Why Smart People Underperform

TL;DR

Smart people underperform when they stay busy without defining clear priorities and protecting their attention. Ned Hallowell recommends choosing three daily goals, three medium-term goals, three goals for the next six months to a year, and three lifetime goals. He also advises scheduling internet and email use, then turning screens off. Read on for practical ways to reduce interruptions, overcommitment, and overwhelm.

Transcript

Marie:     Hey it’s Marie Forleo and you are watching MarieTV, the place to be to create a business and life you love. I got a question for you. Do you ever feel crazy busy and so overwhelmed like there is a ton going on, whether it’s information overload, a ton of projects or you just got technology coming out of every orifice, most of us feel lik... Read More

Key Insights

• 🥅 Define clear and specific goals to prioritize tasks effectively.
• 😒 Avoid screen-sucking by setting specific times for technology use.
• 😫 Set default responses to prevent overcommitment and maintain control.
• 🧑‍🏭 Never worry alone; seek support, get facts, and make a plan to manage worries effectively.
• 👯 Cultivate lilies, worthwhile projects or people, while eliminating leeches, unproductive or draining elements in life.
• ❓ Prioritize lilies to avoid overcrowding and ensure optimal growth and results.
• 😒 Smart people underperform when they fail to use their control to prioritize effectively.

Questions & Answers

Q: Why do smart people underperform?

Smart people underperform when they try to do everything at once instead of prioritizing clear, specific goals. They may finish the day feeling very busy while accomplishing little of what matters most.

Q: How can clear and specific goals improve performance?

Clear goals force you to decide which work matters and which ideas should be set aside for now. Ned Hallowell recommends maintaining goals across four horizons: short term, medium term, long term, and lifetime.

Q: How many goals does Ned Hallowell recommend setting?

He recommends three daily goals and three medium-term goals every week or two. He also suggests three long-term goals covering six months to a year and three lifetime goals.

Q: What is screen-sucking?

Screen-sucking is Ned Hallowell’s term for becoming absorbed by email or the internet and losing track of time. A quick plan to check email can turn into an hour spent attached to the screen.

Q: How can you prevent screen-sucking?

Reserve a specific period, such as nine to ten in the morning, for internet and email use. When that period ends, follow Hallowell’s advice to “turn it off” so unopened messages do not continually pull your attention away.

Q: How much time can unplanned interruptions consume?

The episode says most people spend at least 20 minutes of every hour dealing with unplanned interruptions. The cost also includes the additional time required to rebuild focus afterward.

Q: Why should you use a default response such as “Let me get back to you”?

A default response gives you time to consider a request before committing. It helps prevent overcommitment, supports better prioritization, and reduces the risk of becoming overwhelmed.

Q: What does it mean to cultivate lilies and eliminate leeches?

“Lilies” are worthwhile projects or people, while “leeches” are elements that are unproductive or draining. Prioritizing the lilies and removing the leeches helps prevent overcrowding and directs attention toward better results.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Ned Hallowell, a leading expert in helping people perform better, shares tips on defining clear goals, avoiding screen-sucking, setting default responses, never worrying alone, and cultivating lilies while eliminating leeches.

• Setting clear and specific goals helps prioritize tasks and avoid being overwhelmed by juggling too many things at once.

• Screen-sucking, or getting lost in technology, can be prevented by setting specific times for internet and email use to maintain focus and productivity.