“The biggest thing I fought against is just laziness” [clip]
on Jul 3, 2010 - 10:18 AM PSTI asked Todd Smith, a RE/MAX Hall of Famer and blogger at Little Things Matter, how he was able to make so many sales if he seemed so inherently introverted. You can see (or read) his answer here.
The clip
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(Can’t see video? Go to Mixergy.com)
The transcript
I think, more than anything, I thought the biggest thing I fought against is just laziness, meaning I know what I need to do but the key is doing it.
And so, I feel like my challenge always has been the challenge of being disciplined, doing what I know I should do when I don’t feel like doing it.
If there’s something I need to do and I don’t feel like doing it, then I say, “I must do it now.”
So, my challenge has always been pushing myself to do what I know I should do, even though I don’t feel like doing it because the truth is most of the things that really do make us money as entrepreneurs are the things that we don’t want to do. But we need to do if we want be successful, and that’s been my biggest challenge, I think, more than anything else.
Continue to the full interview >>
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July 3rd, 2010 at 6:46 pm
I really think the short video clip sums my life up so well. Making myself do the thing that I don't like to achieve the dreams that I do. I guess to sum it up, the end result is measured my the things you do everyday weather they're things you love to do or not.
David
July 5th, 2010 at 10:57 am
Gotta agree. But also gotta carefully walk that line between discipline and denial
July 5th, 2010 at 3:15 pm
I pulled this clip because he's articulating an issue that's incredibly
common but not admitted much.
July 5th, 2010 at 3:15 pm
Thanks.
July 5th, 2010 at 7:04 pm
Could put that in just a short phrase: Just Do It ! :)
July 5th, 2010 at 8:33 pm
Damn. Now I have to pay Nike a royalty fee. ;-)
July 6th, 2010 at 1:49 am
I'll admit, this once was, and still is to an extent one of my biggest flaws.
I've found writing down a to-do list of stuff I need to get done for the next day as a good way to overcome this.
Usually every night, I will write a todo list for the next day, and highlight the top 3 things i must get done.
I find this tends to help.
July 6th, 2010 at 3:04 am
I gotta agree. This reminds me of one of my favorite quotes that is something like:
Thinking about something in order to do it properly is right, but thinking about it when we should be doing it is wrong
July 6th, 2010 at 7:13 am
I actually just watched the full interview just then and this part was something that stood out. It's something that I suffer from at times – actually, regularly. I feel capable yet I dont do anything – it's a tormenting feeling. You can call it laziness or lack of motivation. It's one thing to just 'suck it up' and get on with the tasks you hate – but I think having a goal like Todds (to retire at 40) to bench this feeling against would help. There needs to be a reason. Todd also suggested at the start of the interview that firing yourself up would help.
July 6th, 2010 at 6:25 pm
Yeah, if I can get 3 important things done, my day was well-spent.
July 6th, 2010 at 6:25 pm
Great point.
July 6th, 2010 at 6:26 pm
Yeah. He even showed us how he gets himself worked up.
July 6th, 2010 at 11:46 pm
A list helps me too!
July 7th, 2010 at 12:26 am
Hi Michael- Thanks for your comment on my interview. You are right that having a strong reason to take action is the key. The power of laziness or lack of motivation is so powerful that if your reason for taking action isn't important enough, you won't take the action required to achieve it. I have also found setting up routines for doing the things I know I should do, but do feel like doing also helps a lot. I wish you the best! Todd
July 7th, 2010 at 12:33 am
David- Of the more than 700 little things on my list, there is no factor in achieving success more important than discipline. The key question is, “Is enjoying the outcome of what I want important enough to me that I will do what is required over a period of time to succeed?” People have always said find something you are passionate about and pursue it. I made 95% of my income by doing something I was not passionate about. I did it because I was passionate about the benefits my efforts produced. If you become a disciplined person, you can achieve anything that is important to you. Good Luck! Todd
July 7th, 2010 at 9:38 am
I appreciate your response Todd. Great tip about setting up routines – no doubt that will assist in creating some much needed momentum :)
July 8th, 2010 at 7:42 pm
Great Interview one of my favorites out of all of them! I can relate to the laziness comment, I often say that going to work for somebody else is like going to a regular school, and working for yourself is like doing schoolwork by correspondence. People aren't disciplined enough to study a little each day. They leave it all until the last possible moment and cram the 72hrs hours before an exam!
Todd when it comes to my own work I have a problem that I call 'perfectionist procrastination'. I will spend way too much time over perfecting something, instead of just doing it and getting it done.
To outsiders this presents like “A lot of talk and no action”because it seems like I am talking about it forever with nothing to show for it.
Have you ever struggled with this? Do you have any advise for putting aside perfection and pulling the trigger?
Thanks in advance, Robyn
July 10th, 2010 at 3:41 pm
Hi Robyn-Thanks for your comment. I am glad you found value in the interview.
I must admit that I am also a perfectionist. If I am going to put my name on something, I want to be proud of it. As an example, I am sure I spend a lot more time (2-3 hours) on each of my daily blog posts than most bloggers, but it's my brand. I want to be proud of each one, so I spend my time trying to make it a 9 out of 10.
For me the key has been to:
1. Only focus my time on the things that are important to me. By not wasting time on things that won't help me achieve my long-term goals, I have more time to perform my responsibilities with excellence.
2. Get started. When there is something I need to do, but don't feel like doing it, I just block out time and sit down and get started. I have often found the hardest thing is to get started. Once I get started and get on a roll, it seems easier.
I also wrote a post titled, 11 Ways to Increase Your Discipline with some good ideas to overcome laziness. http://www.littlethingsmatter.com/blog/2010/03/…
Please let me know if you have any further questions.
Todd