Tributum Newsletter #68

Hello

This month’s Newsletter retains the theme from last month’s reference to “The 4-hour work week”. Why put off until tomorrow something that can be eliminated completely? I’m not talking about procrastination. I’m talking about elimination. Like a “Not to do list”. Let me be clear – elimination is not about being lazy. Its about spending more time on the 20% of things that contribute 80% to your life, and eliminating as much of the 80% as you can that only contribute 20%…

Have to do what? Breathe, eat, use the loo, sleep…the list of real “have to’s” in life can be limited to the stuff that keeps you from dying. Maybe there are a few more “must do’s” like don’t drive while texting, get that lump checked out, pay the electricity bill, etc. Again, stuff that keeps you alive or prevents you from dying. The rest I believe are “need to’s” at best. And many of them are imposed on us – by ourselves. Or at the very least we allow it to be imposed on us.

“The first principle is that you must not fool yourself, and you are the easiest person to fool.” Richard P Feynman. Don’t let yourself be fooled. What is urgent and important for someone else need not be for you.  Question – do you have to do all that you do to make a living? And I’m not talking about the job itself. It’s what you do in and for that job. Do you have to be at every function or meeting? Have to be copied on every email? Have to rewrite that report that you consider having poor grammar even though the message is clear? Is everything on your “have to” list mission critical? Really – like really – do you think you alone are that important? What is the worst that can happed if this is not done, by you. Or not even done at all?

Consumption eats time, and time is the ultimate currency. Eliminate…. rather than focussing on “have to’s” focus on “not have to’s”. Private number – don’t answer. WhatsApp group – pain or blessing? Work or family function – hell yeah, or no? Email chain a waste of time – delete. Don’t ask for permission – ask for forgiveness. It’s not about being rude. It’s about not being rude to yourself.  

We all think we are busy. We wear it like badge of honour – look at me, I am so busy! That veiled brag uttered like a fake complaint. Unless you are working 3 jobs at minimum wage just to put a roof over your head and food on the table you are not busy. That is finger to the bone drop dead tired busy. No, you’re not busy – your life is just full. Full of what? Things that you fill it up with? Things you allow other people to fill it up with? If you don’t want your life to be so full, then stop filling it. Or change what you fill it with. Nothing is going to change if you keep on chasing the same have to’s. Change your have to’s, change your life.

So – over the next few weeks identify what you don’t have to. Then unleash your inner John Wick on it as if it killed your dog – eliminate. It’s about sanity, it’s about time, it’s about getting to smell the roses, dance like no one is watching and sing like no one is listening (hopefully)- it’s about getting to do the things you want to do. Eliminate – just not this newsletter. Until next month, keep breathing