Everyone starts out wanting to make a difference. Then they get sucked into the day-to-day routine. Their schedule fills up with meetings and stuff. Soon they are so busy doing busy work that they don't have time for the things that really make an impact.
Don't let the things you have to do keep you from getting done the things that make a real impact
This is particularly tricky when onboarding into a new organization or role. You don't know what you don't have to do and don't want to get off on the wrong foot with anyone. There's a tendency to jump in and try to do everything, saying "yes" far more often than you say "no".
Don't do it.
Pause to Accelerate
Instead, pick a point of inflection. For some it will be sooner. For some it will be later. For most, it should be sometime inside the 30 day mark. (More on why in our book, The New Leader's 100-Day Action Plan. For the moment, just accept that.) Before the point of inflection, focus on building relationships and learning. You don't know enough yet to make any decisions or to push your point of view. After the point of inflection, focus on the few things that will make a real impact on what's most important.
