FRIDAY, 8AM IN OFFICE
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): This week I wanted to share a learning I had about fear. There are many examples, such as the fear of being viewed differently, fear of not being able to deliver, or the fear of looking foolish in front of others. Although it can take on many different forms, it can usually be boiled down to either the fear of failure or success.
In previous weeks I have discussed the idea of Inevitable Thinking, or the strategy where what you decide becomes a forgone conclusion as you set up the conditions to make it a reality. The conditions I have learned are your principles, daily decisions and actions, which will help you achieve the result you set out to complete.
This learning has been timely, as I have been going through some DIPs, low points where what you are trying to achieve is 0% fun, in areas of my life. For example, I have been devoting every minute of my spare time to launch my first software business and although a lot of people are quite interested, no one has committed to paying for one yet.
I will be honest and say there was a string of weeks where I doubted myself and wondered if I was ever going to close a deal. Then I learned about Inevitable Thinking, which allowed me to drop the disbelief. It taught me to believe that closing a sale for one of my software companies is a forgone conclusion, it is not a matter of if, but a matter of when. What I need to focus on is the principles, or daily decisions or actions, which will get me there.
The problem is we all focus on the results today. Lose X number of pounds, make X number of dollars, live in a house a certain size. I have learned focusing solely on the end result will produce our DIPs, as we are not creating a desired result. Thus we think constantly about what we have not accomplished and start doubting our abilities to the point where we might even quit what we have started. Essentially this lack of clarity of whether or not you will accomplish what you set out to causes you to deal with a flood of uncomfortable feelings; doubt, anxiety, and FEAR.
This is where I had my AHA moment. The path to our dreams will be hazy and unclear at times and this lack of clarity will have us asking, "...am I ever going to get there?" Thus you start focusing solely on the end result, which opens the door to uncomfortable feelings like doubt, anxiety, and FEAR. Thus FOCUSED ON RESULT = CONCENTRATING ON UNKOWN = UNCOMFORTABLE FEELINGS = DIPs.
Thus if you catch yourself in a pool of uncomfortable feelings, take a step back stop thinking solely about the end result. These moments are actually a trigger for you to analyze your daily decisions or actions, principles. What are you doing on a daily basis? What actions are you taking? Are those actions taking you closer to your ultimate outcome?
For my example, above I was just focusing on why I did not have customers. Then I looked at my principles and saw I trying to do so many things...making sure the software was more efficient, learning more content, but was forgetting the most important thing when you want more customers...talk to people about my products. Thus, I shifted my focus and started on trying to talk to at least one person a day about my products. This has lead me to finding more potential customers and more opportunities than I had before.
Thus, if you catch yourself thinking constantly about the unknown and in a DIP, then take a step back and analyze your principles. You will find your daily actions will probably not align with the ultimate outcome you are trying to achieve.
What Went Well?
DIPs, in-laws visiting, and routines not set, but weekly task completed.
What is something we can improve? What actions can we take next week?
Focus on principles, not the end results. Thus avoiding feelings DIPs on a more regular basis.
What is something to avoid next week?
Focusing solely on results.
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