“If you think you’re too small to have an impact,
try going to bed with a mosquito in the room.”
I found that gem in MBS’s book How to Begin, written by Body Shop founder Anita Roddick. It came to mind last night while I was being plagued by a particularly elusive mosquito my husband dubbed “Maverick.” (Yes, after the Tom Cruise movie.) In my sleep-deprived state I searched for the meaning—and the business metaphor—behind this pesky, pernicious little beast.
Thus, after a midnight brainstorm, I bring you this solo episode on finding (and eradicating!) the mosquitoes* in your business.
*Don’t get them confused with the Butterfly Effect—tiny moments (supposedly) sparking massive change, or Splatology—low-stakes time clutter accumulating until you can’t see through the windshield any longer.
🌟3 Key Takeaways—Business Mosquitoes are:
Persistent interruptions that interfere with much more important goals (i.e. sleep, peace).
Often hard to see, and harder to catch (until they’re perched on the headboard resting fat and happy after feasting on you)
Relentless in waking you up to deal with the problem (unless you resort to bury every inch of your body under the covers, the proverbial head in the sand)
📝Permission
Put boundaries in place that prevents others from interrupting your peace!
✅Do (or Delegate) This Next
Identify your biggest business mosquito: What’s keeping you up at night? How can you put a solution in place that doesn’t just squash one, but prevents many more “bites” in the future?
📘Books Mentioned
Radical Candor: Fully Revised & Updated Edition: Be a Kick-Ass Boss Without Losing Your Humanity
Eat That Frog!: 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less
🔗 Resources Mentioned
Article: The Mosquitoes Are Coming for Us
Indoor Mosquito Trap (scroll down to the hilarious reviews): Katchy
Sleep and Fitness Tracker: Whoop
Jenny’s private BFF Community
🎧 Related Podcast Episodes
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116: What’s Keeping You Up At Night? 🦟 On Business Mosquitoes