WT = Waiting Time. DT = Development Time.
PLANNING (task, scheduling, and WT = DT): I plan to write my Leap Year W14 post into the site Medium onWednesday at 4 PM in my brothers house in Denver. 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 grateful I was for my parents allowing me to borrow their car for the summer. It provided us the freedom to get from one place to another and saved thousands of dollars.
EXECUTION (strategies used): W43 complete! The weekly task was not finished until Sunday, but the key thing is that it was done. 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, Be a Pro, and Seinfeld Strategy strategies this week, as I was not able to complete everything until the last three hours of the week. 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.
Be a PRO: I actually learned this strategy through insights from Jeff Goins, Tim Ferris, and James Clear.
First, Jeff Goins mentioned in a podcast that “action will follow mindset.” This was one of the things that helped him stop acting like an amateur and become a pro at his craft of writing. Second, 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 consistently follow through. Yet, 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 and leads us down a path of frustration. Pros’ have the mindset to consistently show up, day after day and fall in love with the boredom and monotony of sticking to their schedules. Additionally, they complete the tasks that produce their best work and takes them closer to their goals no matter what.
Third, Tim Ferris 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” by having the mindset to show up consistently and completing the work.
There will be days when you do not want to complete a key habit or activity, but to be a “Pro” just SHOW UP! Have the mindset to fall in love with the boredom, stick to your schedule, and then complete the tasks that move your forward.
Seinfeld Strategy: Jerry Seinfeld is considered one of the most popular, success, and wealthy comedians of all time. That is when Brad Issac, a young comedian, had the opportunity to perform at an event with Jerry and asked him backstage how he could be a better comic. This is what Jerry responded:
He said the way to be a better comic was to create better jokes and the way to create better jokes was to write every day.He told me to get a big wall calendar that has a whole year on one page and hang it on a prominent wall. The next step was to get a big red magic marker. He said for each day that I do my task of writing, I get to put a big red X over that day. “After a few days you’ll have a chain. Just keep at it and the chain will grow longer every day. You’ll like seeing that chain, especially when you get a few weeks under your belt. Your only job is to not break the chain.”
Jerry never mentioned anything about results or motivation, but the key was not to “Break the Chain.” This is the key point of the strategy and will allow you to overcome procrastination and consistently produce quality work. All you have to do is choose a meaningful tasks that moves you closer to your goals, while also not being too overwhelming to complete on a daily basis. Then focus on not “Breaking the Chain” and being able to add a big X everyday. Additionally, there is another benefit of making your progress visible, which can provide that little push to complete your weekly tasks.
REFLECTIONS (learnings and actions): Below are my reflections for the W43.
What went well?
W43 was one of the most challenging weeks to complete, even after all the strategies that I learned and applied to overcome procrastination and other everyday challenges. It took multiple Implementation Intentions and asking myself what a "Pro" would do in similar situations. The key is that it was completed and the streak of completing 43 straight weekly tasks is still in tact.
Like I said above, it took my me until lat Sunday night to complete everything, as I am in the third week of traveling, living out of suitcases, and dealing with the daily challenges of taking care of both my wife and 16 month old son.
My wife and I have learned that traveling with babies/infants/toddlers is no joke! I want to thank her so much as she has helped me out so much in these last three weeks. The fact that I completed my task this week is in huge part due to her efforts.
What is something we can improve upon? What actions can we take next week?
I am not sure where I heard this quote during my Leap Year process, but something that I have to keep reminding myself is to "Trust that I will figure it out."
There will always be a level of uncertainty in life and you will not have all the answers right away, but that is ok. Instead of worrying about every outcome that could happen, trust that it will work itself out.
I have learnt that there is always a level of uncertainty traveling with a 16 month old...will he sleep tomorrow on the plane, what foods should we feed him, and will he have a tantrum on the plane...are but a few of the thoughts running through my mind. Although incessant worrying comes with being a first time parent, I need to understand that everything will work out. Just breathe, trust, and then have a bias towards action to figure out what to do next in any given situation.
What is something to avoid next week?
Trust that it will work out!
No comments:
Post a Comment