Are the balls you’re juggling rubber or glass?

We are all jugglers, every day, all day. But keeping everything in the air is impossible. There, I said it! Because of this It’s important to determine which balls will bounce and which ones will crack (or even shatter) when they hit the ground… And we all know that some will hit the ground. Author Nora Roberts is credited with this idea, recognizing that both our professional and personal life include both types. Learning to prioritize which balls can’t be dropped is key to surviving in a world that is expecting us to be everything to everyone all the time. 

As you think about everything in your hands, break it down into smaller pieces to gain clarity on the number of balls you’re juggling. Can any of those be put aside or delegated? Are any of them simply nice-to-haves and can be removed all together? Once you consider those options, no doubt you’re juggling more balls than you can handle. For most people this is not just the standard three balls a competent juggler is handling, it’s more likely 50 balls once each priority is broken down into pieces.

How do you identify the priorities that can’t drop? Keep in mind that these can be within your work or personal life, it just depends on the priority. Important work deadline? That’s glass if your deliverable is critical to the success of that initiative. Making homemade cupcakes for your kid’s soccer team? Perhaps that’s rubber because you can get cupcakes from the store (but you, or better yet your delegate, do need to get the cupcakes!). When you ask yourself what must be done, prioritize by considering if the ball will bounce or break.

How do you prioritize your day to have the most impact as an MSL?

How do you keep the right balls in the air?

How do you handle it when a ball is going to drop (important or not)?