Change the Way You Think

Posted on by Scott

woman-1148923_640As a young professional, I used to listen to motivational guru Zig Ziglar. He was a top salesman turned motivational speaker who published a number of books and other materials regarding the keys to success. During my long work commutes in Nashville, Tennessee, I would often forgo the radio in favor of an audio book by Zig or one of his contemporaries. They always used to fire me up and put me in the right frame of mind for a successful day at the office.

Zig Ziglar used to say “If your thinking is stinking, then so is your business.” His point was that your mindset has a huge impact on the course of your work. The way you think determines, to a great extent, the outcomes you experience. Stinky thinking involves focuses your mind on negative things – failures, problems, worse case scenarios. Ruminating on these things causes you to unconsciously encourage them to come about.

I’ve seen this play out in my own life. The days where my mind is occupied by negative thoughts are my worst days. The more I let my mind drift into stink thinking, the more my mood suffers, and the more bad things happen. Conversely, when I consciously decide to focus my mind on positive things, my mood is better and good things tend to happen.

Mental health is a lot like physical health in that what you choose to put in determines what you get. If you want to feel better and be more physically fit, you have to eat the right kinds of food and participate in the right kind of exercise. Doing so prepares your body to move in ways that are beneficial vs. harmful. The way you approach your mental diet and exercise is, I believe, just as important.

As I prepare for the new year, one thing I plan to focus on is the way I think. I stopped making resolutions a long time ago. Instead, I make a list of three personal challenges. I write them down and post them on my mirror where I can see them every day. This helps me stay committed throughout the year.

My first personal challenge for 2017 is to change the way I think.

I’m going to picture success. Too many days find me in a bad mood before I even hit the office. My mind is picturing a confrontation with someone who cut me off on the drive in. I’m anticipating a heated debate regarding a controversial issue. I’m dreading a meeting that I don’t want to attend. These are symptoms of stinky thinking and I need to address them before they take root.

Before tackling the day, I’m going to try and create a mental image of a successful day. What will my meetings sound like? How will the various interactions unfold? What will I have accomplished by the time I go home that signals a good day? By envisioning the future that I want, I will be taking the first step toward making it a reality.

I’m going to focus on what’s possible. How often do you find yourself worrying about things beyond your control? There are times when I spend valuable mental energy griping internally about other people who don’t think the way I do or act in ways that seem counterproductive. I waste time waiting for others to get engaged or decide to move on projects I feel are important. These are also symptoms of stinky thinking and I need to redirect my thoughts in a sweeter-smelling direction.

I’m going to train my mind to zero in on the actionable steps that I can control instead of the things I can’t. What forward movement can I take, however small it may be? How can I prepare for opportunities that might lie just around the corner? What can I do with what I have, where I am, right now? By keeping a forward focus, I’ll be able to identify specific ways to contribute to my success.

I’m going to seek out positive inputs. My mental diet over the past several months has been horrendous. I’ve consumed a steady stream of negative political ads, name-calling, bickering, and general doom-and-gloom based news. Everything from my television to my Facebook feed has trended negative. This can’t possibly be good for my own mental outlook.

I’m going to make a conscious effort to seek out sources of positivity. I’ve already taken steps to block social media friends who post nothing but negative news or attacks on others. I plan to identify some constructive podcasts and excuse myself from gripe sessions when they start up around me. When what I listen to, watch, and even participate in is stinky, my thinking starts to smell as well. It’s up to me to fix it. By inviting more constructive things in, I’ll leave little room for the negative.

I’m confident that purposefully addressing the mental part of my game will have significant benefits for me in 2017. I’m curious to know what your mental diet looks like. What does your image of success look like? What do you do to keep yourself focused on the right things? Where do you find positive inputs to exercise your mind constructively? I invite you to share. Next week, I’ll share my second personal challenge for the year.

JOIN THE CONVERSATION:

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Celebrate!

Posted on by Scott

 

Happy Successful Business People Celebrating and Jumping in New York City

This week, I’m traveling to Bryan/College Station, TX. I’m joining bankers from the area for their mid-year Sales & Service Rally, a celebration of the individual and team accomplishments attained through the first half of the year. I’m anticipating a festive atmosphere as employees from a variety of roles come together to recognize each other.

Some see recognition events such as this as waste of time and resources. They view them as frivolous and unnecessary. They feel a pat on the back is quite enough to say “Thank you” and motivate future performance.

They couldn’t be more wrong.

While top performers are indeed driven by an internal pursuit of excellence as opposed to any external motivator, recognition events serve a much greater purpose. You see, they help unify and reinvigorate the team. In fact, I believe bringing the team together in this way provides three specific benefits to the organization.

  1. They reinforce the power of the team. Any opportunity to bring the team together is a good one. It gives everyone a chance to reconnect with each other and each other’s talents. Navigating the daily list of personal tasks can seem very lonely. It’s easy to fall into a routine, your own routine, and forget that your actually part of something larger. When the team comes together, it reminds us that our small part of the puzzle helps complete the big picture. Without everyone doing their part, and supporting the others as they do theirs, the picture can’t be completed.
  2. They reemphasize the goals of the team. Teams are assembled for a purpose – to accomplish a goal. But the finish line can seem very far away at times. Coming together to celebrate your team’s progress helps close the distance. Because day-to-day it’s hard to see the impact of your work. You have to stop periodically and look back to recognize just how far you’ve come. Seeing the progress that’s been made allows you to more clearly chart a path to the end.
  3. They recharge the battery of the team. Let’s face it. We all lose energy from time to time. We all get burned out. We all sometimes wonder why we’re working so hard. Just as a vacation is healthy for the individual, celebration and fun are vital to the health of the team. When you bring people together, feed and entertain them, and allow them to engage in some group fellowship, you can just see the energy levels rise. Shared experiences create memories. And shared memories build relationships. Nothing makes the team stronger than bringing the team together.

When leaders focus on the bottom line, it’s easy to forget that businesses are made up of people. We’re human and, as humans, were designed to be social creatures. We are at our best when we’re part of something bigger. Many organizations speak of their employees in terms of family. I don’t know about you, but my family always seems to function better when we work – and play – together.

What does your team have to celebrate this week?

Stop Motivating Your Team! (Do This Instead)

Posted on by Scott

stop

Over the years, I’ve been asked a lot of questions by managers in a variety of roles across numerous organizations. By far, the most frequently asked question is “How do I motivate my team?” Some are looking to increase sales performance. Others want to improve customer service or productivity. In many cases, managers seem frustrated by an overall lack of engagement exhibited by members of their staff. Energy levels are low, efficiency suffers, and goals go unmet.

So concerned managers wrack their brains trying to find a way to turn things around. They see a problem that needs fixing and go in search of a solution. ”If I can just get people motivated,” they think, “things will start moving in the right direction.”

And therein, I think, lies the problem. Motivation sounds like what we need to get the troops out of the doldrums. But it doesn’t. It can’t. To understand why motivation isn’t the answer, we first need to understand what motivation is. Let’s look at the root word “motivate.”

motivate: to provide with a motive or motives; incite; impel

Motivation is an external action designed to cause an internal reaction. It’s something one person does in order to elicit a response from someone else. Think about the typical actions many associate with motivation. Contests, incentives, awards, raises, and other types of recognition/reward strategies are used to spur a change in behavior. So are things like deadlines, threats, disciplinary actions, and other punitive measures. All can be, and have been, considered motivational strategies.

The inherent problem with these and other external actions traditionally used as motivation is that the behavior shift that results is, at best, temporary. The high from winning a contest or being recognized only lasts so long. The sting from negative feedback or an ultimatum loses intensity as time goes on. And as temporary emotions fade away, so do the changes in behavior associated with them.

As employee behavior slides back into mediocre territory, managers dip back into the box of potential motivators in an effort to stop the decline. The cycle of performance drop/motivation/performance improvement then begins again. Employees settle into a routine of reacting to the temporary external stimulus with a temporary burst of activity sufficient enough to win/satisfy the requirement/get management off my back and then easing up until the next stimulus comes along.

But if motivation isn’t the answer, then what is?

The key to long-term performance is not a short-lived behavior modification, but a long-term transformation of core beliefs. The answer is not externally driven, but internally. The answer is not motivation, but inspiration. Let’s check out another definition.

inspire: to fill with an animating, quickening, or exalting influence.

Do you see the difference? Motivation focuses on the head while inspiration targets the heart. Inspiring someone causes an empty part of them to be filled and the result is change that influences how they approach the concept of work itself, not just a particular task. Motivation can be applied or withdrawn at any time with correspondingly immediate results. Inspiration, on the other hand, becomes part of you and drives how you fundamentally think about things. Inspiration creates a deep-rooted drive to behave differently. Motivation may spark a temporary shift in behavior, but inspiration ignites a long-term change in attitude.

Inspired people are inherently motivated. So, the real question then is “How do I inspire my team?“

Well, if you’ve been reading the past few weeks, you already know some of the basics. How does that old saying go? “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”

Once you’ve mastered the skill of developing relationships, people are instinctively drawn to you. And that’s important; because it’s only then – when they trust you and want to listen to you – that you can share your vision and ask them to participate in it. If done right, they’ll get on board; not as motivated worker-bees, but as inspired partners.

Inspiration isn’t a one-time action. It results from extended exposure to someone who sees people, not employees. It’s about fulfilling potential, not completing tasks. It’s about contributing to something bigger than myself as opposed to being a cog in the machine.

People don’t want to be motivated. But we all have a desperate, innate need to be inspired. Fulfill that need and see just how far the team will take you. Who will you inspire today?

Can You Hear Me Now?

Posted on by Scott

My wife and I were reminiscing recently about the early days of our marriage. In November, we’ll have been married 24 years and we’ve both changed a lot since saying “I do.” Sure, the physical changes are the most obvious; but most significant are the changes in how we treat each other. I must admit though, I’ve had to change a lot more than she has.

For example, I distinctly remember a conversation we had one afternoon just a few months after our wedding. I came home from work late and still had events of the day on my mind as I walked through the door. Susan immediately began telling me about her day. She followed me through the house as I pulled off my jacket and tie, quickly moving to put on comfortable clothes.

Suddenly it dawned on me that the pace of Susan’s speech was increasing. She talked faster and faster until the words practically jumbled together into nonsense. She finally stopped to inhale, gasping for breath. I looked at her and asked “Why are you talking so fast?” Her response hit me like a ton of bricks. “I have a lot to tell you, but I know that any second you’re going to tune me out.”

Wow. Before me stood the person that most mattered to me in the world and within weeks of promising to give her everything, I’d managed to renege on that promise. All she needed was for me to listen – to give her a few minutes of undivided attention – and already I’d proven unable to do it.

We humans have a listening problem. Our ears work; we hear just fine. It’s listening – an activity that takes place in the brain – that seems difficult.

Listening is often touted as a key sales skill; but it goes much further than that. Listening is a key customer service skill. It’s a key leadership skill. It’s a key relationship skill. It’s a key life skill. And as simple as it sounds, we struggle to get it right.

We live in a busy world. Information bombards us from every direction. People and email and social media all vie for our attention and there just doesn’t seem to be enough time in the day to get it all done. So we multi-task. We eat lunch while we read through email while we listen in on the conference call while we “listen” to the person that just walked into the office. But we’re fooling ourselves. Multi-tasking makes us feel better by allowing us to cross off more items on the to-do list. It helps us “get things done.” But it doesn’t help get things done right. Studies have actually shown that dividing our attention makes us less efficient than focusing on one task, or one person, at a time.

The real victims are those on the other end of the exchange. People can sense when they don’t have your full attention, just like my wife did. They can tell you’re preoccupied. And it makes them feel horrible. You’ve been there. Remember the last time you tried talking to someone who wasn’t really listening? How did it make you feel? Unwanted? Unwelcome? Unworthy?

So how do you practice listening? How do you let me know that you’re really paying attention? Let’s start with three small steps:

  1. Make time for me. Is now not a good time for us to talk? Then tell me so. Suggest a time when we can speak without interruption. I want your attention. I need you to listen to me. And if I’m as important to you as you say then you’ll make one-on-one time a priority.
  2. Look at me. Put down your cell phone. Turn away from the computer. Stop pacing around your office searching for a file related to the next meeting on your calendar. Scrape the daydream glaze off of your face and point it in my direction. If your eyes aren’t focused on me, then your brain isn’t either.
  3. Participate with me. Listening is not a passive exercise. It involves asking questions, clarifying, and even offering information. Body language and nonverbal matter. Head nods and robotic “uh huhs” are sure signs that your attention is elsewhere. Listening requires involvement.

I am your customer. I am your employee or coworker. I am someone significant. And what I have to say is very, very important. Are you listening? Do I have your attention? Can you hear me now?

Who Is the Third Man?

Posted on by Scott

 

ca. 2003 --- Hand Reaching --- Image by © Royalty-Free/Corbis
ca. 2003 — Hand Reaching — Image by © Royalty-Free/Corbis

For centuries, drowning sailors pulled from the sea have told stories of a mysterious companion. They speak of another sailor, unknown to them, who appeared beside them in the water. This person stayed at their side, treading water and issuing words of encouragement, until the danger had passed. But rescuers looking to bring these additional sailors to safety never find them. In fact, there’s no evidence that they ever existed. They seem to be ghosts; figments of the imagination that surface when needed.

This phenomenon isn’t just found on the ocean. Mountain climbers, hikers, and others enduring long, difficult, and perilous journeys also regularly report the presence of another person during the most trying of times. They appear from the shadows and then disappear when they are no longer needed. They seem to require neither recognition nor thanks and slip into the mist leaving those behind speaking almost reverently of their presence. Without them, survivors say, they surely would have perished.

These sightings occur so regularly that the spectres have been given a name: the Third Man.

I’ve never been in a situation where I feared for my life; but there are plenty of times I would welcome the third man. I enjoy camping and hiking and even sailing, but I’m not talking about anything to do with being outside. I’m talking about those times when I’m sitting at work, or at home, and I feel things slipping out of my grasp.

We’ve all been in situations where we felt as if we were drowning; overwhelmed by circumstances both within and outside of our control. We’ve felt the grip of fear. We know the sense of panic that accompanies the realization that we’re lost. It’s in those moments that a friendly face is so desperately needed. It’s then that a voice of encouragement becomes priceless. It’s then that having someone beside us to share the burden means the world.

But as much as we each need a third man, it’s more important that we be the third man.

The most important people in our lives are those who are there for us when we need them the most. They are the people who lift us up; who encourage us to hold on and keep fighting when we want to give up. They are the ones who remind us that we have greatness within us and push us to find that little bit of extra gas in the tank. But who are those people? They are us.

Right now – right this very moment, someone you know desperately needs the validation, inspiration, and motivation that only you can provide. Because you know them well enough to say what needs to be said; to push the buttons that need to be pushed. To spur them into action.

We all need a helping hand from time to time. We all need to be that helping hand as well. Will you accept the call when it comes? Will you recognize the need and respond? Not for recognition or compensation or even out of obligation; but because you can.

Are you the third man?

Leading the Race

Posted on by Scott

IMG_1519Saturday I participated in a 5k run – my first ever. It was a Color Run. As you make your way through the course, you get blasted with a variety of colored powders. You can tell someone has finished a Color Run because they look like a crayon factory exploded around them.

The organizers of the Color Run promote it as a giant party; a celebration. There’s music, dancing, give-aways, and lots of cheering. It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement and energy of the event and, as a result, almost impossible not to finish the race.

I was there to jump-start my personal fitness campaign. Others were there to test themselves physically – to set a new personal best time for completing the run. Others were there simply to enjoy the weather and time with friends. But while we all had different reasons for being there, we all had the same goal: to finish the race. Everyone participating in the 5k had the same end game in mind. We wanted to cross the finish line.

The organizers of the Color Run had a goal too. They stage these events in order to make money. We’d all paid a fee to be there. But they know that in order to be successful, we had to be successful as well. No one comes back for the next race if they have a bad time. So the people in charge – the leaders – made sure to create an environment that almost guaranteed we would succeed.

How did they do it? I thought you’d never ask …

1. They prepped us for success. In the weeks leading up to the event, I received informational emails that told me everything I needed to know to have a successful run. They told me what time to arrive, where to park, and what to wear. They provided maps, FAQ’s and other resources to assist me in reaching my goal. When Saturday finally rolled around, all I had to do was show up and run. Leaders understand the importance of addressing barriers to success up front. They prepare their team for success.

2. They encouraged teamwork. There were individual participants at the run, but I’d bet most people came with a team. My wife and daughter went with me and it helped knowing I wasn’t running alone. The Color Run organizers made teamwork easy by allowing you to create teams during the online registration process. They know that with running, as with most things, going through it alone is harder than going through it with a support group. I saw teams with similar t-shirts on. Other teams wore matching tutus, or costumes, or headgear. And I noticed that those running as part of a team seemed a lot happier and more energetic than those running alone. Leaders understand the importance of shared experiences. They encourage teamwork.

3. They created an engaging environment. When we pulled up to the designated parking area, it was easy to tell we were in the right place. We still had a short walk to the start line, and we couldn’t see anything, but we could hear it. The sound of up-tempo music and cheers found their way to our ears. As we approached, we could see the crowd gathering and the colorful flags that marked the event. People driving by – who weren’t even participating – slowed down and craned their necks to see what was going on. It was obvious that the environment at this place was different. It made others want to join in and made me feel proud to be involved. Leaders understand the importance of context. They carefully craft an environment conducive to success.

4. They celebrated our milestones. Finally the race began. As we progressed, we passed through a series of colored arches spread out along the course. Passing through each one represented the completion of a stage of the run. And with each milestone you passed, volunteers sprayed you with colorful powder (hence the name Color Run). These volunteers didn’t just throw a little color on you, they cheered for you. They celebrated the fact that you had made it to that point. And everyone wanted that feeling. Some participants walked the entire course – except for when they crossed a milestone. As they approached each arch, these people picked up the pace, raised their fists in victory, and gave out a shout. And that mini celebration gave them renewed energy that propelled them closer to the finish line. Leaders understand the importance of small victories. They celebrate with you every chance they get.

5. They made everyone feel like winners. I didn’t finish first. I didn’t finish in the top ten, or even the top 100. But I finished. And the same people who greeted the first runner across the line greeted me. I had a medal thrust into my hands and I joined in the party at the end of the event. I didn’t “win,” but I felt like a winner. Because I had accomplished my goal. I ran a 5k without having a heart attack. And it felt good to look around at all the other participants who had achieved their own personal goals that day. I have no idea who crossed the finish line first. The organizers never announced a first, second, or third place. It really didn’t matter – because we all won. We all achieved the goal. Leaders understand the importance of personal achievement. They know that if you don’t win, they don’t win.

My legs felt heavy Saturday afternoon, but my heart felt light. And I thank the organizers for leading me across the finish line. I’m looking forward to my next 5k and to achieving my next goal.

Lead Like Santa Claus

Posted on by Scott

MerryOldSantaI was looking through some files this weekend and came across my notes from a webinar I attended a few years ago. It was entitled “The 10 Branding Secrets of Santa Claus.” According to presenter Steve Miller, these very specific and deliberate actions provide Santa Claus with “uncopyable superiority.” I love that term.

As I listened to each point Mr. Miller made, I couldn’t help but think about the potential that lies within each business. I believe we are all in a unique position to provide a level of service and partnership to our customers that simply cannot be rivaled by the competition. Those who choose to capitalize on their strengths and outhustle the rest always rise to the top. And so I thought I would share these points from the presentation with you.

The 10 Branding Secrets of Santa Claus

  1. Santa manages expectations. If you’re good, you receive gifts. It pays to listen to Santa Claus.
  2. Santa makes a BIG promise. Compare gifts given for any other holiday – they just don’t compare to the expectations surrounding Santa’s visit.
  3. Santa facilitates referrals. Everyone talks about Santa. Parents even send their kids to him.
  4. Santa creates long-term relationships. Year after year, people turn to Santa with their Christmas wishes.
  5. Santa owns the date. From a business perspective, December 25th is Santa’s day.
  6. Santa delivers an experience. My daughter Abby is 15. She’s known “the truth” about Santa for a long time. But she still gets super-excited every year. And I do too.
  7. Santa owns a color. Who else wears a red suit, cruises around in a red sleigh, and totes a giant red bag?
  8. Santa looks different. You’re not going to confuse Santa with anyone else. Attempts to copy him are laughable.
  9. Santa reinforces his myth. Stores invite kids (and adults) to visit Santa. New movies are made about him every year. Even NORAD tracks his progress! He makes it easy for everyone to buy into his brand.
  10. Everything about Santa walks the talk. Everything about Santa – his North Pole workshop, the elves, the reindeer, the milk and cookies by the chimney – reinforces his story and his brand.

I hope each of you are as excited about 2015 as I am. I hope these observations stir your imagination. And I look forward to working with each of you as you catapult your business into a position of “uncopyable superiority.”

Merry Christmas!

What Are the Odds?

Posted on by Scott

Lucky DiceThe odds of bowling a 300 game are 1 in 11,500.

The odds of being hit by lightning are 1 in 576,000.

The odds of getting a royal flush on your first five cards are 1 in 649,740.

The odds of winning the jackpot MegaMillions lottery are about 1 in 175,000,000.

The odds of you being born in your particular time, place, and circumstances are about 1 in 400,000,000,000.

You are a miracle. The probability of any of us being born exactly as we are is so remote, that your very presence on this earth should be a constant source of amazement. The odds of you being who you are, where you are, are so remote; your existence cannot be an accident.

You have been given a unique set of talents and interests. You have experienced a unique sequence of events that have molded you into the person you are today. There never has been, and never will be, anyone like you. You have something to offer the world.

Here’s a question for you: What do you have to offer?

Here’s another one: What have you chosen to do with it?

You are here for a purpose. The unique entity that is YOU is here for a reason. No one else can do what you do, the way you do it. Whatever it is that you bring to the table, it should not be wasted. There are people around you – right now – who need what you have to offer.

There are only a few weeks left in 2014. Pretty soon, we’ll be turning the calendar and celebrating the start of a new year. It’s a time of reflection and a time of planning. As you wind down the last few days of the year, spend a little time thinking about your unique value proposition and how you have used it to help others this year. Then, take a few more minutes and map out a plan for 2015. Think about how you can make an impact.

Most people won’t do this. They’ll celebrate, and then keep on doing the same things (or not doing them). 2015 will look just like 2014; and the world will be a little less bright because they will have chosen to keep their unique gifts to themselves.

But what if just one decided to buck the trend? What if just one made the decision to take their special talents and use them – at every opportunity – to make the world around them a better place? And what if that decision made all the difference?

What if that person was you? What are the odds of that?

Fighting the Future

Posted on by Scott

AntisuffragistsTuesday was Election Day. Did you vote? All across the country, men and women took to the polls in order to make sure their voice was heard. Officials were elected or re-elected to a variety of federal, state, and local positions.

Voting is considered an important right in the United States. Once a privilege available to only a favored few, hard fought battles in our history have extended the right to vote to all citizens, regardless of race, gender, or religious affiliation. Sadly, voter turnout is often poor. Many of those eligible to vote choose not to. Some even oppose the very right they’ve been given.

For example, a key milestone in voter rights was the successful women’s suffrage movement. The 19th amendment, which provided women the right to vote, wasn’t passed until 1920. For decades prior, groups opposed to the idea of women having a voice in elections (referred to as anti-suffragists) successfully held off the change.

And many of these anti-suffragists were women.

Groups such as the New York State Association Opposed to Woman Suffrage and the Women’s National Anti-Suffrage League (started in Great Britain) were founded by women. These individuals felt political discourse and important decisions related to public policy were best left to men. They wrote and spoke at length about the various reasons women could not, or should not, vote.

It’s amazing how hard some people will fight against that which is good for them; how hard they will look to find excuses to keep from moving forward. Of course, the harder you look for excuses, the more you find. The more you focus on obstacles, real or perceived, the more you come to believe in them. Over time, people can come to fear the new; the innovative; the unknown. Eventually they become numb to any concept of progress, preferring the warm safety of their self-imposed limitations.

This is how people become unengaged. This is why teams, organizations, and even countries become stagnant. This is why goals aren’t met, customers are underserved, and employees are frustrated.

It’s because individuals check out; sometimes without even knowing it.

Isn’t it time we reverse the trend? Isn’t it time we let go of the fear, stop making excuses, and get engaged?

Permit me to issue a challenge:

  • If you’re one of those who looks first for the reasons why something won’t work, I challenge you to find just as many reasons why it will.
  • If you’re one of those who actively fight against growth and innovation, I challenge you to try being a voice for it.
  • If you’re one of those who have chosen to disengage, I challenge you to get involved.

Politicians often talk about the need for change. But change doesn’t typically happen in huge, sweeping waves. It happens slowly, building momentum over time. It starts with individuals – you and me – taking responsibility for our own actions and choosing to do things differently. Small changes by each of us in the way we approach our work and our lives, expand outward – turning a small ripple into large waves of progress.

So plug in, get engaged, decide right now to make a difference. Oh, and come next Election Day – don’t forget to vote.

How to Achieve Your Goal in 30 Days

Posted on by Scott

IMG_1344It’s been a while since I started writing my weekly articles. Each week, I share a personal story or reflect on an event from history and attempt to tie it back to some aspect of sales effectiveness, customer service, or leadership. And each week I am honored to hear from people who say my message resonated with them.

Thank you. Your feedback means the world to me.

I love writing. I love taking abstract concepts that are floating around in my head and making them real. I love the satisfaction that comes from creating something that didn’t exist before. And I love sharing my creation with you.

It’s been said that we all have a book or two inside of us. I believe that. We all have ideas, experiences, and observations that are dying to get out. Words that need to be shared. Dreams that long to be expressed. Each and every one of us could write a multitude of books.

I’ve decided to write one of mine.

November is National Novel Writing Month. According to founder Chris Baty, the goal is to encourage each and every person to get one of their books out of their head and into written form. The challenge is to make this happen during the month of November. The first challenge took place in 1999 and drew 21 participants, each accepting the challenge to create a rough draft of their novel within 30 days.

Writing a book is a daunting challenge. Like so many other meaningful activities (dieting, exercising, and cross-selling are a few that come to mind), it can seem overwhelming. It’s something we want to do, but it seems so difficult that we just keep putting it off.

But Baty says that writing a book doesn’t have to be that hard. During an interview with him I heard on National Public Radio, he provided a handful of tips for making the process more manageable. I think these tips work for any seemingly impossible goal you might be facing.

  • Make a short-tem commitment. Give yourself a short window in which to achieve your goal. The more time you give yourself, the longer you’ll procrastinate. Ever spend the night before you go on vacation madly cleaning the house and tying up loose ends? It’s amazing what you can accomplish with a short deadline. So use this phenomenon to your advantage and give yourself a short leash.
  • Break it down. Writing a 50,000 novel seems unattainable to most people. But breaking that goal down into 30 daily increments (about 1,700 words) makes it seem so much more manageable. My weekly articles tend to run between 500 and 600 words (this one is a little longer), and I can churn them out pretty quickly. So I just need to write the equivalent of three short articles a day.
  • Get started. A lot of people are intimated by writing because they’re worried about the details. Maybe their spelling isn’t the greatest, or they’re afraid they’ll get some facts wrong. These are self-limiting barriers that keep us from attaining our goals. The key is to make the effort. Technique improves with practice; but you can’t get better if you never take the first step.
  • Embrace accountability. If no one knows you’re trying something new, then there’s no downside to giving up. Making your commitment public invites others to check in on your progress. We all need a little help to succeed, whether it’s encouragement, constructive criticism, or a good kick in the pants every now and then. So ask others to help you succeed.
  • Celebrate success. There will be good days and bad days along your route to achieving your goal. Our tendency is to focus on the bad ones. It’s important to stop periodically and recognize the advances you’ve made. The energy you get form seeing your progress will propel you forward. Again, having others invested in your project helps as it allows them to celebrate with you.

I’m both excited and terrified at the prospect of writing a novel. I’m going to try and keep these ideas in mind as I work my way through it. Hopefully 30 days from now I’ll have something to show for the effort. I invite you to choose a goal for yourself and join me for the ride.