I walk into the hall and smile: it’s just as I expected.
Beautiful art on the walls. Lots of visitors, Spanish as well as foreigners.
Drinks, tapas, and a bunch of my artist friends, looking their finest and happily chatting with each other or the visitors.
I meander for a while, chat with a few people, see the art.
And then, just as I expected, I find myself on my own, with everybody else being busy serving drinks or getting called away or saying hi to newcomers.
I meander some more, have a few more conversations cut short, and about 20 minutes after arriving, I leave.
On the way home I reflect: it’s like this every single time. I just don’t like the kind of event, where no conversation lasts more than 3,5 minutes.
I like supporting my friends, but show openings, and network events and that kind of thing – if there’s no chance to actually connect with people I don’t like it and I always leave early.
So I decide: no more social events like that – unless I go there with a friend to chaperone me.
Just no. No more.
Felt good, too. Made me call a friend a few weeks later who went with me to another event and we had a great time.
And I decided (because hey, everything comes down to decisions, right?) to create a ‘No-List’.
Things I’ve said no to.
On it are such diverse things as:
– Takers. People who take but never give back or pay forward. You know what they look like: a black hole with legs under ‘em.
– People who eat my mind. That you keep pondering about because of something unfinished, some sort of open loop and your mind keeps churning on it.
– “Fixing the printer” – i.e. small jobs that I’m not good at, are not in my ‘zone of genius’ (google it) and that I can get done for a couple of bucks.
– Projects that are unrelated to my core business activity (obviously: coaching, and currently: launching my Calibrate Reality course).
And a bunch more, which are too personal to share here.
It’s nice to have a list like that, and damn useful too.
A mini rule-book for keeping Martin happy, focused, and productive.
Big contribution to my recent productivity, I can tell you that.
So maybe create your own no-list?
It’s bound to keep the crud out of your life and make you focus on what truly matters, in terms of people, your state, and your business growth.
