You’re curious aren’t you? The buffet syndrome of life … sounds delicious or deadly, doesn’t it? The buffet syndrome is a phrase I coined based on my own experience living a life full of things I love … I love my work, I love my family, and I have hobbies and interests I love. In short, the more passionate you are about what you do, the harder it is to take life in reasonable portions.

When you love what you do … it’s like going through a buffet line. Everything looks good so you try it all … a little bit of this, and a little bit of that. In no time, your plate is piled up with food. You sample bits and pieces of everything on your plate only to feel completely stuffed at the end of the meal. With food, the consequence passes quickly … we don’t feel stuffed for too terribly long. In life, however, if you don’t take action you can become overwhelmed and stressed, and it can take a long while and a lot of discipline to dig out.

Are you suffering from the buffet syndrome? If so, pick the best opportunities. Work on the projects you enjoy most or are most critical to your business objectives. Delegate non-critical projects to others or put them off indefinitely.

In short, say “no-for-now” and come back through the buffet line later (when you’re ready for seconds.)