Blocking Out The Noise

I’m a Kenny Chesney fan. Years ago, I really identified with his song called “Noise.” It’s a song about blocking out the noise in your life to be able to “hear” what is most important.

Recently, my friend Jim Cameron from Long Island shared his thoughts about noise on my podcast. “It’s not the work that burns us out. It’s the noise, all of the other distractions and things that pull us away from the work.”  You can listen to that clip here:  It’s the noise that burns us out.  You can listen to the whole podcast here:  

Both Kenny and Jim are correct, so how do we block it out? How can we stay the course? How do we keep moving forward, stay positive, and block out the noise?

Here are a few simple strategies for you to put in place. We can all say that we have to block out the noise, but how do we actually do it? Maybe give these a try.

Number one: Put the phone and the electronic devices down. Go for a walk, be present in meetings without the devices. I have real conversations and real interactions with people.

Number two: Airtight compartments. Imagine you were on a submarine and there was an alert that water was going to come rushing in. You see those vacuum-sealed doors with the circular wheel on the middle of each door, you grab it, and you can vacuum seal the room shut. This would block everything on the outside from coming in. Same concept. If you’re going to work on something for two hours, block out the time, turn off all the distractions, and only focus on that thing. Tell yourself you’re going to do that, and then actually do it. Put yourself in an airtight compartment for that period of time.

Number three: Write it down. Set your daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly goals. Write down each day what you want to accomplish, and put the most important thing first. Put it down on paper, and put it on your schedule. Remind yourself 15 minutes before you’re going to start, etc. Write it down, get it done!

Number four: Let those things go. When the noise jumps up and gets you, let it go. Be like Velcro. Velcro has two sides: one has hooks that stick to everything, and the other sticks to nothing. Let it go. The noise will always be there. You don’t have to let it stick to you.

Number five: The important thing is to make the important thing, the important thing. What is most important to you? Your health, your family, your future, your goals, your work, your special projects? They’re all important and special, but put the things that are most important to you at the front of the line and block out the rest.

Number six: If you wouldn’t ask a certain person for their advice on a topic or a situation. Why would you let their opinion bother you, whether in public or on social media? People are all entitled to their opinion; it doesn’t mean you have to agree with it or let them bother you. Like Brené Brown said, “Unless you’re in the arena getting your ass kicked, I don’t need to hear your opinion.”  She is giving you permission not to take advice you do not value.

Thank you to Kenny Chesney and to Jim Cameron for bringing the points about noise to the surface. I hope these strategies can help you and keep you moving forward, friends. Keep surviving and thriving!

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