I don’t think anyone would suggest only eating dessert is a good idea. There is just no way this is healthy or puts you in a position for long term success. You need your Veggies and Dessert!
But yet I watch smart, well-intentioned business professionals do the equivalent every single day. They run their business off of the equivalent of “only dessert”, getting lost in the bigger picture initiatives and countless experiments (that mean well!)
Doing this, they lose the daily execution that moves the needle over time.
So to protect myself from this trap I’ve been breaking my action items into two buckets. Veggies and Dessert
What are “Veggies”:
- Your daily action
- Drive the business forward
- Takes discipline
What are “Desserts”:
- Big picture thinking
- Kaizen
- Cherry on top
I’m not telling you to skip dessert, I’d actually argue that dessert is vitally important to the business, but it’s most impactful when it’s followed by the benefits of the veggies.
The reality is, Veggies rarely change your life in one day, but they quietly change your life over time.
Some important questions to ask:
- What are my veggies? (ex: Weekly prospecting calls, inbox zero every weekend)
- Am I getting them?
- If Yes? What’s been working?
- If No? Why not?
The people you admire are not more motivated, they have decided which veggies are non negotiable.
Brock Baker
