Ditch the infinite to-do list 🧨

A while back, I was faced with a dilemma.

A good friend asked me to officiate his wedding, set a year in advance. But life, as it does, threw a curveball. I had a family member pass away, and his memorial was scheduled for the same weekend.

I was forced to pause and reflect:

What if prioritizing is the real secret to happiness?

In our quest to balance life and work, we often try to juggle everything, look for quick fixes, and cram our schedules.

But we seem to forget the real essence of being goal-getters...

We’re here to make choices that align with our values, move us toward our vision, and echo in our lives long after making the decision.

To do this, we have to get really good at saying "no."

Today in 6 minutes or less:

✔️ Align with the big picture

✔️ Why 44% of the top 1% hate their lives

✔️ DADS Framework is getting stuff done

ALIGN WITH THE BIG PICTURE

If you were to press pause on your life and take an aerial view of how you're spending your time, what would you see?

A sense of satisfaction?

…Or a rising tide of overwhelm, realizing you’ve barely scratched the surface of that one goal that lights your fire?

Here's the hard truth: Your mental to-do list is probably at capacity.

Solving client catastrophes, revamping your website, pushing for six-figure growth, and unearthing that game-changing secret to marketing in your niche… is a load to accomplish all at once!

Amidst this sea of tasks, where's the room for the big question: Are you even moving toward your vision?

I'm on a mission — A mission to show you the power of breathing room and how to weave it into the fabric of your life. And here's a little spoiler: it involves a two-letter magic word you should be saying more often…

WHY 44% OF THE TOP 1% HATE THEIR LIVES

Imagine if you started saying "no" more than you said “yes.”

If you lean towards people-pleasing like me, that might sound utterly terrifying.

There was a time when I found myself buried under a mountain of commitments. I was saying "yes" to everything, struggling to keep up with the demands of projects that were far from my core business objectives. Not only was I overwhelmed, but I was unproductive and, ultimately, it was affecting my bottom line.

I had to start saying no.

Turns out, I’m not alone. According to a survey from The Creative Group, about 44% of executives confessed that they're overwhelmed with work…

…Mainly due to the difficulty of saying "no."

They find themselves roped into tasks and projects that detract from their primary focus.

Once you start saying "no", decision-making becomes a piece of cake. You know what works for your business and what doesn't, what pumps you up and what drags you down. You can move forward confidently, knowing that each "no" gets you closer to your goals.

But, how do we actually put this into practice?

D.A.D.S. FRAMEWORK TO GET STUFF DONE

1. Delete it.

If you’re drowning in a sea of tasks and chasing deadlines while your business seems totally stuck… Let's change that narrative and reframe your action strategy. It’s time to “Delete it.”

Often, our to-do lists are crammed with tasks that are neither urgent nor consequential. The trick is to discern the diamonds from the rubble.

Enter the world of bottlenecks. They're the chains tying down your business potential, the enemies of your progress. But here's the exhilarating part — break one bottleneck, and like dominoes, everything else falls into place. You'll see leaps in efficiency, productivity, and most importantly, your bottom line!

On the other hand, if you spend time on tasks that aren't bottlenecks, you'll remain stuck… Wondering why despite your heroic efforts, nothing improves. It's like trying to fill a bucket with a gaping hole.

Unchain yourself from this loop of ineffective action. Break free. Ask the right questions. Uncover the true bottlenecks.

Remember, the power of Deletion is not about doing less, it's about doing what matters. Harness it, and witness the impact that happens when you tackle tasks that matter!

2. Automate it.

For those of us in the HighLevel world, this is becoming more second nature… But the reality is, most things on our to-do list don't actually need a human touch. They just need a well-oiled system, a smooth-running machine that can take care of things on its own and give you back time in your day.

HighLevel and Zapier are great for this. They've been at our side, taking tasks off our plates. But there's always room for growth, for more “Aha!” moments in the automation journey…

If you want to check out a cool system for automation, I recommend axiom.ai. This can save you tons of time, using browser bots to automate website actions and repetitive tasks on any website or web app (no code required!!).

It's not just about doing less. It's about achieving more, one automated step at a time!

3. Delegate it.

Ever find yourself knee-deep in tasks that, let's be honest, aren't really worth your time?

Like, why are you wrestling with a $10 an hour job when there's a $100 an hour task that needs your attention? Or even better, something you love so much, you'd gladly do it even if you weren’t being paid?

The tasks you love, that you excel at, and that truly fuel your business' success — THOSE are your sweet spot.

Put more of your energy into those!

So, where does that leave the rest? Delegate, delegate, delegate. You'd be surprised how many tasks can be handed off, freeing you up for the big stuff.

Let me share a little secret: My favorite expense each month is a neat $300, which goes to hiring a little team of enthusiastic 14- and 15-year-olds. Their mission? Tackle my household chores.

They swoop into my house, clean some dishes, wrangle the toys, and leave my place sparkling, all while we’re upstairs nailing the bedtime routine with our toddlers.

The result? A win-win situation! These kids are thrilled to have a job that helps them earn some pocket money, and I can enjoy my evening without rushing through bedtime or worrying about a mess waiting for me downstairs.

It's not about passing the buck, it's about smartly managing your time and energy.

Sometimes the most powerful step you can take in growing your business isn't saying "yes" to a new opportunity, but confidently saying "NO" and delegating the tasks that take you away from your priorities.

4. Suck it up and do it.

Sometimes, you just have to roll up your sleeves, suck it up, and do the darn thing. Yeah, I know it's not what we always want to hear, but hear me out…

After all, there are tasks that demand your attention, tasks that need your unique touch.

So, if you've already combed through your list and asked, "Can I delete it? Can I automate it? Can I delegate it?" and still found tasks waiting in the wings, it's time to face them head-on.

What's left are the essential tasks that truly deserve your “Yes.”

With all the unnecessary clutter out of the way, you're left with the freedom to dive into the important work — the kind that maybe you've been dodging or delaying.

So, steel your resolve and tackle these tasks. They've made it through the filter because they truly matter. With everything else trimmed down, you'll have the time and energy to do them well.

You don't need to do everything; you need to do the right things. And sometimes, that means taking a deep breath, buckling down, and getting the job done.

Remember, identifying your top priority isn't just a task — it's a NEED. It can shift your whole work pattern, setting you on a path to making big strides every day.

Start saying no.

Give yourself the mental clarity to focus on what truly matters by knowing what doesn't.

Remember, it's not just about crossing things off a list; it's about crossing off the right things.

Let this practice carve out space in your workday, and before you know it, you'll find yourself not just working, but working towards your bigger vision.

As you align with that vision, week after week, each step you take brings you closer to it.

Here's to productivity, to vision, and to making each day count. Keep shining, keep striving, and keep making your mark on the world.

To profiting more and working less. 💸 

-Matt

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Leading up to the Summit, HighLevel has been dropping more and more new features.

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