Despite Darwin's bleak pronouncement of human potential for advancement, we now know that our brains are neuroplastic and can significantly change how we think and act.

And yet it's also true that we struggle to make important changes.

Why do we have so much trouble making significant progress with our work?

We are surrounded by amazing technology that's supposed to help us.

And yet...

We get bogged down, distracted, or overwhelmed and get very little done.

Why is this?

Greg McKeown has a nice, concise explanation in his most recent book, which is called Effortless.

Here’s part of his explanation.

Super Brain Power

Our brains work at incredible speeds, just like a supercomputer. And just like a computer, our brains do not always perform optimally.

Think about how the computer slows down when its hard drive gets cluttered with files and browsing data.

The computer still has incredible computing power, but it’s less available to perform essential functions because of clutter.

Similarly, our brains can become filled with clutter – e.g., outdated assumptions, negative emotions, and toxic thought patterns.

Hampered by Cognitive Clutter

In cognitive psychology, there’s an idea known as “perceptual load theory,” which partially explains how brain clutter hampers our ability to pay attention to things that matter.

Also, we get bogged down with brain clutter because we are programmed to prioritize emotions with high “affective value” — like fear, resentment, or anger.

These strong emotions will generally win out, leaving us with less mental energy to focus on the things that matter most (e.g., the vital 20% that delivers 80% of the important outcomes we seek).

DeClutter & Optimize

When you better understand how to clear out brain clutter (as with a computer), you can achieve a higher state of operational efficiency and effectiveness.

To learn more, so you can make better progress on things that matter most, I highly recommend reading Effortless: Make It Easier to Do What Matters Most.

It’s a book that can help you achieve much more, more easily — if you actually implement the recommendations, that is.

😉

Ernie

P.S. Whenver you're inclined, here are three ways I can help improve your law practice...

• The 80/20 Inner Circle (paid subscribers get this automatically)

• My 80/20 Podcast (formerly known as the Law Firm Autopilot)

• The Law Firm Systems workshop (if you're eager for massive transformation)