by Helena Escalante | Goals, Mindset, Opportunity, Planning
TODAY’S IDEA:
“Plan for possibilities”
— From 168 Hours: You Have More Time Than You Think by Laura Vanderkam
Whenever we are about to embark on something, it’s natural to ponder all the “what ifs” as worst-case scenarios. We are trained to look at what could possibly go wrong, which is not necessarily bad (as long as we don’t get hung up on it) because it helps us organize and plan to avoid pitfalls.
However, we rarely stop and ponder the bright side of it: “what if everything comes out well, and even better?” Laura says it’s important to plan for possibilities:
“Lots of people ponder what they’d do if things went wrong. Try to spend an equal [amount of time] pondering what you’d do if things went right. If the CEO of your company called you into her office tomorrow and said she was so impressed with your work that she wanted to put you in charge of your dream project, do you know what you would ask for? If you sat next to your dream client on a flight or a literary agent in a bar, could you toss a casual pitch over peanuts?”
Think about it. Training your mind to consider positive possibilities will lead you to see all the doors that await to be opened by you and for you.
ACTION:
Take a moment to think of something that you would love to have happen to you/a project that you are working on. What would be your ideal, dream-come-true, fluffy-unicorn, cream-cheese-frosting-and-cherries-on-top outcome? Make a list. Plan for those possibilities: what part of that can you control? Don’t focus on serendipity because you cannot count on it. Focus instead on things that you can indeed do to be remarkable and to move closer to your goals. What are they? (Writing, speaking in public, launching a project, getting a new client, branding yourself better…) Make a plan over the next month to do one of these things, and the following month another, and another… soon you will see that you are advancing towards those possibilities and that when you put your mind, heart and action to it, they are within reach.
So what wonderful possibilities are there in your future? Let me know in the comments!
by Helena Escalante | Mindset, Planning, Productivity, Willpower
TODAY’S IDEA:
When you’re dreading doing something and simply can’t find the determination, mechanical action can propel you forward.
— From The Magic of Thinking Big by David J. Schwartz, Ph.D. (Read an excerpt here.)
We’ve all been there: we’re stuck. We have to do something and we simply can’t muster the will to do it. Whether it’s waking up early, working out, writing a report, calling someone, going somewhere… something is making us dread it and we want to put it off but we can’t, so we wait to make a decision, but we can’t make a decision… and time passes by… and, at best, we feel bad with ourselves but, at worst, there may be repercussions if we don’t take action. Ugh.
So what can you do to snap out of the funk immediately? Rather than wait for inspiration to strike or willpower to show up, simply take mechanical action. Put the alarm clock far away from your bed so that you have to get up (mechanical action) to turn it off (yes, I implemented this one, and apparently I’m not the only one that thinks this is a good idea, check out this alarm clock that runs away from you!). Pick up the phone and and start dialing; start putting on your socks followed by your running shoes; turn the computer on; start writing an outline of your document or presentation in a piece of paper; get in the car and put the keys in the ignition… That movement (mechanical action), no matter how small, is the push we sometimes need to get going.
ACTION:
Today is Sunday, and the leisure of the day can help look at the circumstances where we get stuck a bit more objectively and detached than when we are right in the midst of them. So this makes it a great day to think about those things that we dread on Mondays, or that we are dreading this particular week, or dreading for a project, or ______ (fill in your particulars here). Where are you stuck or where do you normally get stuck? What’s ahead of you? What do you need to get done? What kind of mechanical action will you take? Try it and let me know in the comments, I’d love to hear how you get unstuck!
by Helena Escalante | Goals, Networking, Planning, Productivity, Time
TODAY’S IDEA:
Be intentional with your networking efforts.
From Build Your Dream Network: Forging Powerful Relationships in a Hyper-Connected World by J. Kelly Hoey.
Networking… an activity that most people dread. Yet networking does NOT have to be dreadful and, on the contrary, it can be wonderful if you focus on making it intentional, meaningful and purposeful. The rules of networking are generosity and trust and, if we follow them, we’ll create meaningful connections.
Give yourself the opportunity to really connect with the people who can help you, and you will find a way to help them too, preferably before they help you. Goes without saying, but it’s very important to treat everybody kindly and respectfully. Be of service to them, offer something of value, enjoy their company if you can, celebrate their wins, open doors and make introductions for them, point them to a resource they need, or simply give them the gift of your enthusiasm and gratitude. Remember Zig Ziglar’s quote:
“You can have everything in life you want, if you will just help other people get what they want.”
Be intentional as to the people that you want to meet and “avoid random acts of networking.” Kelly Hoey advises to focus instead on “networking as a way to go about solving problems.” “People open doors, write checks, and extend opportunities—always have. Need something? Turn to your immediate, trusted network of friends for recommendations.”
Look back at a time when you first met the people who you now call friends, colleagues and acquaintances. How did you get to be where you are today in terms of a relationship with them? How long did it take? Solid relationships take time to build (months, years) and social media is no different. On the contrary, it’s where the principles of generosity and trust are of utmost importance nowadays as we tend to forget that behind every email and every social media account there is a person just like us.
ACTION:
Be intentional and make a plan for your networking efforts in the near future. Implement it and tweak as you go along until you are comfortable with it (and it becomes a win-win for both parties in the long run). Yes, your plan can be in the back of a napkin—it doesn’t have to be elaborate—the goal is to think this through so that you can take all the steps needed to make it happen. And by virtue of planning you’ll save lots of time and heartache. Here are some pointers:
- Who do you want to meet to reach a particular goal?
- What do you need to do to communicate and ultimately meet that person? (Meeting can be virtual.)
- Or who can help open doors to get you closer, or introduce you directly to that person?
- How can you show gratitude to the “door opener”?
- How can you be helpful or of service to the person you want to meet?
- When do you need to meet this person by? Is there enough time to build a relationship or do you need to take another route?
- How much time and effort are you willing to put into meeting and forging a relationship with this new person? (The answer will dictate what kind of relationship you can have, ranging from an email, to a friendship, to a job, etc.)
Let me know if you have any questions in the comments below, I’ll be happy to answer them and help you with your plan. Best of luck with your networking!
by Helena Escalante | Mindset, Opportunity, Planning, Productivity, Time
TODAY’S IDEA:
When an opportunity presents itself, it’s either “Hell, yeah!” or “NO.”
— From Anything You Want: 40 Lessons for a New Kind of Entrepreneur by Derek Sivers
This idea comes has quickly become one of my favorites. It’s very simple, but powerful:
“When deciding whether to do something, if you feel anything less than “Wow! That would be amazing! Absolutely! Hell, yeah!” then say no.”
By operating from this stand point, you will ensure that you do not overcommit or commit to things that you’d really rather not do simply because you didn’t want to disappoint the person who asked you for help…
“When you say no to most things, you leave room in your life to throw yourself completely into that rare thing that makes you say, “Hell, yeah!”
Be very careful and vigilant with your time, because it’s one of the finite resources that we have! Want to know how to make more time? Yesterday’s idea is very helpful.
ACTION:
Examine your commitments. Which ones are a “hell, yeah!”? Which ones will you get rid of, or perhaps diminish/soften the commitment? This exercise was a great eye-opener for me, I’d love to hear how it goes for you! Please let me know in the comments.
by Helena Escalante | Goals, Planning, Productivity, Time
TODAY’S IDEA:
Create a not-to-do list.
— From Finish: Give Yourself the Gift of Done by Jon Acuff.
In his very funny and witty style, Jon Acuff call this “Choose what to bomb.” We all have 24 hours in a day and the truth is that whenever we say “yes” to doing something, that means that we are saying “no” to something else. It’s that simple.
However, if you’re a people pleaser like me, this gnaws at your soul because you try to do everything. Sorry to break it to you but you CAN’T do it all. “The only way to accomplish a new goal is to feed it your most valuable resource: time. And what we never like to admit is that you don’t just give time to something, you take it from something else. To be good at one thing you have to be bad at something else.”
Being specific about what we are going to be bad at is called “Strategic Incompetence.” Is there something about your life or business that you can put on hold temporarily or give up permanently so that you can free up time for your goals?
My friend Lisa Guida also shared with me this idea of the not-to-do list a while back, and now that I see a similar concept in Jon’s book, I’m putting it into practice.
Here’s my list of major not-to-do’s:
- I don’t watch TV shows (but I do watch a movie every now and then with my husband, as that is something that we both enjoy).
- I don’t do other social media than Linked In, Twitter, and Facebook.
- I don’t iron clothes. (Long live the cleaners!)
- I avoid meetings as much as I can. I always try to find an alternative to attending a meeting (although I don’t always succeed, and yes, once in a while—when well run—they may be helpful and informative, but for the most part I find them to be a waste of time.)
And this last point brings me to a variation of this idea that Jon mentions: “If [saying no] makes you feel uncomfortable, or if stopping an activity is not possible, simplify instead.” Sometimes it’s just not realistic to avoid or get rid altogether of certain things/activities/people. Can you simplify? Can you do away with less?
I’m also thinking that on our daily to-do lists, we can add a not-to-do section with a few daily no’s, or daily simplifications, such as, no Twitter today, or no Twitter until 7 pm, or no Twitter except during lunchtime.
ACTION:
Define 3 things that will go in your not-to-do list, or find a way to simplify them. What did you decide to bomb? Why? Let me know in the comments!
by Helena Escalante | Goals, Planning, Willpower
TODAY’S IDEA:
Will power lowers/depletes at the end of the day and needs to be recharged.
— Many books talk about the results of the studies around this concept. Read more about this here and here.
Several fascinating studies have found out that willpower is like a muscle, and that after resisting many temptations—big and small—it fatigues throughout the day. “If you’ve ever willed yourself to be diplomatic with an infuriating colleague or forced a smile through your in-laws’ extended visit, you’ve probably discovered that social interactions often demand self-control. Indeed, research shows that interacting with others and maintaining relationships can deplete willpower.” (Source.)
Why is this important to know? Because when you are trying to reach your goals that include resisting something (i.e. going on a diet and resisting dessert, or staying positive as you collaborate on a project with negative colleague, or if you have Mr. Picky Splithairs as a client…) you need to schedule those activities for times when you have ample willpower and/or allow time to “recharge” your willpower before and after the event where you’ll find yourself resisting.
ACTION:
Figure out the times and situations that make you deplete your reserves of resistance faster, and make a plan (doesn’t have to be elaborate) to avoid those situations altogether if you can, or recharge your “willpower reserves” before and after the depleting event. Remember that YOU set the rules here, so no worries if your ritual for recharging sounds weird, if it works for you, that’s all you need!
Let me know your plans in the comments below, I’d love to learn what works for you!
