Super Words!

As I try to build new habits, to follow a more effective path in my life, I continue to “crash” into obstacles, distractions, and fall back to the old habits.  I read the books of many successful persons who share how to follow the plan which led them to their particular desired result (great job, new business, better health, wealth, fame, great relationships, or professional achievement, etc.).  I can read most of the words and understand them.  It’s those “Super Words” with which I have trouble. 

• Character
• Commitment
• Discipline
• Goals
• Motivation
• Persistence
• Balance

I call these “Super Words” because they are so extremely important.  And to achieve changes in life that are positive, productive, and helpful to others requires understanding some of these “super” words, and internalizing  them.  I must make these a part of my thoughts if they are to become part of my actions.

In the coming weeks, each of these words will in turn be the focus of one of seven successive weekly posts of this blog, beginning with “Character.”   This will insure that I examine each of these “Super Words,” and increase my understanding of the critical concepts these timeless words embrace.

Will you join me on this 7-week journey.  What we share could help us Learn to Change Habits as we seek to improve.

I encourage your comments to add to the discussion for all of us.

Photo Credit: Thanks to PicApp.com

How to Recover When I Fail

This video is encouraging! These marvelous examples of real success are phenomenal, yet we are shown that they too faced failure, adversity, or experiences that could have dampened all their hopes.

May we learn to set our sights on our vision, and to know that we can do what we need to do.

Does this video encourage you?

How to Stand Firm (3 steps)

Photo credit: embalu from morguefile.com

“Be sure you put your feet in the right place, then stand firm.” —Abraham Lincoln

When I thought of the concept of “standing firm”, several images came to mind. The “Rock of Gilbralter” was one. Then I considered the large pyramids, structures that have existed as immovable objects over thousands of years. Taking a stand to change behavior is very hard. Failure lies in wait around every bend of the path we take toward the change we desire. To avoid the failure, we must transform our thinking. But we must first have a firm foundation, and the following 3 Steps are necessary.

1 – Know what you believe.
What we believe to be true, the values we hold dearly, and the principles we know we should follow, work together to build a strong foundation which supports our life, our decisions, and our actions. When I read the quote from Abraham Lincoln, I recalled reading about the difficulty in his life, the failures he faced, and then as President, the courage he demonstated when he “put his feet in the right place, then stood firm,” with so many against him.

2 – Know where you are going.
Life is a journey, and we need a vision to realize our destination — what it will look like, feel like, and be like. One of my goals is a business. Before focusing on the rudiments of finance, marketing, and operations, I need to develop a clear picture of what this business will look like, feel like, and be like when it is at its best. That image, that vision, will affect my decisions and actions along the way. Zig Ziglar said, “You have to be before you can do, and do before you can have.” I need to see what I need to become (be) and then act (do) in that way to achieve (have) the goal.

3 – Know what is important.
In our fast-moving, fast-changing lives with a plethora of distractions, it is necessary to clarify the most important thing I can do today (now) to move toward that vision. Then with commitment, competence, and confidence take action. When I fail, it’s time to learn, and then persisently redirect my action. When I succeed, that provides learning also which enables me to build habits that will repeat that success.

What would you add to this list?

Past, Present, and Future

Some have classified me as a workaholic, and some as a “Type A Personality”, one who is absorbed substantially by work. And I do a lot of work. Yet, from inside myself, one of my significant problems is “not getting enough important things done.”

Last week’s post talked about letting this blog go too long without an update. My plan for a weekly post is happening right now. As I have reviewed my overdue projects, and routine work, it is clear to me that time is available to accomplish the important things (the priorities), and to address needed things (like this blog) when it is appropriate.

“For the resolute and determined there is time & opportunity.” -Ralph Waldo Emerson

Looking back at the past, there is much to be learned from experiences (both successes and failures). For the future, I can plan toward my goals, using my vision for where I need to be. But where things get done, is today –in this time– and that is where my focus needs to be sharper, smarter, and applied with greater understanding. It is the seconds, the minutes, the hours of life in front of me that provide the canvas upon which I can create a picture of achievement.

What do you think? Have you managed to change a habit, a process, an ingrained routine to become more productive? Please share your thoughts.

Lack of time is often not a good excuse…

Tick-tock

We can probably agree that we “don’t have enough time.”  But, as we know, we each have the exact same allotment of time — it is how we use it that matters.

The excuse that I have been using when I thought about writing a new blog post, is that it made sense for me to complete first a “31-day course to be a better blogger” from one of the best, Darren Rowse.  As I get involved with my work and schedule, I then have used the excuse, “I must put attention on other priorities in my business”, so fulfilling my blogging 31-day course has not happened, and also my blog sits here dormant, without an update.

So, I am writing today to break that cycle.  And I will restart my commitment to write a blog post weekly.  I am not giving up that I should complete the 31-day Blog Course, but I will do it in parallel while posting weekly (new goal to finish my course is October 20, 2009).

It is important to “manage by priorities.”   But it is also important to realize when something that is of significant value, though not at the top of the priority list, is being delayed too long and take action to correct it.

If you are interested in becoming a blogger (or a better one), please check out Darren Rowse’s book”

http://www.problogger.net/31-days-to-build-a-better-blog-join-9100-other-bloggers-today/

Courteous and Respectful Communication…

On one of my LinkedIn groups, I commented on this question posed by another member:

As a people-skills coach, I often hear that technology has ruined interpersonal skills and contact. Let’s hear it, what do you think?  How has technology helped and/or hurt?

My response:

Technology sometimes provides us an excuse for careless habits.

I remember, in the 90’s, discussions on “Will email ruin our interpersonal skills and contact skills?”  This was well before “texts” and “tweets”.

And I still encounter people composing emails with:

• no capitals at all
• ALL CAPITALS
• Dismissive responses (one-word or short responses) that do not address the elements of the email to which the response is being sent.
• Poor grammar
• Reactive responses or new emails that appear to have no thought applied beforehand.

I think these are examples of lazy, expedient, or shortcut habits sometimes driven by “I have a ton of emails and must get rid of them” or similar attitude. But the bottom line is, these are communications which need to be clear, concise and delivered with appropriate courtesy and respect. When that is the goal, email, tweets, text messages, IM’s, blogs, etc. take on a different look and feel, and achieve a better result.

A couple of years ago,  I built a habit to — right before hitting the “Send” button for emails, to change the recipient’s name at the start of the email to bold type and to increase it one font size.   It doesn’t take much additional effort.  Mentally, I try to “say” — Courtesy and Respect, as a reminder that the foundation of all my communications should begin with “Courtesy and Respect”.  It has helped change my communication style.

What do you think?

1 Way to Make a Difference. And then some…

Today, I want to share information provided by simpletruths.com in an email — an excerpt from their book,

Charging the Human Battery… 

“When we have done our best, we can await the results in peace.”
— Author Unknown

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­Committing to excellence is not an act, it’s an attitude. It’s an attitude that is captured in this short thought titled: And Then Some… 

“And then some…
These three little words are the secret to success.
They are the difference between average people and top
people in most companies.
The top people always do what is expected…
and then some.
They are thoughtful of others; they are considerate
and kind…and then some.
They meet their responsibilities fairly and squarely…
and then some.
They are good friends and helpful neighbors…
and then some.
They can be counted on in an emergency…
and then some.
I am thankful for people like this, for they make
the world a better place. Their spirit of service is
summed up in these three little words…
And then some.”  

This is from one of 50 short chapters in Charging the Human Battery…50 Ways to Motivate Yourself. We all have doubts, fears and disappointments in our lives and occasionally need a “shot of inspiration.” That’s what this little book is all about…ideas to inspire, encourage and motivate when you need it most!   —Mac Anderson (simpletruths.com)

________________________________________________________________________________________

I find the offerings at simpletruths.com to be compelling stories emphasizing profound truths.  Beautifully designed and illustrated, clear and concise, they make great business and personal gifts.   Tremendous value of content at a reasonable price.

Gary Duke

Applying New Ideas…

As I struggle often in this quest to “Change Habits”, I am reading as much as I can to understand the process and how I can achieve the result I am working to achieve.

Some of what I had just read encouraged me to write a plan to include the why, what, who, and how of my method.  As I began, I read a blog on “mind mapping”, which I had briefly tried once in the past.  This time the author suggested the tool from wisemapping.com.   I am still new to it, but the result is a visually interesting image of what I entered into the map (benefits, measurement, and achievement that is available, if I will transform my misstep into a new habit and integrate it into my life).

If you wish to try mindmapping for yourself, the tool at www.wisemapping.com seems to work well.

Let’s see if a visual chart will help keep my focus more intent on my goal.

Do I really want to share that quotation?

I  love wise quotations.  Capturing the thoughts of others that have said something which speaks to you at a higher level, is inspiring, yet sometimes sobering.

I have read quotes, captured quotes, shared quotes, used quotes in presentations — I love quotes!

But after years, I reached an “Aha!” moment with using quotes.  More specifically, it was an “Oh No!” moment, I think.  Several months ago I encountered a quote:

“Do what you should do, when you should do it, whether you feel like it or not.”   — Thomas Huxley

Those words, simple though they seem, resonated with me.  This blog is about “Changing Habits” and I am on that road, traveling toward a destination of new habits to transform parts of my life which could be so much better.  Huxley’s maxim seemed to propose a common sense solution which could help me make my plan work much better.

Many quotes are from people who we “know”, at least we know who they are (Abraham Lincoln, Winston Churchill, Vince Lombardi, John Kennedy, etc.).  And when I am inspired by a quote, that comes from someone about whom I know nothing, sometimes I have researched to answer “Who is this, who said that?”  But many times, I don’t take the time.  Just note the quote, record it in my list, refer to it, and share it when appropriate.

Now I am to the subject of Thomas Huxley.  After weeks of enthusiasm about the quote I mentioned, I suddenly wondered — who is Thomas Huxley?  When I checked, he is a noted man whose philosophy appears to be 180 degrees opposed to mine.  Now the dilema appears.  Do I make the principle “motto” of my effort to “Change Habits…” a phrase from someone for whom I have concerns about the validity of his thinking (since it is so different from the direction of my thinking)?  I think not.  Someone else might think that rationally they could use it as long as it works.  But I am not comfortable with using a “principle” from someone who doesn’t share the “major principles” in which I believe.

So I am dropping this quote as the “best one I have found to help me change”.  I’ll find another one.  But I will never easily adopt one again, and enthusiastically share it with others, without thinking “I need to find out who it was that said this, not just what it was that he or she said.”

Michael Gerber, author of E-Myth, shares 5 skills which are necessary in a business.  The first of the five is “Discrimination” — knowing how to choose what is important and how to prioritize these important pursuits (then apply the rest of the skills — Concentration, Organization, Communication, & Innovation).

I’ll hopefully be more discriminating in the future about the quotes I use.

Here’s one for thought:

We should be careful to get out of an experience only the wisdom that is in it – and stop there, lest we be like the cat that sits down on a hot stovelid. She will never sit down on a hot stove-lid again – and that is well; but also she will never sit down on a cold one anymore.

- Mark Twain

Discipline – the bridge…

My work continues to go well, my life is satisfying and has purpose.  I am blessed.

But — I have a mission to change some habits, some personal and some work related.  These require that I “add on” more activity to my day, starting early with energy, and keeping that energy level going until time to rest.  One of my “projects” is weight loss, and the new habits include more exercise, and a healthy eating plan which doesn’t allocate room for familiar comfort foods when I feel stressed.

At work, I am productive and “get my job done”.  But there are goals to create systems to reach the next level, steps to encourage and challenge the TechTeam I work with to improve performance.  This, for me, requires study of the principles, incorporating the practice of these principles into my daily routine, and keeping my focus on achieving the goals.

I seem to resist following the steps that I know will reap rewards, and hence I have to continually “re-direct” my self toward the plan.  But it is the right step, the best step, and the step that can take me “all the way” toward the vision that is best for me.

March 23rd, 2009 – A milepost of assessing my progress (and the areas where I am “missing the boat”).  A milepost from which I can travel forward by “Changing Habits” for the good, for the goal.

 The tool I must use to build the “changed habits” is discipline.

“Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishments.”  —Jim Rohn