Focus on What You Can Do

I just finished the book "The 12 Week Year" and it has me thinking a bit differently about my goals.  I have always been a big goal setter.  But as the book points out, annual goals can sometimes be tough to set (and achieve).  (This ends up being Book 48 for those keeping track).

The biggest reason is a sense of urgency.

In an annual goal, you always feel like there is more time.  You an waste today because you can make up for it tomorrow, or next week, or next quarter.  The concept of the 12 Week Year is to break goals into 12 Weeks with every week representing a month.  By doing so, each time you waste a day, it really matters.  This can help to create a sense of urgency that sometimes lacks.

The other ideas in the book that I really like is a focus on Tactics.  Though you set "lag goals" which are the overall 12 Week goals, you also focus on creating daily tasks that will help you reach those goals.  This daily list of "to do's" helps you focus on what you can control.

As I said yesterday, "You can't always control whether a big order comes in.  But you can control whether or not you do these specific activities each day."

This concept helps you focus on what you an do--not what others have to do--to reach your goals and objectives.  It puts the responsibility back where it should be...on you.

So when creating your goals for the year (or the 12 Week Year) make sure you take some extra time creating your task list to figure out what you need to do to reach your goals.  Then make the time to make it happen.

Here's to a great 2016!

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What Forgiving Does

When you forgive someone, you don't release them of their indiscretions.  You don't (necessarily) say "what you did is okay." 

When you forgive someone, you release yourself from your anger...and move on.

Keep Your Head on a Swivel!

When I was on the high school football team (hard to believe, I know) I remember a coach yelling "Keep your head on a Swivel!"  The idea was to be aware of your surroundings at all times, so you didn't get clobbered.  If you were looking too closely at a running back, you might not see the pulling guard coming to drill you. 

You never wanted to hear, "Hasseman, you need to keep your head on a swivel!"  It probably meant you were on your back.

I hear that voice in my head now, but in a different way.  Whenever I go to a public place, I "keep my head on a swivel."  But now it's not because I am concerned with a pulling guard.  As an adult, it's because I want to be aware of others around me. 

I want to make sure I am not stepping in front of another person. 

I try to look and make sure I am not bumping someone else out of the way.

Mainly, I am trying to "keep my head on a swivel" so that I am not making MY priority the only important task in the universe. 

We all get busy (especially during the holidays).  But I think the world might be a bit of a better place if we all kept "our head on a swivel" to look out for the needs of others...not just our own.

After it Stops Being Fun

Each new project or workout plan or business or job starts with a great deal of excitement.  This time will be different!  It's called "uninformed optimism."  We start with the vision of all of the great changes that are coming our way...but we don't really know what it will take to get there.  It's an exciting time, actually.

But then, both the "uninformed" and the "optimism" fade away.  After showing up at the gym or early mornings at the office long enough, we start to get tired.  We are sore.  We are putting in the effort, but not seeing the results. 

It gets easier then, to quit than to keep going.  That moment has happened to all of us.  And, if you are like me, at some point in your life you chose to quit.  No judgements here.

But just know this:  the difference between change and status quo happens in that moment. 

If you want to create change in your life, keep going after it stops being fun.  The fun will come back.

Looking for a Reason

If you wake up every day and spend any time on social media (or media in general), you may have noticed an epidemic.  It's an epidemic of controversies.  Nearly every day, it seems, a group in the United States is totally up in arms about some new offense.

Someone (or something) has wronged them and they will be heard!

These urgent issues are lapped up by a 24 hour media starving for stories and become "the" trending topic.  Then, as is the case with this attention, it goes through the cycle and goes away.

But it's not the media's fault.  We have a choice.  Stop looking for a reason to be offended.

We all know that person that seems to have a political agenda, a personal vendetta or simply want to complain each day.  They have a weekly (or sometimes daily) issue that they find offensive.  They share posts and information and support their anger (whether it is factual or not).  They light gas to the fire of negativity.

They are the kind of person that is annoyed if they can't find something to be pissed about.

Turn those people off.  Hide them.  Cut them out of your life.  Stop looking for a reason to be mad all the time.

Start looking for a reason to be grateful.  You will be pleased with what you discover.

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A Second Coat

My youngest daughter has had a bright pink room for several years now.  And when I say "bright pink," I mean the room is glowing.  Super bright.  For me, it's been a lot to take.  But she liked it.  So I went along.

Recently, however, she decided she wanted to lose the neon pink and go back to white.  That's the good news.  The bad news, of course, is that we needed to paint.  That's never something I look forward to!

In laying on the first coat of white, you will likely not be surprised, that no matter how heavy we put it on, the pink kept showing through.  That bright pink paint was just not going to go away easy!  We brushed and rolled and sweated...and at the end we knew we still needed to add another coat.  In a way it was frustrating to have done so much, but still have so much to do.  But we needed to add a second coat.

That's how it is, sometimes, when starting a new project or goal.  We lay on a heavy dose of sweat.  We push and pull and struggle.  And at the end of a huge amount of effort, we see there is SO much left to do!  It can be overwhelming.

But remember, in that moment, that you have only laid the foundation.  That part of the journey is not supposed to look finished...yet.  It is that base level of effort and progress that will create a bright and shiny future.

You just need to add a second coat.

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Creating Your Christmas List

 My wife recently asked me to make a "Christmas list" for the family.  As you probably know, this is simply the act of putting your wishes for gifts on paper, so that family has some idea of what to get you...that you might actually like.

Seems simple enough...but it's not always. 

I think that's because we are often not that great at articulating what we want in our life.  In addition, when creating these lists, we want to "be reasonable" so that our relatives can afford the items we desire.  I mean, I would love a boat.  But I don't think I will put that on my list. 

But what about our "Christmas list" (or we can call it "Wish List" if you want) for ourselves?  Do you spend the same amount of time thinking about what you want to provide for yourself in the coming year?  What do you want to create? 

You should.  And here are some Do's and Don'ts when creating your own "Christmas List."

1.  Do give it some thought.  You should spend more time on this than you do telling the relatives you want "running socks."

2.  Do write it down.  Most people don't write their goals and desires down.  You should.

3.  Do share them with those that you love.  Those who love you most in life will probably want you to reach your goals...and they might help.  In addition, you never know the person who might hold the key to helping you.

4.  Do revisit it regularly.   If you are actively chasing your dreams...they will change.  You might attain them.  You might realize they don't matter.  Keep the list updated.

5.  Don't be reasonable.  When you set up your life "wish list," stop playing small.  This is where you want to be put the Boat.  Then create a plan to go get it.

This is a great time of year to be introspective.  But remember to do so while looking forward.  Don't spend a ton of time lamenting what you have not accomplished.  Stay focused on where you want to go.

Happy Holidays.  May this season be a great one for you and yours!