WEEK 42: CLARITY COMES WITH ACTION

WT = Waiting Time. DT = Development Time.

PLANNING (task, scheduling, and WT = DT):  I plan to write my Leap Year W13 post into the site Medium on Wednesday at 2 PM at my sister in laws house in Colorado Springs. 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 be able to cook decent food. I remember the days when burned, charred, and seasoned-less fair was the norm, but thankful that people now want to come when I invite them to dinners rather than declining. 

EXECUTION (strategies used):  W42 in the books and the task was completed on the original planned date. 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 Implementation Intentions, Got 2-minutes, and 3-Buckets system for writing strategies this week, as I am still traveling visiting family and finding small pockets of time to complete the weekly task. The highlighted strategies that were used in the week are listed below along with the I CAN'T statements that they help overcome. 

Procrastination...I CAN'T because I am not motivated or do not feel like it...

Early Scheduling = Implementation Intentions: This is a strategy that I credit to completing my tasks consistently on a weekly basis. In this strategy, you first PLAN to complete a task at a SCHEDULED time (day and time) in a specific location as early in the week as you can. More specifically you fill in the following statement.

I plan to [task] on [day] at [time] in [location].

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 life presents you with something that needs to be attended to during the original scheduled time. Lastly, research shows that you are 2X to 3X more likely to follow through on your actions. I learned about this strategy from James Clear, who is a great blogger that writes on the science of human behavior and how to build better habits. He shows the research on how Implementation Intentions help you follow through on your plans and achieve your goals.

Procrastination...I CAN'T start because I do not have enough time or because it is not perfect...

Got 2-minutes: I learned the 2-minute rule from James Clear, and it helps you initiate a task, as usually this is the most difficult step. This strategy helps you focus on what you would do in the first 2 minutes of starting a task and then completing those actions.  Often times do this and then look up at the clock and see that I have been working for well over 2 minutes. I have now merged this with the "Got a Minute" strategy, which is used to turn any amount of free time into productive time. It comes from Vierordt's Law, which states that when estimating a previous task, people overestimate short durations and underestimate long ones. Simply, we regularly overestimate how long it will take to accomplish meaningful tasks. Often times they can be accomplished in a short amount of time, so don't judge if you will start something by how much time you think you have, just start! 

Fear...I CAN'T because it is not perfect...

3-Bucket System: I learned the 3-Bucket system from Jeff Goins who breaks up the process of writing into three easy steps. First, create a place (physical or digital) where you can collect ideas. Second, schedule a time to draft the first version without the pressure of making edits. Third, edit your draft after you have taken time away from it. This process makes writing much easier and I find myself producing better writing in a shorter amount of time.

REFLECTIONS (learnings and actions): I am now 10 weeks  from the completion of my Leap Year process and I have to pinch myself in order to realize where I am today. I really had no idea if I could finish this process and where it would take me in W1, but am so grateful that I have stuck with it and showed up every week to complete the weekly task. 40,000 words written, multiple strategies and other tools to overcome procrastination learnt, and identifying a purpose to guide my actions are but a few of the many things that I have gained through this process. The crazy thing is that I have roughly two and a half months left to learn, modify, and gain more tools in order to help you with your Leap Year. Additionally, I will also finish my first manuscript of the book. 

I read a quote this week that really resonated with me from the site Medium from Jeff Goins. This quote encapsulates one of the most important things I have learned through my Leap Year process and actually has lead me to the formation of a new strategy called ACT. I have written in past posts that I can accredit becoming a better writer in thanks to Jeff, as I learned the 3-buckets system strategy for writing from him (mentioned above). He offered another great piece of advice. Jeff wrote:

"Clarity comes with action"

At times, I have found myself asking myself "Now, what?" many times during my Leap Year process. I would get to a certain point where either I thought it would work out a different way or something else would have happened to let me know what to do next. However, there were times when I would be stumped and had no idea what to do next. 

I have learned through my Leap Year that we all have two choices in these situations. One, we can quit, as we are not sure of what to do next. Or two, we can take action. For example, in W35 I had about 30,000 words in the book but did not have a theme that tied it all together. This sense of not knowing made me question myself daily and I had to decide whether to stop and say "Hey, you tried at least" or "Well I am not sure what happens next, but I am going to keep writing and trust I will figure it out." 

This idea of taking action in times of uncertainty is also validated by Dane Maxwell, the founder of The Foundation and self-made millionaire. He says "...in any situation, have a bias towards action." You might not know exactly what to do, but always land on the side to take action, however small it might be.  

Tony Robbins has said that "The quality of your life is in direct proportion to the amount of uncertainty you can comfortably deal with." There will always be a level of uncertainty in whatever you do, so embrace it, and move past it by taking action.  

Additionally, Confucius said that "A journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step." Even if you do not know all the steps to take, take the first step. This will lead to the next one, and then the next one after that. 

Lastly, know that you will never progress if you take no action. You do not need to know everything in order to start, the key is to just start!

What went well?

I was able to use Implementation Intentions, Got 2-minutes, and the 3-Buckets system of writing strategies to complete the weekly task in face of heavy everyday challenges. Traveling, not being in our home, visiting with family, cooking various meals, all on top of planning out what my son will eat, when he will eat, and planning for the next leg of our trip...the list goes on. 

In the past, these daily obstacles would have overwhelmed me and left me frustrated because I was not able to get to the meaningful tasks that I wanted to do. However, today, I have the gained the strategies and tools to fulfill my duties as a husband, father, and... and still make time to complete the weekly tasks for my Leap Year. 

My hope is that the strategies and insights that I share can help you with pursuing, discovering, and achieving your dreams in the face of everyday challenges as well. 

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

Be present. Often times I find myself planning the next thing to do, and miss out on all the small incredible moments of the day. Ferris Buelher coined it perfectly when he said "Life moves pretty fast, if you don't stop and look around for a while, you could miss it."

I need to make it a point to enjoy this time with family and friends and really soak in these precious moments!

What is something to avoid next week?

Planning incessantly and taking myself away from the present moment.

Thanks for tuning in and see you in W43.