WT = Waiting Time. DT = Development Time.
PLANNING (task, scheduling, and WT = DT): I plan to write my Leap Year W24 post into the site Medium on Wednesday at 6 PM in study. 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 play with my son when I get home from work. There were no other pressures, just the time to hangout, explore, and learn more about him.
EXECUTION (strategies used): W53 in the books! 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 Thursday. 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...
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.” 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. 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.
The difficult thing about 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. There will be days when you do not want to complete a key habit or activity, but develop the mindset of a “Pro” by showing up, sticking to your schedule, and then completing the tasks that move your forward.
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.
FEAR: I CAN'T because it is not perfect, that is not how I thought it might go, or I do not have the skill or resources to.....
CVFA (Expanded): This strategy really helps me be aware and release judgement if things do not turn our a certain way. 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 do complete a certain action earlier in the week, but have to complete something else in its place.
Often times we get so fixated on how something should turn out a certain way, and try to control everything to ensure it follows the script. Unfortunately, this closes ourselves off from the many opportunities presenting themselves in its place.
Dane Maxwell, the founder of The Foundation, has a quote "Resist nothing, Welcome Everything." This allows you to release what was, and be present to what is.
Things might not (usually) go as you exactly planned, but be open to the new opportunities if plans change. Embrace the new challenge to gain benefits you never thought of.
Thus As long as the new task allows you to be Committed to your Vision, then you can be Flexible with your Approach. Don't beat yourself up, and try to control everything to the point you get frustrated. Take a deep breath and think if the task still helps you be Committed to your Vision, if so, then be Flexible with the Approach. If not, then stay committed to your original plan.
REFLECTIONS (learnings and actions): The first week of my second Leap Year. Wow, it sounds pretty crazy to say. Now, I really had no idea how I would feel after my first Leap Year process, but I will tell you it feels amazing to be where I am at today.
Let me dive a little deeper in to the what I mean by "Amazing."
I am not going to lie, my days are not filled with rainbows, glittery stars, or everything working out perfectly as they were planned. On the contrary, there are more obstacles to overcome and bigger tasks to be completed, but I feel "amazing" as I am more at ease now, than I was before I started my Leap Year process.
What is "amazing" is the process allowed me to gain the experience, learnings, and strategies to take on even bigger endeavors.
I read a great piece by Benjamin Hardy this week in the site Medium, where he identifies why most people give up on their dreams. He says
If you want to achieve big things, your path will be unclear and hazy. The emotional need for CLARITY and fear of the unknown leads people to abandon their dreams for more straightforward pursuits, ie settling.
I put CLARITY, as this is one of the main things the Leap Year process has provided for me, clarity. Clarity, in what steps to take, clarity on how to take those steps, and clarity on how to use the learnings to move forward.
Benjamin goes on to say more which supports the Leap Year process.
This does not mean you have "IT ALL" figured out. It means you are clear on the next step or two.
If you are at mile marker 1 and your dream is at mile marker 50, you just need enough info to support you to get to mile marker 3 and 4. Once you get there you will need further instructions. But you have no clue what those instructions will be, because you don't know what you currently don't know.
When you get to the next step, you will be able to ask better questions. You will be better able to assess how to get to mile marker 6, 7, and 8.
The point is not to have it all figured out. The point is for you to know the next few steps.
The Leap Year has been instrumental in this for me, as it outlined the structure to follow in order to get to the next step. There have been many weeks I did not know how I was going to finish my first manuscript (mile marker 40), but I knew how to get to the next marker (keep editing the chapters).
Furthermore, I know there will be more uncertain weeks in the future, but I know I have the structure to help me get to the next step to "ask better questions" and "assess" how to get there from where I am at.
So, embrace the unknown, the hazy, and use the Leap Year process to get from one step to the next in order to achieve your biggest dreams!
What went well?
Weekly task completed and was able to process the importance of clarity in achieving your dreams.
What is something we can improve upon? What actions can we take next week?
Be present and listen more intently. Not interrupting others or moving away from them when I am talking to them, as I have something else to complete. Be present and fully there in the moment, as everybody has something to offer.
What is something to avoid next week?
Trying to rush away from someone trying to share something with me.
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