Challenge yourself, right up to the point where it isn't fun any more.
Color Commentary for Monday, January 21, 2013
By E. R. Haas
"The critical ingredient is getting off your butt and doing something. It's as simple as that. A lot of people have ideas, but there are few who decide to do something about them now. Not tomorrow. Not next week. But today. The true entrepreneur is a doer, not a dreamer."
~ Nolan Bushnell
All last week we talked about the power of planning, and the steps you must take to move your goals off the calendar and into your schedule.
This week we will discuss accelerating your success by helping you take bold ACTION to move your dreams off the page and into your life.
Study Nolan's quote carefully. It tells you precisely what you must DO to be successful. (BTW This guy is very successful. In case you don't recognize the name, he created the world's first video games!)
My question to you today, as it was last week, "Are you now MOVING in the direction of your dreams?"
Are you living your MISSION?
If not, why not?
Movement requires you to take ACTION.
As I have been saying for the last three months, ACTION—not good intentions, excuses, explanations, reasons, self-imposed doubt, your comfort zone... whatever—is what it takes to transform your mission into clear goals... goals into rock-solid plans... and plans into a series of accomplishments.
How much ACTION do your goals see?
All month we talked about your goals and plans. Today, I want you to look at your Number One Goal again. What actions will you take to move closer to this goal in February?
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Specific Actions:
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Understand the importance of this Factor of your performance and you are well on your way to tremendous success. Fail to heed the advice contained here, and your goals will have a very difficult time even seeing the light of day.
Stop and listen to the audio track for this TQ Factor while you're reading the rest of this page, and while you're completing the exercises below.
This is just one track from our fabulous ACT NOW Personal Workshop. If you don't own the complete collection, maybe it's high time to get with the program!
Engage your brain on as many levels as possible and
you'll learn faster, and remember what you've read longer.
IMPORTANT: If you are ALREADY registered with ThinkTQ.com and are currently receiving TQ Mail, simply Sign In... Please do not register again as it may duplicate your mailings. Many Thanks, enjoy and prosper!
Powerful Actions—One Step at a Time...
FACT: You will always produce better results, personally and professionally, when you break large tasks into a sequence of immediately "do-able" actions.
When seen in their entirety, complex projects appear too overwhelming.
However, even the most complex task is only a sequence of smaller, "do-able" steps that can be taken one at a time.
Isolate the individual steps, and begin them right away.
"Time is the coin of your life. It is the only coin you have, and only you can determine how it will be spent. Be careful lest you let other people spend it for you."~ Carl Sandburg
Factor 10C's CONTRIBUTION to your performance...
A high commitment to this Factor of your performance suggests you are someone who gains immediate control over complex tasks by seeing them as a series of simple steps.
You work your way through big projects by reducing them to manageable tasks.
Rather than focus on the complexity of the interrelated objectives, you break each task down into its most basic parts—and get started right away.
This process gives you the confidence to take on the impossible, because you know that success is as simple as completing one "do-able" step at a time.
Factor 10C's COST to your success...
A lack of commitment to this area of your performance suggests you may have trouble taking action on complex projects. You may become easily confused by complex tasks and the apparent difficulty in achieving them.
By only seeing the big picture—in all its complexity—you tend to lose confidence in your ability to accomplish such a formidable endeavor.
Instead of breaking these tasks into individual steps, you remain mystified by the entire process—and delay indefinitely from taking that all important first step.
The BENEFIT of choosing to do Factor 10C more frequently...
By reducing a complex task to a series of simple steps, you go from overwhelmed to full speed ahead in nothing flat.
IMPORTANT: If you are starting to lose your commitment to your goals, pay attention!
The quickest way out of this trap is to listen to your Act Now CD again and identify ONE ACTION that you can take NOW to move in the direction of your dreams.
See Also: Prioritize Test... Optimize Test... Synergize Test...
TQ Ideas For Action...
Learn how to "Simplify The Complex to "Do-Able" Steps."
The following Ideas for Action represent some of the best thinking on the planet regarding this subject.
They're designed to inspire and motivate you to actually do this factor a great deal more frequently.
Spend some time reading each one. Make sure you understand them. Visualize yourself doing them.
Keep in mind, however, that these ideas will remain ideas until you put them into action.
What Are You Avoiding Because It's Bigger Than You Are?
When seen in their entirety, difficult or complex projects appear too overwhelming even to begin. However, even the largest project is simply a sequence of smaller, "do-able" steps. Take a deep breath, and then take action -- one step at a time.
Once you know where you're going, focus on the only step you can control -- the one immediately in front of you.
Are You Avoiding Your A1's?
If you're avoiding your A1 priority because it's just too monstrous, sneak up on it by taking bite-size do-able chunks out of it here and there.
Start small, but start immediately. Rome wasn't built in a day, and a monstrous project doesn't have to be either.
Take Smaller Bites.
Commit to finishing one part of a project at a time: the outline, the research or the actual written copy. You'll have accomplished a specific objective thereby creating closure for one step and momentum to start the next .
Make this day a checklist of do-able accomplishments.
The Bottom Line.
The year is in full gear and moving fast. You need to learn to take bold action if you are going to move your most important 2013 goal off this page, and put it into your life.
There are now just a little over 11 months remaining to make 2013 your BEST year ever. I highly recommend that you choose just one area of your performance and improve it. Today.
If you haven't already, right now is the perfect time to take a baseline assessment of your GOALS and your POWER to achieve them. I urge you to take the full 100 question TQ Test to baseline where you are now... and what you will need to do differently to achieve your goals this year.
-- E.R. Haas, CEO
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Member Comments...
I think an 8-9, but looking back on the last 6 months, maybe really only a 5-6 overall.
I take fast action on stuff I like to do. I never seem to get around to doing what I know I should, but don't like.
I loved Maikel's article, and will stop hiding behind the excuse machine!
I relate to the other comments very well - I take action on those things I like or that are in my comfort zone, but I procrastinate when I do not feel confident that I can accomplish the task. I make excuses as to why I do not step out and just do it.
2007 is my year, and in order to get to where I need to be, I have to push myself, and encourage myself along the way. I must celebrate the small successes as I continue to move forward to my goals.
Because by the time 3 PM comes around I am burned out and running on empty. Clearly, I need to put better fuel into my body to get maximum value from each of my 1000 Prime Minutes.
Initiating action is never a problem for me. Sustaining it is.
For February: read through the first three chapters of _Dead Man's Hand_, fix anything that looks like it needs it, read through the synopsis, ditto, and kick that baby out the door as well.
Fear and fear.
Cash flow has been curtailed and want to re-build reserves.
Positive move. Increase energy to increase exposure.
Guerilla Marketing method activated.
Use more Foot Power to spread advertising.
Chuck Bartok
Since being given chance to Enjoy more life after Coronary and re-introduced to Think & Grow Rich, all of of my past has congealed to allow me to Establish my Definite Major Purpose, ignite the Burning Desire, Form a powerful Master-Mind, and put the Plan into Action.
Each Day is a triumph and the Dreams become Reality
Chuck Bartok
They now see a whole lot more ACTION and a lot less "getting ready to get ready" than they ever did.
The secret to success is positive ACTION. BELIEVE it!
As my 10-15 year goals start to come into clear focus, I can now SEE what I need to DO now to make even those far off dreams coalesce into tangible starting-points upon which I can take sustained action.
No FEAR! No REGRETS! All RESULTS!
Do I have what it takes to win it?
Like football, this is a game of inches. Yes, I have the power to rack up the points/goals necessary to win.
I use it to check on my progress and how I am doing on the journey....is my organization falling off? Have I lost alignmetn with my Mission? Am I still connected to my dreams? Reading the daily TQ newsletter and using the system helps me make sure that I can self correct along the way.
Self correction is key and sooner is better than later. After all, is it better to go 2 miles off course, or 200 miles before you realize it and correct your course. Pilots deal with wind that is constantly shifting, changing, and pushing the flight off course or schedule. I heard someone say that airline flights are off course more than 93% of the time. They are always making subtle corrections to get back to their planned flight path so they land 200 feet in from the end of the run to which they are headed.
Everyone has what it takes to win inside them. That doesn't mean that we use it. I didn't use it for a long time. When I used it, I wouldn't stick with the game plan or use it consistently. Then TQ helped me see the whole picture all at once and play the game at a different level. When you play the game all at once it radically changes. It is a different game now and hard to go back to playing it one area at a time.
-Ryan Sarti Oakbrook, Illinois
Chauhan
Reason: Did not feel like it. Kept postponing it and pressing the snooze button as and when I got reminders to do it!!!
Chauhan
I am up against the wall and have been in survival mode for so long it has become a prison. Do I go into debt to realize my goal??
How do you get motivated when you just want to curl up with a cup of tea and a good book.
Being your own boss can be tough.
It's Esther. Energy is my biggest issue. I, too, am affected by the weather and can easily zone-out when I haven't seen the sun for days on end.
What can be done about this? I've heard getting sun lamps specifically designed to mimic the sun's rays during the winter can help.
Hooking up with someone to encourage you on blah days can be helpful as well. Sometimes, I call a good friend who has a bright and cheery personality and have an upbeat chat for a while to help me feel better.
Laughter can help too. Ever tried renting a funny video that forces you to laugh and feel better? A good belly laugh sends oxygen racing into your blood stream. It's a fantastic way to get energy and feel better.
And, finally, having an accountability partner, someone to check on you to give you a push to help you get moving is great as well.
I used to live in sunny So. California and even though it's been over two decades since I moved away from there, I'll always be a Cali-girl in my heart, head and blood!
Anyway, I'm a Certified Master TQ coach on the path to success along with the rest of you.
If you need support, motivation and other ideas how to beat the winter blues, send ER an email requesting I contact you and I'd be glad to connect with you or anyone else needing support during the winter months.
Seize the Day and chase the blues away!
Sincerely,
Esther Chambers
Oak Park, IL
I review my goals every day and add tasks from it to my daily plan.
So far so good!
Today I'll review my mission statement once again identifying my roles in this life and will work on setting achievable goals to accomplish it in the near future.
THis is it... a true awakening to NOT put off my heart's desires. My heart desires are being fullfilled NOW!
If I don't sleep well, I'm too tired in the morning to "jump on the bike" so to speak, like the guy on the bike underneath today's REAL PEOPLE REAL STORIES caption.
It occurred to me that this is why ENERGY is the first of the 10 essential elements of success in TQ.
Therefore, before I focus on making sure I have my heart's desire clearly defined in my mind, I am going to create an energy plan.
This will ensure that I have the essential energy needed to wake up and join the "bikers" enjoying the race toward our hearts desires.
Esther
flirting girls
If you want encouragement and support with your weight loss goal, feel free to check out my website: http://www.blessingoffitness.com. I am here to assist you! Have a wonderful weekend!!
I'm afraid it will be too hard, complicated, tedious.
Thoughts control everything just like the brain controls the body. I have three clients that I like and one that is unbearable. It is so difficult because she is dying of cancer. Yet I only concentrate on her. Then when the things that I do doesn't please her or if I do something wrong I feel so awful. My stomach goes into knots when I have to go to work then. Instead of appreciating and enjoying the good things. I am giving this way too much power. The problem is how to start saying "no" because it is part of work. I do really care about her and her situation is extremely tragic and I understand her anger. I am so trying to help but it is not making the situation any better so why am I wasting our time? Perhaps if you try to tell Paula how you feel, if she is an understanding person, that might help. If she is not then I suggest you spend as little time as possible with her. Be with the people and do the things you enjoy. Life is too short to be brought down if things do not go perfectly. Nothing ever goes perfectly! Nobody spells perfectly 100% of the time. Thats why the computer has a backspace key. I already realize that this isn't working with my client. Now is the very very difficult task of actually setting limits. So here I am talking but not taking my own advise. I appreciate that you were able to put my feelings into words. Good luck to you and one positive thing about this is that I believe you now know how to spell adamant, which I think would've spelled wrong too. Best wishes, Tammie
I WILL....
I am beginning to understand more and more just what I CAN accomplish!
The biggest tool is ME!
y.e.s.
y.e.s.
First I have to buy and and here before I ave to earn the money, for which I am taking theadequate steps
y.e.s
taking action in little steps and reading my mission daily will help me accomplish this mission . on e yr form now I will look back at my decision ,mission goals plans.
certified. ACTION #1 - complete!!! I sat on this for 2 weeks like a mother hen on an egg that wouldn't hatch. Finally couldn't stand
the procrastination any longer and reached for the phone...done. Found out with a lot of digging that one of my core beliefs that has
been sabotaging me is the I don't deserve...
challenged that beleif and am changing it TODAY! Thanks TQ.
I did just that and researched and LAUNCHED.
Thanks so much for the advice ALEKSEY.
Nancy
If I look back at all my successes I wonder why oh why I doubt myself so much. So took that as a new goal and am digging into
my core beliefs and values and WHOA am I
learning a lot! My greatest obstacle to
my success in my own THOUGHTS. Heres to the
secret.
busy again tonite. I am very proactive on my time.
This action item dropped in priority ranking due to refocusing energy and time into organizing my life, planning &
preparing
I'm working it back into my schedule as a priority.
This is why I am learning the TQ program.
Tomorrow is here.
Tomorrow is today.
Tomorrow is now.
The hearts desire happens in the split second of every decision you make.
And in the action that follows.
All this I am holding back on now due to lack of a clear laid out plan on how to realize this dream and to finance. The cost currently seems to high, The benefits are boundless.
My #1 goal is to be a great parent
and help my 17 year old son graduate
high school successfully.
He is currently in 11th grade.
Right now, this is taking all that I have.
I have the faith, and I know that the power is in me, but I'm having trouble with some of the gears in the system that cranks out ACTION from plans.
But it's okay, I know that I just have to keep practising and improving, and I will become what I believe I can!
"Will you win next year's personal Superbowl?" The short answer is, "Yes!"
I'm currently reading the free PDF version of "Success on Purpose" on my computer (Thank you E.R. Haas & Kent Madson!). I know there will be much soul-searching and hard work ahead, but I'm going to win at this. I want to be a blessing to others and succeed in reaching my goals.
I have found that a person with passion, integrity, time and a lot of hard work, anything is possible. My "passions" are small and many. They are not passions, they are just interests.
Worthiness: Do I deserve the rich, affluent life of my dreams.
God: will He be pleased with my new rich life or He prefer that I remain poor.
How many times am I going to let interruptions get the best of me? It seems like every time I plan to work on my jewelry, someone comes over and I have to stop working and visit. I have gotten a week behind, and I could just kick myself.
Increasing my business is something I really need to do this year. (Not want - NEED.) I think it's time I started telling them (all family) to make appointments, or tell my mother to go see them at their house if she wants company.
Just because I'm working out of my house is no reason for people to take advantage of my hours. SO, I'll be working the weekend, again, because I'm playing "Catch up," instead of "Getting ahead!"
DB
By N.Kannan
er
In truth, nothing.
Staying in the zone is a big deal, and always being ready for new opportunity is what I am all about.
er
My Schedule isn't quite robust (let's call it "chunky") but I think it's productive and inspiring. I believe this will help me make it past a few bodies in the dog-pile.
I am focused and the embers are starting to ignite!
No belief, no chance.
er
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