31 Jan Being Well-Rounded Could Be Your Biggest Mistake
My clients ask me all the time, “How do I become more well-rounded?” And, my answer to them usually is, “You don’t want to be!”
Think of it this way, being well-rounded is like looking at an old-fashioned globe. You can see the general outline of the continents, but you can’t make out any significant details because you’re looking at it from a very high-level view. So, when you’re well-rounded you may know just enough to be able to hold a conversation on a particular topic, but your depth of knowledge and understanding is noticeably limited. That’s why I challenge people, instead, to be sharply-pointed. When you’re sharply pointed, that’s like zooming in using Google Maps. You’re in on the ground level, you can see the street signs, the cars, the plants – you can focus in on exactly what is there and have an amazing level of clarity in what you see to be able to take specific actions.
Often the most successful entrepreneurs and business owners are those that are sharply-pointed, in a few areas. They may not know every operational area in their business, but the select areas they do know, they know very well with uncanny precision. In life, it is important to remember that as just one person, there is only so much that you individually can master. By trying to become an expert on lots of things, you naturally overwork and stress out your brain. Once you get to that point, there is no more room to take anything else in. And, in fact, you may start to forget other areas as you try to cram more into your knowledge base. Remember, your brain is a muscle and overworked muscles do and will shut down.
That’s why it is a better use of your time and focus to delve deeper into those areas that you’re most interested in or are very good at. By investing your resources in these areas, you are able to drill down and broaden your understanding that can help you be more productive in other areas of your life.
If you find yourself juggling many areas in your business or in your life, I highly recommend that you look to see how you can simplify things and re-channel your energy to the areas that keep you the most fulfilled. Staying aware of where you use your time is an important self-reflection practice to ensure that you are always progressing toward those areas in your life where you can achieve your peak performance.