W.I.N. Wednesday: What are you good at that you need to stop doing?

“What are you good at that you need to stop doing?” is a question posed to the audience by Joe Calloway is his iconic closing keynote at the 2007 National Speakers Association conference. I was not in attendance at the conference but was able to track down a recording of the presentation a few years later after continually hearing people talk about it. That question had a huge impact on me at the time and I have been reflecting on it and sharing it ever since.

It is easy to quit the things that you are not good at. It is far more difficult, however, to quit doing something you are good at and that you get positive feedback on. I have used this question over the years to help me make the decision to stop teaching some of the programs I offered. They were a good source of income and I always got positive feedback from the participants, but I no longer enjoyed teaching the programs, so I walked away from them. In some cases, I referred clients to other trainers who offered training in that area and in other cases I found people I trusted, and who were great trainers, who were willing to teach the programs on a contract basis.

Those were difficult decisions at the time. Once I made the decision to stop teaching those programs and acted on that decision, it was like a weight was lifted off my shoulders.

Is there something in your life that you are good at doing, but the joy is long gone, and it no longer feels like a “get to” and instead always feels like a chore and a “have to”? If so, what do you need to do to walk away and stop doing it? I am in no way suggesting that in a moment of frustration you simply say, “Screw it. I quit.” and walk away. This requires thought, reflection, and a little time to let the emotion pass. It also requires the courage to do what is right, for you, in that season of your life, when it may not be the popular, easy, or expedient choice.

What’s Important Now? What are you good at that you need to stop doing?

Take care.

Brian Willis

www.lifesmostpowerfulquestion.com

ONE QUESTION BRINGING FOCUS AND CLARITY IN THE CHAOS AND COMPLEXITY OF TODAY'S WORLD.

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