THE SUCCESS METHOD
9 Simple Steps to a
CHAPTER INDEX
Page# 5 Acknowledgements 6 Forward 7 13
Chapter 1: An Honest Assessment. Exercise #1: Commitment Commitment
15
Chapter 2: Time: Is It Slipping Through Your Fingers? Exercise #2: Time vs. Priorities Part I: Tracking a Typical Typical Week Part II: Where Does It All Go? Chart: Sample Week Breakdown (Pie Chart) Exercise #3: Fork in the Road Road
20 20 29 37 43 45 46 50
Chapter 3: Priorities: The Toughest Questions You’ve Never Answered Exercise #4: You Deserve It Exercise #5: Prioritizing Life Life
Page# Chapter 6, cont’d 103 Chart: What’s Your Time Worth? (Hourly) 110 Exercise #10: Determining Your Leisure Rate 122 Chart: The Worry Wheel
125 Chapter 7: Stop Creating Your Own Stress! 127 Exercise #11: Stress Assessment 142
Chapter 8: Massive Action and Focus, Followed by More Massive Action and Focus 149 Exercise #12: No More Excuses 151 Exercise #13: Massive Action Begins Now
153
Chapter 9: Making Minor Course Corrections to Stay on Target 157 Poem: Don’t Quit 159 Exercise #14: Tracking Your Progress 164 Exercise #15: Personal Inventory
170
Extra Stuff
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
For my best friend and soul mate Andy, who supports me far beyond the limits of a reasonable person. In exchange, I offer all my love, all my life. For Sally, that she may grow to love, learn and live the balanced life. For my sister Susan and my closest friends (you know who you are) who encourage me to fearlessly think bigger and BE greater, especially when the stakes are high and I’m scared. For God, who provides the message in unlimited supply.
FORWARD
“Many people die with their music still in them. Why is this so? Too often it is because they are always getting ready to live. Before they know it, time runs out.”
– Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.
I developed the information in The Success Method™ years ago. It is only now that you have the opportunity to read it, because the words have been suppressed for years—not by publishers, not by editors, not by censors, but by yours truly. I wasted years of my life, denying the story inside me, making excuses why it would never work, why no one would buy it, why it was pointless to even try. But every so often, it would come to the surface and calmly demand: WRITE ME. Do you have a dream like that?
Chapter 1: An Honest Assessment
Ancient Wisdom: “When the student is ready, the teacher appears.”
What exactly are you searching for right now?
It’s kind of funny to think that I wrote this manual at a particular time, and you came looking for this same information at a particular time. Well, not so much funny as intriguing. Think about it, you chose this particular product at this particular moment for a very specific reason, known only to you. Though the reason may seem fuzzy now, it will become crystal clear by the time you complete this entire Method. You bought this because you want success….or so you say. I’m sure many people will read the first few pages and then put the Method down forever when they reach
Are you familiar with the “80/20 Rule”? It applies to many people-related events, and The Success Method is no exception. The 80/20 rule is derived from the Pareto principle, which demonstrates that in many cases, 80% of all consequences are a result of 20% of the causes. In other words, 80% of success stories from The Success Method will likely stem from only 20% of those who purchase the product. In fact, it’s likely that 80% of people who buy The Success Method will never finish it, or may never even crack the cover. Does that number surprise you? Some industry experts claim the actual percentage may be much higher. The Method is not written for the 80% who are not committed to a total life makeover. It’s written for you personally, who is taking a stake right now in your personal future. No one can help you until you are ready to commit to your own self-improvement. The Method is written for the 20% (or less) who will commit, follow through, and will consequently reap great rewards. Which category will you choose? The outcome rests
The title of this chapter is “An Honest Assessment,” because it’s important to take a look at where you are and where you’re headed before we begin the program. Did you take the time to find a pen and write down your answer? If so, were you completely honest with yourself in your answer? If no, why not? This manual is for you, and only you. If success and balance are truly what you seek, it is imperative that you complete the exercises with the naked truth; otherwise, you will cheat yourself out of top-notch results. Here is an opportunity for you to complete the exercise again, with total honesty this time. Why did you choose The Success Method™? __________________________________________ __________________________________________
important to consider what you expect to gain from the Success Method™. What does success mean to you?
I invite you to spend the next few minutes reflecting on why you’re seeking success. Focus on what you want, not what you don’t want. For example, what you don’t want might sound something like this: “When I have success, I won’t be as stressed, I won’t feel as tired at the end of every day, and I won’t be depressed any more.” You’ll achieve better results by rephrasing it to say, “When I achieve success, my life will improve because
3. ____________________________________________ ______________________________________________ Now close your eyes and imagine what it will be like to have achieved a sense of success in your life, when the three improvements you listed become true. Make sure you repeat this step every day during your first week, and any time throughout the nine weeks when you’re feeling like you want to quit. Are you wondering what it will take to be successful with The Success Method™? The Method works, period. However, the system only works to the extent that you are willing to work it. To be successful with this ninestep program, you simply must make the decision to: • • •
Study one chapter per week for nine weeks. Read each chapter at least twice. Reflect on what you’ve read and how it applies to your life.
rewards you experience will help you understand and appreciate the discipline that was required for you to complete the program. If you didn’t take the time to fill in the blanks to the three questions above, you’ll have another chance to do it tomorrow when you repeat this chapter. Of course, you can always add new answers that may surface in your mind. You will notice that we have included lots of “space” in the manual, so feel free to make notes or reminders in the margin. It’s a great idea to highlight any quotes or insights that you find particularly useful as you work your way through The Success Method™. It’s time to test your commitment now, with your first “official” exercise. Let’s see how you do. EXERCISE #1: COMMITMENT
and resolve to balance your life by following the steps outlined for you in The Success Method. Remember to read your answers to the previous questions before performing the exercise each day. Some of you may already be wondering why you have to stay on this one short chapter for a full seven days. You want to skip ahead to “the good stuff.” It is essential that you trust the process and get in touch with your reasons for completing the program. This will make your end result far more attainable. Statement of Commitment:
I hereby commit to read The Success Method all the way to the end. I will complete each exercise fully and wholeheartedly as often as recommended. I will complete one chapter per week for the next nine weeks. I am committed to making lasting changes in my life, to better myself and my world.
Chapter 2: Time: Is It Slipping Through Your Fingers?
“Like sands through the hourglass, so are the days of our lives.”
—“The Days of Our Lives” Television Soap Opera What a depressing way to view life! Unfortunately, if you’re currently going through life at full-speed without any sense of balance, you probably feel as though time is slipping through your fingers just like sand. In this chapter, we’ll discover where the time goes when it slips out of your grasp. Think about this: How many people truly know what is important in their life? You can poll your family and friends with these two questions: 1. What is the single most important thing in your life?
it frequently in my weblog and I tend to go in-depth about the topic during seminars and personal coaching sessions. Just the other day, I was coaching an amazing woman who was literally almost at her breaking point. She said she felt trapped in her current situation, because she was stuck in such a nasty work situation. When I asked her the second question (about whether she was spending her time appropriately based on her life’s #1 priority) the answer wasn’t just no it was “hell no!” No wonder she felt paralyzed—when your answers to these two basic questions are incongruent, you can only feel stressed out, stuck, trapped, disappointed, disillusioned, frustrated and yes, paralyzed. The fact is, most people don’t spend the majority of their time on what is truly most important to them – they are too busy worrying about the future, living in the past, or blaming someone else for their current situation. The sad truth is that many people are missing out on the one area where we all have true control:
1. What is the single most important thing in your life? ______________________________________ ______________________________________
2. Is the majority of your time each day devoted directly to what you answered in question #1? _____ YES
_____ NO
The results of the following exercise may surprise you. You may think, “Wait, that’s not important to me at all. Why do I spend so much time on it?” Excellent question! We’ll get to the answer in a minute, but first things first – let’s do the exercise. The following seven-day exercise will show you whether
Have you ever started a diet where you were supposed to write down everything you ate? At some point, you probably found yourself sneaking a bite of this or a taste of that. Naturally, you didn’t write those down, because crumbs don’t count, right? The same effect occurs with money. If a person is asked to track every single penny as it’s spent, even the most meticulous record-keeper will be surprised to observe the way his or her “carrying cash” disappears on frivolous expenses or impulse buys. Time works in much the same way, as we are about to demonstrate. Whether you’re talking about a diet, a budget or a timeline, it’s true that the occasional variation from your plan will have minimal impact. However, the continued repetition over time can develop seriously adverse results. After all, no one gets fat or broke overnight. It is always a result of the accumulation of seemingly harmless or insignificant choices.
EXERCISE #2: TIME vs. PRIORITIES Part I: Tracking a Typical Week
For the next seven days, use the following time logs to record everything you do and how long it takes you to do it. If it’s not convenient or practical to carry this manual with you for the next seven days, you can either photocopy the tracking pages, or print blank logs from our website. You’ll find the URL in the back of this workbook. It’s best to update your logs at least three times per day, and meal times may serve as an excellent reminder. NOTE: Resist the urge to wait until the end of the day to update the entire log because in doing so, you are sure to forget or “conveniently remember” certain aspects of the day. To simplify the timekeeping process, round up or round down to the nearest fifteen (15) minute interval. (It may be far too cumbersome and time-consuming to track exact minutes.)
SAMPLE TIME LOG
DAY 3
DAY: Tuesday
DATE: 8/29
Time Start 10PM 6AM 6:45AM 7AM 8AM 11AM 12N 1PM 1:30PM 2:45PM 3PM 4:30PM 5:30PM 7:00PM 7:40PM
Time Stop 6AM 6:45AM 7AM 8AM 11AM 12N 1PM 1:30PM 2:45PM 3PM 4:30PM 5:30PM 7:00PM 7:40PM 9PM
Total Time
Description of Activity Sleep Shower/dress Breakfast Drive to work meetings - comp plan Work on Jones Report Lunch Returned phone calls Payroll Called the kids Meeting - Jones case Meeting w/boss Drive home Dinner Played with kids
Cat
DAILY TIME LOG: DAY 1 DAY 1
DAY: _______________
DATE: _____
Time Start
Time Stop
Total Time
Description of Activity
Cat
DAILY TIME LOG: DAY 2 DAY 2
DAY: _______________
DATE: _____
Time Start
Time Stop
Total Time
Description of Activity
Cat
DAILY TIME LOG: DAY 3 DAY 3
DAY: _______________
DATE: _____
Time Start
Time Stop
Total Time
Description of Activity
Cat
DAILY TIME LOG: DAY 4 DAY 4
DAY: _______________
DATE: _____
Time Start
Time Stop
Total Time
Description of Activity
Cat
DAILY TIME LOG: DAY 5 DAY 5
DAY: _______________
DATE: _____
Time Start
Time Stop
Total Time
Description of Activity
Cat
DAILY TIME LOG: DAY 6 DAY 6
DAY: _______________
DATE: _____
Time Start
Time Stop
Total Time
Description of Activity
Cat
DAILY TIME LOG: DAY 7 DAY 7
DAY: _______________
DATE: _____
Time Start
Time Stop
Total Time
Description of Activity
Cat
Congratulations! You have just completed the most tedious exercise in the entire Method, and it’s all downhill from here. Take a moment to pat yourself on the back for keeping your commitment to do all the exercises. It’s important to acknowledge our successes, and the promises we keep. EXERCISE #2: TIME vs. PRIORITIES Part II: Where Does It All Go?
Go back through your completed logs and subtotal the amount of time spent per activity on each day. Once again, here is our sample log: SAMPLE TIME LOG DAY 3
DAY: TUESDAY
DATE: 8/29
Time Start 10PM
Time Stop 6AM
Total Time 8:00
Description of Activity Sleep
Cat
For the next step, review each day’s log and use the following information to categorize each activity in the final column, appropriately labeled “Cat.” Column Five: Category Key Use the letters A through G to indicate the most appropriate category (Personal Essentials, Personal Benefits, Productive Work, Non-Productive Work, Relaxation, Donations and Escape) for each activity, as defined by the followings:
A – Personal Essentials. Essentials. This category includes time during your daily routine when you meet essential needs like bathing, dressing, personnel hygiene, eating, sleeping, etc. B – Personal Benefits. Benefits. Here, include time spent taking care of yourself, beyond mere survival needs, such as: exercising, inspirational reading, meditation, prayer, massage, quality time with loved ones, etc. Don’t be alarmed if this category is
D – Non-productive Non-productive Work. This category would include commute time, useless meetings, brown-nosing, coffee breaks, non-business lunches, re-organizing your desk, “shooting the breeze” with co-workers, etc. For a stay-at-home parent, this could include activities like excessive cleaning, organizing sock drawers, alphabetizing the pantry, coupon-clipping, window shopping, sitting in traffic while running errands, etc. E – Relaxation. This category is fairly self-explanatory and can include activities such as leisurely walks, golf, swimming for fun, playing Frisbee, catnaps, games, reading for pleasure, fun times with loved ones, hobbies, attending a class for fun, and any other leisure sport or recreational activity. F – Donations. Donations. Use the Donations category for volunteer work, helping others in need, PTA, church work, and any other activity where you are donating your time in some capacity.
SAMPLE TIME TIME LOG DAY 3
DAY: TUESDAY
DATE: 8/30
Time Start 10PM 10P M 6AM 6:45AM 7AM 8AM 11AM 12N 1PM 1P M 1:30PM 1:30 PM 2:45PM 3PM 3P M 4:30PM 5:30PM 7:00PM 7:40PM 7:40 PM 9PM 9P M
Time Stop 6AM 6A M 6:45AM 7AM 7A M 8AM 11AM 11A M 12N 1PM 1P M 1:30PM 2:45PM 3PM 3P M 4:30PM 5:30PM 7:00PM 7:40PM 9PM 11PM 11P M
Total Time Cat 8:00 A 0:45 A 0:15 A 1:00 D 3:00 C 1:00 C 1:00 D 0:30 C 1:15 C 0:15 D 1:30 D 1:00 D 1:30 D 0:45 A 1:15 E 2:00 G
Description of Activity Sleep Sl eep Shower/dress Shower/ dress Breakfast Breakfa st Drivee to work Driv meetings meetin gs - comp plan Work on Jones Repor Reportt Lunch w/Berni w/Berniee Returned phone call callss Payroll Called Call ed the kids Meeting - Jones case Meeting Mee ting w/boss Drive home Dinner Played with kids Watched TV till bedtime
complaining about the new accounting guidelines with Bernie, so we took the liberty of counting the whole hour as non-productive work time. Similarly, we designated the afternoon activity “called the kids” as Category D because it nearly turned into a shouting match over what TV program they were going to watch. Context is everything here. It’s important to use your own judgment when categorizing your activities. For example, attending church services may be considered a Personal Benefit to one individual, yet it may be better suited as a Donation or Escape to another person. Because YOU are the person living YOUR life, only YOU know the best way to categorize each activity. If you get stuck on any one line, you can either go with the first category that springs to mind, or just go with your gut feeling. Either way, just be honest so you can glean the maximum benefit from the exercise.
0:30 = 0.5 hours; fifteen minutes = 0:15 = 0.25 hours; forty-five minutes = 0:45 = 0.75 hours. Don’t worry, this is the only math you’ll be required to do in this entire workbook! SAMPLE SUMMARY BY CATEGORY
A: Personal Essentials B: Personal Benefits C: Productive Work D: Non-Productive E: Relaxation F: Donations G: Escapes
9:45 = 9.75 0 5:45 = 5.75 6:15 = 6.25 1:15 = 1.25 0 2:00 = 2.00
In the sample, for category A we added 8 hours + 0.75 + 0.25 + 0.75 = 9.75 total hours. We did this for each category, and only the totals are listed above. Simple, right? Now let’s add up your categories and complete the summary by category on the next page. This reflects your
D: Non-Productive: E: Relaxation: F: Donations: G: Escapes: TOTAL HOURS:
Are you surprised by your results? Many people report feeling alarmed or disappointed by the high number of non productive work hours (Category D), and the low number of personal benefits hours (Category B). Is this summary how you expected your typical week to break down? YES
NO
Now turn back to page eighteen (18) where you listed the single most important thing in your life. According to your time logs, how much time are you spending in that area during a typical week?
____________________ hours
Now you are able to draw the following conclusion: Is the way you’re spending your time congruent with your top priority?
YES
NO
If you answered no, don’t worry. Continue through The Success Method to learn how to restructure your time in order to align your time with your priority. Even if you
By now it may be becoming clear why your life seems to lack balance and order, and why your stress levels are so high. It’s no wonder you feel overwhelmed—you are most likely spending too much time on the wrong activities! Doesn’t it make sense that a successful life would be one spent according to your priorities? Now list below all the reasons why your life is structured the way it is, including all your justifications that explain why you “must” do the things you are doing. List every reason you can muster as to why you’re stuck where you are and your situation can’t be changed:
You might want to sit down, because what happens next will probably shock you.
Everything you just wrote is a bunch of baloney.
That’s right – I’m serious. You call them reasons but they are really rationalizations. Your “justifications” are nothing more than excuses. You say “but I have to do this or that” and I say no, you only “have to” pay taxes and die. And some would argue that the tax-thing is negotiable. YOU HAVE A CHOICE.
Every day when you wake up, you have a choice as to how you will spend that day. You can choose how you will spend every minute of every hour of every day.
I believe it’s because change is uncomfortable. If it was, you wouldn’t be reading this right now. You would you just do what needed to be done, you wouldn’t need me to kick you in the butt to get you to do it (and neither would the people I coach). But if that were the case, I suppose I’d be out of work. When I started to recognize this about people—that they don’t like to change, that they feel more comfortable hiding behind their excuses—that’s when I realized I could help people who really wanted help. That’s why I created the Success Method, and that’s why I enjoy oneon-one coaching and dynamic seminars. When I witness someone having a breakthrough and I know that I helped them to achieve that—that is absolutely the best reward I could possibly receive. It makes all the long nights of writing, the endless phone conversations, and all the long traveling days seem completely worthwhile. I have to admit, when the person I helped is a parent, I feel twice as excited, because I
Right now, you’re able to read this and take steps to change your life because I was tired of accepting my own excuses, and I finally mustered enough courage to start doing what I was called to do. Imagine if I had continued to hide behind my “validations” and “justifications”— how many women and men (and children) might still be stuck, because I didn’t have the courage to help myself in order to help them. Fortunately, I did have the courage and I continue to help people achieve amazing results and create incredible lives for themselves and their families. You have the ability to do the same—in fact, you can do anything you want to do. Anyway, that’s enough about me. Let’s talk about you and all the excuses you wrote down a couple of pages back. Are you still buying them, or are you starting to see that it’s all “junk thinking”? Take a look at other successful people who succeeded against all odds. Did Lance Armstrong say “why bother” when he got cancer? Did Christopher Reeves give up after his
of thinking was keeping her stuck instead of moving her forward. Uh-oh, I can hear it now. Here comes your next excuse: “But they were special and I am just an ordinary person.” Sorry, I’m not buying that one either. The only difference between ordinary people and extraordinary people is that little something extra – the willingness to strive for more.
We are all capable of being extraordinary.
Yep, even you. Especially you. Let’s face it, if your goal is to remain ordinary, why on earth would you have bought this Method? Take a look around you and you’ll find people who are stressed out, off-balance and (gasp!) ordinary. Weren’t you seeking a better life—an extraordinary life—when you decided to purchase this Success Method? Didn’t you have at least a ray of hope
exact same thing over and over again while expecting different results. Are you content to remain ordinary and keep doing it your way, even though the results aren’t what you really want? Or are you willing to get uncomfortable and try something different which may lead to a better way? It’s time to ask yourself: are you brave enough to keep reading? Will you have the integrity to keep the commitment you made to continue on this nine-week journey? Exactly how important is what you listed as the single most important thing in your life? Hopefully it matters enough for you to take a chance and continue this journey. Either way, it’s completely your choice.
EXERCISE #3: FORK IN THE ROAD
Choose only one:
My style in this Method may challenge you to make
Chapter 3: Priorities: The Toughest Questions You’ve Never Answered
“The indispensable first step to getting the things you want out of life is this: decide what you want.”
—Ben Stein, Actor and Author
Now would be a good time to stop and pat yourself on the back for a job well done. Many people will buy The Success Method yet never bother to do anything with it. Some will begin reading, only to give up at some point because it’s too hard, it takes too much time, it’s silly, it doesn’t make sense, or any other lame excuse. YOU, on the other hand, have persevered up to this point, and you deserve credit for keeping your commitment to yourself. Congratulations!
EXERCISE #4: YOU DESERVE IT
Speaking of keeping commitments, remember when you agreed to do ALL the exercises in the Method? That
For added impact, repeat this exercise using the first and third persons. In other words, continue to look in the mirror as you speak in the first person: I deserve a successful life. My friends and family deserve to experience the best of me. I deserve to be happy.
Finally, repeat the exercise in the third person, substituting your name in place of each blank:
______________ deserves a successful life.
______________’s friends and family deserve to
At first, you may feel silly doing this. That’s OK, do it anyway. You committed to do ALL the exercises, so don’t skip this one. Repeat this exercise every day for one week. You deserve it! Keep track of your progress with this chart: Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Day 7
If you choose not to do the exercise, you might as well put this whole Method down right now, or give it away to someone else who is willing to take commitment seriously. If you won’t do this simple exercise, how will you complete the tougher ones ahead? Let’s continue talking about choices.
If each day is a series of choices, learn to be a picky eater.
thinking, you will soon make choices based on your desired outcomes. Personal Choices
I used to think I always had to have everything under control. I was what you might call a “control freak.” I thought I had to be all things to all people to get attention and to be important. I can now tell you from personal experience that it’s very hard to control everything at once. The end result is a lot of stress and heartache. Add some depression to the mix when you realize you’re not perfect. But remember that no one is perfect all the time. I’ve learned to accept that, and consequently I’ve changed my thinking to focus on what I can do (instead of trying to do it all, even the stuff that really doesn’t matter.) The result is that now I’ve become unstoppable! Strange as it may sound, I’m actually glad I used to be the way I was. It now offers me a unique perspective when I’m dealing with “control freaks.” Not only was it
to share your information, which I don’t recommend.). It’s time to be totally honest. The problem with most selfhelp stuff is it only works for people who can be totally honest about where they are and what they want. Unfortunately, most people have an inherent sense of guilt about wanting things for themselves – they are raised to believe it is more honorable to “do for others” than to take care of oneself. What a load of bull! How can you possibly take care of another person when your own needs aren’t being met? Think about it…part of the air travel safety briefing instructs us to put on our own oxygen mask before assisting another person with their mask. This valuable advice ensures that your basic survival needs are met before you attempt to assist someone else with their needs. You are taking care of your needs by completing the Success Method™ and being honest during your journey. Didn’t you buy this Method so that you could take care of yourself and therefore be of more service to others?
In the space provided, list the five most important priorities in your life. This can include people, passions, projects, your profession, your stamp collection, anything that’s really important to you. Here are a couple of important rules to remember as you complete this exercise: 1. Only one person, place or thing can appear on each line. If you are married with two kids, you cannot list “family” as a single item. You must list each person individually, assuming they fit into your top five. 2. Honesty is imperative here. Do not list what you think you “should” list, what other people would want you to list, or what everyone expects you to list. This list is for your eyes only, so be completely honest. You may feel guilty if you “leave someone out,” and that’s OK. With only five slots to fill, you can’t possibly include
5. Usually, whatever comes to mind first is representative of your true feelings. Don’t be afraid to go with your gut here.
MY FIVE MOST IMPORTANT LIFE PRIORITIES ARE:
1. _______________________________________
2. _______________________________________
3. _______________________________________
4. _______________________________________
you can’t change your answers. No, you can’t quit here. Choose only one item from your list of five priorities. Take your time and make your selection now. Don’t worry if you experienced a certain amount of guilt while completing this exercise. Of course, don’t overanalyze yourself if you didn’t experience any guilt during the exercise. Be careful not to judge yourself or your answers, because denial leaves no room for change! Accept where you are right now, and keep this list in mind as you proceed through the next few chapters. Now that you know what is most important to you, ask yourself: is this congruent with how I spend my time?
When time is spent in congruence with priorities, balance is the natural result.
On the other hand, when our daily activity does not
Success can only come when your time is spent congruently with your priorities and when your goals are aligned with your priorities. Period! Congratulations! You have finally identified your true priority, and you can finally begin to accept it and live your life accordingly, to create your own success. Most people prioritize their time and existence according to their activities. The few who possess the courage and strength to live life according to their priorities are free to experience truly extraordinary lives. In other words, you can experience massive success!
Chapter 4: Three Things No One Taught You About GOALS
“The great majority of people in the world drift through life, never realizing that their future will be the one they create for themselves. The minority who achieve great success are people who know what they want and have a plan for realizing their objectives. They know what they want and how they are going to get it.”
—Napoleon Hill, Author
“You gotta have goals.” Have you ever heard that from a parent, teacher or other influence in your life? Many of us grow up knowing we should set goals, but few of us are actually taught an effective way to set and achieve our goals. If only our grade schools and high schools taught goal achievement, imagine the advantage today’s children would gain as they grow into adulthood! The future could truly be amazing. If you’ve never been taught an effective way to set and achieve goals, the good news is that it’s never too late to
First and foremost, effective goals are specific. Vague generalizations may eventually come to pass, but you will inevitably get better, faster results by specifically defining and articulating what you want. This also assures that you get exactly what you want, and not just a “reasonable facsimile.” Do not be specific in how your goal will come to pass, only in exactly what is your desired result. For example, let’s say your goal is to buy a new car. Not very specific, is it? Your heart’s desire may be a fully loaded 2006 Corvette Convertible in Daytona Sunset Orange. If your goal was stated as “buy a new car” and you bought a new Dodge Neon for your teenage son, don’t blame the Universe. Technically, you achieved your stated goal (you bought a new car), but because you weren’t specific, you didn’t get the result you really wanted (the 2006 Corvette). To get what you want, you've got to know what you want and be specific when
15% raise yet you walked out of the boss’s office feeling lucky to still have a job? It can happen to the best of us. Setting goals is about asking for exactly what you want. You have to identify that first – otherwise, fuzzy goals get fuzzy results, and nobody wants that. In other words, a better way to state your goal would be to “own a fully loaded 2006 Corvette Convertible in Daytona Sunset Orange, by January 2006.” Notice my use of the word own as opposed to the word buy. Owning the car itself is what you care about, not how you get the car, correct? This is what I mean when I say not to be to rigid or specific on the how part. In other words, you don’t care how you get the car – whether you win it in a contest, inherit the exact amount of money it would take to purchase the car, receive a lavish gift from a friend, or buy it on credit. Don’t be too tied to how the goal becomes reality. I often talk to people who are afraid to state their goals
Why a Corvette? It is because of the way you will feel when you drive that car? Perhaps you’ve never owned a sports car, or a new car, or a Corvette. Perhaps you are seeking the admiration of others who will see you in the car. Perhaps your heart races at the thought of going from 0-60 in the blink of an eye. Is it because you’ve always loved Corvettes, since you were a child, and the thought of owning one makes your heart pound and your adrenaline race? Whatever the reason, just be aware of your intent and get in touch with the way you will feel when you have what you want. This element charges your goal with electrified energy and can manifest it more quickly. Ask Yourself: Is It Possible?
The next criterion for an effective goal begs the question: is it attainable? This is where things can get tricky. Goals should stretch your imagination, test your limits, and challenge your beliefs.
Setting your goal is a lot like that. Your goal should be just a little bit higher than the jar on the shelf. You should look at it and think, “Hmmm, I’m not sure if I can get that, but I really, really want it, so I’m going for it.” Your goal should not seem impossible – but it should seem just barely unreachable. And if it’s something you’re passionate about achieving, you will always find a way to reach it. If we set goals so high that they seem impossible, we are likely to give up when the first obstacle appears. After all, we didn’t really think we could achieve that goal in the first place. We can get down on ourselves and destroy our confidence by setting goals that are too high. On the other hand, if we set our goals too low, we do not challenge ourselves, and we can become complacent. Don’t settle for weak goals because you’ll also settle for weak results! I was conducting a teleseminar the other day about goal-setting. For these particular calls, I
you make brushing your teeth a goal? Would you make taking a shower a goal? Let’s hope not. In talking with her, I was able to help her apply the Success Method techniques to realize what she was truly passionate about and set goals based on her dreams. After the call, I got emails from other participants who (although they were too shy to speak up on the call) appreciated the coaching I offered that woman and they were able to set powerful, meaningful goals by using the same Success Method technique. Unfortunately, our society does not teach us to think big. We fail to strive for what we really want, and instead we play it safe. Alternatively, we can get caught up in “pie in the sky” dreaming which deep down inside ourselves we don’t really believe is possible, so we end up sabotaging our own best efforts. Therefore, this “attainable” step requires a delicate balance to set powerful yet believable goals that we truly can attain (even if we don’t yet know how).
to get in shape? Or to build a better relationship? Or to be successful? How would you measure any of those? The specific and measurable criteria go hand in hand. Measurable goals have a clear benchmark for achievement or improvement.
Measurements can be determined in many ways, including weights, times, frequency, volumes, financial measures, yes/no evaluations, surveys, polls, etc. Some goals may seem to be immeasurable, but that just means it’s time to get creative. For example, you might measure an improvement in your relationship with someone by a decrease in the frequency of arguments, an increase in the amount of quality time spent together, an increase in the number of intimate acts, meaningful conversations, or whatever else you desire. Just think about what you want more of, or what you want less of, and find a way to measure that. Remember that anything you measure will improve.
By the way, if your goal is related to weight loss, it’s a good idea to choose a clothing size or body measurements instead of a specific weight. Some people tend to cling to a specific number they weighed in the past and think “I want to get back to my high school weight” but that may be totally unrealistic at this point. One reason is because your body shape and weight distribution shift over time as gravity takes over, particularly for women who’ve borne children. However, you could fit into the same size you wore in high school and look great, but to wear that same size now, your actual weight could be several pounds more than it was in your youth. If your goal is to “get in shape” be sure to define actual fitness goals. In truth, you could weigh less than you do now and still not be physically fit. Get specific on what fitness means to you, make sure it’s attainable, and define a way to measure it. Because muscle weighs more than fat, measuring and tracking Body Mass Index (BMI) and
about his goals, so I need my own goals, too.” Absolutely. Of course, you must also have joint goals too or you could end up headed in separate directions, which can be devastating to a relationship. Again, the name of the game here is balance. Individual goals should be just that: customized to you and only you.
Remember SAM when setting your goals: Specific, Attainable and Measurable.
Here are some additional guidelines for goal-setting and goal-getting: 1. Set a timeline. Set a specific date by which your goal will be achieved. Work up until the very last minute – often several factors can fall into place at the eleventh hour. (Whew!) Keep in mind that your goals will most likely come to pass in
carry them around with them all day, to refer to frequently and keep their goal fresh in their mind. 3. Post your goal in an obvious place. You may choose to post your goal on your refrigerator, in your car, on a “dream board,” near your computer, in your palm pilot, written on a card in your pocket, or anywhere that you can frequently see it throughout the day. There is truth in the old expression “out of sight, out of mind” but there is also truth in its opposite: in sight, in mind. For example, if your fitness goals are posted on the refrigerator, you will be more likely to fix yourself a healthy snack or meal when you re-read those goals while you’re hungry. 4. Imagine your goal is already accomplished. Visualize yourself having already achieved the goal, and feel the feelings that correlate to the goal’s accomplishment. Write your goal in the present tense: “Today is December 1 st and I am
Remember, S.A.M. says:
I WANT YOU TO ACHIEVE YOUR GOALS!
Spend some time thinking about your goals. Often, when we rush to set goals, we are not setting the goals that reflect our true desires. We often set goals that include what we “think” we should have or what others would expect us to want. Review your priorities from the last exercise and reflect on what you really want before
time. You may use the blank pages that follow, or record your answers in a separate journal. Feel free to record as much (or as little) as you feel guided to write and use additional pages if necessary. Goals Questionnaire:
1. What would you do with unlimited resources (time, money, energy)? Imagine you have an unlimited source of money, perfect health, and all the time in the world. How would you spend your days and your new-found freedom? 2. What are you most passionate about? What really lights you up and gets you excited? Why? 3. What are you exceptionally good at? This can either be what you know in your heart to be true, or what other people frequently tell you. 4. When are you the happiest? The most carefree?
8. Complete this sentence: If I really loved myself, I would ___________________. 9. If you could change anything about yourself, what would it be and why? What is stopping you from changing that? Which is more important to you: holding on to that excuse as to why it can’t change, or experiencing the changes in your life? 10.If you could change anything about your surrounding environment (your home, your job, your family life, your circle of friends, etc), what would it be and why? What is stopping you from changing that? Which is more important to you: holding on to that excuse as to why it can’t change, or experiencing the changes for real? 11.Are you really willing to get uncomfortable and make the necessary sacrifices in order to have the life that you want? Why or why not?
After you’ve completed this exercise, what you want should become pretty clear to you. If not, that’s OK; spend some time reflecting on your answers. When your goals snap into clarity, continue with the next exercise. Remember, this entire section should be completed within approximately one week. (But don’t beat yourself up if it takes a little longer, OK?)
GOAL #1: Today is
and I feel because I now have
GOAL #2: Today is
and I feel because I now have
Feel free to set more than three goals – the above space is provided to get you started. Remember to post your goals where you will see them frequently. You may even want to write your goals on the back of your business card or a small card and keep it in your pocket, so you can refer to it throughout the day. If you use this technique, it’s a good idea to laminate the card so you don’t accidentally give it to someone. (This is good advice I started giving all my coaching clients after I accidentally gave away my goal reminder card, thinking it was my regular business card. Oops!) Many people find a certain peace in following this process and writing their goals. That’s good—it usually means your goals are congruent with your priorities and your life’s purpose. Other people may find some tweaking is required before that peaceful feeling comes. Either way is perfect, as long as it feels right to you. During my teleseminars, we do a much more advanced version of this exercise, which often creates a powerful sense of peace and clarity. Many people find themselves
Chapter 5: Now that You Know Where You’re Going, How Will You Get There?
“You are never given a dream without also being given the power to make it come true.”
—Richard Bach, Author Why do so many people begin with the best intentions, but make only marginal progress towards their goals? Procrastination! While it’s not the only reason for failure, procrastination can be a major contributor. Some people find it difficult to begin a large project because it seems so overwhelming. You may read the goals you just wrote and think, "How on earth will I accomplish that?" Quite simply, you must have a plan. One of the former members of my mastermind group has a challenge with this. He has such a creative mind—he is truly gifted and brilliant. I consider myself to be fairly creative (and I’m also pretty hard to impress) but this guy even comes up with ideas that make me say “wow.” The challenge this particular man has is that he gets
On the other hand, some people fail because they attempt to jump ahead to the planning stage, without developing a clear purpose or intent. That’s like grocery shopping for a dinner party when you have no idea how many people are coming, or what you’ll serve. You end up feeling lost, confused and disoriented. Plus it takes you twice as long to make progress because you lack direction. I tend to call these people “compulsive planners.” They like to create fancy action plans and flowcharts and scripts, but without a clearly defined purpose or target, their plans are simply a waste of time. To achieve results, you must combine clear focus and goals with a logical plan of action.
Failure to plan is planning to fail.
Still others create the best-laid plans with perfect intention but fail to follow through and take action. In
Steps two and three will be addressed in Chapter 8: Massive Action and and Focus. For now, let’s take a look at #1 on the list: Break large tasks into smaller tasks. How does an ant eat an elephant? elephant? One bite at a time.
Whenever a task seems overwhelming to you, simply break it into several smaller tasks, and attack one small task at a time. The key to breaking down these huge tasks requires setting objectives. Objectives are small pieces of a larger goal. Think of objectives as stepping stones that lead you from where you are now to where you want to be. For example, if your goal is to buy a new home, your objectives might include the following:
1. Save for a down payment
7. Apply for financing 8. Put current home up for sale 9. Put in a bid on a new home 10.Pack 10. Pack belongings and hire movers 11.Close 11. Close on the old (current) home 12.Close 12. Close on new home 13.Move 13. Move 14.Mail 14. Mail change of address notice 15.Unpack 15. Unpack 16.Have 16. Have a housewarming party Buying a new home actually includes at least sixteen sixteen
depends on the project itself and who you’ll need to help you. Of course, if money is no object then your name may not even appear on your own action plan, except to supervise! The best way to create an action plan and timeline is to set a completion date for your goal and work backwards. On the following page is a sample action plan for our home-buying example. Let’s assume today is January 1, 2006, and Tom and Mary’s goal is declared as follows: By August 1, 2006, 2006, we are so happy and blessed to be living in our beautiful, spacious new home. We feel comfortable and proud to have such s uch a warm and inviting home to relax and to entertain our friends and family.
To develop an action plan for Tom and Mary, set the last item on the list (the housewarming party) as “due” on the future goal achievement date (August 1, 2006) and work backwards from then until now, including all a ll the steps we listed earlier. Next, set appropriate deadlines for each
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6 0 / 1 / 1 s f t n o e s a m d m e v o a s C 0 0 8 4 $ s u t a t S
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s s e r g o r p n i d e r a h s
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d d e r m y r e m y r a o a o a r a h s T M T M h s
d e r a h s
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Whenever applicable, tasks should be listed in the order required for completion. If you want to get really fancy, you could add a “prerequisite” column to denote which numbers (corresponding to specific tasks) must be completed prior to a particular task. For example, Tom and Mary must finish packing before they can move. A number of project-planning software packages are for sale for this very purpose. NOTE: Be careful not to get caught up in “getting ready to get ready,” where you may spend several hours creating a fancy action plan. This is another common form of procrastination, where you look busy, you seem busy, you may even feel busy, but nothing worthwhile is getting accomplished. Action plans don’t work unless you take action.
As you can see by the sample, an action plan is a living document, constantly tweaked and updated. It’s a great idea to use a spreadsheet application to update your plan
Let’s say you believe you should clean out the garage. Odds are, you either start and stop, or you never begin to clean it because you know it will take many hours and maybe you get a pit in your stomach just thinking about it. If you can’t relate to the garage example, think of anything you’ve postponed cleaning or organizing because it seemed like a huge undertaking (like the attic, the basement, the outdoor shed, your teenager’s closet, or the “junk” room). I once coached someone who told me they put off cleaning their garage for ten years or more (how’s that for procrastination?) because they just couldn’t bear the thought of actually doing the work! Sure, it begins harmlessly enough, but as time goes by, your little project gets increasingly worse until it becomes so builtup in your mind that you just can’t muster the courage to get started. This is what we call a colossal project. You will find that as you follow these techniques, most
What would happen if you set aside an hour a day, a few days a week, for a few weeks? You could have the garage cleaned – almost painlessly – in less than a month, which is probably less time than you’ve spent agonizing over it. The following process is helpful in tackling tedious tasks like the colossal “garage” project. Instead of breaking the goal down using objectives, break it into small, manageable time increments. For example, your eight- to twelve-hour garage-cleaning mission can actually be broken down into eight to twelve increments of one hour each. To apply this method practically, set a kitchen timer for one hour. Block out an hour and commit to working in the garage (or whatever your colossal project entails) until the timer buzzes. One hour seems fairly painless, right? There’s nothing impossible or dreadfully scary about one measly hour. Once the timer buzzes, you can leave things exactly where they are, drop everything and
You may find that after an hour, you are “in the groove.” You’ve built some piles, worked out a good system, and cleared out a lot of trash. The timer goes off in what seems to be a relatively short time. You begin to think you wouldn’t mind going a little longer. If you experience this, you have two choices. You can walk away guilt-free, having met your commitment to complete one hour, or you can choose to put in a little “bonus time.” If you choose to continue with bonus time, set the timer for another hour (or a half hour, or 15 minutes, depending on what you’re willing to commit to at the moment) and continue working until you hear that chime telling you “time’s up.” Imagine what that would do to your self-confidence: you committed to one hour, and you actually did more! At that point, you will surely feel like a million bucks. Plus, you will be pleasantly surprised to see how much progress you made with two focused hours of garage cleaning.
cleaning (he was actually working on organizing his study, not a garage). When the phone rang the next time, he didn’t even hear it because he was so engrossed in the task at hand, and at the end of the hour he was so pleased with his progress he completed a second hour. He completed his colossal project in less than three days, and he had been putting it off for over three months! He was absolutely thrilled with the technique and I’m convinced you will be too when you try it for yourself. Nearly every goal or project can be broken down into objective, using either specific steps or time increments. You will have a chance to put the process into practice with this next exercise.
EXERCISE #8: PLANNING FOR SUCCESS
Choose one of your goals from Exercise #7 and rewrite it here:
List all the stepping stones (objectives) that will lead you to your accomplished goal. Don’t worry about the order right now, just include every step you can imagine.
project, your tasks may all be the same, but you’ll have the opportunity to set deadlines for the completion of each time increment. Depending on your goal, you may also be able to enlist help from others as “responsible parties.” Two blank action plans are provided here, in case you have a lot of objectives or want to save a blank copy for your future action plans. An online copy of the blank action plan is available on our website (see the URL at the back of this workbook in the “References” section).
s t n e m m o C
s u t a t S y t r a P . p s e R e n i l d a e D
s t n e m m o C
s u t a t S y t r a P . p s e R e n i l d a e D
Completing the last exercise has provided you with a plan of action including specific milestone dates. By now, you should see a clear path between you and your goal. If you’re feeling particularly adventurous, complete an action plan for each of your goals (you can make copies of the blank action plan form, or create your own form). Pause here to admire how far you’ve progressed during this Success Method™. You are more than halfway through the Method, and so far you’ve honored your commitment, revealed where your time goes, discovered your top priority in life, set powerful and exciting goals, and created a plan of action to achieve these goals. You’ve also learned a sure-fire way to combat procrastination by breaking large goals into smaller, more manageable tasks. Take a moment to marvel at all you’ve achieved so far! Next you’ll receive practical advice for handling two additional obstacles which can pop up during your quest
Chapter 6: The Myth of Time Management
“Things which matter most must never be at the mercy of things which matter least.” —Goethe
Here comes your next potentially shocking revelation:
It is impossible to manage time.
Take a moment to ponder the truth present within that statement. What is time? Who created time? How does time work? In fact, time simply is what it is; we cannot manage time any more than we could manage God or manage a sunset. No wonder you've been stressing yourself out – you've been creating resistance by trying to control what can not be controlled. You might be wondering why the Method includes an entire chapter on Time Management if it doesn’t even exist. (In case you’re wondering: NO, you can’t skip this
Why is Time Management Important?
Personal Stress
Stress management and time management are very closely related. Therefore, the more adept you become at managing yourself in time, the lower your overall stress level will be. Corporate Downsizing
In this age of corporate downsizing and "rightsizing," employees may depart, yet their positions are not refilled. What happens to all the work they used to do? Does it disappear? Of course not! Unfortunately, their work gets absorbed by whoever is left standing. For this very reason, many professionals who have remained in the same job for a number of years find themselves shouldering a lot more responsibility now versus when they first started. Finding yourself with more tasks to
I’ve coached a number of single moms who are desperately seeking balance among their many roles and I’ve shared my experience, my techniques and (dare I say it) my wisdom with hundreds of people during my seminars and teleseminars. Nearly everyone I meet is seeking balance in their life, yet many people don’t realize that balance is what they desperately need. Right now, you’re smack in the middle of the same Success Method techniques I’ve used to help many people change their lives and regain a sense of balance and order. This is what is meant by allowing “true success” to permeate every part of your life.
EXERCISE #9: THE COST OF DISORGANIZATION
Have you ever considered the actual cost associated with being disorganized? Use the following charts to compute exactly what your time is “worth.” If you are a salaried employee, or a business owner who knows her/his
earn with each hour that you work, and use this amount with Chart 2. These charts will help you place an actual dollar value on what each minute, hour, day and week of your time are truly “worth.”
CHART 1: ANNUAL EARNINGS $K/YR
$/MONTH
$/WEEK
$/DAY
$/HOUR
$/MIN
$25K
$2,083.33
$480.77
$96.15
$12.02
$0.20
30K
2,500.00
576.92
115.38
14.42
0.24
35K
2,916.67
673.08
134.62
16.83
0.28
40K
3,333.33
769.23
153.85
19.23
0.32
45K
3,750.00
865.38
173.08
21.63
0.36
50K
4,166.67
961.54
192.31
24.04
0.40
55K
4,583.33
1,057.69
211.54
26.44
0.44
60K
5,000.00
1,153.85
230.77
28.85
0.48
65K
5,416.67
1,250.00
250.00
31.25
0.52
70K
5,833.33
1,346.15
269.23
33.65
0.56
75K
6,250.00
1,442.31
288.46
36.06
0.60
80K
6,666.67
1,538.46
307.69
38.46
0.64
85K
7,083.33
1,634.62
326.92
40.87
0.68
CHART 2: HOURLY PAY $/HOUR
$/MONTH
$/WEEK
$/DAY
$/MIN
$6.00
$1,032.00
$240.00
$48.00
$0.10
7.00
1,204.00
280.00
5 6.00
0.12
8.00
1,376.00
320.00
64 .00
0.13
9.00
1,548.00
360.00
72.00
0.15
10.00
1,720.00
400.00
80.00
0.17
12.00
2,064.00
480.00
96.00
0.20
14.00
2,408.00
560.00
112.00
0.23
16.00
2,752.00
640.00
128.00
0.27
18.00
3,096.00
720.00
144.00
0.30
20.00
3,440.00
800.00
160.00
0.33
25.00
4,300.00
1,000.00
200.00
0.42
30.00
5,160.00
1,200.00
240.00
0.50
35.00
6,020.00
1,400.00
280.00
0.58
If your salary or hourly rate is not listed, use the nearest number, or get creative (for example, if you bill $400 per hour, just double the numbers for $200 per hour). Some Points to Consider: These charts are based on a forty-hour workweek, but many people work much longer hours. Which brings us to the reason for this exercise: what could you eliminate from your day to shorten the workday and create more time to be at home with your family?
Carefully evaluate where you spend your time (see Exercise #2) and determine what tasks can be ditched or delegated. Think about the actual consequences of each task and ask: Is this necessary? Does it matter if I do this or not? Who else could handle this instead of me? What steps can I eliminate to save time? The Leisure Rate™ What is your free time worth?
This number is very specific and personal to each person, and over time your dollar amount may change as your situation changes. Those who have an abundance of free time would most likely have a lower Leisure Rate. However, since you came looking for The Success Method, your Leisure Rate is most likely higher. First we’ll explain the importance of the concept before we teach you to calculate your own Leisure Rate. Option #1: Hire Some Help
Determining your Leisure Rate can assist you in daily decision-making. If you know that your Leisure Rate is $50 per hour, it simplifies the decision to pay someone else any amount less than $50 per hour to perform any task that you yourself want to personally avoid. For example, let’s say you hate to clean your house. You absolutely despise dusting, vacuuming, mopping and scrubbing toilets. You hate it so much that you
any housekeepers, you worry about what your friend and family would think, you live on a farm or in a rural area, you don’t want to give up control because no one cleans as well as you do, your dog bites strangers, etc. So you continue to clean your house on your own (after procrastinating until it simply can’t wait another day, like when houseguests are on the way). Because you’re creating an internal conflict by doing something you detest doing, you get cranky and irritable and mentally beat yourself up while scrubbing toilets and mopping floors. Suddenly your whole family may dread cleaning days because it turns into one giant negative episode. (Think about this: if your children start to dislike cleaning days in your house, guess what’s going to happen when they grow up? They’ll most likely repeat the same pattern you taught them: procrastinate, then finally give in and grumble about cleaning the house. You may have even subconsciously learned this pattern because it was modeled by your parents. Why not break the pattern and do something different?)
now and that’s driven you to search for a better way, so perhaps that in and of itself says something about average advice. Who wants to be average anyway? The average person would probably consider a housekeeping service to be a “luxury” and would cut it from the budget immediately. What is the result of such a decision? You then have to do something you absolutely hate, which leads to your becoming angry and resentful, which can cause your self esteem to drop a few notches. As you angrily scrub your toilets and mop your floors, you may be silently cursing your rich neighbors for having their own cleaning service. In this scenario, you’ve caused yourself a lot of grief and stress by refusing to spend a measly fifty bucks. Either way it’s your call, and ultimately it is you who must live with the consequences of your decision. The Leisure Rate should simplify decisions such as these. Option #2: Accept More Work
months, and an overtime offer pops up at work. Using the above numbers, you would most likely turn it down if you were really looking forward to the fishing trip because that Leisure Rate may be at a premium in your mind. However, when you wake up on Saturday to go fishing and discover it pouring rain, you may suddenly feel the urge to call your boss and squeeze in some overtime that day. On the other hand, let’s assume you’ve been saving for an exotic vacation (which would certainly count as leisure time). You may accept the overtime now in order to help cover the cost of your upcoming vacation (leisure time). Can you see the benefits of being flexible? The Leisure Rate is never truly an absolute, but it certainly provides you with ready information to make educated decisions about what you’re giving up and what you’re choosing in these types of situations.
other words, each hour of your free time is truly worth $100), it may be time to find a higher-paying job or start your own business. Incidentally, I gave this same piece of advice to a woman about a year ago. She was completely convinced that her leisure time was worth $150 per hour, and I told her she’d probably never make that much working for someone else. She took my advice seriously and decided to start her own business. I spoke with her just the other day and she is now making good money doing what she feels passionate about. She absolutely loves her life and she admits that she doesn’t miss her job at all. On the other hand, control freaks tend to set their Leisure Rate too low because they want to do everything themselves and maintain total control. By setting a low Leisure Rate, the control freak justifies their controlling nature by insisting that no one else can perform the tasks (care for their lawn, clean their house, wash their car, etc.) for a low enough rate, or they claim no one can do it
in the next chapter. In the meantime, consider taking baby steps here and hiring some assistance for those tasks you truly resent.
EXERCISE #10: DETERMINING YOUR LEISURE RATE™
The method for determining your Leisure Rate™ is fairly simple. Begin by defining your hourly work rate, either what you are paid per hour to work, or your calculated hourly rate based on exercise #9. Write that number here:
WORK RATE: $
Using your completed logs from Exercise #2, determine how many hours per week (on average) are available for leisure time. For our purposes here, leisure time is defined as time during which you are free to use in any
Write that number here:
LEISURE TIME:
hours/week
After reviewing your previous two answers, what is the lowest amount of money you would accept in exchange for sacrificing an hour of leisure time? Write that number here: LEISURE RATE™ $
As you can see, this is not necessarily a scientific formula. If your answer to the last question was “It depends,” try looking at it another way. If you have 5 hours per week of leisure time remaining, and someone offered to pay you in exchange for you to completely give up one of your leisure hours, what dollar amount would you realistically insist that they pay you? That
to sacrifice. Therefore, David’s leisure rate is $35 per hour. This is David’s personal Leisure Rate—another person with the same exact statistics could select an entirely different amount as their Leisure Rate.
Applying Your Leisure Rate™
It makes sense to hire someone else to perform any necessary task that you loathe doing, as long as their bill rate (your cost) is less than your personal Leisure Rate. However, your Leisure Rate can also be applied to any time-consuming activity that you’d like to yield in place of something more pleasant. A working mother of five children probably spends several hours per week taking care of the family’s laundry. She may not mind doing the laundry, but if she uses a laundry service instead, this would free up several hours each week which she can spend with her children (or she could add to her own personal benefit time, which may put her in a better frame of mind whenever she is with the children).
pleasant and meaningful activities. Consider the value of hiring someone else to perform these dreadful tasks. Would a part-time nanny help you maintain your sanity and improve the quality of the time you spend with the kids?
Life is measured not by the amount of time spent, but by its quality.
The open access of the Internet has caused us to personally take on a lot of the tasks we used to pay others to do. Technological resources enable us to be our own travel agent, online banker and medical researcher. Do we really need to manage all the details of our lives? Are we somehow lesser people by admitting that we could use a little help from time to time? Think about that. Take a few minutes to create a list of duties that you
Now, go back through your list above and rank your list in order of importance, putting your least enjoyable task as number one, your second least desirable task as number two, and so on. Be sure to indicate the frequency required for each task (daily, weekly, monthly, yearly, etc.) Don’t underestimate the value of determining and using
For each item on the list, compare its cost to your personal Leisure Rate to determine whether it makes sense to perform that particular task yourself versus hiring someone else. Remember David from the previous example, with a $35 per hour Leisure Rate? Let’s continue with that example and assume David’s top three “most hated duties” included the following: • • •
Wash the dog every month Clean the house every other week Mow the lawn every week
David then determined how long it takes him to perform each task, and after some pricing research, he discovered what each task would cost if he paid someone to do it: Wash the dog - $26 for 40 minutes Clean the house - $60 for 3 hours every other week Mow the lawn - $30 for 1 ! hours
per year!) David feels so good about not having to clean the house or mow the lawn that he easily finds some “fat” to trim from his household budget to offset the additional monthly cost. Win-Win Solutions
By shifting your mindset to find for more options (as opposed to focusing on feeling “stuck” without any choices), you are more likely to invent creative solutions to your challenges. In fact, you can exercise your creativity to develop win-win answers that benefit everyone involved, including yourself. For example, let’s stick with our buddy David. By comparing David’s leisure rate ($35 per hour) to the cost of professional dog grooming ($39 per hour), it doesn’t make financial sense for David to pay a groomer to wash his dog. Instead of giving up, David gets creative and invents an alternative solution.
Time-Saving Tips
When applied consistently, time-saving tips are like money in the bank. Most everyone loves tips that are simple to use, easy to remember and can be shared with other people. If you have a time-saving tip that you would like to share, visit the http://GrantGalaxy.com website or email us and we’ll share it with our ezine subscribers so others can benefit as well. By eliminating unnecessary activities, you can actually add time to your day and increase your available leisure time. The following activities are “time thieves” that can be eliminated from your life to create more space for fun. Busy-ness Updates
If you can do this one simple thing, you will experience a multitude of positive changes in your life, and your friends and family will thank you:
mind immediately when you read this. Highlight this part and show them a copy of this workbook. They may not stop completely, but they will most likely stop doing it around you. At least you won’t be wasting your time listening to them tell you how busy they are. Lack of Focus or Purpose
As long as you’ve written your goals and posted them in an obvious place, you should find it easier to remain focused. If you find yourself feeling scattered or “lost,” spend some time re-reading your goals and Chapter 4. Being a “Control Freak”
The obsessive need to control every detail of your life can consume an enormous amount of time. Decide right now whether you want to be happy or in control—you must choose only one. Learning to let go can free up small amounts of time that quickly add up to larger chunks. If you feel you are an extreme control freak, start
1. Break large tasks into smaller tasks. 2. Focus intently in short, concentrated bursts of time. 3. Take consistent action every day. Over-communicating
Have you ever known someone who told you what they were going to tell you, then they told you, then they told you what they just told you? How about someone who can take ten minutes answering a simple yes or no question? If you know someone who prides himself on his communication and follow-up skills, he probably drives you crazy. He may call you to tell you he is sending a fax, tell you what the fax will say, then sends the fax, then has his secretary call to ensure you got the fax and see if you have any questions about it. Don’t let this person’s mismanagement of time steal your precious minutes. Remember, only you can decide how your time
relationships. It also zaps your energy and causes you lose to focus. Pointless Activity
During Exercise #2, you may have identified certain pointless activities that suck up your time (aimless internet surfing, gossip, television, mindless chit-chat, unnecessary cell phone chatter, etc.) If you’ve hired a laundry service and a housekeeper simply so you can spend more time watching television, you’ve clearly missed the point. Remember your number one priority in life? You’re hiding from that every time you engage in pointless activities (remember your “Escapes” from Exercise 2?) By pausing in the moment to ask yourself what you’re accomplishing, you may find it easier to stop useless activities and pursue something more interesting and productive. “If a problem has a solution, there is no need to worry about it. If there is no answer for the problem, worry will
Another 12% of the things you worry about are the opinions of other people, which are also impossible for you to change. Health issues account for another 10%, compounded by the cruel fact that most health conditions tend to get worse from worrying. All that remains is a measly 8%. This 8% includes real, controllable events that happen to you. Of course, just because you can control this 8% doesn’t mean that worrying about it helps at all. Consider this: how would your life change if you reduced your worries by 92%? The graph on the following page provides a visual representation of what we worry about.
Take a moment to think about how much time you spend worrying about things that are inconsequential. Next, begin to become more aware during times when you are actually worrying. Whenever you begin to worry, give yourself a reassuring reminder of the 92% chance that it will never come to pass, and have faith that in the long run life always works out for the best. Your anxiety will subside and eventually, worry will become less of a habit until it disappears entirely (or maybe just decreases to 8%).
“Do you remember the things you were worrying about a year ago? How did they work out? Didn't you waste a lot of fruitless energy on account of most of them? Didn't most of them turn out all right after all?”
—Dale Carnegie
Simultaneously eliminating all these time thieves from
time, and it will take another series of steps to get back on the path to success. As you apply the time management guidance from Chapter 6 throughout this week, remember that balance is a process which requires constant readjustment. By completing the Success Method™, you are laying the groundwork for ongoing success. Take a moment to congratulate yourself for honoring your commitment, and recognize that you are now two-thirds of the way through the Program. Your persistence is admirable and deserves to be acknowledged.
Chapter 7: Stop Creating Your Own Stress!
“The perfect no-stress environment is the grave. When we change our perception we gain control. Then stress becomes a challenge, not a threat. When we commit to action, to actually doing something rather than feeling trapped by events, the stress in our life becomes manageable.”
—Greg Anderson, Author Which of the following two choices would bring you less stress and greater satisfaction: spinning your wheels or moving toward your goals? Obviously, getting the important stuff done would create more joy and less stress in your life.
Searching for the most definitive way to eliminate stress? Do what really matters.
A drama addict is a person who is addicted to chaos. Drama addicts feel lost or incomplete when life is smooth and calm, so they tend to create situations that cause confusion and disarray, without consciously trying to make this happen. Please do not be offended by the terms “freak” and “addict.” Merriam-Webster defines freak as “one that is markedly unusual or abnormal” and addict is defined as “one who is addicted,” with addiction meaning to “surrender oneself to something habitually or obsessively.” We all have a controlling side of our personality, and a part of each of us thrives on stress. Obviously, some control is necessary and a little stress can be motivating. If you had zero stress in your life, what would motivate you to get off the couch and get to work? The purpose of this chapter is to determine whether your controlling nature and/or drama-addictedness are interfering with
none of the answers seem appropriate, choose the one that comes closest to your typical response. Scoring instructions are provided at the end of the questionnaire. 1. When you’re very busy, and someone from an organization you’re involved with calls to ask you to take on another responsibility, you typically: a. don’t answer the phone if I know why they’re calling b. decline politely and ask them to consider me for the next one c. agree to do it but I may regret it later d. accept because I know they chose me for a special reason 2. How do you handle difficult family members/coworkers/neighbors when an adverse situation arises? a. I ignore it or avoid them b. I talk to them calmly and tactfully and seek resolution of the matter c. I get angry but tend to keep into myself
4. How long, on average, does it take you to fall asleep at night from the moment you close your eyes? a. Less than 5 minutes b. Around 10-20 minutes c. More than 30 minutes d. Sleep? What’s that? 5. Of the last seven nights, how many would you say were a “good” night’s sleep? a. All seven, I generally sleep great b. Five or six nights were good, I often wake feeling rested c. Two or three nights were good, I sleep well on weekends d. I haven’t had a good night’s sleep in a long time 6. Which of the following four options best describes you? a. Very laid back; it’s almost impossible to rattle
8. When a dramatic situation is “going down” at work, where can you usually be found? a. Minding my own business, doing my work b. Headed the other way c. Nearby to listen and lend support or offer advice d. In the thick of it, helping sort out who’s right and who’s wrong 9. When a friend or co-worker repeatedly discusses their stress with you, how do you typically react? a. I eventually stop hanging around them b. I end the conversation or change the subject. Don’t they think I have enough stress of my own without listening to theirs? c. I listen and agree (“that’s terrible, I’m sorry to here that, you must feel terrible, you poor thing”) to be sympathetic d. I tell them about all of my stress so they don’t feel so alone
number by the appropriate point value, and then total your points to determine your final score.
Total number Total number Total number Total number
of As of Bs of Cs of Ds
x 1 point each = x 2 point each = x 3 point each = x 4 point each =
TOTAL POINTS (FINAL SCORE)
Final Score of 16 or less: DENIAL
You may be hiding your true feelings, leading to the worse kind of stress: denial. Remember, denial leaves no room for change, so begin to accept that life is not perfect and it can be tough to deal with other people sometimes. It’s OK to get annoyed from time to time, and it’s much healthier than keeping everything bottled up inside you.
to blow your stack. Some stress management assistance may help you learn tools and techniques for managing situations, to ease you back into a healthy state. Be careful: if left unchecked, you could cross the danger line. Final Score of 33-40: DANGEROUS
You could be a ticking time bomb who thrives on stress and chaos. You may frequently become involved unnecessarily in volatile situations and make bad situations worse by bringing others into the mix. Seek stress management assistance immediately. Summary
Often when you discover the reason for your controlling nature, you can recognize its significance and begin to let go. The next exercise takes you through a series of questions and answers, to assist you in getting to the root cause of your desire to maintain control.
1. They can’t say “no” when asked to take on more responsibilities; and 2. They have trouble asking for help. The root cause is generally the same: they feel a need to appear as though they can handle it all. Do you feel that way? What would happen if you admitted you can’t do everything:
ends off the roast?” The woman smiled and said, “I don’t know. That’s the way Grandma always did it, so that’s how Mommy learned to make a roast.” Grandma began to laugh hysterically. When the woman asked what was so funny, Grandma replied, “I cut off the ends because my pan was too small to fit the whole roast!” Look for places where your ingrained beliefs cause you to act blindly. Just because your mother made pasta from scratch and your dad washed his car by hand, that doesn’t mean you have do things the same way. What were you taught to do in such a way that you never questioned why? What beliefs can you recreate on your own now?
perfect procedure. Unfortunately, most people overdo it. Remember, human beings are not perfect, so choose your perfectionism battles carefully. Which is a better use of time: polishing a speech or ironing underwear? Take a minute to reflect on to reflect on the areas of your life where you demand perfectionism. Consider whether you’re striving for excellence or imposing expectations that are impossible to meet. Jot down your thoughts in the space below (and remember, your answer doesn’t have to be perfect).
world won’t do you much good if you have no time to spend it and enjoy yourself. Write down your thoughts regarding your control issues related to money, and be sure to include anything you’d like to change or improve.
Reflect on why you feel the urge to control so many
How do you measure stress?
It’s a good idea to acknowledge your current stress level and determine a way to measure it so that, in the future, you can look back and determine whether your stress level is increasing, decreasing or staying the same. Measuring your stress is a way to measure your overall progress toward success. Personally, my blood pressure and resting heart rate were specific benchmarks that helped me determine my stress level. When I left my job to raise my daughter and run
and notice if you’re handling them differently than you used to. This can be a great indication of your progress. Here’s an example of how someone uses other people as a “barometer” of their own stress level. I met with my Mastermind Entrepreneurs group on the beach earlier this year. From time to time, the subject of the stress we used to experience in our “former” lives comes up (although not very often on the beach!) One of my Mastermind members was telling us that he can see his own stress-level changes reflected in the way his kids react to him. In his former business, he was at home but was working a lot of hours during the day and evening. What prompted him to change was when one of his children asked, “Dad, will you come play with us?” and before he could answer, his four-year old began making fun of him saying, “We know, Dad. You can’t play with us because you have to go talk on the phone.” Although he didn’t feel stressed at the time, he suddenly saw himself mirrored back to him by his son, and it was a
yourself right away, but you will find that other people respond to you in a more positive way. Other factors may unexpectedly appear that also help you measure stress. You may lose some weight if you were a person who ate junk food when you were stressed. Acne may clear up, skin may look more radiant, and fatigue can give way to increased energy. Results will vary from person to person, but you should generally look and feel better when your stress level is reduced. Using the indicators mentioned, plus any additional signs you can think of, make a note about your current stress level. Use the space provided, so the information is available for future reference and comparison.
Take Care
In a nutshell, the best way to reduce stress is to allocate your time according to your priorities, and to take care of yourself. Take time out for you: eat well, exercise, meditate, relax and pamper yourself at least occasionally. Inside you there exists a well which springs forth with an unlimited supply of energy, health and vitality. Taking time for yourself is a way to access your “well” and rejuvenate spirit, mind and body. Do you have a favorite way to unwind and take care of yourself? If you think other people could benefit from hearing it, please send us an email and we may share it in our weblog, publish it our ezine or make it available in some other way. By taking care of yourself, you return to the well to renew yourself. This allows you to share your time, talents and resources with others. Completing the Success Method™ is one way in which you’re accessing
Chapter 8: Massive Action and Focus, Followed by MORE Massive Action and Focus.
“Nothing happens until something moves.”
—Albert Einstein
In today’s society, people are frequently pulled in many directions at once. While reading this right now, you may be eating dinner, commuting from work, rocking your baby or performing any other task. Popular culture hails multitasking as the critical key to sanity. If that is true, why are stress levels at an all-time high? The children of today are watching the way their adult role models live and act. Kids are absorbing our busyness, non-stop movement, 24/7 cell phone blabbing, and the constant background noise of the TV or radio. Is it any wonder why ADD and ADHD have suddenly become so prevalent? Everywhere you go, it’s easy to find people who complain about how busy they are, yet how much of their
is because you weren’t sure what to do, perhaps because you were too busy feeling stuck. This Method offers a step-by-step process for creating success, and anyone with strong desire and focus can prevail with the Success Method™. The big disconnect occurs when people are so trapped in their old behaviors that they find themselves lacking the focus necessary to stay on track. The best laid plans are worthless if they remain only plans. Focused action is the only step that can ensure results. The average person takes plenty of action each day, but without purpose and focus the results are scattered. This is where you will continue to surpass the average person. You are one of the lucky ones! By reading and participating in the Success Method™, you are finding a way to get off the merry-go-round and make some sense of your life. You’re no longer stuck on a treadmill; you are learning to live on purpose. Yours is the path to peace and joy.
So far during this process, you’ve laid the groundwork by determining your life’s priority. You’ve set goals based on your priority and developed an action plan. You’ve learned about ways to overcome obstacles that may stand in your way. The only thing left to do is to take massive action. Don’t be alarmed by the word massive, because at first glance it can be deceiving. You may see the word massive and imagine calling in sick to work so you can stay home and take eight hours of massive action to achieve your goal. Rome wasn’t built in a day, and your goals won’t be either. Massive refers to consistent, daily steps which may appear to be infinitesimal but actually combine to create tremendous results. Does a person become obese during one meal? During one day? During one week? Can a person become physically fit after one workout? How about after a month of working out? No, it is the aggregate sum of
I eat a free doughnut or not? It continues all throughout your waking hours. Regardless of what your goal is and what your typical day looks like, you are faced with countless choices in which you must decide: Do I move towards my goal now, or away from it? Incidentally, the decision not to do anything is usually a choice that moves you away from your goal. All these seemingly insignificant decisions accumulate each day, each week, and each month to yield massive results over time. Of course for some people, procrastination rears its ugly head, making even the small decisions seem too tough to even bother getting started. Remember the three steps to beat procrastination? 1. Break large tasks into smaller tasks (this was covered in chapter four).
The average adult lacks intense focus. Have you ever talked to someone at a party and although you attempted to maintain eye contact, the other person kept looking away from you, as though they’re looking for someone else? How did you feel when that happened? That person was obviously not focused on you or your conversation. On the other hand, have you ever held a conversation with someone where you felt like you were the only two people in the room, even though the room was crowded? At that time, you were both focused on each other, blocking out all other distractions. If you answered yes, you are capable of intense focus. It is far easier to focus intently for short periods of time rather than for long periods of time. Long periods of focus are mentally draining, difficult to maintain and usually require careful planning in advance to avoid or eliminate distractions in advance. Additionally, the results of long periods of focus are not usually as beneficial as the results of several short bursts of intense
Instead, you focus intently on the task at hand only, in short bursts of time. You can play the saxophone when the hour of cleaning is finished. If you truly find it impossible to focus intently on a project, try shortening the period of time or breaking down the task into even smaller tasks. For example, if you can’t focus on the garage for one hour at a time, start with two half-hour increments in a day. You could clean for thirty minutes, do something else for thirty minutes and then clean for another half-hour. This way, you’re still attacking the garage an hour at a time, but you may find it easier to focus in these shorter sessions. Alternatively, if the project can be broken into objectives, you may find it easier to focus by making the steps even smaller and more manageable. Instead of attacking “prepare and mail party invitations” in a single sitting, break it into four smaller tasks and attack one at a time. For example: stuff and seal envelopes, affix mailing labels, affix return address labels, and affix stamps. Or,
Consistent action is the sure-fire way to beat procrastination. You may find it beneficial to do your least-liked activities in the morning because: 1. It will free up the rest of the day for more pleasant activities 2. Doing something as soon as you wake up leaves less time for procrastination 3. You won’t spend all day dreading the things you don’t want to do 4. You will gain a sense of pride and accomplishment from following through on your commitment, and this can set the tone for the entire day 5. And many more reasons which you will discover for yourself!
Now go back through your list of excuses and using only the open lines this time, write down ways to get around each one (after all, they are just excuses). As you write the new statement, cross out the old excuse. For example, if one of your reasons says “I’m not a morning person” you might counter that with “I am committed to a successful life and willing to do whatever it takes.” As you write the counter-statement, cross out the excuse. If you listed “I don’t have time,” remember that you don’t have time because you’re doing the wrong activities. You might write this instead: “I will make time by (using my lunch hour, creating solutions during my commute, getting up a half hour earlier, etc.)” There is always an answer if you are willing to give up your excuse and find a solution.
“Ideas without action are worthless.”
– Helen Keller
Today is
and I feel because I now have
Track your progress. Put a checkmark under each day during which you honored your commitment and took massive action towards your goal.
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Day 7
Day 8 Day 1
Day 9 Day 2
Day 10 Day 3
Day 11 Day 4
Day 12 Day 5
Day 13 Day 6
Day 14 Day 7
Chapter 9: Making Minor Course Corrections to Stay on Target.
“Successful people make their decisions quickly and change their minds slowly. Failures make their decisions slowly and change their minds quickly.”
– Andy Andrews, The Traveler’s Gift
Congratulations on completing eight weeks of your nineweek Success Method™. As you enter the home stretch, take a moment to mentally stand back and admire all you’ve accomplished. By now, you are most likely experiencing some positive changes in your life. Acknowledge these improvements and expect more to follow. How do you feel having honored this important commitment to yourself?
As you continue to take daily steps toward your goals, you may discover new benefits. You may be sleeping better at night and awakening in the morning feeling well-rested and excited to begin the day. It makes a remarkable difference to know your life has purpose and you are fulfilling that purpose a little more each day. Over time, you will find your entire attitude improves as you continue to take consistent, focused, daily action.
“Every great work, every great accomplishment, has been brought into manifestation through holding to the vision, and often just before the big achievement, comes apparent failure and discouragement.”
—Florence Scovel Shinn, Artist and Author
From time to time, obstacles will arise in your path. Challenges are part of life, and these speed bumps often
When would you quit if you knew you could not fail? The answer is simple: never. If you absolutely knew you could be successful, you wouldn’t quit and you wouldn’t whine about “when will it happen?” Patience is a struggle for many people, and it’s one that can cause stress and heartache. Be patient and persist. Take action. When the going gets tough, the tough do not go shopping, they get going. By completing the Success Method™, you have proven your strength and stamina so don’t let yourself down now. Remember, several factors can fall into place at the last possible minute so don’t give up, even if it seems as though time is running out. You will prevail! You may have seen the following poem because it’s been around for several decades. I have shared it with many people throughout my personal and professional life, and I’ve seen many people post it on their bulletin board or computer as a constant reminder of the power of
Don’t Quit Author Unknown
When things go wrong, as they sometimes will When the road you’re trudging seems all uphill When funds are low and the debts are high And you want to smile, but you have to sigh When care is pressing you down a bit Rest, if you must, but don’t you quit!
Life is queer with its twists and turns As every one of us sometimes learns And many a failure turns about When he might have won had he stuck it out. Don’t give up though the pace seems slow You may succeed with another blow.
In case you missed the message, here’s a summary: the best way to stay on track is with consistent, daily action towards your goals. Keep in mind your reason for beginning this journey in the first place. Read your goal list daily and have faith that persistence, focus and massive action will lead you to successful completion of your goal.
“Lots of people limit their possibilities by giving up easily. Never tell yourself ‘This is too much for me. It’s no use. I can’t go on.’ If you do you’re licked, and by your own thinking, too. Keep believing and keep on keeping on.” —Norman Vincent Peale Pastor, Speaker and Author
Keeping Tabs
2. The progress log is a snapshot of the now status of all goals, but the action plans show specific tasks and objectives from start to finish for each goal.
3. The progress log can be created on a dry erase board or chalkboard because last week’s entry is irrelevant and will be erased to make room for an update. On the other hand, the action plan is best kept on a computer or in a notebook and updated daily. An example of a progress log is provided for you. Feel free to adapt the format to suit your style and consider writing it on a dry erase board or chalkboard. A progress update of your goals does not belong in a book or folder—it should be posted as a frequent reminder of what you’re working toward and where you currently are in the process. Update your progress log as often as you make progress
progress log should be posted in your home or office and updated frequently, so no space is provided for it here in this workbook. Buy a chalkboard or dry erase board and get crackin’!
SAMPLE PROGRESS LOG Goal #1
Update
Goal #2
Update
Goal #3
Slim down from a size 16 dress size to a size 12 by 6/1. Exercising 3 times/wk; lost 11 lbs + 2 inches in waist; size 14 almost fits Clean out garage; make space to park car and boat inside garage. 25% complete. Boat fits and shelves are cleared off. Donated six boxes of useable “stuff” to charity. Improve quantity and quality of time spent with kids.
Method over from the beginning and start a new nineweek program. Houston, We Have a Problem
Did you know that the space shuttle is off-course approximately 98 percent of the time? (And apparently if you believe everything the weatherman says, hurricanes apparently share the same statistic.) The space shuttle crew members frequently make tiny course corrections to ensure they achieve their goals and successfully complete their mission. When you consider how many people work for NASA, how much money goes into the space program, and how much training the astronauts receive, it may seem a little surprising that they spend so much time off-course. Kind of makes you feel like you’re not doing so bad, eh? Even the most scientifically-minded individual (or team) can form meticulous plans which still require constant monitoring and frequent “tweaking” to stay on track. You
1. You’re spending too much time focusing on your goal. 2. You’re not spending enough time focusing on your goal. 3. Your goals don’t reflect what you really want.
All Work and No Play
Remember the desired result is always balance, which means you can’t spend all of your time focused on one thing. If you’re spending too much time focusing on you goal, review Chapter 2 and remember the importance of taking care of yourself, first and foremost. Practice balancing your time across all your responsibilities by: •
taking care of self with personal essentials, personal benefits and relaxation
What exactly is sucking up your time and preventing you from achieving what you claimed is most important to you? Or is there another, deeper reason why you’re not spending enough time on your goal? Massive action is the cumulative result of tiny baby steps. Stop in the moment to evaluate whether what you’re doing is necessary. This will allow you to replace time-wasters with small, daily steps toward your goal. If necessary, repeat the Time vs. Priorities Exercise in Chapter 2, and review Chapter 6: The Myth of Time Management.
A Lackluster Attitude Attitude
If you’re not excited about your goal, the goal itself may not accurately reflect what you really want. Granted, you may not be thrilled about completing some of the tasks required to realize your goal, but thinking about achieving the goal itself should stir up feelings of enthusiasm and put butterflies in your stomach. After a few weeks, if you are losing steam and your interest
assist many people and I know they’ll help you too. I personally still use these questions to “take inventory” whenever I get stuck.
EXERCISE #15: PERSONAL INVENTORY
In a separate notebook or journal (or by adding pages to your Success Method binder), take some time to answer the following questions as honestly and thoroughly as possible. If you are completely honest, the answer will become crystal clear at some point during your writing. Any part or all of this exercise can be repeated as often as necessary. 1. Are you reviewing your priorities regularly? If not, what is keeping you from doing this? 2. Are you spending your time in accordance with your priorities? If no, why not?
6. Do you feel passionate enough about your goals to sustain your determination through rough spots? If not, repeat the goal-setting exercises in Chapter 4. 7. Have you set new goals after accomplishing old ones? If not, get started immediately! 8. Are you committed to your new goals? If not, what is holding you back? 9. Are your goals congruent with your priorities? If not, review Chapter 3 and repeat the goal-setting exercises in Chapter 4. 10.Are 10. Are your goals specific, measurable and achievable? If not, how can you revamp your goals to make them S.A.M.? 11.Are 11. Are you setting and achieving appropriate objectives? Are you keeping your action plans updated? Are you taking action daily? If not, what is holding you back
14.Are you giving yourself credit and acknowledging the progress you’ve made? If not, make a list now of all your accomplishments to date. Be sure to include your demonstrable commitment to the Success Method™. 15.Are you generally feeling focused or scattered? What steps can you take to improve and strengthen your focus? 16.Are you taking focused action daily? If not, what behaviors can you change to create massive action through small daily steps? 17.Are you taking care of yourself? Name five specific things you can do this week to take care of yourself. Make a commitment to complete at least three of them this week. 18.Why are you stressed? What specifically is causing your stress? Is the stress moving you forward (positive pressure) or backward (unnecessary stress)?
changes you can implement immediately to put yourself back on the path to success. Don’t allow procrastination to thwart the progress you’ve made to date. It’s never too late to get back on track and pick up where you left off. Congratulations on continuing to demonstrate your commitment to yourself and your priorities. Be Flexible and Persistent
If you pride yourself on being decisive, you may not like to change your mind. This way of thinking can cause you to discard an entire goal when it doesn’t work out exactly as you planned. Somehow, it seems seemed less painful to give up entirely rather than to review, revamp and press onward, and as a result you may create an all-ornothing approach. You must understand that setbacks are part of the process, and challenges are always an opportunity to do something different (and better). Did you know that Colonel Sanders was rejected over
surpassing that of a “reasonable” person, is what guaranteed his success. He viewed each rejection as a chance to do something differently and improve himself and his approach. If you can begin to view setbacks as opportunities to learn and to do something differently, you’ll open all sorts of doors that you once perceived as dead ends. In some cases, all that is required is to adjust the completion date of your goal. In other words, your fried chicken recipe may be perfect, but you just have to keep looking for the right buyer. Other unexpected circumstances such as world disasters, adverse weather conditions, or illness can require slight adjustments in timing or logistics.
Change the date, change the details, change your approach, but don’t give up on your goal!
strengthened your integrity by remaining true to your word. You mapped out a plan for attaining your goals and achieving a life ruled by balance. You are creating a life that makes sense. Isn’t that what you set out to accomplish? Congratulations are in order for all you’ve achieved during the past nine weeks. You should feel satisfied as you acknowledge your accomplishments with a sense of pride. The changes you’ve made and the improvements you’ll continue to make will serve as an inspiration to everyone around you. You’ve set goals based on your greatest passions in life, so charge ahead with zest and zeal and don’t give up until you get what you want. Take a lesson from Colonel Sanders and let nothing stand in your way. With consistent, focused daily action, you will be triumphant. WELCOME TO THE BEGINNING OF YOUR NEW SUCCESSFUL LIFE.
AFTERWARD
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REFERENCES
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