You are currently browsing the tag archive for the ‘goals’ tag.
I finished reading my first book on a Nook last week–the weighty 642-page biography of Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson. (I want to re-thank Tessa McGovern for inviting me to her echook event at Barnes & Noble a few months back. It was there that I won the raffle for a color Nook.) I was riveted to every word about this genius–the good, the bad, and the ugly. Let me tell you, there was plenty of ugly. But that’s for another blog post.
One of the neat things about the Nook is that you can write notes and highlight sections. I didn’t use that capability until I hit page 464 where Tim Cook, whom Jobs tapped to replace him at Apple, stated “There is no one better at turning off the noise that is going on around him…That allows him to focus on a few things and say no to many things. Few people are really good at that.”
With the you-know-what approaching (that “h” word), I’m noticing increasing frenzy and a lack of focus wherever I go. Some of the questions I get from clients and webinar participants are based around too many goals and choices. These are good questions, and I’m sympathetic. I, too, can put way too much on my plate.
But, I’m with Steve Jobs on this one. Pick one or two projects to put all of your focus on, knowing that good ideas will be there when you’re ready for them.
At a writing workshop I attended years ago, one participant told the instructor that she had hundreds of ideas for book titles. I felt jealousy surge up in me as I sat next to this prolific idea person. The teacher’s response surprised and satisfied me. I’m paraphrasing, but she said something like, “It’s a cop-out to keep thinking of ideas. The hard work is to sit down with just ONE and commit to it. Writing is about writing, not about thinking of titles.” Ouch, and aha!
My advice for when you’re feeling scattered? Choose one thing to focus on for a few hours until it’s complete. Turn off the phone. Don’t look at email or social media, and commit your time to the work in front of you. Complete that one thing, whether it’s wrapping gifts, planning your goals for 2012 or re-writing your homepage. It’s better to complete one thing than to get 1/2 way through a dozen things.
Like this:
In the 10 minutes before my Mastermind Group session started a few weeks ago, my clients were chatting among themselves. The conversation was about me and what happens when others ask them about “working with Jane”.
I was all ears.
There was a lot of energy in the room as they compared notes. I heard that at a recent EWN event someone said to my Mastermind Group participant, “I hear she’s really expensive.”
My client: “Yes, but she’s worth it. This is what I’ve done since I began working with her…It’s changed my life.”
EWN Networker: “I hear she really pushes you.”
My client: “She does, and that’s why I’ve gotten to where I want to be.”
“It’s only pushing if you’re resisting.”
Then I got an email from a past workshop attendee and Mastermind Group client, Jamie Cat Callan, who further captured the experience:
I’ve been writing and publishing since 1978. But I was always the “ARTISTE.” I never publicized or thought about the business aspect of things. I didn’t care about making a living. I was all yin energy.
And then your workshop gave me a big dose of yang! Seriously, you made me understand (and the mastermind group of women) that it’s just plain foolish and unproductive to only take care of the art and neglect the business.
So I do believe that in a roundabout way, I’m on Page Six of The New York Post because you gave me that much-needed little boot in the pants!
A funny thing happens in my business. Every so often a client who left a session totally energized, on fire to reach her goals and thriving in her newfound commitment to her own success, will approach me a week or two later a bit downtrodden.
“My husband thinks that looking at office space in xyz town will change our lives too much.”
“My sister-in-law told me she thought it was too high-stakes for me to invite the press to my art opening.”
“My mentor says I’m paying the graphic designer too much for my new logo.”
Thanks for sharing, Folks.
In my Create Your Own Future workshops and retreats, and with coaching clients as well, I include a proviso: Be careful who you share your dreams with. Often and surprisingly, the very people we think would be the most supportive are the ones who may subtly sabotage the dream. They don’t do it intentionally.
However, when you’re on your path, working towards your vision, the status quo is going to get rocked. Family members and close friends may not want to have that altered. The way they create “Don’t Change!” will look different in each case. But the effect on you, the visionary, can be devastating.
The solution? Share your go-up goals, as Zig Ziglar calls them, only with those on an equally committed path to success–your goal buddies, Mastermind Group colleagues, coach and business allies. The others? When they ask about what you’re working on, just smile and say, “You’ll see…”
I’ve been working with a new client for less than two months. In her Discovery Session we determined that her dream–her Big A agenda–is to unleash her creativity. Given her corporate job in the financial sector, you can see the stretch that could entail. The more immediate goal for her was to create an exit strategy from that position.
As I do with all of my clients, I requested that she begin to make time for her creativity while she worked the day job. Her energy level began to escalate, her gremlins got quieter and a few mini-miracles began occurring in her life. She began spending time in her creative space finding expression for her ideas in fabric. She connected with a woman who could teach her the sewing techniques she wanted to learn. The perfect roommate situation appeared–someone who would share part of her living costs, but spend only one night a week actually on the premises.
Then, this week, came the biggie. She was taken aside by a higher-up at her company who whispered that a compensation package was coming her way. She’d be able to leave the company with extended pay for six months.
You may call it a coincidence, but when I labeled it a miracle, she agreed.
It may be possible to divide the world into those who do and don’t believe in The Secret. Starting with my marriage, we fall into the two different camps. I believe that if you can conceive and believe it–it being anything you want in your life, you can achieve it. Thank you, Earl Nightingale.
My husband sits squarely on the non-believing side. However, he does hear me out every once in a while. I’ve explained the concept of carrying around your goals, in writing, with you on a daily basis. That act alone has made enormous differences for me personally as I continue to meet my goals.
So this morning, after having had many frustrating outings on the golf course, he asked me again about this “thing” I do. I said, “Why don’t you write on a piece of paper, ‘I am a scratch golfer.’ and carry it around for the next 30 days?”
Clearly that was not going to happen. He said, “Why don’t you carry it around for me?!”
It doesn’t work that way.
I believe that doing the work of fulfilling your life’s goals and purpose is a radical act filled with scary moments–What if I actually get what I want?! He didn’t pursue the conversation any further.
Being aware of The Secret, for me, it’s the only way.
