A few nights ago I got to thinking about how I handle various kinds of bullshit that come up in the day-to-day course of conducting both business and life. Or, more accurately, how I should handle them and how I need to remind myself to handle them.
Because, let’s be real: it’s easy to slip into bad habits and let frustration, anger, and cynicism take over. That mentality creeps in with little resistance. It takes old-fashioned work to ward it off.
Such work becomes both easier and more effective with the right approach. I’ve got a post I’m working on that deals with the importance of having a “Way” and this is kind of a prelude to that. As part of the process of finding my own Way I worked up a ten-word summation of my ideal philosophy:
Deal with it when it comes up. Compartmentalize. Move on.
Deal with it when it comes up. Not before and not after. Forecasting is a waste of resources, but so is avoidance. Handle it either right now or as close to right now as feasible.
Compartmentalize. Put it in its proper place. Give it only as much weight as it truly deserves (which is often not very much at all).
Move on. You’re after something, aren’t you? Don’t give in to distractions and burdens.
I can’t say I always do this. I can’t even say I’m always capable of doing this. But it’s what I’m after. Eventually I want this approach to be my default setting and I’m constantly reminding myself to take steps to get there.
What about you? If you had only ten words to define your ideal approach to handling bullshit (however you choose to define it), what would they be?
(Ed. note: this is cross-posted with my blog at Slant Six Creative)
Filed in: advice, business, essentials, living well.
