ACTION ITEM: Believe it or not, some aren’t comfortable challenging you, your thoughts, or your actions. Be the bigger leader and ask for them. Ask them to challenge your thinking, remove the roadblock, and open the collaboration.
ACTION ITEM: (it helps if you sing this) “I get by with a little help from my friends,” wrote John Lennon and Sir Paul McCartney. I’m guilty of not asking for help in times of need. I know others feel the same way. So I thought, If I can’t fix my own stubbornness, I can make the effort to help someone else. Ask often, and ask with integrity to help.
ACTION ITEM: There are very successful people out there who have no problem creating momentum for themselves. They may be reading this post (I hope they are). This is a lonely race to run and a challenge I’ve struggled with. The real success I was searching for, came in magnitudes much greater when I started working for everyone else. Challenge, teach, encourage and build with high standards.
ACTION ITEM: When you see the word “invest” think money. Yes, I do think it is possible to get better without spending a dime, but it also lacks commitment. Books, audiobooks, online courses, exercise classes, seminars,…do something! Get invested in yourself or be prepared to live in the mediocre middle.
ACTION ITEM: This just feels weird reading, doesn’t it? Uncomfortable…I’d rather settle into this couch. The US Navy SEALS train in the uncomfortable every day. If you don’t know what “wet and sandy” is, I recommend Googling it. The more uncomfortable the scenario, the more they are prepared for anything anyone can throw at them. I’m certainly no SEAL, but I love the mindset. Hooyah!!
ACTION ITEM: In order to grow stronger and build muscle, a person must lift heavier weights. Is the person lifting afraid of the weights? I highly doubt it. So, why then should you be afraid of a challenge standing right in front of you? The only way to grow is to accept the challenge and punch fear in the face!
ACTION ITEM: If you’ve ever said to yourself (and I know you have), I wonder what <insert name> is up to? Then you need to take this challenge and call them. There’s a pretty good chance they’re feeling the same way (except they didn’t read this post!). Unless of course you’re one of those SUPER AWESOME people who help share my content.
Incase you missed it yesterday, or you’re wondering what the heck you’re looking at, I launched a 31 day series in the month of March titled “31 Days of Challenging Questions” – follow the link to get up to speed. Enjoy and I’ll see you tomorrow!
ACTION ITEM: I don’t think anyone can be accused of being overly thankful. Take a moment out of your day and thank a person or two who wouldn’t see it coming. It will make their day better and your gratitude will not be forgotten.
While on a flight back from New York about a month ago, I was doing some thinking. I wanted to do something truly BIG on my blog for the month of March. The answer I settled on was 31 days of posts focused on the challenging questions I learned during the last year.
After 31 days of challenging questions and learning more about yourself, it will be terrific to look back at where you were when you started! As my good friend Juan Teran always says, with tremendous enthusiasm (in tribute to his friend Zig Ziglar), “See you at the top!”
ACTION ITEM: Why not you? Why can’t you start that new opportunity, get that raise, run that marathon? Take desire and turn it into action.
Why? Because life happens. Our lives aren’t rigid and they don’t happen in 30 minute intervals (even though every digital calendar ever created says so).
Time management feels about as fun as budgeting your entire month’s spending with real dollars and envelopes (yes I know people do this and I don’t mean to offend). Effective, yes. Fun, not a chance. Do you think people continue doing things that aren’t fun? Some may…most don’t.
I’m going to distill this down to something you can use immediately after reading this post. Think of a project or task you have on your “to-do list” but that doesn’t have a due date for a week or two. What do you do now?
The answer is: Everything but the task due in two weeks! The reason for this is there is no immediacy or priority associated to completing it today. So how can we change this?
If I have a big presentation, strategy, or concept I’m working on it can feel daunting. I have the end in mind of where I’d like to go, but the path to getting there is muddled with questions and idea euphoria. INSERT PARKINSON’S LAW.
Now instead of having two weeks to complete a project and investing 12 hours on the last day, you’ll have started your work and can break the project up into smaller and more achievable mini-projects. Your stress level will be greatly reduced and your finished product will reflect your commitment to start sooner.
ACTION ITEM: Think about a project you’re working on right now. Maybe you have a couple of them. Use Parkinson’s Law to your advantage and start with a short commitment now.
