The ancient concept of “living in the moment” or “mindfulness” is coming more and more into the mainstream with respect to stress reduction and even medical treatment of chronic illnesses. But there’s also a huge benefit to embracing this concept in the everyday running of your business. 

Today more than ever, we are living in a world where the pace of change is almost so rapid that human brains can’t keep up with it. Strategic planning in business was always based on the fact that you could predict to some reasonable degree what the world will be like 3 years or 5 years in the future. Now it seems that we have no idea what will be happening tomorrow let alone months and years from now. The world was caught by surprise in this last US election. I’m suggesting you better get used to being caught by surprise because now it’s going to be an ongoing occurrence.

This new reality can be disorienting and discouraging unless you remember these three simple mindfulness-related lessons:

1. Embrace Current Reality.
   The only thing you can really know for sure about the environment in which your business is operating is not what might happen in the future but what’s happening RIGHT NOW—i.e. “current reality.” Proactively understand and embrace it on an ongoing basis without fearing the problems you’ll uncover, complaining about it, or wishing it were different. This includes your company’s internal strengths and weaknesses as well as external opportunities and threats. Boldly acknowledge the good, the bad, and the ugly.
   
   
2. Create a “Next Level” Vision
   To know what needs to be done to keep making an adequate amount of evolutionary progress, it helps to have both a long-term vision for your company but even more importantly a clear and specific vision of the desired “next level” on the way to the ultimate vision—say 3 years from now. Given that you can’t accurately predict the future, this is just a dream. But it’s a stake in the ground that guides your direction, dictates the required amount of urgency, and acts as a motivator for everyone in the company.  
   
   
3. Work On the Next Step
   Since, the fact is that the only thing you can really control is what YOU are doing RIGHT NOW, to create that new desired reality you personally should be working RIGHT NOW on the most important next step towards making your vision a reality. There’s always one most important next step at any point in time. Constantly ask yourself, “Am I working right now on the most important thing I can do to get us to the next level?” This is a very powerful habit to cultivate.

When you embrace these three “truths”—especially #3—knowing how to cope and in fact thrive in business today without being overwhelmed becomes much simpler. The single most important and maybe the only important decision you have to make at any point in time is what to work on RIGHT NOW. That’s it! Everything else is for all intents and purposes not worth thinking about because there’s nothing you can really do about it.

Of course, easier said than done. When you learn how to meditate, you discover that staying in the moment is hard work. Your mind incessantly wants to wander off into thinking about the past or the future and you literally have to gradually rewire your cranial circuits by continually coming back to present moment body sensations over and over again. As meditation gurus will tell you, if your brain wanders off a million times, you have to bring it back to the present a million times. The more you practice meditation, the easier it gets to stay in the present.

So too can you benefit by learning how to run your business (and your life for that matter) mindfully. Not only your own brain but the world around you is trying to distract you. And, once you learn how to “work in the moment,” like any skill you have to keep practicing or your ability to stay focused will dwindle. How often have you driven home from the office feeling that you didn’t really accomplish anything worthwhile? Not a good feeling. On the other hand, it’s exhilarating and motivating when you know you’ve taken one more step, even if small, towards accomplishing your goals.

If you’d like more information or assistance from me regarding your unique challenges, consider taking advantage of JPMA’s CEO Mentor Program. Check the JPMA web site for more information or contact Steve Clark at sclark@jpma.org.