Comments on: A Key to Effectiveness: The Willingness to Let Go

By: Steve-Prospering With Aspergers

Steve-Prospering With Aspergers — Fri, 14 May 2010 20:57:13 +0000

It takes courage and self reflection to get to a point of being ready to let go. I think often of Leo from Zen Habits. Less definitely is more, provided we have the discipline to identify our areas of greatest effectiveness, and delegate or cut out the rest.

By: Donald Latumahina

Donald Latumahina — Sat, 01 May 2010 07:04:02 +0000

Thanks, John :)

By: John Sherry

John Sherry — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 14:29:06 +0000

Letting go, the ultimate challenge to the dream chasing, law attracting, you-can-have-it-all attitude obsessed world. Millions strive and drive for success and I agree those who let go thrive and revel in the liberated feel. What you need you find. What you must face will come to you. What next will come next. A beautiful article and true at all levels. Much gratitude for your simple but powerful words Donald.

By: Donald Latumahina

Donald Latumahina — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 12:21:17 +0000

Richard,
That’s a nice quote. I like it.

Lakshmi,
The 80/20 principle is indeed essential. Applying it can make a big difference in our lives.

Armen,
Pre-success? That’s a good way to call it. Definitely more motivating than calling it failure period.

Susan,
Good luck! I’m sure you can make it :)

Sibyl,
That’s also a trap that I’m learning to avoid.

Craig,
Nice tip. Looks like I need to delete some items from my to-do list :)

By: Craig Thomas

Craig Thomas — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 09:46:33 +0000

Nice post. Letting go is pretty essential to get stuff done. Normally after writing a to-do list, I look to delete at least 50% of it or more 50% to another list that isn’t important – effectively letting go of those ‘tasks’. Seems to work well for me. :)

By: Sibyl - alternaview

Sibyl - alternaview — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 03:08:03 +0000

Donald: This was a really helpful post. I know for me it is so easy to fall into the trap of wanting to do everything. However, you are so right, we have to find a way to let go and in order to be effective we hae to narrow down our priorities and focus on those things we feel are most important. I thought your tips were all very good. Thanks for sharing your insights.

By: Susan Liddy

Susan Liddy — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 19:33:26 +0000

Thank you for this today.
I’m heading out on vacation in a couple days and am in that OMG! Have to get everything done before I go phase.

Time to take a deep breath, set the priorities and focus on one thing at at time.

Thanks for this reminder.

By: Armen Shirvanian

Armen Shirvanian — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 18:59:22 +0000

Hi Donald.

I like your extended analysis of the 80/20 rule here. I had not seen anyone who took thought about it to the next step like this. We don’t want to cut out the 80% section, so it stays around, and so we stay in a limited state of action. Letting go is tough because it means we do lose a little bit of pleasure or comfort.

#2 is right because there is always that period that no one really wants to be in for that long, as it is like what may be labeled pre-success, or the period where success is in the mind but not reached, which can be fine in up times, but not so great in down times, as the success to reach is not a reached foundation yet.

By: Lakshmi Narayanan N

Lakshmi Narayanan N — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 15:04:31 +0000

Many simple things in this world is very difficult to do and it requires certain level of mastery by consistent practice and self discipline – the will power to do it.

I feel that we must follow 80/20 principle no matter what as you pointed quiet rightly that the results of 20 is more than 80 and that the power of focus. Awesome Idea.

Thank you again for a wonderful post.

By: Richard | RichardShelmerdine.com

Richard | RichardShelmerdine.com — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 08:21:38 +0000

Letting go is essential, really. It’s like it says in the Tao Te Ching – “To become strong, we must first become weak”. Stop resisting something and it then has no power over you any more.