This BEAM (post if you must) is designed specifically to help sales and marketing professionals. Still, the concept will certainly benefit you in the whole of life! What do you do, when you don’t know what to do?

Oftentimes not knowing what to do can prevent people from doing anything. It can lure them into being overwhelmed, uncertain, indecisive, procrastination, inefficiency, discontentment and a lack of vision for the future. So, I want us today to take a look at a simple habit that will help in all these areas.

As a Quaker, I think a lot about simplicity. Actually, I stop thinking a lot to let simplicity come to me. More accurately, I center my being around the clear direction of my Creator that I find always available. The point of saying all this is to point out the power of simplicity.

We live in a world that complicates everything. Tedious tasks and difficult duties fill many parts of our lives. In every realm but particularly the sales and marketing realm; this can be lethal! If the challenge and detail of life, overwhelm the direction and energy of life; an overload can occur. An overload that leaves us in a state where we don’t know what to do.

I have found the answer to this quagmire of quandary, in a simple philosophy: “DO THE NEXT RIGHT THING.”

* The Answer to an overwhelming work load

A common ailment of our world is that most want more for less, from us. If you are a person of initiative; people who recognize this will often make it a goal to see just how full they can fill your plate. It is easy to find ourselves in a situation where there is more to do, than can possibly be done.

Of course the popular answer is to prioritize. That’s fine and useful. But sometimes it results in just reorganizing stacks of uncompleted work and does not actually get anything done.

I have found that God, our conscience and our training has left us with a plentiful reservoir of knowledge of what to do in these kind of overload situations; IF WE CAN HARNESS IT!  I have found that in these moments of perplexity; simplicity is still the answer.

I may not see the whole picture at times but I always can see the Next Right Thing. It is like an internal compass. If we get our eyes off the stack and attack the next issue that seems right to us. An amazing thing happens, the stack gets smaller and we get more done. Do not focus on the stack. Focus on the Next Right Thing, when you are in an overwhelming situation.  Remember! The only way to eat an elephant. Yep. That’s right. One bite at a time. Take the next bite.

* The Answer to uncertainty

Sometimes not knowing what to do leads people not to do anything; which only causes the not knowing to increase. Take action. Even if it’s a little action.

Everywhere I look people are saying “Take Massive Action.” Wow! What’s that? Am I supposed to go pick a fight with King Kong and expect to win?? That is not Massive Action. That is Massive Stupidity. So for me, the way to take Massive Action is often by taking a little action. Then another little action. Then another and so on; till I discover that my productivity made a real difference. And with real gratitude, I can look at the work I have completed and it looks Massive compared to what I would have done; had I remained in the inaction of uncertainty.

* The Answer to indecision

Choices. Choices. Choices. And our society loves them…. So what I say now may be unpopular. Sometimes, there are just tooooo many. You can get stuck analyzing choices and not DO anything. Do not be lured into this trap.

When Abraham and Lot were to part company. Abraham simplified the scenario. You go left and I will go right. You go right and I will go left. He eliminated a choice!!!! He knew that whichever direction he went that God would go with him and bless him; so he let his brother make the choice. Do not sweat the small stuff. Do not calculate every decision. Do what you believe is right and move on and trust the results to benevolence.

* The Answer to procrastination

Boy! This is a tough one. How do I get you off your lazy butt and make you do something… [That didn’t win me any friends]. 

I teach karate. And sometimes, I know a student just is not giving me his best. Most times, I will get right behind him with a stick (literally) till he gets the point & catches fire. It is easier to perform than have Sensei chase you with a stick..  lol but really

Sometimes we need to be stirred out of our complacency. Find the direction of your foot to correctly apply it to your own posterior. Doing the next right thing starts with a two letter word. DO!

* The Answer to maximized efficiency.

    I am 53. I know I have less time in front of me than I do behind me.  How do I achieve more with less time. Do the right thing, do it right now and do it again as often as I can, with as much intensity as I can. 

Some things bear repeating for emphasis: How do I achieve more with less time? Do the right thing, do it right now and do it again as often as I can, with as much intensity as I can. 

* The Answer to personal satisfaction.

    The Conscience strengthens with good conduct. The will resolves more firmly with good decisions. Personality harmonizes with healthy attitudes. Work stream-lines with positive actions.

What is Right, right now? That is the imperative question. Answer it & act decisively. And make this kind of behavior a lifestyle and you will find the rewards of greater happiness and satisfaction in your life & career.

* The Answer to new vision.

    Where do we go from here? That seems to be the question on everyone’s mind. 

I want to remind you to not look past today, to determine your future. It is in the true service to God, our families and our fellow man today; that we will find our brightest path for tomorrow.

All my life, I have had powerful instincts and hunches. I almost (if not definitely) possess a sixth sense about things that is beyond the scope of reason or understanding. But I have learned that we all can harness a more intuitive power of effective living. We have inside us a compass. An inward sense of direction. A deep knowing that God gives us what to do and how to do it. The Eastern’s looked at as an inward flame. The Orientals as a ki strength. But whatever name tag you put on it; there is definitely a deeper power source that we can find, than appears on the surface. 

    Be all about doing the right thing to-day. Do it with all your heart and might. Call it karma. Call it law of the harvest. Call it what you will but if you will Do the Next Right Thing Continually, you will find your life & career blessed with more abundance!

————————————————

Look to this day.

For it is life.

The very life of life.

In its brief course lie all

The realities and verities of existence

The bliss of growth,

The splendor of action,

The glory of power ——-

For yesterday is but a dream,

And tomorrow is only a vision,

But today, well lived,

Makes every yesterday a dream of happiness

And every tomorrow a vision of hope.

Look well, therefore, to this day.

-Sanscrit Proverb by Kalidasa, 5th Century-

“SLAM” – Tim Carter