The Art of Elimination

By Eric Johnson

Contributing Writer

“Besides the noble art of getting things done, there is the noble art of leaving things undone.  The wisdom of life consists in the elimination of nonessentials.”

- Lin Yutang (Chinese writer and inventor)

Very interesting.  Sounds great.  What does it mean?

We all know about “getting things done.” We make our “to do” lists and mental notes and then we go for it.  Think of all of the things you have to get done in any given week – work, commuting, groceries, bills, household chores, family outings, handling surprises and so forth.  A statement I consistently share with clients is, “It’s not about getting things done. It’s about getting the right things done.” Guess what? In order to get the right things done, you have to leave other things undone.  If you have a “to do” list, you should equally write up a “not to do” list.  They’re equally important.  You have to decide what to focus on and what to neglect.

Few of us know about “leaving things undone.” This is the statement that makes most people uncomfortable.  Nowadays, everyone is busy.  Every week I hear someone telling about how they are so busy and how it knocks them out of other things in life.  Yet, they wear the “I’m so busy” statement like a status symbol.  When is the last time you heard someone says, “Oh, things are going well.  I have more free time than ever before and I’m totally caught up on things.  Life is the slow lane is incredible.”  The last time you heard that was never.

Where your focus goes is where your life goes. Years ago, an Olympic gold medallist was asked about his stunning success and accomplishment.  How did he make his dream come true?  “Planned neglect,” he said.  “Until my training period is completed, I deliberately neglect everything else.”  What is planned neglect? It is the same concept as the elimination of nonessentials.  It brings you to one of the most vital and impacting things in life; focus.  All the difference in our lives comes from focus.

Where do you need to apply planned neglect?  What nonessentials are important for you to eliminate? If everything is important, then nothing is important.  When your dreams are not coming true, the problem is almost always related to a lack of focus.  Although there is a dynamic interplay of several factors, allowing yourself to be scattered is what debilitates the ground, making it impossible for your dreams to take root and grow.  Make no mistake.  The nonessentials can and will choke out the things you say that matter the most to you.  Nonessentials suck us into mediocrity.

Are you stuck in the “should” trap? Nothing can drown out the essentials of your life like these can.  You may be caught up in several “should statements” in your life, such as:

• I should make my bed every morning.
• I should say yes when people ask me to social events.
• I should stay on the committee even though I hate being there.
• I should stay late at work a few times a week.
• I should keep up with all the news and world events.
• (Fill in your “should statements” here).

We all have these unwritten and unspoken rules in our lives.  Choose to not feel bad or guilty about them.  Simply decide to recognize them and do what needs to be done.  Consider your “should statements” and then decide what to drop.  Decide what you will neglect.  Life will go on, I promise.  Self-induced obligations, being a people pleaser and “should statements” will eat up the margin that could be given to your dreams and projects.  It comes down to asking yourself this: What matters most? Once those essential things are identified, begin allocating more time and energy into them.

Here is a list of common nonessentials that may be keeping you off track:

• Excessive entertainment (TV, movies, books, magazines, etc)
• Excessive social media (This one stings me a little bit!)
• Gossiping, complaining, comparing and criticizing
• Addictions (These are notorious for eating up time, money and emotional wellness and health.)
• Certain obligations and/or commitments  (If these are constantly dragging you down, that’s a sign that something needs to change.  Easier said than done, but worth it.)

Questions to build awareness. What are you doing on a daily or weekly basis that you do not need to do?

What are your nonessentials at work?

• Are you creating a PowerPoint when it’s not needed?
• Are you aiming at making something “perfect” when “good enough” will do?
• Are you endlessly emailing someone when a 15 minute meeting would suffice?
• Are your notifications on your phone and computer on?
• Are you refusing to set boundaries?

What are your nonessentials at home?

• Are you watching too much TV?
• Are you online excessively?
• Are you starting nonessential projects?
• Are you writing out checks when you could automate online payments?

What are your nonessentials in the community?

• Are you shopping excessively?
• Are you attending multiple events a week?
• Are you eating out too much?

Spending some time looking at your essentials and nonessentials is a powerful investment that will bring great tangible and intangible benefits.  Imagine how your life will change and improve as you consistently focus on the essentials.

“Besides the noble art of getting things done, there is the noble art of leaving things undone.  The wisdom of life consists in the elimination of nonessentials.”

- Lin Yutang

Eric Johnson

Eric Johnson MBA is CEO of Finish Your Project Consulting LLC.  He empowers people to overcome inner and outer obstacles and finish the projects and dreams that matter most to them.  He serves as a consultant, speaker, writer and workshop facilitator.  His signature program is called Procrastination to Purpose and Profit.  For upcoming online classes, events and more, visit www.finishyourproject.com. To connect with Eric, visit www.facebook.com/finishyourproject or email him directly at  eric@finishyourproject.com