But how do you find the time?
Originally sent exclusively to The Letter subscribers on July 29th. Want to be the first to get my personal newsletter in your inbox every Monday at 7am? Subscribe for free here.
Have you heard the saying, "If you want something done, ask a busy person"?
A better spin on this is, "If you want something done, ask a busy, effective person."
Adding that little word "effective" makes all the difference. Plenty of people are busy for the sake of being busy.
Over the past few weeks, the most commonly asked question has been, "Where are you going to find the time to be a business owner and mayor?"
My immediate reply: "You want something done, ask a busy person."
I get things done when I feel passionate about them.
My effectiveness goes into overdrive with a dose of passion thrown in, especially if you tell me I can't do it.
Here's a little story that sums up dogged determination and effectiveness: I bought the freehold of Marsh Farm yesterday, the visitor attraction we purchased 12 years ago, fell in love with, and turned around from loss-making to profit-making.
It was a dream I'd been working on for 12 years, ever since I bought the business from the landlord.
They never wanted to sell the land, but the answer "no" just didn't sit well with me.
I said to myself, "I will buy this. The answer can't be no."
I persisted and wrote it down; more on this writing down trick later.
These tasks that seem impossible to everyone else always land in my lap. And so they should.
I seem to be far better at dealing with the hard stuff, less so with day-to-day tasks.
For day-to-day tasks, I know what good looks like; I just don't want to manage such things.
I know how to be effective on big, hairy goals, and I need the brain space to deal with those.
Send me to do a deal, raise a few million, manage a crisis, pitch an idea, or get the big customer over the line, or critique something that isn't working – that's where I excel.
I also know that for me to do the impossible, I need a team doing the possible – which is just as important.
Even if something isn't working in our business right now, I know in time we will make it better.
The answer to speeding up progress is to find talent to help.
The answer in your minds eye is "who," not "how."
Who is the talented team that will help me, so I can tackle the impossible, not just the possible?
I focus, hyper-focus on tough stuff. That takes huge brain power and a daily walk to pain.
I wouldn't wish it on anyone. Oh how I wish just sometimes I could enjoy a day of happiness, all though I heard happiness is just a bit boring.
I've come to learn that three types of people lead an organisation, whether that's in politics, charities, schools, or business. You need:
An inspirator
A manager
A clearer-upper
Entrepreneurs and true leaders inspire people and take the first step, which is always the hardest.
You then need finishers or managers to march the troops day to day.
You then need medics for those injured and needing attention.
In business, these are the bean counters or accountants, HR managers, legal departments, or coders.
Inspiration plus management plus administration is the cocktail for success.
Trouble arises when you force the talent of a manager to be an administrator or an inspirator to be a manager, and vice versa.
The trouble is, you have to cash flow it.
That's what stops people from building these teams. It's why few get through.
All three need to work like clockwork. It gets really good when all three know how the others think and act before they act.
That's a truly effective team.
Here's a little game you can play: Mark your business out of 10 for each point.
How good is your management? (possible tasks)
How good is your inspiration and vision? (what seems impossible to others but possible to you)
How good is your administration? (accounts, systems, HR, and legals)
Maybe your numbers are absolutely on point, your management is second to none, but your inspiration is as dull as dishwater.
A way to start improving on your wants is to articulate them better and commit your dreams to paper.
Two tricks I always use – and they always come true when I do this.
I write my goals down and place them where I can see them visually
Secondly, my iPhone screen becomes a vision board of around seven photos of things I want to achieve.
"Buy Marsh Farm" is being ticked off the vision board and list; it's moved with me for 12 years.
Having that constant reminder has nagged me relentlessly.
It seemed impossible at times, but having it written down made it a contract with myself.
If you're not where you want to be, try writing things down and watch the impossible become possible.
I literally smiled for a few seconds when I bought Marsh Farm, then my brain quickly turned to the next challenge.
And finally – in celebration of buying Marsh Farm, I got my first tattoo.
I decided to get something meaningful; because of my love for Italian ice cream and the country, I chose a map of Italy on my chest. The trouble is, now I've got a really sore Naples.
To your continued success,
James
PS. Gang serious news Business Masterclass is next week! You don’t want to miss this business changing event, get your tickets here!