Moving the Needle: Get Clear, Get Free, and Get Going in Your Career, Business, and Life!

Section IGet Clear

Get clear, get free, and get going.

Of these three simple directives, getting clear—defined here as having clarity of mind and striving with a sense of purpose—is the most important and the toughest to do. Maintaining perspective on business and life is a skill that takes decades to master, if it's mastered at all.

Identifying what's most important to you and what isn't is fundamental to getting clarity. If you don't take these steps to determine what's key in your life, then you'll be unsure and unclear about where you should be going or what you should be doing.

Often, people who are unclear focus on the details of day-to-day life because they're unable to concentrate on long-term goals. When you aren't sure what you truly want to do or are afraid to pursue it, paralysis sets in. Many fall into a state of stasis and wait for opportunities to come along, but this means they settle on whatever opportunities come their way rather than seeking out favorable moments that are right for them. One thing successful people have in common is an absolute sense of mission—at all costs.

As you read this section, think about what matters most to you, what you're doing that detracts or distracts from that, and what it would take to get rid of the clutter in your life and get clear. Once you identify and acknowledge the goals that are most important to you—and identify the obstacles ...