The cycle of “Think, Learn, Act”
Busyness is not the same thing as productivity.
In fact, the opposite is often true. “Busy” can mean unfocused, undisciplined, or careless. It’s what happens when a business owner takes the easy path of saying yes to everything rather than insisting on carving out time to reflect, learn, or do deep work.
That’s not to say there’s never a time to put effort into getting stuff done or to sprinting for a goal. All the productivity hacks in the world can’t help you if you never get around to acting… But isn’t it important to check that you’re sprinting in the right direction?
Success in business isn’t just about getting more done. It’s about making real progress on the few things that will bring you closer to where you want to be. That means getting clear on your destination and charting a course towards it – not just going faster in whatever direction you’re already headed. Just like a long-haul flight, a course correction of just 1 degree at the outset can dramatically change where you end up landing.
Think, Learn, Act
Knowing where to invest your valuable time comes from paying attention to the cycle of Think > Learn > Act.
When we think, we take a step back to re-assess our goals – are we focused on the most meaningful outcomes? What’s working well and what needs to be adjusted to get different results?
Learning could mean taking a course, reading a book, or booking a call with a mentor. Without learning, whatever action you take will be a repeat of whatever you’ve done in the past.
The action takes place in the present – the day-to-day activities that represent our current set of priorities.
This Week’s Takeaway
Tightening up the Think > Learn > Act cycle will keep your business going in the right direction.
If you’ve been stuck in non-stop busyness, or if you’re not sure you’re working on the right things, what do you need to stop doing, delegate, or automate so you can focus on thinking and learning?
Indistractable: by Nir Eyal
Indistractable is a guide on how to stay focused in a world filled with noise and distractions. Solving the problem is not as simple as swearing off devices. Abstinence is impractical and often makes us want more. If we want to live the life we aim for, we need to stop doing things that takes us off track and strive to do what we say we will do – through research-backed methods.
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