This Week's Coaching Tip...
February 5
Last week's tip really touched a nerve! I had lots of follow up and one question might be very familiar to you. Laura wrote and said, "Your idea has helped me define what I need to do but finding the discipline to really do it is a whole other thing! What suggestions do you have to get me started on a dreaded project?"
Laura, you are not alone! Getting started on actually DOING is sometimes very difficult. Here is a thought that may help you. Set a timer for 5 minutes. ONLY 5 minutes. (You can do ANYTHING for just 5 minutes!) Then, tackle that item that has been paralyzing you. When the timer rings, stop and celebrate your progress. Repeat this process, adding minutes when you are able.
What are you struggling with right now? Send me a note to mycoach@better2bestcoaching.com and I'll feature your questions and my responses in future coaching tips.
January 25
You are 3 weeks into 2010 and your main New Year's resolution hasn't moved off dead center. How can you jump start your resolve and get back on track? For example, maybe you've decided this is the year you are going to be organized. But, you are overwhelmed. How can you even begin?
Here is an easy, systematic process:
1) Define the goal. Perhaps you've been meaning to get that passport ordered in preparation for summer travel. You know you can't even go to Canada without one but it just seems like something you can put off. You don't even know what you have to do to get this done anyway!
2) Determine what ONE specific action you can take today to move forward. In this example, it may be as simple as downloading the application form off the internet
3) Complete this ONE item.
4) Determine the NEXT specific action needed. Capture it in writing. In this example, it may be "Complete the form"
5) Complete this ONE item.
6) Moving forward, you may have other items, like "Go to Walgreens and have passport photo taken" or "Mail passport application".
Before you know it, you will be moving forward and making progress towards the goal. What you have done is change the way you think about the process. It takes less effort than you might imagine. By breaking down the major task ("Get a passport"), into specific defined next steps you are already making progress toward your goal. It's important to use language with yourself that is specific, such as PRINT the form, COMPLETE the form rather than the generic "GET passport".
The secret is in not letting yourself become overwhelmed by the immensity of the goal. Broken into smaller components, ANYTHING is possible!
Last week's tip really touched a nerve! I had lots of follow up and one question might be very familiar to you. Laura wrote and said, "Your idea has helped me define what I need to do but finding the discipline to really do it is a whole other thing! What suggestions do you have to get me started on a dreaded project?"
Laura, you are not alone! Getting started on actually DOING is sometimes very difficult. Here is a thought that may help you. Set a timer for 5 minutes. ONLY 5 minutes. (You can do ANYTHING for just 5 minutes!) Then, tackle that item that has been paralyzing you. When the timer rings, stop and celebrate your progress. Repeat this process, adding minutes when you are able.
What are you struggling with right now? Send me a note to mycoach@better2bestcoaching.com and I'll feature your questions and my responses in future coaching tips.
January 25
You are 3 weeks into 2010 and your main New Year's resolution hasn't moved off dead center. How can you jump start your resolve and get back on track? For example, maybe you've decided this is the year you are going to be organized. But, you are overwhelmed. How can you even begin?
Here is an easy, systematic process:
1) Define the goal. Perhaps you've been meaning to get that passport ordered in preparation for summer travel. You know you can't even go to Canada without one but it just seems like something you can put off. You don't even know what you have to do to get this done anyway!
2) Determine what ONE specific action you can take today to move forward. In this example, it may be as simple as downloading the application form off the internet
3) Complete this ONE item.
4) Determine the NEXT specific action needed. Capture it in writing. In this example, it may be "Complete the form"
5) Complete this ONE item.
6) Moving forward, you may have other items, like "Go to Walgreens and have passport photo taken" or "Mail passport application".
Before you know it, you will be moving forward and making progress towards the goal. What you have done is change the way you think about the process. It takes less effort than you might imagine. By breaking down the major task ("Get a passport"), into specific defined next steps you are already making progress toward your goal. It's important to use language with yourself that is specific, such as PRINT the form, COMPLETE the form rather than the generic "GET passport".
The secret is in not letting yourself become overwhelmed by the immensity of the goal. Broken into smaller components, ANYTHING is possible!