{"id":12239,"date":"2019-10-14T04:45:08","date_gmt":"2019-10-14T09:45:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/michaelhyatt.com\/?p=12239"},"modified":"2019-10-14T04:45:08","modified_gmt":"2019-10-14T09:45:08","slug":"what-to-do-when-you-dont-know-what-to-do","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fullfocus.co\/what-to-do-when-you-dont-know-what-to-do\/","title":{"rendered":"What to Do When You Don’t Know What to Do"},"content":{"rendered":"

Early in my career, I was the marketing director for a book publishing company. Because of my workload and the ongoing pressure to produce results, I felt overwhelmed.<\/p>\n\n

I figured it was only a matter of time before my boss discovered that I was in over my head. This produced uncertainty. I was paralyzed and afraid to act.<\/p>\n

Instead, I worried and spent an inordinate amount of time thinking through worst-case scenarios<\/a>\u2014something I am pretty good at.<\/p>\n

I could see this would become a self-fulfilling prophecy. I struggled to move. But the more I focused on the struggle the less traction I seemed to get.<\/p>\n

The Advice I Needed<\/h3>\n

Frustrated, I went to a wise, older colleague and poured out my soul. He listened patiently and then said something I will never forget:<\/p>\n

\u201cMike, just do the next right thing.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s it?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cYep. That\u2019s it,\u201d he replied. \u201cYou\u2019re overthinking it. Just do the next right thing. It will be okay.\u201d<\/p>\n

That simple concept simultaneously gave me relief and clarity. It\u2019s been decades now, but I have used it time and time again in moments when I have felt overwhelmed<\/a> and uncertain. How?<\/p>\n

3 Steps to Follow<\/h3>\n

Here are three steps I follow to put it into practice:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Forget about the ultimate outcome.<\/strong> The truth is that I probably have less control over the outcome than I think. I can undoubtedly influence it, but I can\u2019t control it.\n

    Besides, before I ever get to the final destination, many of the variables will change. Projects and deals have a way of unfolding over time. There will be problems\u2014and resources\u2014I can\u2019t see now. That leads to Step 2.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  2. \n

    Focus on the next right action.<\/strong> Since worrying about the outcome is unproductive, I try to think about the next actions that will move the project forward. This is far more accessible than something in the distant future.<\/p>\n

    For example, as an author, I can worry about whether or not my book will become a best-seller, or I can make sure that my marketing plan is complete and I am fully prepped for my upcoming interviews. Which brings us to Step 3.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  3. \n

    Do something now!<\/strong> This is key. Something is better than nothing. Too often, we think that we have to have clarity about how it will all turn out. In my experience, I rarely have this.<\/p>\n

    Clarity involves knowing and doing<\/em>. When you can\u2019t read a sign you can: think more about what the sign might say; scrunch up your eyes to change your focus; buy high-powered glasses; or ask a friend to read it to you.<\/p>\n

    But the best and easiest way to get more clarity is just move closer to the sign<\/em>. Clarity comes when I move toward my destination, making course corrections along the way.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    What situation has you feeling overwhelmed and uncertain? Just follow these three steps and do the next right thing.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Whenever I feel overwhelmed or uncertain about the future, I follow the advice I was given by an older, wiser colleague. It is surprisingly simple but enormously effective.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":33422,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[253,31,254,255,256,257,258],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nWhat to Do When You Don\u2019t Know What to Do<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Whenever I feel overwhelmed or uncertain about the future, I follow the advice I was given by an older, wiser colleague. 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