Monkey Mind – Part Deux

Part of my mission at Your Organized Guide (even from way back to 2003 when I started Mattson Business Services, Inc.), my goal was to help my clients get out of overwhelm.  Months ago, I wrote about overwhelm and the rewards of letting of letting our Monkey Mind run loose.

I want to talk about the Monkey Mind again – and Iwant to focus on the risks.

When our Monkey Mind runs loose, we are in great danger of suffering from overwhelm.

• too many priorities
• not knowing our priorities
• “shoulding” ourselves into a tizzy
• continually pushing the important off to tomorrow
• surrounding ourselves with clutter
• stuffing our minds with things to remember

All of this delights the Monkey Mind. As it swings from vine to vine and tree to tree, it creates mayhem, stress and confusion wherever it goes.

“What’s the risk in this?” you ask. “The Monkey Mind is in control, but I still seem to get things done.”

Ah, yes. But are you working on the right work – or just whatever “things” seem the most urgent?

Many business owners tell me they desperately want to work on sales and marketing. Or that they’ve recently identified their “unique genius” or great work. Problem is – they don’t have time to do that work – because their time is captured by a host of other tasks.

You might be expecting me to launch into a time management post here. Or a priorities post.

I’m not.

Instead, I want to focus on the risk of giving ourselves over the work that the Monkey Mind loves – the busy work.

“What’s the risk in doing busy work?” you ask again.

Ah, see. The busy work allows us to avoid. We avoid doing our “unique genius” work because it’s scary. Our great work is risky. We might fail, get criticized, or lose.

Busy work makes us feel powerful, successful, and that we’re at least accomplishing something during our eight day, right?

In contrast, when we delegate busy work, and even “good” work, to our teams, we suddenly find we have created time for our great work. And that’s a big, big deal.

But here’s the real risk – if we don’t focus on our “unique genius” work, if we don’t do our great work, we have a business that is mediocre. And if we look deeply into ourselves, we are doing work that is mediocre. Sure, we might be making a profit, even a living. But are alive?

We aren’t serving our clients in the best way we know we how. We’re withholding ideas, products, and services that will make THEIR lives better, easier, safer, or more fun. And in turn, by sharing our great work and our unique genius with others, OUR lives become better, easier, safer, and more fun.

So, if the Monkey Mind gets to stay in control, all we’re doing is swinging back and forth. Same vines, same trees, same scenery, same forest.

Imagine you’re swinging on that same vine, between those same trees, in that same forest. What would happen if you built up some speed, grabbed the highest vine on the highest tree, made a big swing for the sky…and let go? Imagine having the courage to let go and launch yourself out of the forest, away from the Monkey Mind, and into something new?

What would that look like for your clients? Your business? For YOU? Do share…