The last few years I have really made an effort to focus on the things that matter.  My family, building my business and growing personally and professionally.

What I have found is that the environment we find ourselves in can interfere with that focus.  When I finally realized that there was too much stuff getting in the way of that focus, I made the decision to get rid of some of it.

I am currently reading “The In-Between – Embracing the Tension Between Now and the Next Big Thing” by Jeff Goins. Goins does a great job of describing the benefits of what happens during the ‘in-between” times and how that part of the journey is often overlooked.  It takes focus to achieve this.

An added value that Goins has offered with the launch of his new book is what he calls the “Slow Down Challenge.”  If you have been following me for a while, you know I usually do a book review post on Wednesday.  I am going to throw a little twist into that for the next week.

This will be the third of five posts following Goins Slow Down Challenge.  Here is the lineup that will take us through this five post series:

• Day 1 – The Habit of Noticing (Click here to read)
• Day 2 – Savoring Every Moment (Click here to read)
• Day 3 – Focusing On What Really Matters
• Day 4 – Interruptions
• Day 5 – Gratitude

If you are friends with my wife on facebook, you have probably noticed that we have had an on-going, on-line yard sale for the last few months.  As I have been sorting, cleaning, recycling, donating and selling all that “stuff” that has been getting in the way of me focusing on the things that do matter.

Here is the problem, and I don’t think I am alone in this.  All that stuff pulls your attention away from the things that count.  Walking into my shop was like stepping into a corn maze at a harvest festival.

All that firewood I talked about earlier this week, I didn’t even have room in the woodshed to put it because the woodshed was full of everything except wood.

“Everything Goes!”  Well not everything but a lot of stuff no less.  I made the decision that no double parking would be allowed in the shop.  In other words; if I have to move one thing to get to another, something has to go.

The stack of lumber in the picture was from my old deck.  I think I moved this more than once to make room for something else I didn’t need.  I sold it to someone in my community who wanted to build a play structure for their kids.  That’s a win-win!

The bottom line is this … if you really want to focus on what matters, eliminate the things that don’t.  Both my wife and I are making a intentional effort to simplify our lives so that we can focus on the right things and not be overwhelmed by doing it.

Here is the action plan from Day 3 of the Slow Down Challenge:

• Pick one task you need to accomplish; write it down.
• List all the distractions that stand in your way.
• Share the list with one person who can hold you accountable.
• As you work, glance at your list and remind yourself what really matters.
• Turn off your phone and/or silence other pieces of technology, while you do this task.  See how much better you can concentrate when you focus.

So my challenge for today; “Over the next week, find at least one thing you can throw away, one thing to donate, one thing to recycle and one thing to sell.”  Not one of the above, but all of the above!

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Barry Smith    9/4/13   photo by author   © Building What Matters 2013