I am going to describe a very special person: When you call or meet with this person, he or she is relaxed and totally present, even if they are surrounded by chaos. For most of us in this situation, the stress would show on our face or be heard in our voice. How can we acquire this greater sense of equanimity?
Many years ago I heard a quote that helped me greatly in this area. “Success is not so much knowing what to do, rather it is knowing what to do next.” Here are some best practices I have found in common with people who are calm, focused, and present:
They know where they are going and our committed to do what it takes to get there.
They know their Key Result Areas and manage them well to stay in balance.
They plan and prepare relentlessly. Instead of going with a simple “to do” list, their objectives for the day are directly designed to advance towards their goals, and they have their tasks and activities in proper sequence and priority.
And now for their secret: When they plan their week or day, they look at their discretionary time and plan using only 70% of it What is the other 30% for? The unexpected. There are always going to be problems and crises that occur unexpectedly. Planning with the 70% formula enables us to allow the priorities that weren’t planned for. You can be sure that if you plan 100% of your time, you will soon become overwhelmed and demoralized. Leaving 30% open provides a natural buffer zone that enables us to feel calm and focused.
