We’re nearing the end of 2011. What kind of a year has it been for you? Lots of success? Too many failures? Probably a mixture of both? Here’s the reality though; we can learn from the past but we can’t linger there. 2011 is (almost) history – 2012 is rapidly approaching – it’s time to prepare for coming attractions. But, where do I start?
The only place to start is where you are right now. Waiting for the right time, more money, the right people, help from a friend or colleague, are all recipes for disaster.
Your success and achievement in 2012 will come from your energy, your efforts and your actions, not from anywhere else. Peter Drucker said: “The only way to get the future you want is to create it.”
In the next few weeks:
1. Desire
Desire is more than wanting or wishing or hoping 2012 will be better than last year was. Desire is that fire in the belly you probably feel right now to do those things you need in order to accomplish what you want to accomplish in the year ahead. Warning! If you don’t fan those flames you’re feeling right now, they will go out.
Action: Write out a clear statement of what you intend to accomplish in 2012 – and share it with a trusted friend or colleague.
2. Personal Initiative
Remember, the cavalry isn’t coming. You’ve heard the saying: “If it’s meant to be, it’s up to me!” Guess what? It’s only up to you! Inertia is the killer of improved performance and real achievement. Why? It’s easier to do nothing. Unless you take the necessary actions to change the way things are now – they’ll stay the way they are now. Become a person of action in 2012.
Action: Make a list of three habits you’ll develop in 2012 that will change the status quo. Remember, most of what you do – you do because of habit.
3. Process
Efficiency expert W. Edwards Deming said: “If you can’t describe what you’re doing as a process, you don’t know what you’re doing.” Process is everything when it comes to performance and productivity. Establishing routines is a very effective way to shake off the mundane. Start with a morning and an evening routine. When you wake up, do something productive before you do anything else. In the evening, take a specific action that will prepare you for the next day.
Action: If you don’t have a defined process for improving your performance and productivity – get one. I can help with that – call me or drop me an email.
4. Commitment
Commit to what? Commit to the process you’ve decided to use for changing the status quo. Establishing a morning or evening routine is only half the battle. Committing to live the routine long enough for it to become a habit is the key. Establishing a routine for a day or two won’t get it. Three to four weeks of consistent behavior is what it will take to establish the habit of doing the same (productive) things the same way – every day.
Action: Develop a morning routine, one that will get you off to a productive start every day. Hint: Don’t get up and check email – do something productive first!
5. Accountability
This is the missing ingredient of performance improvement. Make yourself accountable to someone for the actions you’ll take to change the status quo in the year ahead. Chances for success and achievement are dramatically increased when you tell someone else what you’re doing and what you intend to accomplish. You’ll be amazed at how willing a good friend or colleague will be to help you succeed.
Action: Call a trusted friend or colleague. Outline your plans for 2012 and ask him or her to be your accountability partner. Specify a time each week when you’ll get together to update your progress.
Tags: accountability, action, commitment, habit, performance, productivity, routine
