The following questions can help to assess requests and opportunities:

• What is the actual time commitment?
• What is the opportunity cost?
• What’s the physical and emotional cost?
• Would I regret it in a year if I didn’t do this?

• Use the 20% time approach. Spend 20% of your time exploring new interests.
• Use the infinite horizon networking. It is a “pure, no-agenda relationship building” that is simply out of personal interest in individuals. The idea is that you never know what could come of it.
• There are four cycles in your career: Learning, creating, connecting, reaping the benefits. These cycles repeat themselves to build your strengths in several areas.
• Use the “no asks for a year” strategy. When meeting someone, first establish a foundation.

• Use strategic patience: Admit that you need work and time to progress. It often takes two to three years to gain notice in a field you’re pursuing.
• When things don’t improve, ask yourself why you’re doing the thing you’re struggling with, and how it has worked for others.
• Give yourself repeated opportunities to succeed.
• Test concepts in a small way before pursuing them in a bigger way.
• Use deadlines to ensure you stay on track.

Consider these questions to help you find strategic direction:

• What should I spend my time doing?
• What are the 20% of activities that will return 80% of the results?
• What can I stop doing?
• How can I use limitations to my advantage?
• What do I believe about the future, and how do they inform my current actions?