of the hopes and dreams for the new year.
Forget them. Forget your dreams and hopes.
But not all of them. Forget, or, I should say, set aside, half of them. Half of your dreams, and projects, and hopes.
I see, over and over again, that eyes are bigger than the stomach. Meaning, you think you can eat way more than you actually can.
A huge frustration in business, and in life, is in this simple fact. The problem isn’t that you’re lazy, or unproductive, or unfocused. The problem is that you (we all do) way, WAY over-estimate your capacity. You can’t get it all done. You can maybe get half of it done. More likely less than that.
You know what this means? Your choices are powerful and critical.
One of the things I love about my spiritual path of Sufism is that it is constantly reminding me that when we come to the end of our lives it will seem as if we’ve only spent a few hours or days on the planet.
Trying to do too much is the best way to create overwhelm, to work too hard, to miss the simple joys in life, and to believe the lie that there’s not enough time to care for yourself, and to spend time with loved ones.
The strange truth is that you move more quickly towards success by slowing down. By doing one thing really well, rather than 5 things in a scattered and unfocused way.
None of us can focus on just one thing
You can, however, pick the most important, most critical, most foundational project that supports your values, your vision and what you really want to see come to pass by December, 2017. And make that project the priority this month.
When that project is handled, you can pick the next project. I bet you might get through the startling high number of 2 or 3 major projects this year.
I do the same thing
I filled an entire page of projects that I want to handle this year. My wife Holly and I, in our traditional new year’s time out without the kids, talked about our appreciations and challenges of the past year, and our hopes and intentions for the new year.
We prioritized our projects based on those hopes and intentions. We set aside some projects in favor of others. We’re focusing on very few things from now through March, with the hopes that once are handled, we will be free to turn our attention to the garden.
Plus a couple of projects that are sitting out there, waiting, but we’ve given ourselves permission to just ignore them for now. We’ll check in about them in April, to see if there’s capacity to handle them or not. I’m guessing not.
Trust your heart
It’s okay. Everyone is facing this. Anyone who gets more than this done is probably paying money for people to do other things for them- whether in their business (administrative support) or in their life (house cleaning?). If you make that much money, you can do that, too.
And that might up your capacity to 4 or 5 major projects in a year.
So trust your heart. It’s okay. This is life. And it’s amazing what happens when you allow yourself to digest the reality, the truth of this.
Ready for December?
You will be. So.. what’s your ONE project that you’re focused on right now, for January?
With hugs and big gratitude,
Mark Silver
Heart of Business, Inc.
Every Act of Business Can Be An Act of Love.
P.S. The Heart of Money Transformational Journey
In two weeks one of our most beloved, transformational, spiritual and grounded courses is starting. It doesn’t make the absurd promise of riches or disappeared debt in 8 weeks. However, what it does bring you is profound spiritual teachings that are hundreds of years old, combined with practical insights and grounded ways of working with your money.
We’re getting thank you letters from folks now that took the course last year. It has lasting effect.
Best of all, for a money course? You choose what you want to pay for it.
Please join us. It truly can change your relationship with money in a permanent way. It’s that change in relationship that means you’ll have a new reality with money.
Click here for info and to register:
The Heart of Money Transformational Journey
p.p.s. New Small Group Coaching group starting
Are you ready for some hands-on help, in an intimate, supportive group? I can help you focus, learn the things you need to learn for your business, and the power of the group can help your business move forward in tremendous ways. December 2017? Handled. 😉
I’m starting a new group up in February, and the focus will be on bringing out your Divine power, in ways that feel great to you, and help you impact the world. There is room for just 4-6 people who want rocking, powerful businesses.
Yollana Shore is also starting a new group, with a focus on some of the gifts that have come into focus for her over the last year, including a heightened sense of freedom, deep connection to the Divine, and grounded business strategy.
Work with Yollana, or Steve, or even me, Mark. Check us out:
Small Group Coaching
[private_Community membership]
Heart of Business Community Update
As a community member, here’s quick access to resources and conversation!
Steve, our Community Manager, just recorded his new January message, which is about making decisions, and he offers two key ways to be more decisive while staying heart-centered. Check it out on the Community Home page.
In our Facebook group, here is one discussion happening right now:
- Are you a woman entrepreneur? Help Community member Shuli with some research here.
These are just 2 of the many resources happening every day in our active, compassionate group! Don’t yet have access to the Facebook group yet? Click here.
[/private_Community membership]
43 Responses
I am focused on making a heartfelt, coherent and shining art show in my local café, as a basis for the year 2017 Skin of Self-Compassion art tour. I’m hoping this will provide a landscape of gentleness and heart space for my customers.
Marie- Sweet! I can feel that.
Thanks for the honest check in Mark and glad to have the opportunity to affirm and hone my no 1 project. I am going to write a book that will be the form of conversational poetry between child and parent. The book’s aim is to be a helpful tool for parents (and maybe kids, if old enough) to see through the old patterns of behaviour, that get in the way of parenting, with the joy and ease that is possible.
Ooh Liz this sounds juicy! I remember a Child’s Book of Prayers I was gifted when I was little..
Embossed, beautifully illustrated ams one prayer spoke of
‘…and please God
Help the grown ups understand
That it isn’t always easy
To be good as good can be
And that I’m being better Lord
Because you’re helping me’ (excerpt)
I’ve never been particularly religious but my elder brother gave me this-I think for the reason you are writing your book- to guide me through a difficult and somewhat lacking relationship with my parents. I’m 48 now so it obviously made an impression.
I think your book will too.
Liz- You’re welcome! You’ll be writing it all this month? Or just working on it?
I am focussed on completing changes to my website. I am starting my web development, SEO and marketing business. The intent is to reinforce the message that potential clients are real people and that they will be “seen” and safe in doing business with me. For myself, loving the message that I send, a deep knowing that the work that I will be doing is good work and building long term heartfelt relationships with my clients.
Peter- Great!
I am focusing on writing the course notes for a series of Equine Assisted Learning Days I am running with my partner. She does horses-I do psychology and Intuitive Guidance. The days are set..I just need to finalise the course outlines them build the sales pages and begin our marketing strategy.
Hey Roberta! fellow Equine Experiential Learning practitioner here. Taking the Heart of Money course this month. Will you be there too?
Fun! More horses, please!
Roberta- That sounds fantastic. Yes!
My focus seems so petty in comparison, but it is huge for me. I hope to develop the habit of eating cleaner (notice I am not forcing myself to be a purist, here) and resume my yoga practice, in the hopes that these two things will help reduce the inflammation and constant pain I feel.
I don’t think there is anything “petty” about self care. I’m working up to trying the Whole30 eating plan and I’m off to yoga classes too, with the hope of actually practicing at home between classes.
Peggy- Self care is HUGE. It’s only our culture that makes it seem petty. Not at all. Constant pain is so, so exhausting. I send prayers of healing for you.
For January…oh my goodness, even as I type this, prepared to share my ONE THING, I realize that I have more than one thing on my mind, and I’m thinking, “But, but, but they’re all so important!”
For January, my big focus in the magical ministry of my business is on my new FB Group for The Way of the River Community. Engaging folks, inviting them in, encouraging connection and conversation. It’s been fun so far!
blessings — Catharine
Catharine- wonderful! And yes, there are so many more trying to crowd in the door, right?
I am focused on bringing HPB Foundations 2, just started it, fully into my acupuncture practice, and noticing what happens. Thanks, I really needed to read your post Mark!
Lisa- So glad to hear that! Yes!
My one project for January is to complete refining my website, which includes setting up a way for people to subscribe and beginning a monthly newsletter. Figuring out the free offer and the on line courses comes next.
Just knowing it’s okay to not do everything at once helped relieve a lot of pressure. So for now, just refining my website feels right and I can see and feel the Heart of my business smiling at ease.
Anasuya- I’m grateful you felt relief… focus is magical and healing, in a very grounded way.
I just want to reflect on how affirmed I felt when I read this. I’m in my 50’s and having striven most of my life to be better, do more, try harder; I’m fed up with that crap. The business culture is especially full of it. I want to rest fully, cultivate deep listening, choose consciously and en-joy my life and my work. So happy to have found some support that is congruent with that. I don’t want a life I need to be a super hero to live. I am enough, I have enough and I wish to savour the time I have left not spend it being busy.
Thea… yes! I’m on the cusp of my 50s, and I’m so there, too. 🙂 No super heroes needed. Just us plain, amazing, Divine, imperfect humans, right?
I’m focused on cultivating deep listening through meditation and music, so I can finish my program in massage therapy and be in a place to create my own business when I come out of it.
Anna- so beautiful. Such an important focus.
I am focused on reworking my prices and communicating that with my clients. I’m also working with relaxing my relationship with money. More ease and less gripping.
Monica- Here’s to more ease! And pricing that feels great!
Financial Sovereignty … completing catch up from 2016 and implementing my weekly, monthly, quarterly, yearly rituals with my numbers.
Karin- yes! Won’t that feel great?
“The strange truth is that you move more quickly towards success by slowing down. By doing one thing really well, rather than 5 things in a scattered and unfocused way.”
That’s so right on. I made it my LinkedIn status just now.
Mark- 🙂 Thank you for sharing it.
For Dec 2017, I am success scheduling January by creating The Alphabet of Love Project a reality. Fuelling my Passion for healing relationships by asking for collaboration and offering solutions for wellbeing, mind, body & spirit by simply connecting to one’s heart.
Gillian- Yes! I love it. What is the Alphabet of Love?
My one thing: Ah, it’s to slow down and settle deeply into tending the rhythms of home, family, self care, and my current commitments in a way that doesn’t feel hurried, and from a centered place (or a place that returns to center!). That’s my foundation, and, I imagine, my project through April. It will take a bit of will-power and self-kindness to look very carefully before starting a new project :).
Thanks for your article and questions!
Thanks Mark for this- For January I’m focusing on launching my online training course for nonprofits. Phew it’s been a lot of work! And I gave myself permission to move the start date from mid January to the end of January and that felt so good and right. Outside of business I started a crossfit training class last month to gear up for having more strength and endurance in 2017. I really have noticed pacing has been a challenge for me–so i decided to be curious instead of determined about whether the fitness component was too much. And it’s actually providing a great launch into my day giving me focus and stamina for my business day that i haven’t experienced in a long time/ever?
Thank you Mark for writing this and sharing your experience about taking one thing at a time instead of 5 and not doing them well.
This article made me relax into the thought of ‘it’s ok to just focus now on getting my e-book out for my website’ and then I will have more room to write my home study programme around march-april.
I am experiencing more lightness and easiness. Thank you for reminding me to give myself permission to take one thing at a time and that there’s no emergency rushing me! 🙂
Dear Mark, I had just had a conversation with my husband about whether or not to focus on a new idea/project I have – and talking with him about how important it is not to be scattered but to focus on the thing that is going to be most beneficial in moving forwards – when your article above arrived in my inbox. It was so confirming. I was having a wobble about whether to really go for this new project or to concentrate on what I’ve been struggling with for years. As I wrote down some ideas about the new project I could that this is what my heart is really calling for and I feel is needed in the world now. So thank you for your inspiration (yet again). I’m so grateful that you have made so much available to me at the level of income (or lack of it) I’ve been in for years. Perhaps the preparation is done and I’m now ready for the next step. You can be assured that when I have the money I’ll be calling on you for support!
Great article, Mark, and totally agree. My project is to write an e-book titled: Persephone’s Heart: The Spiritual Path of the Child-free Woman
Thanks so much and Happy New Year!
Powerful post! Agree that most of the time we overestimate our capacity. This year I decided to laser focus on 2 projects, in order to be able to take MASSIVE ACTION and really move the needle.
Thanks for the inspiration!
Eugene
This is my opinion about frustration:
If you have a high level of professional frustration in your life then this is a gift to you. It’s a gift to you because you are not professionally doing what you are most passionate about.
Do hard work with smart mentality you will make better profit in December for January.
Those articles are nice.
This year my goal is to slow down. Choose your plans calmly and avoid frustrations due to procrastination. Do everything that is needed, but with planning and caution not to increase stress. The heart thanks.
Paulo- slowing down is so wonderful- especially since we end up moving more quickly as a result.
Focusing on one thing has always been a problem for me. I am an education entrepreneur and running my training company, but side by side I am also doing many other things on different industries and niches. This might have affected my startup initially but now I am planning to concentrate and give more quality time onto my business. For this I am doing couple of things which are helping me to focus, like meditation is one good thing people must do, second, I am following a job-to-do-calendar and it’s actually helping me to complete the jobs according to the priority. Apart from this great post this page has some very interesting comments as well. Thanks.