Give Up to Go Up: 4 Steps to Success
“If you want to live a life of significance, you will have to give up some things. The pathways of possibility is filled with trade-offs.” – John Maxwell
I will admit that this is probably one of the most difficult success principles for me to swallow. I’m the Queen of Over-Achievement! I want to do it all, do it well, and cram it into a week’s time while I’m at it. Ever feel like you are trying to do everything all at once? Maybe your personal LinkedIn profile title is actually more like: Harried Professional Juggling Complicated Life, Family, and Too Many Commitments.
We have to Give Up to Go Up
I excel in over-booking myself and expecting to manage everything … all at once. This can be described an old country saying: “Tryin’ to shove 10lbs of ‘stuff’ in a 5lb sack”. I want to do it all! Add value to others, excel in my own business, volunteer in my professional organizations, be a motivational speaker, empower women, write in several blogging arenas, grow my network, be a supportive spouse, be a good friend, create art, handle the domestic chores, train as a competitive athlete, as well as continue to learn and grow.
I’m exhausted just reading my own list.
I struggle at letting go. I understand that life is a series of trade-offs. I feel very fortunate that I am aware that I have choices. It’s making the right choices that winds me up. What can I let go of so I can focus where I will add the most value to others? I feel like I have eliminated any obvious time-wasters: I limit social media and I don’t even watch TV! I think it boils down to prioritization and understanding what is necessary to give up to go up.
I am at the point in my life where the toughest decisions are made. It’s a fact that you cannot do everything well and there comes a time where you must choose where to focus in order to reach your goals. Try to do too much – you lose focus and flounder. Do too little and you don’t move in the direction you want to go. Determining what will be contributing factors to the goals you wish to achieve and sticking to that path will be the challenge. After all, we tend to be distracted by pretty colors and bright lights quite easily. If you are like me, and have an over-developed sense of responsibility, you tend to say: “Yes, I’ll do that” too quickly.
“… there is no significance without sacrifice. But the good news is… you will be moving toward a better and more fulfilling way of life…” – John Maxwell
Focus on Your Strengths. What is it that you do well and enjoy doing? Everyone is good at something that adds value to others. 
Professionally speaking; being the quintessential ‘Jack of All Trades’ is not conducive to positive career development. It’s like the shotgun approach to life – aim in the general direction and you’ll probably hit something. You might feel that you have more employment flexibility, but it doesn’t make you stand out or enable you to focus so you add the right fuel to that inner fire.
Learn more about finding your strength zone HERE.
Prioritize. What can you let go of that doesn’t serve your goals? I am still learning how to let go of parts of my life that will not get me to the future I want. Some things are beloved hobbies, relationships with groups that I have spent time and energy building. It’s painful. I don’t like it. But, I know it must be done. One cannot do ALL things well or one will be guilty of doing NOTHING well.
Top Tips to Invest in Yourself Wisely
Build Your Team. I ran across a great quote the other day that 
basically said: “We are either surrounded by people that lift us up or bring us down: be careful which ones you choose to spend time with because we become a reflection of our friends”. We all need people in our lives that support us, remind us of our essential purpose, and challenge us to be the most uniquely great person we can be. Choose to be around people that will raise your standards, not lower them. Build a team, a network, or a group of friends that encourages the best out of one another and compliments one another’s talents.
Start Somewhere. Start small. Just start. There is no such thing as the perfect time: you have to start somewhere or you will be nowhere at all. There is no magical moment to begin to focus on where you can add the most value to lead a fulfilling life. Start today! You don’t have to be famous, rich, an executive, or influential. I believe that there are only ordinary people in the world. The only difference that makes an ordinary person, extraordinary, is they didn’t give up on their dream.
So what’s your thousand thing list that is clogging the pipeline of your dreams? For some, it’s a thousand excuses – but know the only person holding you back is YOU. Dreams are free, but to fulfill them requires that you stare fear in the face, let go of something, and start somewhere that adds value. I know it can be a challenge because I’m right here with you, doing the same thing.
