Change absolutely fascinates me, and people, organizations and companies who seem to get it right have a few things in common. They have effective, simple systems in place. They know who they are, and who they are not. Armed with this well-oiled machine and unshakable confidence, successful folks develop laser beam focus on what they want to achieve.
So how can you apply this knowledge to your resolutions this year, to ensure a rockin’ 2012? Try doing the following three things before you write down how much money you want to make, or how much weight you want to lose. (And if possible, take an entire day to focus on each area.)
1. Get organized.
Clear out the inbox. Sift through the mail pile. Donate crap with reckless abandon. Go through your credit card statements and know where your dollars have gone. Get real on how you spend your time. (I use a time tracker tool in Basecamp.) Get rid of clothes you don’t wear, tupperware containers with no top, rotting food in the fridge, etc. Make a list of what’s not workin’ for ya, and next to each, write a few solutions. Pare down, simplify and own your space. Remember, space is mental, physical and emotional – reclaim it all.
2. Get clear.
There are many reasons people fail in life, in love, at work – but the most common explanation is simply not taking the time to get certain about who we are and what we want. If you have no destination, any road will do. And because of this, it’s easy to become a random wanderer – just chasing the closest shiny object. Take the time this year to answer this simple, yet difficult, question: What do you want from 2012? Now write it down.
3. Get focused.
Now that your space is clear and your clarity is back, it’s time to create a plan. Ideal plans should include goals (measurements for success), strategies (best ways to get there), action steps (tasks to be completed), responsible parties (who’s gonna do it?) and deadlines (when is it due by?) Now make it stick by entering this info into a planning tool like Basecamp or Google calendar to keep you on schedule. Do the whole year at once, because let’s be serious – you won’t come back to it later.
Do these three things in order, since you can’t get clarity without organization, and you can’t get focused without clarity. Avoid getting overwhelmed this year. Make success simpler to define, and it will be easier to attain. Here’s to a bumpin’ 2012, amigos…you got this!
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Definitely agree with #1- I find it impossible to get any work done when the desk/office is cluttered. Your thought process is an extension of the environment in which you are working.
Totally agree Dan.