What Are You Optimizing For? (Productive Flourishing Pulse #503)
What permission do you need to prioritize what you want vs. what you "should" do?
In yesterday’s MMC,1 in response to a question from an attendee struggling to choose among all the possible options on their plate, I asked a question I’ve been thinking about since:
What are you optimizing for?
We can apply this question to any segment of work or life: a task, a project, a relationship, a workflow or process… even a season, like summer. And “optimizing” doesn’t need to be some productivity buzz word here, either, solely focused on efficiency or effectiveness or profit or some other “hard” measure.
Maybe it’s:
I want to optimize my work so I can spend two afternoons a week out in nature / with my kids / volunteering / writing my book / planning my next move.
I want to optimize my project load so I can take a vacation to rest and regroup.
I want to optimize my environment to better serve my needs this season.
I want to optimize our family schedule so we’re not running from activity to activity like we did last year.
I want to optimize the way my team works together so we’re all able to enjoy a more smooth and flowful summer.
Because like we talked about yesterday, “optimize” is about two things: priority and permission. Where are you putting your priorities today, this week, this month, this season? What values / life dimensions are you emphasizing, and which others are you downplaying?
And what permission do you need to put your focus where you want, instead of where you feel you should? Consider this your permission slip if you need one. 🙂
~Steve
Take a Moment
A prompt to pause and reflect.
What are you optimizing for now? What do you WANT to optimize for? If those are different answers, how can you bridge the gap between them?
We’d love to hear what’s coming up for you.
More on Priority and Permission
A few resources to help you with one or both of these areas you might be struggling with right now. (Hint: for most of us, permission is the more difficult one.)
Charlie Live on Substack Tomorrow!
Join Charlie on Substack tomorrow, May 23, at 1:00 pm EDT.
He’ll be in conversation with Phil Powis of Sacred Business Flow about building a business that aligns with your deepest truth.
NEW! PFPC Catalyst Sessions
If you need a little help optimizing your summer — gaining clarity on how you want your summer to go, or on the actions you might need to take to get there — our new Catalyst Sessions might be just the right fit.
These 90-minute focused sessions with Maghan are designed to address specific challenges without committing to a full coaching package. Whether it’s selecting projects or creating a schedule that honors your summer energy, get the targeted support you need.
Maghan has spots available now, so book them before they fill up, take advantage of the $300 introductory pricing, and get the support you need to craft your just-right-for-you summer.
In Case You Missed It
If these sorts of questions and conversations seem like they might be fruitful for you, consider upgrading your subscription and joining us at the next Monthly Momentum Call or Leadership Strategy Session. Or both!
Found this question to really help me define my current position as I navigate my new chapter. What is this all for that I am optimizing ? It’s giving more space than answers to venture to the current space I have in mental and emotional and physical space. The clearing is not to fill it back up. Living with spaces as blank canvases. #claudialamywrites