Read This If You're Not Sure You're On The Right Track
What are the steps you've taken so far?
Are they working?
If you're not sure, have you been specific about what needs to happen for a "success?"
Here are 3 things you need to define:
- What specifically are you trying to accomplish?
- What changes might you try and why?
- How will you know that a change is an improvement?
It's easy to get caught up in how huge an idea or vision is.
It's a lot harder to define it, consider how to make it more achievable, and measure results.
Once you're finished thinking big, remember to think small.
2 Minute Action
Ask yourself this question and answer it in 2 minutes.
Is what you're doing 1) helping you understand the problem or 2) helping you take action?
Do this and you'll have direction.
The 3 Things Required To Master Life
Before I get this going, I need to say something really important.This whole thing is really simple to understand but hard to implement.This is one of those things that just takes a lifetime.That said . . .
1 - Awareness
Understand that there's a problem, a change, an opportunity. Identify and define.
2 - Acceptance
Realize that this is a reality. This does not mean you are complacent with the reality--only that you understand it's realness. Most of the battle for most people is fought here. Shortening the distance between awareness and action is one of the most critical skills we can develop.
3 - Action
These are the strategies and real-world tactics you take to move you from one state of existence to another. It happens after you make a choice to commit to action.
2 Minute Action
Pick an issue in your life right now.It doesn't matter if it's good or bad.Run that problem through this 3 step exercise.Have you used this framework or a similar one before?Let me know what's worked for you or how this new approach feels different.
The Surprising Similarity Between Sports And Productivity
Here is one of my favorite comics:
Forget about the sports for a second.Have you ever heard this kind of talk in your work?Let me try to translate a bit into “office-speak.””Well, Bill, we want to make more sales but we keep calling and no one is getting back to us.”(The symptom is presented but there is no effort applied to figuring out if the problem is rooted in the quality of the leads, the script of the cold call, or how well the product solves the need of the customer.)Or how about . . .”Franks report says we need to execute more proposals this week. I guess we’d better keep calling and sending our emails.”(Here, the goal is vaguely defined--“more” isn’t a good goal, and working more hours is not a sustainable solution.)
There are two main mindset problems that led to these examples:
1. There is no investigation or identification of impediments (the things that might be slowing you down or preventing results).2. There is no analysis of things that are working or not working about the current approach.The fix is simple: get specific about what needs to be achieved and work backwards to how you’ll get there within the constraints of your team.
Simple but not easy.
Stop trying to make gears turn faster in a gearbox. It burns people out and doesn’t improve results.Set clear, reasonable goals to get small wins.
2 Minute Action:
Look over your “to-do” list for today.How many of the items are written in a way where you can definitely say “yes, this is done?”Is the task to make a call or is the task really to get the person on the phone to sign up?Is the task really to send a contract or is the task really to close the deal?Measure the end result.Be specific.You’re all set.Lets have a productive day.