The Real But Hidden Cost of Working on the Wrong Things

You know what sucks?

Getting to the end of a busy day, and when someone asks, "What did you do today?" and you’re left scratching your head?

You know you crossed off tons of tasks; emails, phone calls, meetings, proposals, but can’t quite say what actually got done.

It's not fun and I know the feeling well:(

For too long, that was my day-to-day reality, and it’s a common one for entrepreneurs, freelancers, and business owners who juggle endless tasks yet feel like they’ve accomplished nothing.

Here's the Main Point

To get to the end of each day feeling fulfilled and accomplished, you need to be working on the right things—the ones that actually matter. Here are three key principles to keep in mind:

1. Not All Tasks Are Equal – Some tasks drive your business forward; most don't. It's your job to find and prioritize the stuff that matters, even if it's not what you want to do.

1. Busy Doesn’t Mean Productive – Busy is not a freaking badge of honor. It's just busy. Without focus, you’re simply moving chairs on the Titanic

1. Your Sweet Spot for Success – Find and focus on the tasks that bring out your strengths and match with your goals. This is where your time is best spent, and it’s where you’ll see the biggest results.

4 Actionable Tips

Here’s what you can start doing today to identify and focus on your top priorities:

1. 1. Identify Your Core Priorities Write down the tasks that make everything else in your business run smoother and align with your goals. If it doesn’t help your bottom line or give you joy, it probably shouldn’t be on your main list.
2. 2. Track Your Time for a Week Keep track of your daily activities for a week. Then, go back and label which tasks were productive and which weren’t. This will help you see where you’re wasting time.
3. 3. Block Off Time for Your Priorities Once you know what your core priorities are, block off time for them on your calendar. Schedule these tasks when you’re most focused and energized—mornings, for me. This prevents distractions and ensures you’re working on what matters.
4. 4. Run a One-Week Experiment Test out this focus for one week. Pick one priority task, block out 90 minutes daily for it, and avoid interruptions. At the end of the week, assess how it felt and what you accomplished. You’ll likely be able to say exactly what you got done, which is a great feeling.

Consequences and Benefits

If you keep working without focus, you’ll stay on the hamster wheel, ending each day with no real sense of accomplishment. And while others might say, “Oh, I’m the same way,” that doesn’t mean it’s okay. You deserve better than a life of endless busywork.

On the flip side, if you follow these steps, you’ll experience an immediate impact on your business, your happiness, and your overall success. Working in your sweet spot means you’ll spend more time on what you love, see growth, and finish each day knowing you truly got things done.

Here's what you do next

Ready to get out of the busy trap? Visit my website, yourcharlesalexander.com, and grab the free toolkit I’ve put together to help you identify your top priorities. It’s a simple tool, but it makes a big difference, and I’d love to see you get the most out of it.