Are you an ideas person but not an action person? Did you make New Year’s Resolutions and haven’t moved on them yet. Are you a good planner but not so good at implementation?
Or do you simply procrastinate?
Only 20% of the population sets goals and yet we know goal setting is a proven tool for success. And of those goal setters, 70% of their goals are not achieved because they don’t even start them. What!! Ok, I confess, I’m guilty of that too.
I’ve got lots of great ideas that live inside my head, but they never see the light of day. Why? Because fears, limitations and excuses get in the way. I’ve also had some great successes. Currently, I’m expanding my coaching practice and making connections in completely new areas. I’m taking action that for me, is bold and out of my old comfort zone. I have lots of stuff that I can coast on to get by. But to make a real contribution; to really step up and to make a significant difference in my life, I’m setting goals and taking real action towards them.
Here are some tips that have helped me and many others overcome procrastination.
- Know your purpose and define your goals. If you are using the SMART method to set goals, be sure to make them smarter by adding Ecological criteria and Revivify them. Ecological goals meet all your basic human needs. Acting ecologically builds integrity and congruence. Goals need to be alive in your mind and gut. Imagine you are achieving the goals with vitality. Light up all your senses in your mind and focus on the results with enthusiasm and positive anticipation.
- Take vigorous action. Action is the key to any success strategy. Breakdown a large goal into smaller pieces and take many baby steps to build some initial confidence and momentum. If you are starting from scratch, there is great wisdom in learning to walk before you run. Take the time to get your travel legs and allow your stride to build naturally. This is a marathon not a sprint.
- Pick the low hanging fruit first. Get some wins under your belt. Do some easy tasks first and use this time to get oriented with new systems, environments or culture. Acknowledge your progress and let this inspire you to take more action towards your goals.
- Build a Supportive environment. Surround yourself with positive memories of friends, travels and celebrations. Review inspiring photos of pets, family, architecture, role models, even your favourite chair or blanket. Listen to great music. Have reminders of all your favourites easily on hand to build a mood of security. This will balance the expected feelings of uncertainty associated with your new venture.
- Know you have a bulletproof support group. The fundamental human need for connection and belonging must be fulfilled as you embark on this new venture. Confirm in your mind and gut that you have people who accept you regardless of future outcomes. This will balance the common fear of rejection which is the number one reason people do not do what they plan to do.
- Know you are a unique, valuable contributor. Another fundamental human need is to be special, unique and worthy. Remember all the things that define you as a successful, achiever. Confirming this in your gut will help to balance the other big fear – the fear of failure. The fear of failure reduces the feeling of self-importance and prevents us from taking action. However, knowing you are already an achiever means you don’t have anything to fear.
- Reframe “failure” into “feedback”. A simple adjustment to how we view failure can be a game changer. Just eliminate the idea of failure and replace it with the idea of feedback. No matter what you do, the result is now considered feedback for your success strategy.
- Finally, here’s an effective simple success strategy: Action -> Assess -> Adjust -> Again. Once you know your purpose and the goals you want to achieve, all you need to do is: act, assess the results of your actions (feedback), adjust your approach so it is more effective, and repeat. That’s it! No point making it more complicated than that: Action Assess Adjust.
I hope these tips are helpful. I’m sure there’s tons more out there on how to get the ball rolling. Please share a comment about your approach to start ups. How do you use social media or online services to get going each day? Do you have a Pinterest folder full of inspiring photos? Do you have a custom playlist of PUMP UP tunes? What’s your favourite “Walk Up Tune”? I’d also like to know what’s not working for you? What would make your business better? And of course, how can I help you achieve your goals?
Next week’s meet-up is on Wednesday, January 29 at 6:45pm. The topic for discussion will be “Keeping It Going – Building Business Momentum and using the Vortex of Power”. Please join us and meet interesting people, share some cool information and learn ways to grow your business.
