PLANNING (Implementation Intention): You will follow through 2X to 3X more likely to complete your weekly task than you normally would just by filling in the following statement.
I plan to complete the weekly task [day] at [time] in [location].
A reminder you might have to use multiple Implementation Intentions in order to follow through.
EXECUTION (strategies used): From week to week, I use a combination of many strategies. There are always some which are used more than others depending on what comes up, but I wanted to offer a link to all them at once.
My advice is to identify the I CAN'T statement you tell yourself during the most. Then find a strategy below the statement which resonates with you, and then start using it.
Enjoy!
REFLECTIONS (learnings and actions): Last week I wrote about Inevitable thinking, or believing what you decide is a forgone conclusion because you set up the conditions to make it happen.
Imagine if you were to harness this power every time you took on a challenge? Loose 10 lbs and keep it off, no problem! Quit smoking, easy. The major difficulty is there is an element of uncertainty caused from the unknown. This lack of clarity on the HOW and WHEN produces uncomfortable feelings. Doubt, anxiety, and fear cripple us and stop us from taking action. Thus we sabotage ourselves before we even start.
Think about the last time you stopped yourself from taking on a challenge or trying something new? You probably convinced yourself not to try as there was a possibility you might fail or you because you had never done something like it before? I can raise my hand here, as I must have talked myself out of starting the "Leap Year process" for many years, that is right years, before I finally took action.
This is why I want to dive deeper into the setup and lay out it step by step, so you can harness the power of Inevitable Thinking.
I have discussed before the importance to focus on systems, or the process, over goals to make progress. Don't get me wrong, goals are great to plan, but to make progress you must have a singular focus on the system. For example, how many of us make a goal and start to take action, but quit a short time after we start? Why is this? Well, at first we are driven by the end result, but lose motivation and interest when incremental or no progress is made. The singular focus is on the result, thus it is harder to stick with your systems when you do not see a lot of progress.
Syntax, or order, plays a huge part here. Once you set your goal, then decide on the systems which will help you get there and solely focus on consistently implementing and improving them. I can promise you will be able to sustain your new habits, which will in turn help you achieve your goal. For example, the Leap Year process involves devoting time every week to pursue and discover what you are passionate about. Imagine if I would have solely focused on writing a book and starting software companies and neglected the systems, completing the weekly tasks, everyday. Do you think I would be sitting here 76 weeks later writing this post to you? I doubt it! However, I focused on completing the weekly task no matter what challenges life presented me. Week in week out, it is about Planning, Implementing, and Reflecting on the weekly task so I can improve the process for the following week. This has led me to clarifying what my passions are, writing a 55,000+ word manuscript, starting multiple software companies, and a whole slue of other amazing things. All in the face of everyday challenges of being a husband, father of two, holding a 9-5, cooking, buying groceries...
Furthermore, I want to connect what I wrote in W73 about principles and how it can help reverse the crippling effect of fear of the unknown. Dr. Stephen R. Covey said
"We control our actions, but the consequences that flow from those actions are controlled by principles."
For example, your body is governed by principles and will become unhealthy if you only consume unhealthy foods. Your finances are governed by principles and you will become in debt if you spend more than you have. You control the action, but the consequences that follow are governed by PRINCIPLES.
So what are principles? Principles are the compound effect of daily decisions. Doing something one time, like drinking a beer or smoking a cigarette, will not have a damaging effect on your health. Where as, these activities done over a extended period of time can cause major health problems.
Thus if you want to create better outcomes, then improve the daily decisions you make, thus creating a positive compound effect.
Here is big AHA moment. Systems = Process = Principles. Thus when you want to achieve a goal, decide and then use Inevitable Thinking to your advantage by first believing what you want to accomplish is a forgone conclusion, and second focus on the systems/process/principles to make progress to achieve that result!
What Went Well?
Weekly task completed in the face adjusting to being a new father of two, a husband, new schedules...(list goes on).
What is something we can improve? What actions can we take next week?
Prioritizing. Learning to cut away tasks which do not need to be completed right away and focus on the ones which ones need immediate attention.
What is something to avoid next week?
Trying to complete everything all at once. Prioritize!
No comments:
Post a Comment