The Power of Procrastination, part 2 of 4

In part 1 I talked about some of the reasons people procrastinate. Here's a tip to STOP procrastinating -

Tell yourself good stories.

Be aware of what you're saying to yourself. Procrastination is a learned behavior and is reinforced by what we say to our self and our environment. We create our environment.

More Quick tips -

1. Go through the list in part 1 and identify the real reason for procrastinating

2. Find the right accountability partner (Achieving Great Results Choice #5)

3. Reframe your limiting beliefs (we all have them)

4. Prioritize what needs to be done (read First Things First and Getting Things Done)

5. Put blinders on. Focus. Stop noticing the kitties (eliminate distractions and diversions)

6. Remove clutter. Clean up your the environment your working in. Don't let this be a diversion, just remove the clutter.

7. Adjust your standards. Don't be a perfectionist. Any-thing-worth-doing-is-worth-doing-poorly-until-you-can-do-it-well.

8. Play to your strengths. Period.

9. It's not a bit deal. Just take one bite-at-a-time. Don't make the things you have to do bigger than life.

10. Give up. Give something up to get something done.


To that end.....
 

2/22/2014 - Be World Famous

The Power of Procrastination, part 1 of 4

We all procrastinate. Fundamentally, procrastination is a decision one makes, consciously or unconsciously, to delay getting into action due to some underlying roadblock, diversion, fear or concern.

Some people are naturally starters while others are finishers. In either case, procrastination can cause problems. Persistent procrastination can drain one’s energy and result in nagging feelings of guilt, diminished self-confidence, missed opportunities and anxiety. 

Procrastination is common reason for performance problems in the workplace, and persistent procrastination can restrict one’s career progression or even pay raises. Moreover, the cumulative effect of procrastination on an individual and organization can negatively impact the bottom line, considering today’s fast paced business climate and the need to continually improve the organization’s products and services.

So, why do we procrastinate?

Reality, thinking, changing

I've come across some interesting numbers the past few months (you can Google for many references)...

- we receive 20,000 bits of data per day through what we see and hear. That's more in one week than someone in 1900 received in a lifetime.

- we have 60,000 thoughts per day.

- 90% of our thoughts are repetitive.

I'm changing every day, you're changing every day. Purposefully, or not, our "reality" is changing and yet, we don't naturally want to change. Our subconscious mind wants to maintain today's reality. The subconscious doesn't know right or wrong, only "is." 

We change our reality through spaced-repetition, through new familiarities, and growth. By receiving all these bits of data, and if that data is random (as most is), our REALITY is changing towards the collective sum of all that data.

To change purposefully though is different. We purposefully feed our conscious and subconscious with WHAT WE WANT IT TO BE FED.

Whether you ask for it or not, who gives you advice?

Your potential is determined by those closest to you - John Maxwell

We all have an inner circle of people who impact us (good or bad). 

We also have "spheres of influence" and we should be very careful about how we allow them to blend together. 

I've learned to be intentional and mindful of who I let impact me on a continuous basis (inner circle). I'm influenced regularly by things that go on around me, but I want to limit that impact as much as possible. 

Thus, I read and listen purposefully and thoughtfully, I journal about my thoughts and asked God to direct me. Some of those I go to for help I've never personally met , but I trust them much more than than those I have.

I plan events put on by trusted sources where I'll be introduced to new speakers, more materials.

I pay attention to who I let and need in my inner circle.

Why is this important?

Because our "potential is determined by those closest to us."

How do you look?

When you change the way you look at people, 

the people you look at change - Wayne Dyer

That's an incredible statement "When you change the way you look at people, the people you look at change."

Think about it....I change the way I look at people and they change! Isn't that GREAT.

If I want people to change, I just need to change the way I look at them.

What a great lesson.

To that end....start looking at people differently.

Potential

1. Write the word on a piece of paper
2. Put a question mark after it
3. Leave it laying where you can see it every day

What is your potential?

What self-limiting belief is keeping you from moving towards your potential?

What to do when goal setting doesn't work - Part 3

Putting my thoughts and practices about goal setting into writing hasn't been easy! Especially since I really can't stand "goal-setting." 

But, as we all (should) know, goal-setting works. For me, it's the small goals, the things-I-get-done-today that is the most important. Not tomorrow (there's a Bible verse about that). Not yesterday (other than a quick review, evaluation and correction). 

Three questions people are asking about you

You can't make the other fellow feel important in

your presence if you secretly feel that he is a nobody.

- Les Giblin, former National Salesman of the Year

In the critical read Everyone Communicates, Few Connect author and leadership expert John Maxwell tells the reader (pages 37 to 42)...

"You must be able to communicate that attitude of selflessness. How do you do that? I believe you do it by answering three questions that people always ask themselves when interacting with others.....

1. Do you care for me?

2. Can you help me?

3. Can I trust you?"

The next time you're talking/prospecting/networking, or being talked to, prospected or networked......well, think about these three questions.

Don't we all want to be cared for, helped and trusted?

To that end....start something new today. Start caring, helping and building trust at a new level and feel the communication move into connection.

Today's Word is Laughter