WEEK 36: COMMIT 100%

WT = Waiting Time. DT = Development Time.

PLANNING (task, scheduling, and WT = DT):  I plan to write my W7 Leap Year post in the site Medium on Wednesday at 6 PM in study. Also, I plan to meet the Josephs on Tuesday at 12:15 PM in office. Lastly, I plan to turn those small WTs into Grateful Time, where I look to see what I can be grateful for in those situations. For example, last week I thought how great it was to have basic health. Just to be have the use of all faculties and able to recover if I had an illness. 

EXECUTION (strategies used):  Weekly task completed, but not at the first scheduled time. Although I use a combination of many strategies throughout the week, there are always some that are used more than others depending on what comes up. For example, I relied heavily on the Be a Pro, Implementation Intentions, andCVFA strategies this week, as I was not able to complete both tasks until Saturday. The highlighted strategies that were used in the week are listed below along with the I CAN'T statements that they help overcome. 

1. Early Scheduling = Implementation Intentions: This is a strategy that I credit to completing my tasks on time, and it was a huge benefit this week. I learned this from James Clear and it improves the likelihood that you will follow through on your goals up to 3X what you normally would do. In this strategy, you first plan a [TASK] to complete and then schedule a [TIME] and [PLACE] to complete the task as early in the week as you can. 

Three benefits are produced from doing this. First, you get a sense of accomplishment if you complete the task in the beginning of the week at the scheduled time. In addition, it allows you to devout more time to do additional tasks to reach your goals within the same week. Second, it provides more time to complete the task if you have to deal with something else at the first planned time. Third, you are 2X to 3X more likely to follow through on your actions. 

2. CVFA: I learned this strategy from Tony Robbins and the initialism for the strategy is CVFA. In this strategy you stay Committed to your Vision, but are Flexible with the Approach. This comes in handy when you plan to complete a certain action at a specific time, but you end up completing the task at a different time or complete something different altogether.

In the past, I would usually beat myself about this and would feel super frustrated that things did not go as exactly as I thought they would. Then I realized that as long as I am taking a step forward, then it was still a OK. This led me to ask if the new situation allowed me to be Committed to my Vision. If the answer was yes, then I could be Flexible with my Approach. For example, I planned on writing a blog post in the site Medium in W34, but then I had to deal with finalizing the book cover. Although this was not what I originally planned, choosing the book cover still allowed me to be Committed to my Vision of finishing my Leap Year and completing my book. Thus, I took a breath, then another, and then chose to be Flexible with my Approach.

I remember that in W6 I shared my frustrations of not completing my originally planned tasks and it led me to finding this strategy. Although I still beat myself and try to control everything sometimes, this strategy has helped me to flow with things as they come. So remember, don’t beat yourself up when things do not go according to plan. As long as you stay Committed to your Vision, then be Flexible with yourApproach. 

3. Be a PRO: I actually learned this strategy through Tim Ferris and James Clear. First, James Clear wrote that it does not matter what you want to become better at, the only skill that separates a "Pro" from an "amateur" is the ability to show up. Showing up entails sticking to a schedule and doing the work, especially when you do not want to. This is the only thing that separates the two!The difficult thing is that being a pro requires us to be consistent, and we often let the challenges of everyday life get in the way and only attempt to do the work when we feel motivated. This produces small gains if any at all and leads us to frustration. Pros' consistently show up, day after day and fall in love with the boredom and monotony of sticking to their schedules and completing the tasks that take them closer to their goals and produces their best work.  Tim Ferris, a professional in life-style redesign, said on his 4-Hr Work Week blog that "Practicing key habits when we don't want to is the most key habit to all." This reinforces this idea of being a "Pro" just by showing up. 

There will be days when you do not want to complete a key habit or activity, but to be a "Pro" just SHOW UP! Fall in love with the boredom, stick to your schedule, and complete the tasks that move your forward.

REFLECTIONS (learnings and actions): Another week has come and gone and another big X has been added to the Leap Year calendar. I now look up and see 36 big red X's in a row and feel a sense of accomplishment. In the beginning of my Leap Year process, I could not envision all the things that I would learn by W36 and this will be the same for you if you have just started your own. It will be hard at times, but I urge you to just "Show Up" and do the work, as this will lead you to places that you never thought possible. For example, I had no idea how to write a book and was unsure that I would  finish. Where as now, I know with certainty that I will finish the book and my only worry now is that there might be too much information. 

So keep on keeping on and show up and complete your tasks! 

What went well?

Like I mentioned above I was able to complete the weekly tasks, but not until Saturday. I can remember that this would stress me out in the beginning of my Leap Year process, but I was able to use the strategy to Be a Pro and complete the work. In addition, I had to use multiple Implementation Intentions in combination with the CVFA strategies to follow through, but the key thing is that I was able to complete the weekly task. 

This week Megan was sick, which shifted our weekly schedule and there was an opportunity to have dinner with one of former students that I could not pass up. In the past, I would have viewed these events as obstacles and would stress out about how I could complete everything that I wanted to. Where as now, I know I will execute and complete the task no matter what challenges life presents me. 

During my Leap Year process I have heard the phrase "success leaves clues" many times. We often times, me being included, make success more complicated than it is. You might be asking what do you mean by this and if it was that easy everyone would be successful? Well, let me say that the formula for success is quite simple. First you commit 100% and then stay disciplined to actions that move you forward. That is it! The hard part is following through. In essence success is mechanical, as the steps are easy to follow, but we just have to follow them. 

I have learned through my Leap Year process that "freedom" is experienced through discipline, and discipline is an action that follows commitment. Dane Maxwell and Andy Drish, founders of The Foundation and owners of multimillion dollar software businesses say that "100% commitment is easy, while 99% is a #%$@%!" This is so true as being 100% committed doesn't allow space for doubt and does not consume all of your will power as you follow through on what must be done, no questions asked. Where as, being 99% committed allows you to not follow through 1% of the time, which in turn opens up the door for a little doubt. 

In the teaching profession there is a saying that "You give them (students) an inch, they will take a mile." This supports this idea of 100% commitment. If you commit 100%, there is no space for doubt to creep into your mind and there is no question when you are faced with a difficult decision. While, if you are 99% committed there is a 1% chance that you will not follow through. This can easily open the door to more doubt and uncertainty, which makes it difficult to stay disciplined to you key actions, ie complete your weekly task.

So make success mechanical and take the guess work out of the process. Commit 100% and be disciplined in following through on actions that move you forward in your Leap Year process.

What is something we can improve upon? What actions can we take next week?

Finding more balance during the week. Between writing every morning, investing into The Foundation, and completing the weekly task, and being a husband, and father...I have found that I have cut "fun" things out of my life. This is an area that I know that could use some improvement. 

The first step in anything is awareness, and I am definitely aware of this and will make it a point next week to add in some small pockets of "fun." Maybe a game or watching some funny clips with Meggo or laughing uncontrollably with my son. 

What is something to avoid next week?

Ignoring to have fun along the process! 

Thanks for stopping in and I will see you in W37!