Getting back to the basics

This week’s piece has taken many turns. I have scripted and deleted and started from scratch numerous times. Really struggling to put my thoughts down on paper. I was so grateful when a conversation with a mentor helped me gain some perspective and gather my thoughts. It helped me reflect on the value of starting from scratch and really getting back to basics.

Too often we think that starting from scratch is a sign of failure: that going back to the basics is stealing from our progress, successes and victories. But this need not be the case.

I remember nearing the end of my honors year at University, my laptop was stolen in a house break-in while I was on an outreach in Botswana. I had worked the entire year on my research thesis – hours of reading, formulating and writing. Folders full of research and articles ALL GONE!!! I was so upset and so angry. I remember thinking that I would “never” be able to replicate what I had. I would “never” be able to remember everything that I had written or where I found my research. The second version, on such a tight timeline would “never” be as good as the first one.

My dad said: “All you can do now is start again – start at the beginning – the rest will come, maybe you will even learn something new.” You could probably imagine how annoyed I was with his comment. But I did. I started at the beginning. I went back to the purpose of my study and worked my way through to get it done. Was it better? DEFINETLY. Did I learn something? MOST CERTAINLY. See, in the process of starting at the beginning – going back to the basics – I spent more time on the foundation, which made layering the rest of the blocks so much more meaningful and made my research so much more robust.

We live in a world where we are constantly being bombarded with the message that we need to have it all, already. We have are obsessed with the next step. So focused on chasing the next set of goals that our lives have become overly complex and cluttered to the level where it seems we have forgotten the basics. We fill our days to the brim with absolutely no space for just being. We run from one commitment to the other with no time to stand still. We eat the fastest quickest thing without savoring any of it. It is no surprise when I see the statistics on how burnt out, dissatisfied and stressed our society is. When I speak to my clients about the basics – how they are resting, what they are eating, how much they are(n’t) sleeping, where they are spending time genuinely connecting etc – these are all things that are lowest on the priority list. We are essentially placing ourselves at the bottom of our priority list.

If we want to live a simpler, happier, more sustainable life, we need to go back to basics.

Here are some tips:

1. Think about what you value and assess your schedule, budget, commitments, decisions and priorities accordingly. If things don’t align between what you believe to be important and the way you behave it might be time for a change.

2. Make time to ensure your foundation is solid before you layer on the rest. For example, if having fun, play or humour is something you value, you need to start prioritizing it.

2. Slow down. Rome was not built in a day. There is compelling evidence that shows that we actually do get more done when we slow down. Slow and steady is better than quick and erratic.

3. Walk past the sock, don’t sweat the small stuff. Life is in the journey. Art is only really valuable because of it’s imperfections.

4. Laugh at yourself once in a while (or as often as you can).

5. Disconnect to reconnect. Spend time without the technology distraction. We waste so much of our valuable time nailed to screens, often being left to feel empty and depleted. We are being conditioned to compare, to want more and to buy things we don’t really need. Adding to complexity and clutter in our lives and minds.

6. Take the actual time to notice and express gratitude for the good things that are part of your life already. This sounds like such a cliché, but it really does make an enormous difference to our sense of wellbeing.

7. Notice and celebrate your progress. Reflect on where you have been, what you have learnt and celebrate the successes and failures because we can learn from both.

One final story on appreciating the importance of the basics: Coach John Wooden is an absolute legend in the basketball fraternity. He won 10 National College Championships coaching UCLA, while also winning the championship as a player. He is regarded as one of the best coaches to ever be involved in any sport and is a wonderful example of a leader that gets the absolute best out of his people by paying attention to the basics. At the start of each season, the very first thing he would teach his players was this: the right way to put on your socks. Not kidding! He would take 30 minutes showing the players how to properly put on their socks and shoes. If they could to this properly they would not get blisters, which would cause them to be slow or miss training. So if you want to build a legacy, start with your socks…

Have a super weekend!

If you need help getting “back to basics” in your personal life or business, we would love to journey with you.

At PurposeWorks we are all about Making You and Your Work Rock. Our focus is on Organisational Health and Design, Employee Centered Culture, Leadership Development and Performance Coaching. For more information on how we can help you create a work environment that rocks, develop a great team, become an inspiring leader or unlock your personal excellence talk to us at info@purposeworks.co.za.