You do too much – we all do.

We have too many projects on the go. So progress is glacial.

We have too many products and services. So we confuse our clients.

We do too many different marketing activities. So we never get good at any of them.

We spend too much time on what Cal Newport calls “shallow work”. Things that have benefit, but aren't in our top 5 biggest impact things we do.

Things like tweeting, discussions in Facebook groups, going to local networking events.

Things that have value, and for some people they're important.

But for most of us they sit at 10 or 13 or 17 in our list of important things to do. We do them because they're easy. We do them because they're a distraction from hard work that requires focus and concentration.

But every minute we spend on them is a minute not spent doing something more impactful.

I caught myself doing a bunch of low value tasks this week. So I've set a modest goal of identifying and stopping one activity that takes 30 minutes or more a week, but isn't in my top 5 or even top 15 most valuable things I do.

30 minutes a week doesn't sound like a lot, but it adds up to over 3 days a year.

I don't know about you but I could do with an extra 3 days a year :)

I'll update you on my progress next week. But more importantly, I'd like you to think about what you're doing that isn't adding much value and you can safely cut out.

It could make a big difference.