Closing Open Loops

You are sitting on your couch. It’s Sunday afternoon. You just want to relax. You know there is a big week coming up. But your mind is nagging at you about unfinished things.

They could be small or large.

Clean up this. Move that. Fix this. Reorganize that. That person you keep meaning to text or call.

They just keep going through your mind, over and over again. They are on your mental, and maybe on a physical checklist.

You don’t feel like doing them, because you want to rest or do something/anything else. But you don’t realize how much those thoughts drain you.

Those are called “open loops”.

It’s your mind running through everything you told yourself you would do, need to do, want to do.

For yourself or for others.

Most people’s minds are in doing mode more than just being mode. It’s not that it needs to be busy all the time, it’s that it HATES open loops.

Ever sit there, watching TV/movie/sports, and just must get up and take care of something to close that mental loop?

Those open loops are very draining, because your mind is just processing non-stop, running through what needs to be done.

There is a name for this – the Zeigarnik Effect – the brain’s tendency to remember unfinished business more than completed items.

Like hidden background apps on your phone, they just eat away at your mental battery.

Samuel Wexler breaks down the three ways it drains you:

Cognitive overload – causes a tense, active state in your brain until you close those tasks.

Decision fatigue – because it’s always thinking about those tasks, there is less bandwidth to make decisions about other items.

Increased anxiety – having those open loops causes a heightened feeling of background tension and overwhelm due to the procrastination.

The best solution that I have found?

Get shit done. Go on a loop closing spree.

You can start with small items – it doesn’t have to just be the big ones.

Just complete some tasks, close those loops, build momentum, free up your mental RAM.

If you can do something in less than 2 minutes, just go do it.

Move that thing. Replace that lightbulb. Organize that drawer that’s been driving you crazy.

Whatever it is – just start getting stuff done.

I heard once that if a task takes you two minutes or less, do it right away and move on.

And if you know it takes two minutes or less, and you choose not to do it – that is the purest form of procrastination.

Now, why am I speaking about this when this is supposed to be about Business Broker Growth?

Because for most brokers I see online, there is a very high likelihood of marketing-related open loops.

You know you should/could write a LinkedIn post about your current listing, most recent sale, a conversation you had with a business owner.

You know you should/could write a blog article.

You want to have a newsletter that goes out.

People keep telling you that the video is very important to do. But when you think of getting ready enough to turn on the camera to record, you get stuck.

There are business owners you have spoken with in the past, and you know that somewhere in your files/notes/list are the ones you should reach out to for checking in, nurturing, and moving forward.

Then there is that book you have thought about writing.

That one definitely isn’t getting done in under two minutes.

All of these marketing-related open loops nag at you mentally.

Day and evening.

Yet, like reorganizing your garage or painting the house, organizing your files or financials, creating these content campaigns could be the least enjoyable thing for you.

Our minds hate open loops.

Our minds also prioritize pleasure first – so you will probably bias your attention, time, and energy towards the parts of your business broker business that make you feel good.

Moving deals forward. Going to network meetings. Emailing some referral partners. Scrolling through LinkedIn.

Which could also make you feel bad, because you should be posting, not scrolling.

Those tasks are good, but the problem is that they are not building up your digital authority content library and may not be doing enough to fill your pipeline.

One solution is to hire someone who can take all those marketing-related loops off your mental plate and get them done

.

This can have a huge effect on your mental state – releasing all those loops that you put off because of time, or you just really don’t like doing them.

I don’t like dealing with filing taxes, so I hire someone and hand her everything and pay her to do it.

It’s not even a time vs. money thing – I would rather stare at a blank wall than deal with taxes.

I have learned that if I must do the taxes myself, it doesn’t get done.

There is value in the content that can be created by someone else, but one of the things we hear a lot that I know is helpful at a deeper level – especially in the beginning – is:

“I am so glad I don’t have to do that.”

Another solution is to make a list of everything in that mental marketing open-loop list.

Write it all out, big and small.

And if it’s big, like writing a book or starting a podcast, then break it down into smaller and smaller tasks until you get to a list of things that can be done relatively quickly.

Then leverage your calendar and map out times when you will get those items done.

Don’t stare at the list – it will seem overwhelming, and a list like that will paralyze most people into inaction.

When that action time comes on the calendar, get everything done that you said you would do on the list.

After that, you can move on.

You closed some loops.

You know you have other time blocks coming up where you will close more loops.

And you can get back to focusing on the rest of your business tasks.

If you realize the best solution to take the marketing/content tasks off your plate and loops out of your mental checklist is to get help, message me or go to our site to learn more about how we can help.

Featured Podcast Episode

Here are my top 3 takeaways from this episode:

• Become the Expert: Focusing on a niche. Whether it’s HVAC or your local market, it lets you deliver real value, become the go-to resource, and build a recognizable brand. Consistency and specialization matter.
• Give Away Knowledge Freely: Don’t be afraid to share what you know. Educating others (sellers, buyers, colleagues) not only raises the bar for the industry but also positions you as the trusted advisor when it matters most.
• Build a Business, Not Just a Job: Invest in your brand, your marketing, and your team. If you want your work to have a lasting impact (and value), treat your practice like a business that can thrive without you.

Whether you’re thinking about selling your business, launching a career in brokerage, or scaling your operations, these lessons can make a real difference.

To hear the full story and more broker growth hacks, listen to the full episode now! https://businessbrokergrowth.com/podcast/

Until next time,

Jason

PS. Take the Digital Impact Assessment (free) →https://get.businessbrokergrowth.com/assessmentNL