Do I have ADHD, or am I just overwhelmed with options? It would be easy to self-diagnose and assume that my inability to stay focused is some sort of deficit I have to learn to deal with. Perhaps we live in a world where it is nearly impossible to ignore the unexplored and stay on task. We are exposed to many potential ideas and opportunities every second; how can we stay focused?

This pseudo ADHD I have has served me well at times as a sort of early alarm to pivot, and I have done that a few times. I diversified my work just before the housing market crash of 2008 and didn’t suffer as hard as many others did. However, it has also held me back as a few moments of procrastination can lead me to start building a new website for some idea I dreamt up only moments before.

I have been self-employed for 25 years now. Only in the last year have I realized that I need a system to protect me from myself. Enter the Personal Impact Filter. It allows me to run an opportunity through a simple set of questions to see if it is something I should pursue further.

Components of the Filter

This filter is designed to help me make more informed decisions and qualify ideas effectively. It consists of two main parts:

1. A Quick Assessment for Simpler Decisions
2. A Detailed Evaluation for more complex decisions or ideas

The Quick Assessment allows me to rapidly gauge the time cost, energy drain, alignment with current goals, and impact level of a decision or idea. This helps me quickly determine whether to proceed with something or not.

The Detailed Evaluation dives deeper into various aspects of the decision, including:

• Time and energy investments
• Alignment with your specific goals
• Impact assessment
• Flexibility considerations
• Resource allocation
• Long-term considerations
• A gut check for your emotional response

This comprehensive evaluation helps me avoid impulsive decisions and consider all relevant factors before committing to new ideas or opportunities.

The filter is designed to be flexible, allowing me to use just the quick assessment for simpler decisions and the full detailed evaluation for more complex ones. It also emphasizes my time and energy management priorities, alignment with my various life goals, and maintaining personal freedom.

Personal Impact Filter

Quick Assessment (for simple decisions)

1. Time Cost: Low (1-3) / Medium (4-7) / High (8-10)
2. Energy Drain: Low (1-3) / Medium (4-7) / High (8-10)
3. Alignment with Current Goals: Poor (1-3) / Moderate (4-7) / Strong (8-10)
4. Impact Level: Low (1-3) / Medium (4-7) / High (8-10)

Quick Decision Guide:

• If Time Cost and Energy Drain are both Low, and either Alignment or Impact is High, consider saying Yes and exploring further.
• If either Time Cost or Energy Drain is High, and both Alignment and Impact are not High, consider saying No and avoid.
• For other combinations, proceed to the Detailed Evaluation.

Detailed Evaluation (for complex decisions or ideas)

1. Time Investment:
   • Estimated hours per week: ____
   • Duration of commitment: ____
   • Is this a one-time event or a recurring commitment?
2. Energy Requirement:
   • Mental energy needed (1-10): ____
   • Physical energy needed (1-10): ____
   • Emotional energy needed (1-10): ____
3. Goal Alignment:
   • How does this align with improving health? (1-10): ____
   • How does this align with work focus? (1-10): ____
   • How does this align with company growth? (1-10): ____
   • How does this align with relationship building? (1-10): ____
   • How does this align with marriage improvement? (1-10): ____
   • How does this align with serving the church? (1-10): ____
4. Impact Assessment:
   • Positive impact on personal life (1-10): ____
   • Positive impact on work-life (1-10): ____
   • Potential negative impacts: ________________
5. Flexibility Check:
   • Does this lock me into a set schedule? Yes / No
   • Does this tie me to a specific location? Yes / No
   • How easily can I adjust or exit if needed? (1-10): ____
6. Resource Allocation:
   • What current activities might I need to stop or reduce?
   • Will this take away from family time? Yes / No / How much?
7. Long-term Considerations:
   • How does this contribute to my long-term goals? (1-10): ____
   • Are there any potential future benefits not immediately apparent?
8. Gut Check:
   • Initial excitement level (1-10): ____
   • Anxiety or hesitation level (1-10): ____
   • Does this feel like an authentic “yes” for me? Yes / No / Unsure

I keep my Personal Impact Filter in a Google Doc so I can easily access it from any of my devices when I need it. Sometimes, I print it out and use a pen; other times, I duplicate it and save it as a new file. Occasionally, I will go back and look at the Personal Impact Filters I filled out in the past. I like to add notes and details about what I was thinking and what I was working on when the new thought or request led me to need the filter once again.

The Decision-Making Process:

Running ideas and requests through this filter helps me quickly determine whether to investigate the opportunity further or pass and return to my existing priorities.

1. Fill out the relevant sections above.
2. Review your answers, paying special attention to high and low scores.
3. Consider the balance between time/energy costs and potential impacts.
4. Ensure alignment with your goals and values.
5. Check that it doesn’t overly restrict your freedom or family time.
6. Make a tentative decision: Accept / Decline / Need More Information
7. Sleep on it for complex decisions. Revisit after 24 hours if possible.
8. Make your final decision and commit to it.

Remember: It’s okay to decline good opportunities to make room for great ones that align better with my goals and values.

Overriding The Filter

Sometimes, I end up overriding the filter. Deciding to write this blog article this morning is a solid example of that. While I wouldn’t run a blog article idea through the entire filter, it was not on my agenda today. However, I responded to a post on Threads that somebody posted asking, “How do you make decision-making easier?” I immediately thought about my Personal Impact Filter and how it has helped me over the past year. Sharing what I have learned in a way that can help others charges me up, so it was easy to say yes to writing this article right away.

Updating The Filter

I have updated areas of the filter over the past year. As goals and lifestyle requirements change, so will the filter. It is a living document meant to help me stay focused.

What’s Important to You?

What are a couple of things that would be part of your Personal Impact Filter? Share them with me in the comments section.