Excitement vs. Priority

[Notes to Self – I]

I know my goals.

I have them clearly articulated, broken down into monthly tasks. I have benchmarks to help measure progress. I know where I need to be this year . . . and next . . . and the one after that. And I have people holding me accountable and checking in regularly.

And yet I have new ideas at least every week, if not everyday. Bam! One pops into my head. I can see it. I know it’s possible. It’s a game-changer.

I think to myself:
It should be done.
It NEEDS to be done.
If it’s not done immediately, everything else will fall apart.

This self-talk isn’t true, of course. What’s true is that I shouldn’t confuse excitement with priority. The enthusiasm that comes with a new idea, an image of the future, or a vision for another big project feeds on itself. The more I dwell on it, the more it grows, and the more—if I’m not careful—the case for it becomes convincing. But it’s not a priority if it doesn’t get me closer to my goals.

It needs to be shelved with the other great ideas and accessed for inspiration.
Out of sight and nowhere near my to-do list.