Does it seem like you’re always running fast but not getting anywhere? Try slowing down to go fast!

What do I mean by that?

Start each day by taking a moment to pause and review your destination (your definition of winning for your personal and/or business life). Then make a conscious decision to organize your day around the tasks and activities that truly help you reach that destination rather than whatever happens to jump out and land on your plate.

I’m not talking about a lengthy process. Just five or 10 minutes each morning to review the most important things you can (and should) be doing and make sure they’re first on your to-do list.

When you slow down to go fast, good things happen.

It becomes much easier to prioritize. You develop criteria for making better decisions about where to spend your time. And you progress much more quickly toward where you want to go.

Constantly ask yourself, “Does this activity support getting me to where I want to go?” If so, put it at the top of your list. If not, move it to the bottom or remove it altogether.

Easy to say, but not always easy to do.

When you focus on top-priority activities, by default you have less time for those that don’t get you where you want to go. Some of these non-essential activities may be fun or enjoyable. Or they may simply be longstanding habits that are difficult to break. Either way, letting go of them often requires some difficult choices, including saying “no” to some people and situations that are hard to turn down.

“Slow down to go fast” may not seem to make sense. But neither does constantly running in the wrong direction. Take the time to get focused each morning, and you’ll be amazed at how much faster you reach your destination!

Holly G. Green, CEO of The Human Factor, Inc., is a consultant, keynote speaker, behavioral scientist and author of the best-selling book, More Than a Minute: How to Be an Effective Leader and Manager in Today’s World.