Efficiency
A significantly peculiar trait of the human brain is that it’s wired to crave the same thing repeatedly. It desires routine. It wants to learn something once and then master it for ease of repetition. This can be challenging for us when new challenges or changes outside our control or expectation occur. Our brains are anthropologically hardwired to use routine and habit to keep us safe. If you have yet to read “The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business” by Charles Duhigg, I highly recommend it! It’s an incredible insight into the human brain, why habits form and how to break them for successful new behaviors and goal accomplishment. Also known as efficiency.
Patterns are the essence of most human behavior.
Our morning routines are typically the most telling of a person’s wellbeing. Side note: My two “cents” on improving your happiness and health are focusing on what you do in the first two hours of every day. If you have peace, exercise, and proper nutrition, the rest of the day will be like that. If you are rushed, stressed, and consuming tons of sugar, the rest of your day will follow suit. I changed my morning routines six months ago and can honestly say my life has never been better.
This may sound crazy to most, but one of my main passions in life is efficiency. I love to pull things apart and find ways to make processes faster, more comfortable, and generally just better. I roll this love of efficiency into my passion for financial analysis. Digging through data and solving puzzles, I have a tendency to stay busy – like really busy. But in all honesty, it’s because there is always something that can be studied and optimized.
For example, right now, I have a full-time career leading 300+ people, am a co-owner of this rapidly growing consulting business, mindfully raising three young children, committing to be a great wife, training for a half marathon and writing a book. Many people think I’m “crazy” or an overachiever.
Is it busy or productive?
I have created a habit of being busy, but I’ve also created a habit of being highly efficient in everything I do – so it isn’t busy, it’s productive! I have been known to talk things out and really like to share my efficiencies with my friends and family. In fact, I think I drive most of my family crazy.. The last thing most people want to hear is their know-it-all friend giving them unsolicited advice on anything, let alone money management, and their hyper-efficient use of Amazon Alexa. But I can’t help it.
It gives me so much joy to stay busy and try new adventures. So, I just keep moving forward. It isn’t pushing myself though. It’s more of a pull. I feel drawn and led to passionately produce results. For myself and my clients. Long ago, I hated this trait of mine and I wanted to hide it for a while, but it’s who I am, and I am now proud to say it is what makes me such a blessing to my family and an asset to those who hire me.
I credit my mom for these traits of mine. About fifteen years ago, she was having a party at her house. She was in high-efficiency mode and wanted everything done in a specific order. I was not in the mood to take orders and snapped back at her calling her the “Efficiency Bitch” under my breath. I was mad when I said it and meant it as an insult, but since, we have both owned our inner “efficiency bitch” and lovingly refer to her as EB1, me EB2 and my sister EB3. My brother is even a little this way, but I don’t think we ever officially added him to our clique.
Obsession can be a good thing.
To be an EB, you must be a little OCD. Obsessed list-maker (the kind who adds done items to the list just to cross them off), clean to release stress, and enjoy things like Christmas shopping and planning in August. You must also be a researcher, the kind who will read and dig for supporting and conflicting arguments on both sides of any argument.
I’ve not met many people who fit this mold outside of my first family, but the genetics run strong. I think my oldest daughter has some EB in her, and this mama is so proud. While I don’t always appreciate being on the receiving end of this efficiency and advice, it’s been invaluable. This crazy inner drive has helped my family on numerous occasions. From finances to topics like politics and challenges of child-raising. It also helps many others in their various aspects and aspirations for their personal and professional life. Being able to have a belief based on what life has taught you but still have the ability to take in new information is the path to growth. I have taken on this multi-perspective approach in everything I do. And it helps with efficiency because I consider as many paths possible for the most successful outcomes.
Running your business, the way you want to run it, is the beauty of being an entrepreneur. No one tells you what to do or how to do it (except your customers and hopefully you listen). But in every business, there comes a time to sit down with an unbiased third party. Those who will ask questions, provoke thought and search for low-hanging fruit to create new profit centers you could have never considered alone. Focusing on efficiency and solutions can help your bottom line immensely – both in savings and in sales!
Call us for a free consultation!
One of the primary functions we pride ourselves on at Two Sense Consulting, LLC, is the ability to see through the lens of the customer, the competitor, and the business owner. We provide our clients with a full 360-degree business review. Then, encourage you to consider new ideas for implementation last week, tomorrow, and next year. Call us today to help create your “new normal” using our habits of efficiency to bring out the best in your business’ operations and financials.
