WEEK 154: HOW TO MAKE A DECISION TO ACHIEVE YOUR GREATEST GOALS

Move out of your comfort zone. You can only grow if you are willing to feel awkward and uncomfortable when you try something new.   Brian Tracy. 

REFLECTIONS (learnings and actions): 

Do you know how to make decision to achieve your greatest goals?

I am going to say no.

Why?

Because it is something that is not taught at all in our schools today and is something I did not know for years of my life. 

Yet...

I was able to figure it out and will share with you today (so make sure to read to the end).

Seriously, what I will share with you can dramatically change the trajectory of your life if you apply what I am going to tell you.

But first, I want to tell you about an experience which connects to this idea.

This past week I was blessed to spend a week on an amazing beach in Thailand with my three favorite people; Meggo, Tae, and Elea.

The scenery was great, but the weather also cooperated and we were able to have 6 full days of sun.

For some reason the blue and greens in Thailand almost seem greenER and bluER.

Anyhow, while there we were able to relax and put are feet up...literally.

Now, much to my surprise, the hotel offered a good selection of locally brewed craft beers. 

I was thrilled as I have recently had an interest (thirst) for good craft beers.

On the first day I asked the waiter what he recommended and he said the "Pale Ale and IPA" were the best choices. 

Safe choices I thought, but I took his recommendation and tried the Pale Ale.

It was good but I wanted something which highlighted the flavors of Thailand. 

So the next day I asked the waitress what she recommended and she again said the "Pale Ale and IPA."

This time I asked her about the three other craft beers on the menu and she said "no one really orders those."

I asked why and she said "People do not recognize the names and rarely order them."

Thus, wanting to try the IPA I ordered it.

It was actually not so good.

Now on the third day I asked the new waitress what she recommended. 

What did she say?

"Pale Ale and IPA."

Now, here is the thing. 

On three different days I was recommended the same two craft beers.

The waiters and waitress felt "comfortable" to recommend them as most people had heard of those two beers.

Yet...

They had three other beers which they rarely recommended.

This peaked my interests and to be honest I was not overly impressed with the Pale Ale and IPA.

Thus, I asked to go in back and actually take a look at the ingredients of the other three beers.

What did I find?

Well, one was crafted to have floral notes from Thailand.

Another, hints of toffee and caramel in a dark beer...a beer I often times do not try.

And yet another which combined German technics with Thai fruits.

To be honest I went outside my comfort zone to try all three.

Why?

In my short experience with craft beers, you really can not go wrong with a "Pale Ale and IPA."

So what was the result?

I found that two out of the three were excellent!

They highlighted the flavors of Thailand and introduced me to new flavors which ELEVATED MY EXPERIENCE of craft beers.

***

So did you get the lesson for today?

You might have missed it, but my story on craft beers can help you achieve anything you choose...ANYTHING!

Well what is it?

Today, you probably make decisions based on your current level of play or based in your most recent level of comfort. 

And actually this is how the brain is wired to make decisions.

Yet...

This is exactly what keeps you STUCK.

This will not allow you to make the progress you need.

This will hold you back from your true power.

This will hold you back from taking the risks (an asset by the way) to help you achieve your greatest goals.

Now here is the thing.

If you want to ELEVATE YOUR EXPERIENCE in any area of your life and achieve your greatest goals, you need to STOP doing this.

What is this?

Making decisions based on your current level of play...

Which most of the time is based in your most current level of comfort.

Oh yeah, this happens most of the time subconsciously. Meaning your brain is fighting to make decisions based on comfort without you even knowing it. 

If you truly want to grow and achieve your greatest goals, you must make the choice which correlates to who you want to be...not what you feel comfortable with.

There are so many benefits to this.

Accelerate your progress.

Increase your confidence. 

Empower you.

I can guarantee you will achieve your greatest goals by making choices based on who you want to be consistently.

Want to achieve your greatest goals?

Stop making decisions based on your current level of play and make decisions based on who you want to be in the future.

See you on the other side...J

Top three activities that move me forward?

1. Atlas. Confront to empower. 

2. Keeping agreements. DO what I say I am going to do.

3. Zen. Even in indulgence, zen is so important. 

Biggest lessons/learnings and corrections?

Keep your word and DO what you say you are going to do. This increases belief in yourself.

Which is the first thing you need to achieve your greatest goals. 

What are you grateful for?

Being able to travel quarterly to exotic locations to spend time with my three favorite people....Meggo, Tae, and Elea. 

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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!

STRATEGY LIST