Look, setting priorities is tough. Actually, scratch that—it’s not the setting part that’s hard. It’s sticking to them that trips everyone up.
And to be completely honest with you, both parts can be difficult.
Why Setting Priorities Feels Like an Uphill Battle
You probably have that heroic sense of self that most entrepreneurs do: “We can do it all. We can crush it.” And while that’s great, let’s be honest—you can’t do everything at the same time. There’s only so much room on your plate, no matter how much you try to fill it.
Then there’s the hurry. You’re in a rush to grow. You think, “The longer I wait, the more I lose. I need results NOW!” But rushing can lead to burnout, mistakes, and poor execution. Fast growth isn’t always sustainable if you’re not careful.
And let’s not forget the “I hate saying no” thing. Every time you say yes to something new—whether it’s a new hire or an extra project—you take time and focus away from what actually matters.
You probably have a denial issue too. Maybe you didn’t finish what you set out to do last quarter, but now you’re looking to set fresh priorities. But here’s the problem: you’ve got to clean up the mess from last quarter before moving on. You can’t just keep pushing the same rocks forward.
And on top of that, your plate is already overflowing. Family commitments, client calls, maybe even the whole “how do I balance work and life” thing. There’s always something else pulling at you.
Why Sticking to Your Priorities is Even Harder
Now, let’s talk about the sticking part. No matter how few priorities you pick, you’re probably still over-committing. It’s just how it goes.
Hiding your priorities from your team to avoid making tough calls. I’ve seen this before—CEOs saying they’ll stick to the important stuff, but then sneaking in “pocket rocks.” Guess what? They don’t get done.
If you want your business to grow, it starts with you. You can’t hide behind excuses. You can’t keep punting things because they’re uncomfortable. You’ve got to own it and make those hard choices.
So, What’s the Right Way to Set Priorities?
1. Review Your List: Before your next meeting, go through everything you’ve been holding onto. Look at all the things you’ve been putting off. Rank them by importance and urgency. Don’t cheat. Pick the true “rocks”—the priorities that are going to move the needle. Keep it simple. Your “rock” list shouldn’t be longer than your fingers.
2. Quarterly or Monthly Meetings: These meetings are your chance to get real with your team. Reflect on what’s worked, what hasn’t, and what you learned along the way. Don’t just celebrate the wins—figure out where you missed the mark and how you can adjust.
3. Four Key Questions:
• What are the priorities that will hit your annual goals?
• What can you delegate completely?
• What does your team think is important?
• What’s left on your “rock” list?
4. Pick Your Battles: Choose only the priorities that will get you where you want to go. It’s tempting to go after everything, but remember: more is not better. Pick the ones that matter most.
Bottom Line: The secret to scaling your hauling business? Get better at setting and sticking to the right priorities. Focus on the big rocks and stop getting distracted by the shiny stuff that won’t move the needle. If you can build a culture around tackling these priorities, you’re going to grow, plain and simple.
You’ve got this. Let’s get to work.✌️
Justin Hubbard
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