It’s easy to get stuck in the floaty trap. You know the one, the one that feels like you’re just floating along, letting life happen to you instead of making things happen yourself.
It can be a pretty comfortable feeling until it’s not. Eventually, we get frustrated with floating because, while it feels pretty good, we have little to no control over where we end up.
When we “float” we are subject to the whims of other people and circumstances that we’ve chosen to not control. Floating is a pretty common feeling, and it is easy to stay there way longer than you should. But floating does not have to be a permanent condition.
YOU can take control of your life!
Taking control of your life is about making a conscious decision to be the driver, not the passenger in your life’s journey. It’s about being intentional with your choices and actions, big and small.
Here’s how to start taking control of your life.
Define What “Control” Means to You
First, you need to understand what taking control looks like for you personally. It’s absolutely not the same for everyone. When you get married, for instance, you are willingly and lovingly giving up at least some control to your partner.
So for you, is control about your career? Your health? Your relationships? Your finances? It’s likely a combination of these things and maybe more, but identifying the key areas that feel out of whack is the first step. Grab a notebook, iPad, or whatever, and jot down the parts of your life that feel most chaotic or uncontrolled. This isn’t about judgment; it’s about clarity.
Set Intentional Goals
Once you’ve identified the areas you want to work on, it’s time to set some goals. These shouldn’t be vague wishes. A good goal is SMART:
• Specific: What exactly do you want to achieve?
• Measurable: How will you track your progress?
• Achievable: Is this goal realistic for you right now?
• Relevant: Does this goal align with your values and what you want for your life?
• Time-bound: When do you want to achieve this by?
For example, instead of “I want to get healthy,” try “I will walk for 30 minutes three times a week for the next month.”
Embrace Small Actions
The idea of “taking control” can feel overwhelming. The key is to start small. A big change is just a series of small, consistent actions. If your goal is to save more money, start by packing your lunch once a week instead of buying it. If you want to learn a new skill, commit to 15 minutes of practice a day. These small wins build momentum and confidence, proving to yourself that you are capable of making a change.
Practice Self-Awareness
One of the most powerful tools for taking control is self-awareness. It’s about understanding your habits, triggers, and emotions. Why do you procrastinate? What makes you feel stressed? What are you truly passionate about? The more you understand yourself, the better you can navigate your life’s challenges. Journaling, meditation, or simply taking a few minutes each day to reflect can help you develop this awareness.
Take Responsibility (Without Blame)
This is a tough one, but it’s essential. Taking control means taking responsibility for your choices, ALL your choices, and their outcomes. This is not about blaming yourself for past mistakes. Instead, it’s about acknowledging your role in your current situation. For example, if you’re not happy with your job, instead of blaming your boss or the company, ask yourself, “What can I do to change this situation?” Maybe it’s updating your resume, networking, or taking a course to learn new skills. This shift in perspective is incredibly empowering.
Taking control of your life isn’t a one-time event; it’s a continuous practice. It’s about being proactive, not reactive. By defining your goals, starting with small actions, practicing self-awareness, and taking responsibility, you can begin to steer your life in the direction you want to go.
Things still will not always go your way, but YOU have the power to change directions as many times as are required to put yourself exactly where you want to be. Now that’s control!
So, where will you start?
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Considersupporting my efforts with a gift!
Hey everyone, I’m passionate about sharing insights on life and leadership through my blog. If you’ve found value in my posts and wish to see more content like this, please consider making a donation. Every little bit helps in continuing to provide quality guidance and inspiration.
But whether you can offer support or not, I’ll continue to try and write a blog that gives back, informs and sometimes even entertains. I hope you enjoy it!
I’m a little surprised by how often I’m asked by people how to ask for a raise. I don’t normally answer a question with a question, but in this circumstance, I do it anyway. The question I ask is, “Do you deserve a raise?”
I get a variety of answers to that question. Many people say, “well, I need one.” This is where the frustration begins to set in for them. Because my reply is that if I’m your employer, I could care less that you think you need a raise.
I then ask them to explain to me, with a pretty good level of specificity, why they deserve a raise. I want them to tell me what they have done to make themselves more valuable to their employer.
It is my belief that no one is entitled to a raise they didn’t earn just because they have been with a company for a certain period of time.
Consistently increasing the value you bring to your employer is the fastest way to earn a raise. Increasing your value helps you stand out from your colleagues and coworkers. Standing out as a valuable employee not only helps you earn a raise, it can open doors to career growth, job security, and personal fulfillment. Becoming indispensable to your employer isn’t about working harder—it’s about working smarter, aligning your efforts with the company’s goals, and consistently demonstrating your worth.
Here’s a practical guide to increasing your value at work, with actionable steps you can start implementing today.
Understand Your Company’s Goals and Priorities
To be truly valuable, you need to align your work with what matters most to your employer. Take time to understand your company’s mission, vision, and current objectives. Are they focused on increasing revenue, improving customer satisfaction, or streamlining operations? Knowing this helps you prioritize tasks that directly contribute to those goals.
Actionable Steps:
Ask questions: In team meetings or one-on-ones, inquire about the company’s short- and long-term priorities.
Read up: Review company reports, strategic plans, or public communications (e.g., investor updates or press releases) to grasp the bigger picture.
Align your work: Frame your contributions in terms of how they support key objectives. For example, if customer retention is a priority, focus on delivering exceptional service or suggesting process improvements.
Example: If your company is pushing for digital transformation, volunteer to learn a new tool or platform that supports that initiative, like mastering a CRM system or analyzing data to improve decision-making.
Develop In-Demand Skills
Employers value employees who bring expertise that is relevant to the company’s needs. Stay ahead by continuously developing skills that are in demand, both within your role and in the broader industry. This could mean technical skills (e.g., data analysis, coding) or soft skills (e.g., communication, leadership).
Actionable Steps:
Identify skill gaps: Look at job descriptions for roles similar to yours or ask your manager which skills would make you more effective.
Invest in learning: Take online courses (platforms like Coursera, LinkedIn Learning, or Udemy are great), attend workshops, or earn certifications relevant to your field.
Apply your skills: Find opportunities to use your new skills on the job, whether through a special project or by improving an existing process.
Example: If your company uses data to drive decisions, learning basic Excel functions or a tool like Tableau can make you a go-to person for insights, increasing your value.
Take Initiative and Solve Problems
Valuable employees don’t wait for instructions—they proactively identify challenges and propose solutions. Being a problem-solver shows you are invested in the company’s success and can be trusted to handle responsibilities.
Actionable Steps:
Spot inefficiencies: Look for processes, tools, or workflows that could be improved and suggest actionable fixes.
Volunteer for challenges: Offer to lead a project, tackle a tough client issue, or streamline a task that others avoid.
Think ahead: Anticipate potential roadblocks in your team’s work and propose ways to address them before they become problems.
Example: If your team struggles with meeting deadlines due to poor task tracking, propose adopting a project management tool like Trello, or Asana and offer to set it up.
Build Strong Relationships
Your value isn’t just about what you do but how you work with others. Building strong relationships with colleagues, managers, and stakeholders fosters collaboration and makes you a trusted team member.
Actionable Steps:
Communicate effectively: Be clear, concise, and respectful in emails, meetings, and conversations.
Support your team: Offer help to colleagues, share credit for successes, and foster a positive work environment.
Network internally: Get to know people in other departments to understand their roles and how you can support cross-functional goals.
Example: If a coworker is overwhelmed, offer to take on a small task or share a resource that could help them, building goodwill and strengthening team dynamics.
Deliver Consistent, High-Quality Work
Reliability is a cornerstone of value. Employers prize employees who consistently meet or exceed expectations, deliver on time, and maintain high standards.
Actionable Steps:
Set clear goals: Break down large tasks into manageable steps and track your progress to stay on target.
Pay attention to detail: Double-check your work to avoid errors that could cost time or resources.
Seek feedback: Regularly ask for constructive feedback from your manager or peers to improve your performance.
Example: If you’re tasked with preparing a report, ensure it’s error-free, visually clear, and submitted early, demonstrating reliability and professionalism.
Be Adaptable and Embrace Change
Workplaces evolve—new technologies, strategies, or market conditions can shift priorities overnight. Employees who adapt quickly and embrace change are invaluable because they help the company stay agile.
Actionable Steps:
Stay open-minded: Approach new processes or tools with curiosity rather than resistance.
Learn quickly: Take the lead in mastering new systems or workflows, and share your knowledge with others.
Show resilience: Handle setbacks or unexpected changes with a positive attitude and focus on solutions.
Example: If your company adopts a new software platform, take the initiative to learn it early and help train your team, positioning yourself as a resource.
Communicate Your Value
It’s not enough to do great work—you need to make sure your contributions are visible (without being boastful). Employers often notice employees who can articulate their impact.
Actionable Steps:
Track your achievements: Keep a record of your accomplishments, such as projects completed, savings generated, or positive feedback received.
Share updates: In performance reviews or check-ins, highlight specific ways you have contributed to team or company goals.
Be proactive in meetings: Share ideas, insights, or progress updates to demonstrate your engagement.
Example: During a performance review, say, “I streamlined our reporting process, which saved the team 5 hours a week and improved data accuracy by 20%,” to quantify your impact.
Stay Positive and Professional
A positive attitude and professional demeanor make you a pleasure to work with, which enhances your value. Employers appreciate employees who inspire others and maintain composure under pressure.
Actionable Steps:
Stay solution-focused: Even when challenges arise, focus on what can be done rather than dwell on problems.
Show gratitude: Acknowledge others’ contributions and express appreciation for opportunities.
Handle conflict gracefully: Address disagreements calmly and constructively to maintain a positive work environment.
Example: If a project hits a snag, instead of complaining, say, “Let’s brainstorm a few ways to get this back on track,” showing leadership and optimism.
Mentor and Support Others
Helping your colleagues grow not only strengthens the team but also positions you as a leader, even if you’re not in a formal leadership role. Employers value employees who elevate those around them.
Actionable Steps:
Share knowledge: Offer to train a new hire or share tips with a struggling colleague.
Be a team player: Celebrate others’ successes and contribute to a collaborative culture.
Lead by example: Model the behaviors and work ethic you want to see in others.
Example: If a new team member is struggling with a task, spend 15 minutes walking them through it or sharing a helpful resource, showing you’re invested in the team’s success.
Stay Committed to Growth
Valuable employees never stop growing. Commit to continuous self-improvement, both in your role and as a professional, to stay relevant and impactful.
Actionable Steps:
Set personal goals: Identify one or two areas for growth each quarter, such as improving public speaking or mastering a new tool.
Seek mentorship: Connect with a mentor or manager who can guide your career development.
Stay curious: Read industry blogs, attend webinars, or follow thought leaders on platforms like X to stay informed about trends.
Example: Follow industry leaders on X to learn about emerging trends in your field, then share a relevant insight with your team to spark discussion.
Final Thoughts
Being more valuable to your employer is about aligning your efforts with their goals, continuously improving yourself, and making a positive impact on your team and organization. By taking initiative, building skills, and developing strong relationships, you’ll not only increase your worth but also create a more rewarding work experience for yourself.
Start small—pick one or two of these steps to focus on this week. Over time, these efforts will compound, making you an indispensable asset to your employer and setting you up for long-term career success.
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Considersupporting my efforts with a gift!
Hey everyone, I’m passionate about sharing insights on life and leadership through my blog. If you’ve found value in my posts and wish to see more content like this, please consider making a donation. Every little bit helps in continuing to provide quality guidance and inspiration.
But whether you can offer support or not, I’ll continue to try and write a blog that gives back, informs and sometimes even entertains. I hope you enjoy it!
If you’re a golf fan, then odds are you’ve watched golf on TV or maybe even attended a tournament or two. Just imagine watching your favorite player bombing a drive down the middle of the fairway and then hitting their approach shot within a foot of—a foot of nothing because there was no hole on the green. Nothing to shoot for, no way to finish the hole, no point in playing at all.
That seems foolish, doesn’t it? Putting all that work in to master hitting a golf ball long and straight. Then practicing endlessly to control the ball so you can stop it on the putting surface. And then…and then there is no then.
It’s like baseball with the base. Basketball without the basket. Football without the ball. And it’s like life without goals.
Now imagine waking up each day with a clear sense of purpose, knowing exactly what you’re working toward in your career, relationships, health, and personal growth. How cool would that be? That’s the magic of setting goals—not just in one area, but across every area of your life.
Goals are your roadmap, guiding you through the chaos of daily demands and helping you build a life that’s balanced, fulfilling, and aligned with your core values. It’s just a whole lot easier to keep going when things get tough when you know exactly where it is that you’re going to end up.
Having true goals is absolutely transformative. They transform an ordinary life into an extraordinary one. Here’s how.
1. Goals Give You Clarity and Direction
Life can feel like a mishmash of responsibilities, distractions, unexpected and sometimes, unending challenges. Without goals, it’s easy to drift aimlessly, reacting to whatever comes your way. Setting goals in areas like career, health, relationships, finances, and personal development gives you a North Star to follow. They help you define what success looks like for you—whether it’s landing a dream job, running a marathon, or deepening your connection with loved ones.
For example, a career goal might be to earn a promotion within two years, while a personal goal could be to read one book a month for self-growth. These targets provide clarity, so you’re not just “going through the motions” but actively steering your life toward meaningful outcomes.
It is amazing how many people can’t easily define what success means to them, that’s the telltale sign they lack true goals.
2. They Create Balance Across Your Life
Focusing on just one area—like pouring all your energy into work—can leave other parts of your life neglected, leading to burnout, strained relationships, or declining health. Goals in multiple areas encourage balance. By setting intentions for physical fitness (e.g., exercising three times a week), mental well-being (e.g., practicing mindfulness daily), and relationships (e.g., scheduling weekly family time), you ensure that no part of your life is left behind.
Think of your life like a wheel, with spokes representing health, career, relationships, spirituality, and more. If one spoke is missing or weak, the wheel wobbles. Setting clear goals keeps the wheel turning smoothly, helping you live a well-rounded life.
3. Goals Fuel Motivation and Progress
There’s something super motivating about working towards something you’re passionate about. Goals give you a reason to get out of bed, even on tough days. They break down big dreams into manageable steps, making progress feel achievable. For instance, if your financial goal is to save $10,000 for a home down payment, you can create smaller milestones, like saving $500 a month. Each step forward builds momentum and a sense of accomplishment.
This applies to every area of life. A health goal to lose 20 pounds becomes less daunting when you focus on eating more vegetables daily. A relationship goal to reconnect with friends feels doable when you commit to one coffee date a month. These small wins keep you motivated and remind you that progress is possible.
4. They Help You Prioritize and Manage Time
Time is limited, and without clear goals, it’s easy to waste it on distractions or obligations that do nothing for you. When you have goals across different areas, you’re forced to prioritize. You start saying “no” to things that don’t align with your vision and “yes” to what moves you closer to your goals.
For example, if you’re aiming to improve your mental health by journaling nightly, you might cut back on mindless scrolling. If your career goal is to learn a new skill, you’ll carve out time for online courses instead of overcommitting to social events. Goals act like a filter, helping you allocate your time and efforts wisely.
5. Goals Foster Resilience and Growth
Life isn’t a straight path—setbacks, failures, and obstacles are inevitable. Goals give you something to hold onto during tough times. They remind you why you’re pushing forward, whether it’s to build a stronger body, a thriving business, or a closer family. Even when you hit a snag, working towards a goal is like a superpower that teaches you resilience, problem-solving, and adaptability.
Plus, pursuing goals in diverse areas encourages personal growth. A spiritual goal to practice gratitude might deepen your perspective, while a creative goal to write a book could unlock hidden talents. Each goal is like a stepping stone, helping you grow into a more awesome, capable version of yourself!
6. They Align Your Life with Your Values
At their core, goals are about living intentionally. When you set them thoughtfully across all areas—career, health, relationships, finances, personal growth, and beyond—they reflect what matters most to you. This alignment gives you a sense of purpose and fulfillment that’s hard to find otherwise.
For instance, if family is a core value, a goal to have weekly game nights ensures you’re investing in those bonds. If independence drives you, a financial goal to pay off debt puts you on that path.
Without goals, it’s easy to drift aimlessly, swayed by external pressures or fleeting whims. Goals anchor you to your values, ensuring your life reflects who you are and what you stand for.
How to Start Setting Goals in All Areas
Ready to unlock the full potential of goal-setting? Here’s a super easy way to do it:
1.Reflect on Key Areas: Consider categories like health, career, relationships, finances, personal growth, spirituality, and hobbies. Ask yourself, “What would make this area of my life feel more fulfilling?”
2. Set SMART Goals: Make your goals Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. Instead of “getting fit,” aim for “walking 30 minutes five days a week for three months.”
3. Start Small: Don’t overwhelm yourself with dozens of goals. Pick one or two per area to focus on, ensuring they’re realistic and meaningful.
4. Track and Adjust: Review your progress regularly—weekly or monthly—and tweak your goals as needed. Life changes, and your goals should evolve with it.
5. Celebrate Wins: Acknowledge every milestone, no matter how small. Rewarding yourself reinforces motivation and makes the journey enjoyable.
The Ripple Effect of True Goals
When you set goals in all areas of life, they start to work together like a well-oiled machine! A health goal to sleep better boosts your energy for work. A career goal to network more introduces you to friends who enrich your social life. A personal growth goal to practice patience strengthens your relationships. This interconnectedness creates a positive ripple effect, where progress in one area lifts the others too.
Goals aren’t only about reaching objectives; they’re about becoming the best version of yourself. They give you a roadmap to live a purposeful, balanced, and joyful life. So begin today to dream big and plan out what you want in every aspect of your life. Your future self will most definitely thank you!
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Considersupporting my efforts with a donation!
Hey everyone, I’m passionate about sharing insights on life and leadership through my blog. If you’ve found value in my posts and wish to see more content like this, please consider making a donation. Every little bit helps in continuing to provide quality guidance and inspiration.
But whether you can offer support or not, I’ll continue to try and write a blog that gives back, informs and sometimes even entertains. I hope you enjoy it!
When I’m wearing my mentor hat, one of the questions I’m often asked is, “How do I ask for a raise?” I’ll let the person asking the question know that I have some good ideas on that subject. But I also tell them that determining how to ask for a raise depends mightily on whether or not they have earned a raise.
A surprisingly high percentage of people are puzzled by my response. Incredibly (at least to me) the concept of earning a raise actually hadn’t occurred to many of them. They wanted to ask for a raise because they needed a raise.
They had outspent their income and were now expecting their employer to fix that for them. As you might imagine, many of the people who asked me how to ask for a raise were disappointed with this entire conversation.
But not all.
Some asked what they could do to earn a raise. My immediate response was, “strengthen your work ethic.” It didn’t matter how good they thought their work ethic was; if they wanted to earn more, they would need to do more to get it. That’s a pretty basic concept, but it doesn’t need to be more complicated than that.
A strong work ethic isn’t just important when asking for a raise; it is crucial for personal, professional, and societal success. Here are the key reasons why.
1. Personal Development
Discipline and Responsibility: A strong work ethic fosters self-discipline, helping individuals stay committed to their goals and responsibilities.
Self-Respect: Achieving goals through hard work builds confidence and pride in one’s abilities.
Time Management: It encourages the effective use of time, balancing tasks, and reducing procrastination.
2. Professional Growth
Reliability: Employers value individuals who consistently meet deadlines and deliver quality work.
Career Advancement: Hardworking individuals are more likely to be recognized, promoted, and trusted with leadership roles.
Skill Development: Regular dedication to tasks helps sharpen skills and gain expertise.
3. Building Relationships
Trust: A strong work ethic makes one dependable in personal and professional relationships.
Teamwork: Hardworking individuals inspire and motivate colleagues, enhancing collaboration.
Reputation: A good work ethic builds a positive reputation, opening doors to new opportunities.
4. Contributing to Society
Economic Productivity: People with a strong work ethic drive innovation and efficiency, benefiting the economy.
Cultural Influence: They set an example for others, promoting values like perseverance and responsibility.
Community Well-Being: By contributing their skills and efforts, they help build stronger, more resilient communities.
5. Resilience and Adaptability
Handling Challenges: Hardworking individuals are better equipped to face and overcome obstacles.
Consistency: They maintain their efforts even in difficult times, ensuring steady progress.
Ultimately, a strong work ethic is a cornerstone for achieving goals, maintaining integrity, and contributing positively to the world around us. So our next post will focus on “the how” of building a strong work ethic. One that will carry you through the challenging times we all face once in a while.
It’ll be worth your time… I guarantee it. 🙂
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Considersupporting my efforts with a donation! I put a significant amount of time and effort into writing a couple of blog posts each week. My primary goal is simple, to help other people. That doesn’t mean a little financial support isn’t appreciated. If you’ve benefited from my efforts and think my posts are valuable, I’d certainly appreciate whatever support you might be able to offer. But whether you can offer support or not, I’ll continue to try and write a blog that gives back, informs and sometimes even entertains. I hope you enjoy it!
I had an interesting question from a young salesperson the other day. He asked me how he would know he was doing the right things. The things he needs to do in order to be a successful salesperson.
My almost automatic response was that a mentor would be a huge help to him. A mentor could not only explain to him when he was on the right path but maybe even more importantly, when he wasn’t. I explained that a mentor would likely see things that he couldn’t see for himself.
His response caught me a little off guard. He said a mentor would be good but that HE wanted to be able to know for himself. He asked, “What are the ‘signs’ of success? How could he know at all times whether or not he was on the path to success?”
That really got me to thinking. I wondered if there were indeed definitive signs to look for on the journey to success. After a great deal of thinking, here are some of the signs or guideposts to look for. When you “see” these, you’ll know you’re heading in the right direction.
1. You Have Clear Goals and Progress
• Set objectives: You have defined short-term and long-term goals.
• Consistent progress: You’re steadily working toward those goals and can see measurable improvement.
• Small wins: Achieving milestones, even if they’re small, boosts your confidence and motivation.
2. You’re Learning from Your Failures
• Resilience: You view setbacks as learning opportunities rather than reasons to quit.
• Growth mindset: You learn from experiences, feedback, and challenges. You adapt and improve over time.
3. You’re Noticing Increased Focus and Productivity
• Efficiency: You’re able to focus on what truly matters, cutting out distractions.
• Better time management: You prioritize tasks that move you closer to your goals and eliminate time-wasting activities.
4. You Feel a Genuine Sense of Purpose
• Aligned with values: Your work or efforts align with your personal values and passions.
• Fulfillment: You’re excited and energized by what you’re doing, which gives you a deeper sense of meaning in your journey.
5. Your Skills and Knowledge are Continuously Improving
• Continuous growth: You’re constantly developing new skills or deepening your knowledge in areas that contribute to your success.
• Competency: You’re becoming increasingly proficient in your field or area of interest.
6. You have Positive Relationships and Growing Network
• Support system: You have a network of mentors, peers, or colleagues who support and encourage you.
• Value exchange: You contribute to others’ success, and in return, people are eager to help you as well.
7. Your Confidence and Self-Belief are Consistently Multiplying
• Inner confidence: You trust in your abilities and decisions, even in the face of uncertainty.
• Self-awareness: You understand your strengths and weaknesses, and you’re comfortable with both.
8. Your Financial Stability is Increasing
• Income growth: You’re either seeing financial returns or are on the way to achieving them.
• Sustainable progress: You’re able to invest in yourself or your business without feeling financially stretched.
9. You’re Receiving Positive Recognition from Others
• Respect and acknowledgment: Others recognize and respect your work or contributions, whether through feedback, awards, promotions, or opportunities.
10. You Willingly Accept and Adapt to Change
• Flexibility: You’re open to new opportunities, shifts in direction, and adjustments to your plan. You don’t feel derailed by them.
• Problem-solving ability: You can navigate unforeseen challenges with creative solutions.
11. You Have a Solid Work-Life Balance and Strong Mental Health
• Health and happiness: You’re maintaining a healthy balance between work and personal life.
• Less stress: While challenges may arise, you handle stress better and remain mentally and emotionally stable.
12. You’re Excited About the Future
• Vision: You have a clear and inspiring vision of what success looks like, and it excites you.
• Optimism: You’re motivated and feel positive about your future, despite the challenges ahead.
If you’re noticing some, or hopefully many of these signs, it’s likely you’re on a path toward success. If not, you at least know what to look for and you know that you have some work to do. I’d suggest that work begin with a review of your core principles. From there you can set goals for your career, your personal life, your financial life, and whatever other areas of your life that you want to focus on.
Those goals will become your guideposts to success.
Ultimately, your success, and the path you choose to get there, are completely up to you. But you must choose a path. Wandering around waiting for success to find you is like hoping to win the lottery without buying a ticket.
So get to work and get yourself on the path to phenomenal success.
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Considersupporting my efforts with a donation! I put a significant amount of time and effort into writing a couple of blog posts each week. My primary goal is simple, to help other people. That doesn’t mean a little financial support isn’t appreciated. If you’ve benefited from my efforts and think my posts are valuable, I’d certainly appreciate whatever support you might be able to offer. But whether you can offer support or not, I’ll continue to try and write a blog that gives back, informs and sometimes even entertains. I hope you enjoy it!
I’ve been truly blessed with incredibly wise mentors throughout my life. These are people who cared enough about me to be honest. They were skilled enough communicators to deliver challenging coaching to me in a way I could accept it. They were smart enough to not ever attempt to make a decision for me. They provided all the pluses and minuses of a given decision and then stepped back to allow me to decide.
One of the best pieces of advice came from perhaps the best salesperson who ever lived. I mean that literally. His name was Tom. He sold billions of dollars’ worth of his product throughout his career to always delighted clients. I was at a point in my own career where I was feeling a little “stuck.” I wasn’t sure what I should do, so I went to Tom and asked him what he thought.
He said he couldn’t tell me specifically what to do, but in his opinion, I should do the next right thing. I had received some “interesting” coaching from Tom in the past, but this particular information seemed more “interesting” than ever. I replied to Tom that if I knew what the next right thing to do was, I wouldn’t be stuck. I also wouldn’t be asking him for advice.
He was undaunted. He said that somewhere within me I knew what the next right thing was. He said if I didn’t know, I had all the skills and knowledge needed to figure it out on my own. It was frustrating advice, but as he helped me work through my thought process, it became clear that as usual, he was correct.
He simply reminded me what I knew and where I wanted to go in life. He reviewed my Core Values with me and assured me that “the next right thing” would be found in those values and in my goals.
Determining the next right thing to do is a continual process that involves a combination of self-awareness, goal-setting, and review, prioritization, and reflection. Here’s a step-by-step guide that Tom shared with me to help me navigate this process.
1. Define or Review Your Goals
• Set Specific Goals: Break down your overarching goal into smaller, manageable tasks.
• Time-bound: Assign deadlines to each task to create a sense of urgency and structure.
2. Assess Your Current Situation
• Self-Assessment: Evaluate where you currently stand in relation to your goals.
• Identify Obstacles: Recognize any challenges or barriers that may impede your progress.
3. Prioritize Tasks
• Urgency vs. Importance: Use tools like the Eisenhower Matrix to categorize tasks based on their urgency and importance.
• High-Impact Activities: Focus on tasks that will have the most significant impact on your progress.
4. Break Down Tasks
• Small Steps: Divide larger tasks into smaller, more manageable steps.
• Actionable Items: Ensure each step is actionable and can be accomplished in a reasonable timeframe.
5. Stay Organized
• Planning Tools: Use planners, calendars, or project management tools to keep track of your tasks and deadlines.
• Daily Review: Review your plan daily to stay on track and make adjustments as needed.
6. Maintain Flexibility
• Adaptability: Be willing to adjust your plans as new information or opportunities arise.
• Continuous Learning: Be open to learning and improving your approach based on feedback and results.
7. Seek Feedback
• Mentorship: Seek advice from mentors or peers who’ve had experience in your area of focus.
• Reflect: Regularly reflect on your progress and identify areas for improvement.
8. Take Action
• Commitment: Commit to taking action, even if it’s imperfect. The act of moving forward is crucial.
• Consistency: Regular, consistent action, even if small, leads to progress over time.
9. Evaluate and Reflect
• Review Progress: Periodically review what you’ve accomplished.
• Learn from Mistakes: Identify what didn’t work and learn from those experiences to refine your approach.
10. Stay Motivated
• Celebrate Milestones: Acknowledge and celebrate small wins to stay motivated.
• Positive Mindset: Maintain a positive attitude and focus on the progress you’ve made, not just what’s left to do.
Practical Example
Let’s say your goal is to write a book. Here’s how you can apply the steps:
1. Define Clear Goals: Set a goal to write a 300-page book within a year.
2. Assess Your Current Situation: Determine your writing speed and available time.
3. Prioritize Tasks: Outline the book’s chapters and prioritize writing the most critical sections first.
4. Break Down Tasks: Break down writing each chapter into smaller tasks, such as drafting an outline, writing 5 pages per day, and revising.
5. Stay Organized: Use a calendar to schedule writing sessions and deadlines for each chapter.
6. Maintain Flexibility: If you encounter writer’s block, be willing to adjust your schedule or change your writing environment.
7. Seek Feedback: Share drafts with peers or mentors for constructive feedback.
8. Take Action: Write daily, even if it’s just a few sentences.
9. Evaluate and Reflect: Review your progress weekly and adjust your plan if necessary.
10. Stay Motivated: Celebrate finishing each chapter and keep a positive outlook on your progress.
You absolutely know what your own “next right thing” is. By following these steps, you can ensure that you bring it to the surface and use it to make progress towards your goals. Remember, ALL progress is progress, even baby steps.
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Consider buying my next Diet Coke(s) Yes, I know it’s not the healthiest beverage but I kind of sort of live on the stuff… and the stuff is getting as expensive as gold. 😋 I’d appreciate any support but seriously, support or not, I’ll continue to try and write a blog that gives back, informs and sometimes even entertains. I hope you enjoy it!
I’ve always believed there are two areas of our lives that we have complete control over. Those two areas are our attitude and the amount of effort we put into accomplishing whatever it is we are trying to get done.
It may seem that controlling our attitude is the harder of the two but truly putting forth our best effort day after day is a significant challenge as well. Consistently giving your best effort is essential for achieving success and personal growth in various aspects of life. Whether it’s in your career, relationships, or personal pursuits. It may seem like a generalization but the reality is the more consistent you are in your effort, the more consistently positive your results will be. So here are some thoughts that may help you give your best effort even when you’d rather just say the hell with it.
• Start by defining clear and specific goals for yourself. What do you want to achieve? Having a clear sense of purpose will give you direction and motivation. Write those goals down. Share them with the important people in your life. Ask them to hold you accountable for achieving those goals in a given time frame. Develop a plan to achieve each one of those goals because it’s that process that will make your goals real.
• Organize your tasks and responsibilities. Create a to-do list or use a task management system to prioritize your activities. This will help you focus on what’s most important and avoid wasting time on less meaningful tasks. Remember, there is no bigger waste of time than doing well that which doesn’t need to be done at all.
• Manage your time effectively. Allocate dedicated time for important tasks and avoid procrastination. Use techniques like time blocking to ensure you allocate sufficient time to high-priority activities.
• Plan ahead for your tasks and projects. This includes doing research, gathering necessary resources, and creating a step-by-step plan. Proper preparation can significantly improve your performance.
• Cultivate a growth mindset, which means believing in your ability to improve through effort and learning. Embrace challenges as opportunities to grow, and don’t be discouraged by setbacks.
• Keep your workspace and environment organized. A clutter-free and well-structured space can help you stay focused and reduce distractions. Do not fool yourself into thinking that mess on your desk somehow makes you more productive, it’s exactly the opposite.
• Focus on one task at a time. Multitasking can reduce the quality of your work and lead to errors. Concentrate on the task at hand and give it your full attention. All multitasking really does is give you the opportunity to screw up multiple tasks at once, so avoid it at all cost.
• Learn to manage stress effectively. High stress levels can lead to burnout and hinder your ability to perform at your best. Practice stress-reduction techniques such as meditation, exercise, or deep breathing.
• Avoid overworking yourself. Take regular breaks to recharge and maintain your productivity. Short breaks can help you regain focus and creativity. Do not kid yourself into thinking that things like eating lunch at your desk makes you more productive. It actually makes you less productive later in the day. You NEED to recharge throughout the day!
• Solicit feedback from peers, mentors, or supervisors. Constructive feedback can provide valuable insights into areas where you can improve and help you refine your efforts. Sometimes we can convince ourselves that we’re giving our best effort when others can clearly see that we are not.
• Commit to lifelong learning. Stay updated with industry trends, new technologies, and best practices. Expanding your knowledge and skills will enable you to excel in your field. I’d actually recommend blocking 15-30 minutes every week for the purpose of learning something new. If you can’t answer the question, “what have you learned lately?” then you may not be giving your best effort even if you think you are.
• Understand that giving your best effort is an ongoing process. There will be challenges and setbacks along the way. Maintain your determination and resilience to keep pushing forward. This is the hardest part, you’ll need to stay far away from negative emotions or you’ll risk allowing other people and events gaining control over your level of effort rather than you.
• Acknowledge and celebrate your achievements, no matter how small. Recognizing your successes can boost your motivation and help you maintain a positive mindset. Remember, all progress is progress and even tiny progress begets more progress.
• Regularly reflect on your performance and assess what is and isn’t working. Be open to making adjustments and refining your approach to consistently improve.
Consistently giving your best effort is a lifelong commitment to personal and professional development. It requires discipline, dedication, and a willingness to adapt and learn from your experiences. By trying these ideas and staying committed to your goals, you can maximize your potential and achieve success in every area of your life.
