tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66705366416705248252023-11-16T10:58:36.513-08:0030 Days of Getting ResultsProductivity on Fire. Time Management Mastery. Work-life Balance with Skill. J.D. Meierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02678290889994566788noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6670536641670524825.post-71216147480996738602012-08-02T23:33:00.000-07:002013-05-31T08:15:25.308-07:00Welcome to 30 Days of Getting Results<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGJFhesUn356ECryR-9IMoj8ZljSg0oeVFmezvcfpD5qLCOx9x3QsuvrAF9scuf5wAjRC7F-eShyfib88vd_ReGBHnSh4tAJSufhuUWCnpmHIYYSQNhWMSUv7lwxOYI7hK_celJ5y41hGS/s1600/iStock_000000119020XSmall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGJFhesUn356ECryR-9IMoj8ZljSg0oeVFmezvcfpD5qLCOx9x3QsuvrAF9scuf5wAjRC7F-eShyfib88vd_ReGBHnSh4tAJSufhuUWCnpmHIYYSQNhWMSUv7lwxOYI7hK_celJ5y41hGS/s320/iStock_000000119020XSmall.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<strong style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><br /></span></strong></span></strong></strong></strong></strong></span></strong></strong></strong><strong style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">30 Days of Getting Results is free time management training.</span></strong></span></strong></strong></strong></strong></span></strong></strong></strong><br />
<strong style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><br /></span></strong></span></strong></strong></strong></strong></span></strong></strong></strong>
<strong style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">You'll learn a powerful results system, </span><span style="line-height: normal;">Agile Result</span><span style="font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">s, from the book </span></strong></span></strong></strong></strong></strong></span></strong></strong></strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">, <i>Getting Results the Agile Way</i>.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<strong style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><br /></span></strong></span></strong></strong></strong></strong></span></strong></strong></strong>
<strong style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">Master motivation and time management. </span></strong></span></strong></strong></strong></strong></span></strong></strong></strong><strong style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="line-height: normal;">Unleash your personal productivity</span><span style="font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">. </span></strong></span></strong></strong></strong></strong></span></strong></strong></strong><strong style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">Set powerful goals. Focus and direct your attention with skill. Learn the secrets of work-life balance.</span></strong></span></strong></strong></strong></strong></span></strong></strong></strong><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica;"><br /></span>
<a href="http://www.30daysofgettingresults.com/2011/10/day-1-take-tour-of-getting-results.html" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: x-large; line-height: 21px;">Start with Day 1 -- Take a Tour of Agile Results</a><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>I Don't Have Time, Too Much To Do</b></span></span><br />
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<strong style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-weight: normal;">There are only so many hours in a day.</span></strong></span></strong></strong></strong><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; line-height: 21px;">It can be easy to fall behind on things. It's also easy to spend a bunch of time on things, but not get anywhere fast.</span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: large; line-height: 21px;"><b>Make Things Happen</b></span><br />
<strong style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-weight: normal;">What if you could get on top of things, and stay on top? </span></strong></span></strong></strong></strong><strong style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-weight: normal;">What if you could </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica;">regain valuable hours each week</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-weight: normal;"> and use them to your advantage? </span></strong></span></strong></strong></strong><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; line-height: 21px;">What if every hour you spent produced exponential results? </span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; line-height: 21px;">You can. </span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; line-height: 21px;">If you have a system of <b>proven practices</b> at your fingertips.</span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; line-height: 21px;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">A Simple System for Meaningful Results</span></b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica;">Learn proven practices to focus, set goals, find your motivation, improve your productivity, master time management, and achieve work-life balance.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br style="font-weight: normal;" /></span><span style="font-size: large; font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://www.30daysofgettingresults.com/2011/10/day-1-take-tour-of-getting-results.html" style="font-weight: normal;">Start with Day 1 -- Take a Tour of Agile Results</a></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: white; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica;"><br /></span></span></span><b style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Get Better Results ... Each day ... Each Week ... Each Month ... Each Year</span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica;">30 Days of Getting Results helps you with the following challenges:</span></span></span><br />
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<ul><em>
<li><em>How to set yourself up for success on a daily basis</em></li>
<li><em>How to create a simple system your can use for getting great results in work and life</em></li>
<li><em>How to use proven practices to master time management, motivation, and personal productivity</em></li>
<li><em>How to embrace change and get better results in any situation</em></li>
<li><em>How to triple your personal productivity</em></li>
<li><em>How to focus and direct your attention with skill</em></li>
<li><em>How to use your strengths to create a powerful edge for getting results</em></li>
<li><em>How to change a habit and make it stick</em></li>
<li><em>How to achieve better work-life balance and spend more time doing the things you love</em></li>
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<strong style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="background-color: white; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="background-color: white; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="background-color: white; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="background-color: white; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="background-color: white; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="background-color: white; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="background-color: white; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="background-color: white; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br /></span></strong></strong></strong></strong></span></strong></strong></strong></span></strong></strong></span></strong></strong></strong>
<span id="goog_1616894677"></span><span id="goog_1616894678"></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/"></a><strong style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="background-color: white; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></span></strong></strong></span></strong></strong></strong></div>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica;"><span style="line-height: 21px;">What's stopping you?</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span></span>
<a href="http://www.30daysofgettingresults.com/2011/10/day-1-take-tour-of-getting-results.html" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: x-large; line-height: 21px;">Start with Day 1 -- Take a Tour of Agile Results</a><br />
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J.D. Meierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02678290889994566788noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6670536641670524825.post-30481677277966739342012-08-01T10:52:00.000-07:002013-05-31T01:24:43.138-07:00The List of 30 Lessons<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1QgD-TdVtfwUL9pQCiUk8z-FIOUC-iujYmbG7e3ZSizLd4FPIGdaO8Ee4qQ4eV9ueKK7NHWTPiDbhk14lbO-hyDh61uSG9wRR5tkesYYhwiu5CR73u6OAABG_Xl9HNQQUm-lJPjV16asE/s1600/shutterstock_72645103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1QgD-TdVtfwUL9pQCiUk8z-FIOUC-iujYmbG7e3ZSizLd4FPIGdaO8Ee4qQ4eV9ueKK7NHWTPiDbhk14lbO-hyDh61uSG9wRR5tkesYYhwiu5CR73u6OAABG_Xl9HNQQUm-lJPjV16asE/s320/shutterstock_72645103.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<strong style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">30 Self-Paced Lessons for Getting Results </strong><br />
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
My 30 Days of Getting Results series is a way to introduce you to some of the many topics covered in the book. Here are the 30 lessons that will help you get faster, better, easier results:</div>
<ol>
<li><a href="http://www.30daysofgettingresults.com/2011/10/day-1-take-tour-of-getting-results.html">Day 1 – Take a Tour of Getting Results the Agile Way</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.30daysofgettingresults.com/2011/10/day-2-monday-vision-use-three-stories.html">Day 2 – Monday Vision – Use Three Stories to Drive Your Week</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.30daysofgettingresults.com/2011/10/day-3-daily-outcomes-use-three-stories.html">Day 3 – Daily Outcomes – Use Three Stories to Drive Your Day</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.30daysofgettingresults.com/2011/10/day-4-let-things-slough-off.html">Day 4 – Let Things Slough Off</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.30daysofgettingresults.com/2011/10/day-5-hot-spots-map-out-whats-important.html">Day 5 – Hot Spots – Map Out What’s Important</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.30daysofgettingresults.com/2011/10/day-6-friday-reflection-identify-three.html">Day 6 – Friday Reflection – Identify Three Things Going Well and Three Things to Improve</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.30daysofgettingresults.com/2011/10/day-7-setup-boundaries-and-buffers.html">Day 7 – Setup Boundaries and Buffers</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.30daysofgettingresults.com/2011/10/day-8-dump-your-brain-to-free-your-mind.html">Day 8 – Dump Your Brain to Free Your Mind</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.30daysofgettingresults.com/2011/10/day-9-prioritize-your-day-with-must.html">Day 9 – Prioritize Your Day with MUST, SHOULD, and COULD</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.30daysofgettingresults.com/2011/10/day-10-feel-strong-all-week-long.html">Day 10 – Feel Strong All Week Long</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.30daysofgettingresults.com/2011/10/day-11-reduce-friction-and-create-glide.html">Day 11 – Reduce Friction and Create Glide Paths for Your Day</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.30daysofgettingresults.com/2011/10/day-12-productivity-personas-are-you.html">Day 12 – Productivity Personas – Are You are a Starter or a Finisher?</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.30daysofgettingresults.com/2011/10/day-13-triage-your-action-items-with.html">Day 13 – Triage Your Action Items with Skill</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.30daysofgettingresults.com/2011/10/day-14-carve-out-time-for-whats.html">Day 14 – Carve Out Time for What’s Important</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.30daysofgettingresults.com/2011/10/day-15-achieve-peaceful-calm-state-of.html">Day 15 – Achieve a Peaceful Calm State of Mind</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.30daysofgettingresults.com/2011/10/day-16-use-metaphors-to-find-your.html">Day 16 – Use Metaphors to Find Your Motivation</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.30daysofgettingresults.com/2011/10/day-17-add-power-hours-to-your-week.html">Day 17 – Add Power Hours to Your Week</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.30daysofgettingresults.com/2011/10/day-18-add-creative-hours-to-your-week.html">Day 18 – Add Creative Hours to Your Week</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.30daysofgettingresults.com/2011/10/day-19-who-are-you-doing-it-for.html">Day 19 — Who are You Doing it For?</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.30daysofgettingresults.com/2011/10/day-20-ask-better-questions-get-better.html">Day 20 — Ask Better Questions, Get Better Results</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.30daysofgettingresults.com/2011/10/day-21-carry-good-forward-and-let-rest.html">Day 21 – Carry the Good Forward, Let the Rest Go</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.30daysofgettingresults.com/2011/10/day-22-design-your-day-with-skill.html">Day 22 – Design Your Day with Skill</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.30daysofgettingresults.com/2011/10/day-23-design-your-week-with-skill.html">Day 23 — Design Your Week with Skill</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.30daysofgettingresults.com/2011/10/day-24-bounce-back-with-skill.html">Day 24 – Bounce Back with Skill</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.30daysofgettingresults.com/2011/10/day-25-fix-time-flex-scope.html">Day 25 – Fix Time. Flex Scope</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.30daysofgettingresults.com/2011/10/day-26-solve-problems-with-skill.html">Day 26 – Solve Problems with Skill</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.30daysofgettingresults.com/2011/10/day-27-do-something-great.html">Day 27 – Do Something Great</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.30daysofgettingresults.com/2011/10/day-28-find-your-one-thing.html">Day 28 – Find Your One Thing</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.30daysofgettingresults.com/2011/10/day-29-find-your-arena-for-your-best.html">Day 29 – Find Your Arena for Your Best Results</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.30daysofgettingresults.com/2011/10/day-30-take-agile-results-to-next-level.html">Day 30 – Take Agile Results to the Next Level</a></li>
</ol>
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J.D. Meierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02678290889994566788noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6670536641670524825.post-86480943646134959362012-07-31T22:27:00.000-07:002013-01-13T12:12:05.295-08:00Day 1 – Take a Tour of Agile Results<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYwDgOd3q3RDJAennGKirt3Ms8zKSZ5ABDs1eRUqyTdQJq_7JRM8vc578Rf5AnjqlFYI1VTOnq5xcKWgvBjeiCN_E51n38J2it4yY-SOMRhNQxBIujKn-XJQXdxLHlI9ek3wSa2RqsWkNz/s1600/Day1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYwDgOd3q3RDJAennGKirt3Ms8zKSZ5ABDs1eRUqyTdQJq_7JRM8vc578Rf5AnjqlFYI1VTOnq5xcKWgvBjeiCN_E51n38J2it4yY-SOMRhNQxBIujKn-XJQXdxLHlI9ek3wSa2RqsWkNz/s200/Day1.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<em style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“The only reason for time is so that everything doesn’t happen at once.”</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px;"> — Albert Einstein</span><br />
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Welcome to <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">day 1</strong> of 30 Days of Getting Results. Today, we go for a quick walk in the park. We’ll take a tour of the Agile Results system, as it’s described in my book, Getting Results the Agile Way.</div>
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The power of Agile Results is the simplicity.<br />
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But don’t let the simplicity fool you. It’s the simplicity that makes it work – for individuals, teams, and leaders, at home, at work, and at play.</div>
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Agile Results has been <b>battled tested</b> in the trenches of consulting, in the corporate halls of Microsoft, and around the world in various settings from personal productivity to distributed team effectiveness, both in work and in life, and even extreme scenarios (more on that another day.) You too can get the system on your side.</div>
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The way I quickly teach colleagues how to get up and running with Agile Results is I show them three simple parts, and it takes no more than a five minute conversation.</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">The Three Key Parts of Agile Results</strong><br />
Here are the three key parts to Agile Results:</div>
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<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">The Rule of 3</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Monday Vision, Daily Outcomes, and Friday Reflection</em></li>
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Let’s take a quick look at each one.</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">The Rule of 3 - "Think in Threes"</strong><br />
The Rule of 3 is a simple concept. Think in three’s. The Rule of 3 helps us deal with information overload. It’s a simple way to set limits and chunk things down. It’s easy for us to remember things in three’s.</div>
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You might have heard of the Rule of 3 before. Even if you haven’t, it’s been all around you. You’ve seen it in titles: The Three Little Pigs, The Three Stooges, Three Blind Mice, etc. Storytellers structure their stories with a beginning, middle, and an end. It’s a time tested approach and it’s been used in everything from marketing to the military. In fact, the military teaches survival in threes: 3 minutes without air, 3 days without water, 3 weeks without food.</div>
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In Agile Results, we use The Rule of Three to map out what we want to accomplish in sets of three’s:</div>
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<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">3 results for the day</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">3 results for the week</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">3 results for the month</em></li>
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This creates a simple <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">3×3 system</strong> that is easy to use, easy to remember, and easy to get back on track, if you fall off the horse!</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Monday Vision, Daily Wins, Friday Reflection -- "A Weekly Results Pattern"</strong><br />
This is the heart of Agile Results. Monday Vision, Daily Wins, Friday Reflection is a simple pattern for your weekly workflow. It’s a weekly system for getting results that helps you get a fresh start each day, and a fresh start each week. This is the what a week looks like:</div>
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<a href="http://sourcesofinsight.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/image.png" style="color: #3c78a7; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="146" src="http://sourcesofinsight.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/image_thumb.png" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 2px; padding-right: 2px; padding-top: 2px;" title="image" width="450" /></a></div>
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Here is a story-driven view of the same idea, which is helpful if you like to think of your results in terms of stories, and if you happen to be a software developer, this should be easy to relate to:</div>
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<a href="http://sourcesofinsight.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/image1.png" style="color: #3c78a7; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="231" src="http://sourcesofinsight.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/image_thumb1.png" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 2px; padding-right: 2px; padding-top: 2px;" title="image" width="450" /></a></div>
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The way it works is pretty simple. Each week and each day is a new chance at bat. It works like this:</div>
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<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Monday Vision</strong> – On Mondays, identify three results you want by Friday. For example, maybe it’s “my presentation is complete,” “I have a written plan for my project,” and “I’ve spent a minimum of five hours doing what I love this week.” Focus on outcomes or achievements over activities.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Daily Wins</strong>– Each day, identify three results that you want under your belt. If you’re having a really bad day, your three outcomes might be as simple as – have a great breakfast, a great lunch, and a great dinner. Some days are like that. Ideally you can see how it connects back to the three results you want for the week. It’s this simple check between the day and the week that helps you see for forest from the trees.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Friday Reflection</strong> – Fridays are you chance to take a step back and reflect on your results. On Fridays, ask yourself, “What are three things going well? and ask yourself, “What are three things to improve?” This is how you start to see what’s working and what’s not, as well as learn your own capacity.</li>
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The key each week and each day is to celebrate your wins, no matter how small. Are you getting done what you set out to do? This is a quick check on your priorities, your focus, and what’s getting in the way. This also helps you carry forward what’s working and what’s not, so rather than luck into success, you know exactly what works for you – you identify your personal success patterns.</div>
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I could go into a lot of details about why this works, but some of the big ideas are that you’re making mindful choices, you’re using limits of three to better prioritize and focus, and you’re using positive psychology practices by shining the spotlight on your wins. You’re also using some proven project management and software practices in a very simple way, to help you author your life and write your story forward, one day at a time.</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Hot Spots -- "See Your Life as a Heat Map"</strong><br />
When you think of Hot Spots, imagine a heat map. Take a moment to pause and imagine a heat map in your mind. On this heat map, think of most important things in your life right now. Chances are they fall under one or more of the following buckets:</div>
<ul style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Mind</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Body</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Emotions</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Career</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Financial</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Relationships</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Fun</em></li>
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Hot Spots are simply areas of focus. They might represent a lot of pain, or they might represent a lot of opportunity. Either way, it’s a quick visual way to map out what’s important for you. You can also think of Hot Spots for work. Simply list out your top projects or activities that matter most. You can also think of Hot Spots for your personal projects. Again, simply list out your top projects or activities outside of work.</div>
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Hot Spots are like a portfolio. They help us balance our investment of time, energy, and focus across our competing demands. What you’ll tend to find is that when you invest in your mind, body, emotions, career, financial, relationships, and fun, you improve your ability to respond to whatever work or life throws your way. When you don’t invest in one or more of these buckets, you find that it can negatively impact the others.</div>
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At this point, all that’s important is that you know that Hot Spots are a way to visualize a map of what’s important in your life.</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Recap</strong><br />
Let’s recap the key things we learned from our tour:</div>
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<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Use the Rule of 3 to deal with information overload and set simple limits each day and each week.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Use Monday Vision, Daily Outcomes, and Friday Reflection as a pattern for weekly results. Each week, identify three results for the week, then identify three key results you want each day, and on Friday, identify three things going well, and three things to improve.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Use Hot Spots to see the forest from the threes. Map out the key areas in your life that matter most to you. Map out your key projects at work, and map out your key personal projects. Simply being able to list the items is a great start. It shows you at a glance, what’s on your radar. This is important for choosing what to invest more in, and what to invest less in.</li>
</ol>
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Here are the slides that I referred to during our tour, if you’d like to check them out:</div>
J.D. Meierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02678290889994566788noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6670536641670524825.post-4743614546587169082012-07-29T22:29:00.000-07:002012-08-13T17:46:50.966-07:00Day 2 – Monday Vision – Use Three Stories to Drive Your Week<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgymI0jRc5OHOnyknWEnR6sPYDMWvpkd9D51bxSJvJpIFKjkGpcYK9KhCVV_HYn7AJmfrLfZem3m0_KRccME4Mz8n4AMW1NirIzkwJHVvEG6KIolyhgb7nyyYSzh6xSzNCSg-xlSuCWlnBe/s1600/Day3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="116" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgymI0jRc5OHOnyknWEnR6sPYDMWvpkd9D51bxSJvJpIFKjkGpcYK9KhCVV_HYn7AJmfrLfZem3m0_KRccME4Mz8n4AMW1NirIzkwJHVvEG6KIolyhgb7nyyYSzh6xSzNCSg-xlSuCWlnBe/s200/Day3.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
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<em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“Map out your future, but do it in pencil.”</em> ~Jon Bon Jovi<br />
<strong style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br /></strong>
<strong style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Your Outcome</strong><span style="background-color: white;">: </span><em style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Take control of your week and create a compelling vision to guide you throughout the week.</em></div>
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Welcome to <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">day 2</strong> of 30 Days of Getting Results. Today we take a look at Monday Vision from Getting Results the Agile Way.</div>
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Have you ever had a week fly by and when Friday hits you’re asking yourself, “Where did the week go?” Not any more. With Monday Vision, you take a moment to jump ahead to the end of the week, and you ask yourself, “If this were Friday, what are three results I want under my belt?” Monday is your chance to create a compelling vision for your week. Monday Vision is a simple pattern for helping you achieve more effective results each week. It’s also a great way to deal with a case of the Mondays.</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">The Challenges</strong><br />
Monday Vision can help you deal with three common challenges:</div>
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<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">You’re overwhelmed</strong>. You have way more to do, than you can possibly get done during your week.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">You’re underwhelmed</strong>. You’re not inspired. You might have a bunch of things you should or could do, but you don’t have the energy for it.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">You get off track</strong>. You spend your time on a lot of things, but at the end of the week, you didn’t get done the things you really needed to get done.</li>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">The Response</strong>On Mondays, you simply identify three key results you want for the week. This is your vision for the week. It puts you in the drivers seat and you get to decide what you want to accomplish. Rather than get lost among the sea of things to do, you bubble up the three most important outcomes for the week, and these three outcomes help guide you throughout your week. <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></strong>This simple pattern has a few benefits:</div>
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<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Each week is a fresh start.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">It’s a way to make your week more meaningful.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">It’s a way to help you prioritize and focus.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">It’s a way to help you improve your results.</li>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Turning Your Results into Compelling Stories</strong>After you identify your three results, you can turn them into stories. You can turn them into simple, one-liner stories, where you are the hero. For example, let’s say three results you want for the week are:</div>
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<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Finish my project plan</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Create my slides for my presentation</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Complete key stakeholder reviews</li>
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This might not be very compelling. You can spruce it up as simple stories and connect it to your values. For example:</div>
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<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Win the race to finish my project plan in record time.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Create a presentation that sets a new bar for my personal best.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Turn my stakeholders into raving fans.</li>
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You have to play around to find what connects with your heart. What you end up with is three stories to drive your week. These stories are hand-crafted and personal – after all, you made them. They are yours to make happen.</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Your Assignment</strong></div>
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<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Identify the three things you really want to accomplish for the week.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Turn your three outcomes into simple stories that you feel passionate about.</li>
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Don’t worry if you have trouble figuring out your three best results, and don’t worry if you have a hard time turning them into compelling stories. What’s important is simply trying the exercise. You might surprise yourself, and in the best case, you’ll inspire yourself to a new level you didn’t know was possible.</div>
J.D. Meierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02678290889994566788noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6670536641670524825.post-33651020849687173912012-07-28T22:30:00.000-07:002012-08-13T17:47:25.951-07:00Day 3 – Daily Outcomes – Use Three Stories to Drive Your Day<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7PkiB934Vsn61x3RXNt51ESZoTPuUi9qSRV4uCNIRyij1G6pXzF8xPu45DEq4DnSOHr74djWNUS99wLN6Dh2F52KJDJnfUDwvcAbTFMN1AMyEsLM4cyvwmnxEyUI0zHzxXsRdeU4RPDg6/s1600/Day3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7PkiB934Vsn61x3RXNt51ESZoTPuUi9qSRV4uCNIRyij1G6pXzF8xPu45DEq4DnSOHr74djWNUS99wLN6Dh2F52KJDJnfUDwvcAbTFMN1AMyEsLM4cyvwmnxEyUI0zHzxXsRdeU4RPDg6/s200/Day3.jpg" width="200" /></a><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“Make each day your masterpiece.”</em> — John Wooden<br />
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<strong style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Your Outcome:</strong><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><em style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Take control of your day by connecting your activities to what you value and what inspires you. Turn even the most mundane activities into meaningful opportunities.</em></div>
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Welcome to <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">day 3</strong> of 30 Days of Getting Results. In day 2, we looked at using three stories to drive your week. Today we take a look at using three stories to drive your day. I call this practice Daily Outcomes and it’s from my book, <a href="http://gettingresults.com/" style="color: #3c78a7; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Getting Results the Agile Way</a>.</div>
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Daily Outcomes is a way to use three stories to drive your day. Before you start your day, simply identify the three results or outcomes you want to accomplish for the day, and work backwards from that. <span style="background-color: white;">An outcome can be anything from, “I had a great lunch,” to “I enjoyed my day,” to “I kicked arse in my presentation.” What’s important is that you’re jumping ahead to the end result. </span><span style="background-color: white;">I like to think of this practice as taking a few </span><em style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">mindful minutes</em><span style="background-color: white;"> to avoid going on a </span><em style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">mindless march</em><span style="background-color: white;">.</span></div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">3 Steps for Great Daily Outcomes</strong><br />
Here are three steps you can use to create your three compelling stories to drive your day:</div>
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<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Step 1. Identify your three key outcomes</strong>. You choose what your three key results are. For example, maybe your three most important outcomes are: “I mowed the lawn, I completed my project plan, and I had a great lunch.” If you’re feeling really off, maybe your three outcomes are, “I enjoyed my breakfast, I enjoyed my lunch, and I enjoyed my dinner.”</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Step 2. Turn your three outcomes into one-liner stories</strong>. Stories help you add an emotional connection to your tasks. You can even be the hero (“Today, I conquered the mess in the laundry room.”)</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Step 3. Connect your stories to your values</strong>. You can connect your stories to things you value. For example, maybe you don’t like to rake the leaves, but you like to do your part “to help.” Maybe you don’t like doing spreadsheets, but you like “to improve.” Maybe you like “adventure.” Maybe you like “achievement.” To build on the previous example, “Today I conquered the laundry room with skill” which is a contrast to slogging my way through to victory. One of the things I like to do each day is “master my craft.” Get creative. Find the play in your day.</li>
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The real beauty of Daily Outcomes is that you can wake up any day and simply ask yourself, “What are the three things I really want to accomplish today?” That’s it.</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Make Your “To Do” List More Meaningful</strong><br />
But what if you have way more than three things to do for the day? Simply add your three outcomes to the top.</div>
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<a href="http://sourcesofinsight.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/image2.png" style="color: #3c78a7; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="242" src="http://sourcesofinsight.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/image_thumb2.png" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 2px; padding-right: 2px; padding-top: 2px;" title="image" width="454" /></a></div>
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The three outcomes will guide all the rest of your tasks. These three outcomes are your “tests for success” for the day. It’s your personal way of setting yourself up for success each day.</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Be the Architect, the Author, or the Director of Your Life</strong><br />
Designing each day empowers you to make things happen with skill. You can be the architect of your day or the author of your life, a story at a time, and a day at a time:</div>
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<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">You get to be the architect of your life</strong>. Design stories that empower and inspire you for action.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">You get to be the author of your life</strong>. Write your story forward and connect to your emotions.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">You get to be the director of your life</strong>. You choose where to point your camera and what to focus on.</li>
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Always remember that you are the most important meaning maker in your life.</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Your Assignment</strong></div>
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<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Identify the three results you want for today.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Turn each result into a simple story that connects to your passion and values.</li>
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<em style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Photo by </em><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dpape/" rel="nofollow" style="background-color: white; color: #3c78a7; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">dpape</em></a><em style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">.</em>
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J.D. Meierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02678290889994566788noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6670536641670524825.post-52300513597459218692012-07-27T22:30:00.000-07:002012-08-13T17:47:52.200-07:00Day 4 – Let Things Slough Off<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiyB9sLlLY4oedtBmnfdPIISxquMouXjINIAyqRjjEDoHBzazFeuJNK1Uwdhq-gwMgIn2ZWuLlpX43oy5IbAlu5JTVxGKlh_b0Bwsem08emkBsEkZ-xfzutKA13XHa9Qwce1ooVvi_I-nU/s1600/Day4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiyB9sLlLY4oedtBmnfdPIISxquMouXjINIAyqRjjEDoHBzazFeuJNK1Uwdhq-gwMgIn2ZWuLlpX43oy5IbAlu5JTVxGKlh_b0Bwsem08emkBsEkZ-xfzutKA13XHa9Qwce1ooVvi_I-nU/s320/Day4.jpg" width="249" /></a><br />
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<em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“Sometimes you have to let go to see if there was anything worth holding on to.”</em> – Anonymous</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Your Outcome:</strong> Learn how to let things go with skill. By letting things “slough off”, you improve your ability to focus on what counts and you make room for YOUR best results.</div>
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Welcome to <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">day 4</strong> of 30 Days of Getting Results. In day 3, we looked at using three stories to drive your day. Today we look at letting things slough off. Letting things slough off simply means either letting things go from your plate either by design or as a natural process of focusing on higher priorities. This is the key to starting each day with a fresh start.</div>
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If you don’t let things slough off, the problem is you weight yourself down. This is the problem of big “To Do” lists, which either turn into lists of things that never get done, or you spend all your time managing your list of things to do, but never getting anything done. If you’re a slave to your “To Do” list, or if you fear the sheer magnitude of its size, it’s not working for you!</div>
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Even if you could do it all, you can’t do it all at once. You only have so much time and energy in the day. If there’s one take away from all this remember that it’s the achievements under your belt AND the journey that you look back on.</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">3 Keys to Letting Things Slough Off</strong><br />
There are three keys to letting things slough off with skill:</div>
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<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Each day, create a new “To Do” list</strong>. Start with a fresh “To Do” list each day. These are your Daily Outcomes. A simple way to do this is use a new piece of paper and write your three outcomes at the top. If you’re using an electronic system, then simply create a new file and name it with today’s date. For example, for Wednesday, August 4th, 2010, I would simply name it: 2010-08-04. I use this approach so that I can sort it easily and flip back through my previous days whenever I want. Rather than automatically add everything from the day before, only carry over what you think is an absolute priority for today – and let the rest go. The key here is to focus on what’s valuable now from today’s vantage point, checking against what you want to accomplish for the overall week.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Each week, create a new “To Do” list</strong>. Start with a fresh “To Do” list each week. These are your weekly outcomes. Identify the three results that you really want for your week and write those down. Simply grab a new piece of paper each week and write down your three main outcomes. If you’re doing it electronically, then each Monday, create a new file and name it the current date. For example, Monday, August 9th, 2010 would be: 2010-08-09. This let’s you scroll back through your weekly lists of outcomes. This is how you implement the Monday Vision practice from <a href="http://gettingresults.com/" style="color: #3c78a7; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Getting Results the Agile Way</a>.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Focus on flowing value</strong>. The real key to letting things slough off is focusing on flowing value. Instead of focusing on your list of things to do or just getting things done, focus on flowing value. Focus on your most extreme value and let the rest go. Value is in the eye of the beholder. It could be value to you, or to your family, or to your team, or to your company. Simply by thinking in terms of your “wins” each day, each week, etc. you shine the light on your most important victories. One way to always get back on track is to ask, “What your next best thing to do?” Another question to ask is, “What do you want to accomplish?”</li>
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The pattern here is to shift your focus to what’s important now based on what you want to accomplish. The other thing to remember is that if you let something go, and it truly is vital, it will continue to resurface. You can then deal with it when it makes the most sense.</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Set Up Boundaries in Time and Quantity</strong><br />
Setting up boundaries is another key to letting things slough off with skill:</div>
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<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Set a limit in terms of quantity</strong>. For example, can you prioritize your top three things? … your top 5?, etc. Instead of making a laundry list, can you make your ‘short list.” The Rule of 3 is your friend for setting limits whenever you are overwhelmed by quantity and you have to let things go. If you’re a blogger, you might decide that your post will be no longer than two paragraphs or a list of 10 items.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Set a limit in terms of time</strong>. You can set limits in terms of time. For example, you can decide up front that you’ll spend no more than 20 minutes on that. Or you might decide that after a week, it’s just diminishing returns. You might give yourself a maximum of spending 30 minutes a day doing email. In XP development, there is a practice of a “40 Hour Work Week.” if you’re a blogger, you might decide that you’ll spend no longer than 20 minutes writing your best material and sharing your best insights … anything after that sloughs off!</li>
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This means brutally focusing on spending more time on what you value, and letting the rest go. You might thing of it as either “fierce focus” or “driving with clarity.” Remember that you “get what you focus on” so spend more time on what you want, not what you don’t <img alt=":)" class="wp-smiley" src="http://sourcesofinsight.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 2px; padding-right: 2px; padding-top: 2px;" /></div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Examples of Boundaries in Time and Quantity</strong><br />
Boundaries in terms of time and quantity will help keep your sanity and help you surf your way through producing great results. When I first joined Microsoft, one of my colleagues said that their boundary is “dinner on the table at 5:30” and that’s how they achieved work-life balance. When I later joined another group in Microsoft, a colleague told me that their boundary is they “take weekends off.” They’ll work their fingers to the bone all week, but when the weekend comes it’s their time to recharge. When I worked at Tiffany & Company, one of our director’s had an interesting boundary – Tuesday nights is date night with his wife. Another one of the manager’s at Tiffany & Company had an interesting buffer he used – “Don’t spend $20 on a $5 problem.” In other words, if the problem is only worth 10 minutes of your time, don’t spend more than that. For me, using The Rule of 3 to take away three actionable insights from all the books I go through has both save me a lot of time, and generated a lot of value.</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Additional Considerations for Letting Go with Skill</strong><br />
Here are some additional points to ponder that will help you let things go with skill:</div>
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<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Time Changes What’s Important</strong>. “To Do” lists get stale. Backlogs get stale. Laundry lists get stale. Everything gets stale. You can spend all your time re-arranging stale things, or you can spend just enough time bubbling up what’s important and taking action on it.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Fresh Starts</strong>. By creating new “To Do” lists each day and each week instead of one massive one, you give yourself a fresh start. You carry the most important things forward.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Travel light.</strong> Don’t be a beast of burden. If you bite off what you can chew, you can actually get it done. This helps you travel light each day and each week. Rather than start off with an over-loaded pack of things you may never need, you start off with a simple vision and stories of your most important results.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Spend more time doing over “paper shuffling”</strong> One of the worst things you can do is continuously reshuffle the things you have to do instead of just do them. For all the things that you keep reshuffling but not actually doing, admit it. Put them into a “parking lot” or “shelve” them for a later point when you will actually work on them. Don’t keep them in your face, and don’t let them get in the way of your results. Most of all, don’t die the “death of a thousand paper cuts.” (If you’ve never heard this term before, paper shuffling is one way to die the death of a thousand paper cuts.”)</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Value Delivered Over Backlog Burndown</strong>. Rather than simply burn through your laundry lists of tasks, do the quick reality check and ask whether the task is still important. More importantly, step back and ask the simple question, if you completed it, “Does it matter?” Does it connect back to the outcomes that you care about now or in the future, or was it simply a good idea that’s now past it’s prime or past it’s time? In other words, don’t look at your big task lists or backlogs as what drives you. They are simply input. Draw from them, but focus on delivering value, not simply blind execution of things that were important at some point, but now are no longer, “your next best thing to do.”</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">It’s a mindset thing.</strong> A large part of letting things go with skill is about shifting your mindset. It’s about thinking in terms of value delivered over backlog burndown. it’s about asking questions like, “What’s the next best thing for me to do?” or “What do I want to accomplish>?” It’s about focusing on value and your wins and what you got done, over focusing on what you didn’t get done.</li>
</ul>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Today’s Assignment</strong></div>
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<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Write down three outcomes for today. This is re-enforcing our daily outcomes AND practicing letting things slough off with skill.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Write down your three outcomes for the week. Consider the remaining time and energy you have for the rest of the week, where can you get the most bang for the buck? What would three wins for the week look like?</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Set one simple limit on something that’s been wearing you down. Set either a time limit or a quantity limit.</li>
</ol>
J.D. Meierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02678290889994566788noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6670536641670524825.post-73279361619032785312012-07-26T22:31:00.000-07:002012-08-14T08:21:58.346-07:00Day 5 – Hot Spots – Map Out What’s Important<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbq454p6eJWvksugzp7qhcMnAsUJcE4Kiytmox5qlW5MJDuzSAsqa3bob_7PvLOm-n8BIxZXqdlMBVbKysINBaCWts1irN1pXp1UGZk-m0T9qnktil-NieAVTyi9vGT8mByehtJSXZGcEb/s1600/Untitled.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbq454p6eJWvksugzp7qhcMnAsUJcE4Kiytmox5qlW5MJDuzSAsqa3bob_7PvLOm-n8BIxZXqdlMBVbKysINBaCWts1irN1pXp1UGZk-m0T9qnktil-NieAVTyi9vGT8mByehtJSXZGcEb/s200/Untitled.png" width="200" /></a></div>
<em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“One reason so few of us achieves what we truly want is that we never direct our focus; we never concentrate our power.”—</em>Tony Robbins<br />
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Your Outcome</strong>: Learn how to use Hot Spots to create a simple map of what’s going on in your life. Use your Hot Spots map as a way to invest your time and energy where it really counts, and to know that you’re on your path.</div>
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Welcome to <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">day 5</strong> of 30 Days of Getting Results. In<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">day 4</strong>, we look at letting things go with skill. Today, we look at mapping out what’s important. I call this practice Hot Spots and it’s from my book, <a href="http://gettingresults.com/" style="color: #3c78a7; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Getting Results the Agile Way</a>.</div>
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Hot Spots are a way to see the forest from the trees. The simplest metaphor is to think of your life as a heat map. Take a moment to actually imagine a heat map. On this heat map, if I were to ask you, what’s going on at work, what would you see? If I were to ask you, what’s going at home, what would you see? If I were to ask you to step back and look across your life, what would you see?</div>
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I used those three levels for a reason: work, home, and life. Your ability to quickly see what’s going on in each area of your life, will help you make better trade-offs across the board.</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Mental Model for Hot Spots</strong><br />
Here is a simple mental model for thinking about your Hot Spot map:</div>
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<a href="http://sourcesofinsight.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/image3.png" style="color: #3c78a7; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="188" src="http://sourcesofinsight.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/image_thumb3.png" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: initial; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 2px; padding-right: 2px; padding-top: 2px;" title="image" width="400" /></a></div>
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There are three things to notice here:</div>
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<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">There are three separate lists: Life Frame, Work, and Personal. These are three simple lists that help you figure out what’s going on in your life.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Notice the “Backlog” category under Work and Personal. This is a way to put everything that’s not active, off your plate. You can acknowledge that you have a lot of projects at work or personal projects, but if they aren’t active in your life, then they are part of your “backlog.” Don’t mix them up with what’s really on your plate right now.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">The Life Frame is a durable set of categories that is relatively stable over time: Mind, Body, Emotions, Career, Financial, Relationships, and Fun. If you invest in these areas, they support each other. If you don’t invest in these areas, they work against you. For example, try being your best when you let your body go, or try doing well at work, if you don’t build your relationships, or try having fun if you let your emotions run your life.</li>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">3 Steps to Map Out Your Hot Spots</strong><br />
For the purpose of this exercise, just think of your Hot Spots as simple lists. We’ll create three simple lists to answer the question, “What’s on your radar?”. Here are the steps to follow:</div>
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<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Step 1. Map out your Work Hot Spots</strong>. Write down a list of your key roles, your activities, and your projects. Keep it at the macro level. This isn’t a dump of all your tasks. It’s the buckets, not all the items inside the buckets. For example, for work, I would list my main projects: “Common Catalog,” “Simple IA,” “Azure Security Notes,” “Customer Connected Engineering,”, etc. I turn themes of work into projects, and I give them a name. Making them projects gives them a start and finish, and helps me identify outcomes for the project, and measure the impact.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Step 2. Map out your Personal Hot Spots</strong>. Write down a list of your key roles, your activities, and your projects at home. For example, for persona, I would list some of my main projects: “Getting Results,” “RV,” “Backyard,” .etc. Don’t worry about getting the order right – just dump what’s on your mind.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Step 3. Map out your Life Hot Spots</strong>. Write down the key areas or “big rocks” in your life that are important. Make this a quick exercise and simply list out your top list of areas that are important in your life. For example, I tend to list: mind, body, emotions, career, financial, relationships, and fun (I refer to this list as my Life Frame, because it acts like a lens to helps me frame out or look at the big areas in my life in a simple way. Feel free to use my list as a starting point. It’s easy to swap things out or add, such as adding a “Spirit” category or a “Community” bucket. I lump “Community” under my relationships bucket, but what’s important is that the categories make sense for you.</li>
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Congratulations – you just created more clarity in your life than many businesses or people do in a life time!</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">3 Keys to Great Hot Spot Maps</strong></div>
<ol style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Don’t try to put your lists in any clever order. It actually breaks it. What’s important is that each list actually resonates with you when you look at it. The order things are listed should simply be the order you would rattle them off the top of your mind. Don’t try to alphabetize them or put them in any logical order. They should simply reflect your mind. I can’t emphasize that enough.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Stick the things you aren’t really spending any time or energy on under your backlog. You might find that you have really long lists. That’s OK. It’s a process. What’s important is now you have a map of what’s going on in your life, from three views — work, personal, and life. If things on your list, really aren’t active, then move them down your list under a heading you call “Backlog.”</li>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Using Your Hot Spots to Invest Your Time and Energy</strong><br />
You can now look easily scan across what’s on your radar and instead of trying to remember what you were trying to do, you can step back and say, what’s worth doing or where do I need to spend more time or energy? In other words, now with your life portfolio in your hands, you can choose where to invest and where to de-invest at a glance.</div>
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By asking yourself some very simple questions, you can test your investments. For example, are you spending enough time or energy in relationships? Are you giving your body enough rest and relaxation? Are you challenging your body enough? Are you making time for fun or for play?, etc.</div>
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The key to investing wisely, is simply to answer the question, “Why?” … and then cross-checking by asking the question, “What do you want to accomplish?” Your mind can find the answers when you ask the right questions. If your mind can’t find the right answers, then pair up or find somebody you trust how can.</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Today’s Assignment</strong></div>
<ol style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Review your Hot Spot maps for work, personal, and life and improve them until you feel they truly represent what’s going on in your life. They should be simple and scannable. They are not your outcomes, they are not your tasks, they are simply a list of the activities or projects or big rocks in your life.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Explore some of the examples of Hot Spots in Chapter 4 – Hot Spots, from <a href="http://gettingresults.com/wiki/Main_Page" style="color: #3c78a7; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Getting Results the Agile Way</a>.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Pick one area that you could invest less in to invest more in another area. Identify why you would want to make this shift. This is your chance to deliberately improve an area of your life through a conscious investment and managing your life portfolio in a smart way by taking a look from the balcony.</li>
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J.D. Meierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02678290889994566788noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6670536641670524825.post-8233196138129479832012-07-25T22:32:00.000-07:002012-08-13T17:48:18.994-07:00Day 6 – Friday Reflection – Identify Three Things Going Well and Three Things to Improve<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPo6kyNKmpFwWdEYke_qyINF2Sr2CZ0K3a0c90LD4dltHzwvLS9eZjQ_zbnPneugvqQ8n5vIthM1FFusJdJA4Rzwh1mcrcsLsy6vyieNsRllWqq_L_8zqPPtBeFV_n0h7WytnHiT_bMzOF/s1600/Day6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="135" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPo6kyNKmpFwWdEYke_qyINF2Sr2CZ0K3a0c90LD4dltHzwvLS9eZjQ_zbnPneugvqQ8n5vIthM1FFusJdJA4Rzwh1mcrcsLsy6vyieNsRllWqq_L_8zqPPtBeFV_n0h7WytnHiT_bMzOF/s200/Day6.jpg" width="200" /></a><em style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“I’ve found that small wins, small projects, small differences often make huge differences.”</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px;"> – Rosabeth Moss Kanter</span><br />
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<strong style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Your Outcome</strong><span style="background-color: white;">: Celebrate your wins and find your personal success patterns. Learn a simple way to practice your attitude of gratitude while growing your ability to get meaningful results.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Welcome to </span><strong style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">day 6</strong><span style="background-color: white;"> of 30 Days of Getting Results. In </span><strong style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">day 5</strong><span style="background-color: white;">, we created a simple map of what’s going on in our life so that we could improve our focus and invest our time and energy more effectively. Today, we reflect on our past week. I call this practice </span><strong style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Friday Reflection</strong><span style="background-color: white;">. It’s part of the Monday vision, Daily Vision, Friday Reflection pattern from my book, </span><a href="http://gettingresults.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #3c78a7; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Getting Results the Agile Way</a><span style="background-color: white;">.</span></div>
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Friday Reflection is a simple but powerful practice. For Friday Reflection, simply think about your past week and identify three things going well and three things to improve. It’s a chance to celebrate your wins, no matter how small. It’s also a chance to figure out what’s not working for you. Whatever you learn, you can carry forward into the next week, and use this to continuously improve your results each week. It’s a snowball of success.</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">3 Steps to Friday Reflection</strong><br />
Here are three simple steps to perform your Friday Reflection:</div>
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<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Step 1. Ask yourself, what are three things going well?</strong> The key here is to look at your approach. You can’t always control your results. Instead, focus on whether you made smart plays based on what you wanted to accomplish. Pat yourself on the back for making your best moves, independent of the results. No matter how good a baseball team is, you win some, you lose some. The best you can do is play your best. Where you made smart moves, pay attention to why it worked and how you can use it in the future.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Step 2. Ask yourself, what are three things to improve?</strong> This is the tough question, but it’s important to own it, and look at it objectively. Once you put it down on paper, you don’t need to over-analyze it. You simply need to see if you can identify the root cause, but then more importantly, identify some specific ways to improve. Brainstorm here and let your imagination run wild. The key is to quickly shift to “how” questions, don’t keep asking “why?” For example, “How can I be more effective in that situation? … or “How can I be more resourceful when that happens again?” … or “How can I prevent that from happening in the first place?”</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Step 3. Identify what you’ll change next week</strong>. You’ll likely come up with a laundry list of simple things you can test to improve your results. Just pick a few you really care about and add them to your bag of tricks. Rather than over-analyze your ideas, just write down a few things that you can test next week and get feedback on. The idea is to learn and improve, not beat yourself up, or wallow in pity.</li>
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I recommend adding a reminder to your calendar and blocking off time for it. If you don’t, it’s easy to forget to do it. If you schedule it, it will happen, and it’s one of the simplest ways to improve your results every week.</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Example of Friday Reflection</strong><br />
Here is a quick example of my Friday Reflection:</div>
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<em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">3 Things Going Well …</em></div>
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<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">I got great feedback from a lot of people inside and outside of Microsoft how 30 Days of Getting Results is helping them achieve more meaningful results.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">I added key people to my network at Microsoft that have very effective ways of getting results.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">I effectively anticipated just about every possible surprise this week and had a fallback plan.</li>
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<em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">3 Things to Improve …</em></div>
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<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">I had the wrong lens, model, and map for looking at a few scenarios, which limited my effectiveness.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">I didn’t checkpoint a few of my key assumptions with the right people as early as I could have.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">I didn’t reset expectations appropriately in a few cases, which would have saved me some extra work and backtracking.</li>
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As far as a few things I’ll change next week, I’ll be asking a lot more pointed questions next week regarding people’s their model and their map. I’ve been quick to expose my thinking and vision, but now I’ll be testing other people’s assumptions, their operating models, their vision, their timeframes, and gaining clarity on understanding how they test their success or what their rules are for what good looks like. It should be interesting. I’ll also be studying up against on effective argumentation as well as rhetoric (the art of arguing without anger.)</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Why Friday Reflection</strong><br />
This is the perfect opportunity to take a look at the patterns in your week. If you’re not achieving what you set out to do for the week, why not? Are you biting off more than you can chew? Are you letting other things get in the way? Are you figuring out the right things to get done? Are you making the right trade offs? As you pay attention to these patterns, you’ll find you will improve your ability to anticipate, you’ll get a better handle on your capacity, and you’ll improve your ability to focus, prioritize, and achieve the results you want, while responding to things with skill, instead of reacting.</div>
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Aside from naturally improving your ability to get results, you’ll also improve your outlook. Too many people look at only the upside or the downside of their week. Looking at three things going well and three things to improve gives you a more balanced view, and your wins will build momentum, while your lessons learned will support you in all areas of your life.</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Today’s Assignment</strong></div>
<ol style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Schedule a recurring 20 minute appointment with yourself for Friday’s for reflection on your results. I recommend making this something you do earlier in the AM versus later in the day. Your clarity will serve you for the rest of the day and start you off on the right foot.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Identify your three things going well and your three things to improve. Celebrate those wins!</li>
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<em style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Photo by </em><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oter/" style="background-color: white; color: #3c78a7; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">jcoterhals</em></a><em style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">.</em>
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J.D. Meierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02678290889994566788noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6670536641670524825.post-47027349823647551732012-07-24T22:33:00.000-07:002012-08-13T17:48:32.121-07:00Day 7 – Setup Boundaries and Buffers<br />
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<em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“Simply pushing harder within the old boundaries will not do.”</em> — Karl Weick quotes<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2S-Q0YAHLaF9oxctiCGZ3xkyv7Z4mxU77FnqjTCHgIBXLn1mJYjmI23uXajvSJ-fwUiAp3PAcn4r0jbW50mLeenC9LDxQXTloZxfbGWzGhHEAUtA0xiH6S7PYUdLkK0bqbT29DbHvS3Vp/s1600/Day8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2S-Q0YAHLaF9oxctiCGZ3xkyv7Z4mxU77FnqjTCHgIBXLn1mJYjmI23uXajvSJ-fwUiAp3PAcn4r0jbW50mLeenC9LDxQXTloZxfbGWzGhHEAUtA0xiH6S7PYUdLkK0bqbT29DbHvS3Vp/s320/Day8.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Your Outcome:</strong> Create space in your life to renew and recharge. By setting boundaries and buffers, you set yourself up for sustainable results and you take a significant step toward mastering your work-life balance.</div>
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Welcome to <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">day 7</strong> of 30 Days of Getting Results. In<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">day 6</strong>, we learned how to use Friday Reflection to skillfully take a look at what’s going well and what to improve. Today, I had to ask myself, what’s the most useful nugget I can share with you at this stage? I think the answer is — <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">setting boundaries and buffers</strong>. This is how you <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">create space in your life</strong> and <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">make time for what’s important</strong>. It’s at the heart of finding your <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">peaceful calm</strong> and finding your <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">flow</strong>.</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">A Quick Recap of What We Learned So Far …</strong><br />
Before we start though, let’s take a moment to recap some things we’ve learned so far:</div>
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<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">You can use </em><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">The Rule of 3</em><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> to avoid getting overwhelmed.</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">You’re the author of your life and you can write your story forward, one moment or one day at a time</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">You can </em><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">use three stories to drive your day</em><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> and and light up your day by connecting to your values (</em><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Daily Outcomes</em><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">).</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">On Mondays, you can </em><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">use three stories to drive your week</em><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> (</em><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Monday Vision</em><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">).</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">On Fridays, you can use </em><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Friday Reflection</em><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> to celebrate your wins and find your personal success patterns.</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">You can </em><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">map out what’s important in your life using Hot Spots</em><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> to create a meaningful map.</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">You can </em><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">let things slough off with skill</em><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> … no more straws breaking the camel’s back .</em></li>
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Agile Results is a system that can support you the rest of your life, no matter what you do. I use it for shipping stuff at Microsoft, leading teams, writing books, learning, etc. The beauty though, is not just that it’s simple, or that it’s proven … it’s that <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">each day you get a new chance at bat – a fresh start</strong>. Each day you wake up is another chance to ask the question,<em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> “What are three things you want for today?”</em> … and so you<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">write your story forward</strong>.</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Buffers and Boundaries are the Key to Work-Life Balance</strong><br />
Now then, on to setting up boundaries and buffers. If you can master this, <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">it’s THE key to work-life balance</strong>, and it’s how you can get <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">more done, in less time, with more energy</strong>, and it’s how you can find your flow. If you feel overwhelmed by too much to do, and not enough time, buffers and boundaries will set you free. At the end of the day, it’s about knowing what you ultimately want and balancing your competing wants and needs against that.</div>
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Keep this in mind — you have to Protect yourself – and boundaries and buffers are your friend. <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Nobody will set effective boundaries for you</strong>, and you know the most about yourself better than anyone. This is the ultimate care and feeding of yourself, which sets the stage for everything you do.</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Mental Model for Boundaries and Buffers</strong><br />
Here is a simple mental model for thinking about buffers and boundaries:<br />
<a href="http://sourcesofinsight.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/image4.png" style="color: #3c78a7; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="203" src="http://sourcesofinsight.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/image_thumb4.png" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 2px; padding-right: 2px; padding-top: 2px;" title="image" width="450" /></a></div>
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Note that you have to set your own boundaries that work for you. This is just an example of how some people have found a way to perform well at work, spend more quality time with those they love, invest in their body, and find a way to spend time on their passions again … and remember that one person’s minimum is another person’s maximum.</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">3 Steps to Setting Up Boundaries and Buffers</strong><br />
Here are three simple steps for setting up your boundaries and buffers:</div>
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<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Step 1. Set up time boundaries for your week</strong>. Keep this at the high level. Decide the maximum time to spend on work. Decide the minimum amount of time you should spend on your body. For example, if you’re not getting enough sleep, decide that you’ll get a minimum of 6 hours or 8 hours or whatever you need to perform your best. If you want to get your best results and have a sustainable life style, don’t compromise on eating, sleeping, and working out. Trade something else where you can. The simplest rules I’ve heard for setting limits on work are “Dinner on the table at 5:30” and “weekends off.”</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Step 2. Set time limits for your daily routines</strong>. For the things that you do regularly, figure out how much time you should spend on it. Don’t default to how much time you already spend on it. Decide how much time is reasonable based on where you are at and what you want to accomplish. Balance that against your other competing demands and set simple time limits. For example, when I run, it’s 30 minutes, but periodically an hour. When I blog, I give myself 20 minutes maximum on average, except for the occasional “heavy hitter post.”</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Step 3. Build in space</strong>. Create space in your life. This is key – if you’re always feeling harried or under the gun, then you don’t have effective buffers or boundaries. You need to build in some space. For example, I need my alone time on Sundays and either early in the days during the week, or later at night. it’s how I recharge. When I drive to work, I give myself 30 minutes to get to there, though it usually takes closer to 15. I don’t want to race against the clock. I eat breakfast slowly, I take the back way, and I plan my outcomes for the day, while enjoying the ride (and of course, playing my favorite tunes.) I don’t blog on weekends, except for the occasional exception (I’m making exceptions while I work on 30 Days of Getting Results.) Copy machines and I don’t get along, so I print off stuff for my meetings well in advance. One of my favorite rules here is “Tuesday night is date night” and everything has to fit around that. Keep in mind there are always lots of reasons and lots of excuses why we can’t create space. That’s no the challenge here. The challenge on the table is — find a way to make space — “how can you create space in you life?”</li>
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Stepping back, I can tell you that the most important pattern I’ve seen across people that get more of what they want from life, is that they fix time for eating, sleeping, and working out – and everything else fits around that. They never rob themselves here – it’s their foundation and platform for all results in their life.</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Example of Setting Boundaries in Hot Spots</strong><br />
Try using “Hot Spots” (Mind, Body, Emotions, Career, Financial, Relationships, and Fun) and setting boundaries like this. Set a max on career and a min on relationships, body, and fun. For example</div>
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<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Mind</strong></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Body</strong> – minimum of 3 hrs</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Career</strong> – maximum of 50 hrs</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Financial</strong></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Relationships</strong> – minimum of 3 hrs</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Fun</strong> – minimum of 3 hrs</li>
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You can only spread your life force over so much. <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">The categories support each other</strong>.</div>
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<em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Key Insights</em></div>
<ol style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">When you set a minimum in the right categories, you avoid getting unbalanced and improving other categories. When you set a maximum in the right categories, you learn how to become more effective. For example, if you only have 8 hours to throw at your day, you’ll use them wisely.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">The worst mistake it to throw more time at problems.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">The key is to reduce time spent, while increasing value and improving effectiveness/efficiency.</li>
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So step one is deciding to spend no more than 50 hours each week at work. Now it forces you to bite off only what you can chew. This is how you start improving plate management and pushing back effectively.</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Why Use Time to Set Boundaries</strong><br />
It’s the simplest way to avoid spending $20 on $5 problems.</div>
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One of my most important lessons is that the best way to set boundaries is to use time. <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Treat time as a first class citizen</strong>. It’s pretty reliable too – each day you get 24 hours. Each week you get 7 days or 168 hours. And the cycle repeats itself, each day, each week. So if you can master your day, you can master your week – and looking at your time from a weekly standpoint helps you establish a schedule that works for you.</div>
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I used to be very “scope-driven.” I wanted to change the world. The problem is that when you drive from scope, <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">you often run out of time</strong>, then you have to cut corners you don’t want to cut. Worse, you often <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">push past your boundaries</strong> (“I’ll eat lunch later”, or “I’ll stay up later to finish this one last thing”, or “I can’t take a break now,” etc. Worse, when you don’t respect time, not only do you <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">throw time at problems </strong>and re-enforce bad habits … you <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">miss windows of opportunity</strong>. I’ve found that a stitch in time actually saves way more than nine … and that it’s the key to effective results.</div>
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This is a key shift from it’s done when it’s done or it takes as long as it takes, to how much time do you have for it and how much time is worth spending on that and how much is too much time to spend on that?</div>
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One way to think about this is that <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">time is a budget</strong>, just like your money. You only have so much. You can spend it wisely, or you can let it rule you, or you can waste it. <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Time is a unique resource that you don’t get back</strong> and choosing how you spend your discretionary time is what ultimately changes your life. If you want to spend more time in something, then make more time for something. The way to do so is to set smart limits on the things you know you need to do. Trade your time by design vs. by default.</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Today’s Assignment</strong></div>
<ol style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Choose an area in your life that’s not working for you and try setting a new limit. This might mean setting a maximum amount of time in something, or a minimum amount of time in something else.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Find one simple way to add space in your life and take it for a test drive next week.</li>
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J.D. Meierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02678290889994566788noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6670536641670524825.post-16706802805943900402012-07-23T22:33:00.000-07:002012-08-13T17:48:46.653-07:00Day 8 – Dump Your Brain to Free Your Mind<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQfigCVIFi0gmUkVZKGe2srxIpO2bgjGhqrvWrLUEHbDX-gRGhWfs_11CRFE02nGAvfXui96unipIduv9yjlxNTw2TPTmndGFvpmf0IQKiikxcnoYLjgPVguVSNbYcqjGe9HQxv4i_OP3t/s1600/Day8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQfigCVIFi0gmUkVZKGe2srxIpO2bgjGhqrvWrLUEHbDX-gRGhWfs_11CRFE02nGAvfXui96unipIduv9yjlxNTw2TPTmndGFvpmf0IQKiikxcnoYLjgPVguVSNbYcqjGe9HQxv4i_OP3t/s200/Day8.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
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<em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“You must weed your mind as you would weed your garden.”</em> — Astrid Alauda</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Your Outcome:</strong> Turn your mind from a carnival funhouse or haunted mansion to your own private den. Free your mind up to focus on better things. This is part of achieving a "peaceful calm" state of mind, as well as getting rid of the "buzz" in your mind, or the nagging reminders that interrupt your focus throughout the day. Rather than use your brain as a depot for random ideas, "To Do" lists, reminders, and general mind clutter — you’ll have a place for dumping your brain and unshackling your mind.</div>
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Welcome to <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">day 8</strong> of 30 Days of Getting Results. In <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">day 7</strong> we learned how to setup boundaries and buffersas a way to recharge our batteries, set the stage for work-life balance, and create a foundation for a sustainable life style. Today, we’ll de-clutter our minds and give ourselves space to think, dream, or simply wonder around without bumping into so much mental clutter, mental chatter, and noise.</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">The Mental Chatter is There for a Reason</strong><br />
Before we start doing any brain dumping, we need to know why this works and why it’s so important. All those things on your mind, are probably there for a reason. They’re reminding you that you’ve got stuff on your plate that needs attention. There are things that could threaten your quality of life, or that are blocking you from the quality of life you’d like to enjoy. Many of the things bugging you, are actually useful, whether it’s for motivation or simply for reminders.</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Thinking on Paper to Dump Your State </strong><br />
However, your mind is not where all the things bugging you belong. Stream of conscious thinking is way less effective than thinking on paper. When you dump your state on paper, you can stop trying to remember what you were thinking about, and instead focus on what you want to do about it, or whether you can just let it go, or prioritize something else. When it’s on paper, you free your mind. When it’s on paper you can slice it and dice it in a more effective way, or sort it in a way that works for you, instead of against you.</div>
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<em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Thinking on paper is how you go from soup to sanity.</em></div>
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The opposite approach is to let things lurk in your mind, where every corner you turn, something jumps out at you — surprise!– or each thought turns into a Jack-in-the-Box, or each idea is like looking straight into a Funhouse mirror.</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">3 Ways to Dump Your Brain</strong><br />
There are three common ways to dump your brain:</div>
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<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Daily brain dumps</strong>. Have a place to write things down. For me, on my computer I keep Notepad (a plaintext editor) open and I dump things down throughout the day. It’s a simply a tickler list. Rather than let it bounce around, I write it down. This helps me stay focused throughout the day, without worrying about what I’m forgetting. At the end of the day, before I go home, I dump down whatever “state” I’ve built up in my mind, such as things I still want to accomplish. If I have a bunch of browser windows open, I simply paste the URLs into my open Notepad in case I want to “rehydrate” my state at another time. I simply save these brain dumps with the current date: “20010-08-06”, “2010-08-07”, “2010-08-08”, etc. This way I can flip back through them if I want, or just let them go. It’s my “dumping ground.”</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Periodic brain dumps</strong>. This is where you periodically dump everything down that’s top of mind or tugging at you. It’s just a long, flat bulleted list of anything that keeps popping into your mind. You take a few minutes and you just keep dumping until your brain says, “OK, I think it looks like you got everything I’ve been trying to tell you.” This might be many pages, or you might find your mind was simply a broken record and it’s been telling you the same five things again and again. Once your mind feels heard, and you’ve echoed it back by writing it down, your mind can now shift into what it does best – problem solving. In my case, again I use Notepad and I simply title the file today’s date (“2010-08-08 – Master List”) I tend to add a distinction in case I have my daily brain dump and my mother-load.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Pen and paper on the go</strong>. Simply carry a notepad, a sticky pad, or index files with you. It’s nothing fancy, but it is effective. Rather than let things float around in your mind, jot them down. You’ll get very effective, very quickly at keeping tight tickler lists to remember gobs of information. A single word might be just enough to help you jump back to that idea you had to change the world. As a key tip, use The Rule of 3 to keep things simpler. For example, when I’m in a meeting or taking training, I’ll shoot for walking away with three take aways over a laundry list of things.</li>
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In all of these cases, you’re factoring your thinking from your chatter and your reminders. This is like factoring editing from your writing – write it down, then edit. (As an aside, Hemmingway edited for an hour and wrote for an hour.)</div>
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Once you have your lists, you are empowered to turn them into action, and you can simply do so by chunking them into stories, and fitting them into your three stories for the week, or three stories for the day.</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Example of a Periodic Brain Dump</strong><br />
Here’s a quick example of a periodic brain dump. All I did was dump the things that are bugging me around the house:</div>
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<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Clear the growth along the path</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Clear the growth around the deck</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Clear the growth on the back driveway</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Get rid of stuff that’s no longer useful</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Downsize book collection</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Fix the gutters on the house</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Fix the gutters on the garage</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Fix the front deck</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Fix the back deck</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Re-tile bathroom 1</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Fix the shower in bathroom 1</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Add a border to the back lawn</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Re-tile bathroom 2</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Take down the tree</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Get a new fence</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Fix the floor in den 2</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Fix the window in den 2</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Fix the floor in the kitchen</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Shred the papers</em></li>
</ul>
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That was step one. it’s random and it’s just a quick dump of my top of mind things. Step two would be sorting it and analyzing it against what I want to accomplish. That’s where my map of Hot Spots really comes into play, because I can see at a glance what’s on my radar and what’s important.</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Today’s Assignment</strong></div>
<ol style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Dump your brain. Simply make a list and dump out everything that’s top of mind or tugging at your thoughts.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Take a moment to enjoy the fact that you uncluttered your mind and gave it some breathing room. Let yourself play with the possibilities.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">If you’re really feeling gung-ho, then review your list and find some low hanging fruit. For example, the simplest thing on my list is shredding papers, and I enjoy it, so I’m gong to tackle that. For the other things, I’ll have to step back, prioritize against what I want to accomplish, then make a simple plan.</li>
</ol>
J.D. Meierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02678290889994566788noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6670536641670524825.post-318155880699880402012-07-22T22:34:00.000-07:002012-08-13T17:48:58.841-07:00Day 9 – Prioritize Your Day with MUST, SHOULD, COULD<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidYfzNTFJ1E3b2sqhVqu50MovfIXi30M_5zJCSLaiYZmWPTKTJ3otl3piP0Y_aTtDRyh3Kv2boyIabPm-cdMb_kihVR-PDjBilsKoV066cXOpxk_8Dg4VUFfj6LAwirJwDXjLD9p6zE7Ch/s1600/Day9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidYfzNTFJ1E3b2sqhVqu50MovfIXi30M_5zJCSLaiYZmWPTKTJ3otl3piP0Y_aTtDRyh3Kv2boyIabPm-cdMb_kihVR-PDjBilsKoV066cXOpxk_8Dg4VUFfj6LAwirJwDXjLD9p6zE7Ch/s200/Day9.jpg" width="200" /></a><em style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“Good things happen when you get your priorities straight.”</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px;"> — Scott Caan</span><br />
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Your Outcome:</strong> Get a handle on the minimum you need to do. Get the minimum out of the way and the rest of the day or week is yours. By having clarity on what you MUST do, you can avoid getting overwhelmed by all the tasks and activities competing for your time and energy. With clarity comes conviction and you set the stage for fierce results. Or simply clear your plate, then do enjoy the rest of the day, Cool Hand Luke style.</div>
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Welcome to <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">day 9</strong> of 30 Days of Getting Results. In <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">day 8</strong>, we learned how to dump your brain to free your mind. Today, we learn how to use some simple language to help us prioritize more effectively.</div>
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Prioritizing effectively is one of the most important keys to your success. When you feel like you’re working on the right thing at the right time, it’s easier to focus and stay engaged. Prioritizing is a continuous activity. It’s about taking things on while letting other things go. It’s about making trade-offs. It’s also about finding synergies. To prioritize effectively you need to be able to see the forest from the trees, and you need to be able to identify the minimum for success. That’s where MUST, SHOULD, and COULD comes into play.</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">MUST, SHOULD, COULD</strong><br />
Rather than prioritize with priority 1, priority 2, and priority 3 (or p1, p2, p3), I’ve found it way more helpful to think in terms of MUST, SHOULD, and COULD. If you need to use a prioritization system that is number centric, then you can still think of it in terms of MUST, SHOULD, and COULD. If you get really good at focusing on your MUSTs, you’ll see immediate improvement. Where people fall down is they mix too many SHOULDs and COULDs in their work each day and they don’t actually ever get anything done. If MUSTS really are a problem for you, The Rule of 3 should help you cap and avoid overwhelming yourself. Getting three MUSTS done each day quickly builds momentum. It’s a sense of accomplishment. You may find as you get more effective, you start to bite off more.</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Getting a Quick Handle on Your Day</strong></div>
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Ask yourself …</div>
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<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">What MUST I do today?</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">What SHOULD I do?</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">What COULD I do?</em></li>
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Whittle it down to three MUSTs for the day. If you have more than three, then limit to three max. You can always up level them or bubble them up into a higher-level outcome. Capping it at three will help you focus and remember them easily.<br />
<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Getting a Quick Handle on Your Week</strong><br />
Ask yourself, …</div>
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<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">What MUST I do this week?</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">What SHOULD I do this week?</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">What COULD I do this week?”</em></li>
</ol>
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Carve out your MUSTs by weighting your window of opportunity, pain points, and best value.</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Identify Your Minimum MUSTs for the Day</strong><br />
If you stay mindful of your minimum MUSTs for the day, then you’re in the driver’s seat. At an instant, you know how significantly any quick trade offs are,such as doing this over that, hitting or missing a window of opportunity, and trading pain for pleasure. You have your three MUST results on the mind, which gives you a laser sharp path. If your boss comes by and has something more for you to do, you can either push back or negotiate your success, “I can do that, if you want to prioritize it over XYZ …”</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">What if You Have fewer than Three MUSTs?</strong><br />
Good for you! Don’t upgrade SHOULDs to MUSTs, acknowledge that you got your MUSTs done, and move on to your SHOULDs or COULDs. Remember the whole point of MUSTs is not just to help remind you of what’s most important for you, it’s about survival</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">CHOOSE TOs</strong>One thing to note is that if the word MUST for you creates a sense of heaviness or you find you no longer look forward to getting your results, then change your language. Rather than your MUST dos, think of your CHOOSE TOs. This puts you back in power and this simple reframing can help you get your energy back.</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Why Priorities Matter</strong>A laundry list of To Dos where everything is equally important is a recipe for failure. Time spent identifying your three MUSTs for the day is more than worth it because it gives you flexibility. Without knowing your three MUSTs, everything is mushy and you have nothing to steer by. At the end of the day, you will likely wonder how you worked on what you thought were so many important things yet without anything important getting done.</div>
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MUST becomes increasingly clear under high pressure. People who do their minimum MUSTs each day tend to do well. When push comes to shove, these people pick one MUST each day for themselves, their job, and their family to keep things in check, when when chaos, pressure, and overload abound.</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Why MUSTs?</strong><br />
There are many reasons for using MUSTs, but here are a few to consider:</div>
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<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">MUST means something</strong>. Contrast this with asking “What is Priority 1 this week?” Your mind has to translate what Priority 1 really means. With MUST, SHOULD, COULD your mind can categorize the tasks much easier instead of translating into some other systems.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Nailing your MUSTs builds a rhythm of results</strong>. Without your three MUSTs to prioritize with, everything looks important. This is the source of overwhelm, shutdown, burnout, and lack of focus. When you start with a firm foundation of MUSTs, then you can drive your day. You can prioritize incoming requests against your three. As you finish something, you can take more on. This is how you find your rhythm for results.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">MUSTs help you put your most important issues out on the table</strong>. It’s the heart of focus and prioritization and outcomes. If you don’t know you’re on your best path, you can’t commit all the way. When you know you’re working on the most important things right now in the moment for your most important outcomes, then you can fully engage and you’re no longer worried about all the other noise.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">MUSTs help you quickly identify your minimum for the day</strong>. The MUST is for brutal clarity around the minimum — I’ve never found a more cutting word to get somebody to absolutely focus on just that (and even with *MUST* folks still bite off too much or don’t prioritize their best.) The commitment of MUST forces you to choose definitely doable in the available time and not overstep. Taking on too much is where folks fall down.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">MUSTs help you create a glide path for the rest of your day</strong>. Take care of your basic needs and MUSTs first in the day so it’s a glide path for the rest. A simple way to think about your day is MUSTs, then SHOULDs, then COULDs.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">MUSTs enable incredible flexibility</strong>. If you know your three MUSTs for the day, you then can prioritize against them. If something more important comes in, you can bump something out as a deliberate trade, yet still remain agile.</li>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Balance Against What You Want</strong><br />
As you deal with your MUSTs, one thing to keep in mind is that you should balance them against what you ultimately want. You can use three simple questions to help you checkpoint:</div>
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<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">What do you want?</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">What do you want to accomplish?</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Who do you want to be and what experiences do you want to create?</em></li>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Today’s Assignment</strong></div>
<ol style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Identify your MUSTs for the day.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Identify your MUSTs for the week.</li>
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<em style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Photo by </em><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/7925851@N02/" rel="nofollow" style="background-color: white; color: #3c78a7; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">David de Mallorca</em></a><em style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">.</em>
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J.D. Meierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02678290889994566788noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6670536641670524825.post-16774143284320264852012-07-21T22:35:00.000-07:002012-08-13T17:49:22.341-07:00Day 10 – Feel Strong All Week Long<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw2K4_4JVy1arPC67zrAG_fRk-EraVBLewVraM4CYCGIUy62oZDjhW1E0G06ORCcnN69qz1kR-drzwZaDgxgtSIGbYoIe0OSQYnyIZz33z_9dlS-Wvo8CgJ-iFFaWFn_8BONYjaR16o4Up/s1600/Day10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw2K4_4JVy1arPC67zrAG_fRk-EraVBLewVraM4CYCGIUy62oZDjhW1E0G06ORCcnN69qz1kR-drzwZaDgxgtSIGbYoIe0OSQYnyIZz33z_9dlS-Wvo8CgJ-iFFaWFn_8BONYjaR16o4Up/s320/Day10.jpg" width="248" /></a><em style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.”</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px;"> — Hilary Cooper</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span>
<strong style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Your Outcome:</strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px;"> Get ready. YOUR world’s about to rock. You’re about to become </span><strong style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">a powerful force of one</strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px;">. We all have strengths and weaknesses. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px;">It’s time to shift from spending more time in your weaknesses to spending more time in your strengths. By spending more time in your strengths, and less time in your weaknesses, it’s like a combination of simultaneously uncorking your abilities and drinking from the fountain of youth. Finding your vital few set of strengths and spending more time in them is the single most direct way to crank up your energy and your passion, enjoy what you do, and create unique value to your world.</span><br />
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Welcome to <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">day 10</strong> of 30 Days of Getting Results. In <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">day 9</strong>, we learned how to focus and prioritize using MUST, SHOULD, and COULD. Today we learn how to refocus the time and energy we already spend away from the activities that make us weak … to the activities that make us strong. It’s time to unleash our possibilities.<br />
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For some of you, this post will sing directly to your heart, as if it’s exactly what you need, right here, right now. Your going to change your world in your most powerful way ,,., you’re going to change how you spend your time and you’ll have a new lens for unleashing your best.</div>
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If there is one thing to remember as you read this, it’s this … Give your best where you have your best to give.</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Get on Your Strengths Path</strong><br />
What if there was one thing you could focus on that would help you get exponential results in all areas of your life? Well there is. It’s getting on your strengths path. When you are spending more time in the activities that make you strong, you automatically do great work, you <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">renew and rebuild your mind, body, emotions, and spirit</strong>, and you dramatically accelerate your learning and growth. Fighting to get on your strengths path is one of the highest ROI (Return on Investment) battles you will ever win. It pays you back daily.</div>
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If there are so many benefits to being on your strengths path, and spending more time in your strengths, then why doesn’t everybody just do it? Because it requires self-awareness and you have to own it. <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Nobody comes along and puts you on your strengths path</strong>. YOU have to own it. YOU have to continuously find ways to spend more time in your strengths. <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Only you know truly what makes you strong</strong> and what makes you weak. You have to decide you want to spend more time in your strengths and you have to be deliberate about spending less time in your strengths.</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">You’re the Architect of Your Life</strong>.<br />
Build a firm foundation. Design how you spend your time effectively. Spend your time on your strengths. Limit your time on your weaknesses. If you get knocked down, get up again. Stay the path. Focus on finding your strengths and finding ways to leverage them. Expect a learning curve, but know that this is <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">the high ROI path</strong>.</div>
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Whenever you get rundown or feel overwhelmed and drained, there is a great chance that you are not spending enough time in your strengths and you’re not on your strengths path.</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Grow More in Your Strengths</strong><br />
To look at it with another lens, many people mistake the path of weaknesses as the growth or opportunity path. What they don’t realize is not only are they robbing from their energy, their best contribution, and their sense of fulfillment, but they are taking away from their greatest source of growth. <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">You’ll grow faster in your strengths</strong>. In today’s world, <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">you have to outpace your problems</strong> and give your best where you have your best to give, to succeed in any situation, flow amazing value to yourself and others, and find a sustainable way for getting results in everything you do. If you spend the bulk of your time in your weaknesses, then you are stacking the deck against you, and even if you improve your weaknesses, you will never achieve the powerful force of growing your strengths.</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">What are Your Strengths</strong><br />
To keep this very simple, here are the keys:</div>
<ul style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Your strengths are your natural talents</strong>. Your strengths are what your natural patterns for how your thinking, feeling, and behavior.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Your strengths are NOT what you are simply good at</strong>. Unfortunately, many of us are good at things that make us weak or drain us, so we spend more time in those. So yes, we are good at them, but no they are not strengths that give us energy or that we exponentially improve at. True strengths are your natural talent for thinking, feeling, and behavior, applied to a context..</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Your strengths are what you find easy to do</strong>. The things that other people struggle with that you find very easy to do are your natural strengths.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Your strengths give you energy</strong>. You can spend time in your strengths all day and actually have more energy at the end of the day than when you started. Your strengths catalyze you. They make you strong.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Your strengths are where you get better faster</strong>. Your strengths are a place where you can accelerate. You grow faster in your natural strengths than in any effort that works against your strengths.</li>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Give Your Best Where You Have Your Best to Give</strong><br />
You’re an individual with a unique set of strengths, weaknesses. I think the key is to find a purpose that lights up the following statement:</div>
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<em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Give your best where you have your best to give.</em></div>
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When you find that, it’s your unique contribution to the world, and when you spend time in your strengths it’s your growth, renewal and passion in action. Of course, the trick is to find something where you can be the best in the world at, and the trick there is … it’s YOUR world, since it’s all relative.</div>
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Here are some key points:</div>
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<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Light things up your way</strong>. I’m a fan of be more of yourself with skill and give your best where you have your best to give. It’s all about bringing yourself to the picture and lighting things up the best way you can.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Amplify your results</strong>. It lines up nicely with what I’ve learned to be true … drive by your why, live your values, and play to your strengths … and give your best where you have your best to give.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Renew yourself and lift others up</strong>. I think it’s important that you give your best where you have your best to give, otherwise, you can drain yourself. I think renewal and downtime and taking care of your own basics builds a firm foundation for lifting others up.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Focus on the vital few activities where you can really give your best</strong>. Focus on strengths over weaknesses. You’ll get more results by improving your strengths than improving your weaknesses.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Spend less time in your weaknesses</strong>. Limit the time you spend in your weaknesses. Find ways to off load more of your weaknesses so you can spend more time in your strengths.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Fight to spend more time in your strengths</strong>. Don’t let the changes around you, cause you to lose sight of the activities that make you strong. Don’t let yourself get caught up in activities that weaken you.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Get back on your horse</strong>. Sometimes we get knocked off our horse. We may not have realized how beautiful the ride was or how well we were riding. We were caught up in the ride and it was great. But something changes. The ride no longer feels right and we no longer feel strong.</li>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Find Your Sweet Spot</strong><br />
The secret of amplifying your impact and getting exponential results is finding the “sweet spot” which is the overlap of your talent, your passion, and value.</div>
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<a href="http://sourcesofinsight.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/image6.png" style="color: #3c78a7; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="300" src="http://sourcesofinsight.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/image_thumb6.png" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: initial; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 2px; padding-right: 2px; padding-top: 2px;" title="image" width="295" /></a></div>
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Value is in the eye of the beholder. You can flow value for yourself or for others or for your company. The key thing here is that you find the strengths that give you juice and that flow value.</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Finding Your Strengths</strong><br />
There are many ways to find your strengths. The key is to find the activities that you look forward to, give you energy, and lift you up. Another key is to get specific. For example, maybe you can write songs all day. Maybe you can write content all day. Maybe you love to interact with customers. Maybe you like to brainstorm. Maybe you like to solve big hairy challenges. For me, I like to make sense of meaningful problems where I can turn it into a form factor that’s easy to share and scale expertise.</div>
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I find that having a language to think about your strengths can help you better.</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">34 Key Strengths</strong><br />
Marcus Buckingham and Donald O. Clifton, Ph.D. identified 34 key signature themes of strength. There is a brief description of each strength in the appendix of <a href="http://strengths.gallup.com/private/Resources/CSFTechnicalReport031005.pdf" style="color: #3c78a7; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">The Clifton’s Strengths Finder 2.0 Technical Report: Development and Validation</a>. Here are the 34 signature themes:</div>
<ul style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Achiever</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Activator</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Adaptability</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Analytical</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Arranger</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Belief</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Command</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Communication</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Competition</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Connectedness</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Context</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Deliberative</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Developer</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Discipline</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Empathy</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Fairness</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Focus</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Futuristic</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Harmony</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Ideation</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Inclusiveness</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Individualization</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Input</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Intellection</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Learner</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Maximizer</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Positivity</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Relater</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Responsibility</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Restorative</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Self-assurance</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Significance</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Strategic</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Woo</em></li>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">24 Signature Strengths</strong><br />
Martin Seligman named a set of 24 Signature Strengths. You can <a href="http://www.authentichappiness.sas.upenn.edu/seligman.aspx" style="color: #3c78a7; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">find out more about Martin Seligman’s work</a> at the Authentic Happiness Center. Here are Seligman’s 24 Signature Strengths:</div>
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<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Appreciation of Beauty and Excellence</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Bravery and Valor</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Capacity to Love and Be Loved</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Caution, Prudence, and Discretion</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Citizenship, Teamwork, and Loyalty</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Creativity, Ingenuity, and Originality</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Curiosity and Interest in the World</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Fairness, Equity, and Justice</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Forgiveness and Mercy</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Gratitude</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Honesty, Authenticity, and Genuineness</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Hope, Optimism, and Future-mindedness</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Humor and playfulness</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Industry, Diligence, and Perseverance</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Judgment, Critical Thinking, and Open-Mindedness</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Kindness and Generosity</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Leadership</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Love of Learning</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Modesty and Humility</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Perspective and Wisdom</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Self-Control and Self-Regulation</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Social Intelligence</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Spirituality, Sense of Purpose, and Faith</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Zest, Enthusiasm, and Energy</em></li>
</ul>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">How To Use These Strength Vocabularies</strong><br />
One way to use these is to take their tests and find out what they say about you. I do like the fact that they have framed and named the strengths which makes it easy to explore, test, and evaluate. Personally, I’ve found more value by simply <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">exploring the labels and using them as lenses</strong>. I’ve been rationalizing them against the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) as well as my own frames for strengths, looking for underlying patterns and practices.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
At the end of the day, the most important thing for me has been <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">finding where I get energy from, and finding what takes it away</strong>. This leads me to a personalized strengths frame that I can use as a lens for investing in my <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">portfolio of strengths</strong> … and this is the key to exponential results.</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">3 Steps to Designing a Strong Week</strong><br />
There are many ways to spend more time in your strengths, but here is the most effective way that I mentor individuals, teams, and leaders:</div>
<table border="1" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><tbody style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<tr style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" valign="top"><th style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Steps</th><th style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Checks</th></tr>
<tr style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" valign="top"><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Step 1 – Map Out Your Weaknesses.</strong></td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><ul style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Can you identify the top 3 activities that make you the weakest?</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Can you identify the types of work that make you weak?</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Can you identify who drains you and who catalyzes you? What’s the pattern?</em></li>
</ul>
</td></tr>
<tr style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" valign="top"><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Step 2 – Map out Your Strengths</strong>.</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><ul style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Can you identify the top 3 activities that make you strong?</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Can you identify the types of work that make you strong?</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Can you identify the patterns of people that catalyze you?</em></li>
</ul>
</td></tr>
<tr style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" valign="top"><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Step 3 – Design a Strong Week</strong>.</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><ul style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Have you eliminated as many of the activities that make you weak as you can?</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Have you found a way to add a few activities that make you stronger?</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Have you consolidated your weaknesses as best as you can?</em></li>
</ul>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Usually what happens is you find out that you have a scatter chart all over the week of spending time in your weaknesses and spending time in your strengths. The key is to consolidate your weaknesses so that you can either spend less time in them, get them off your plate, or <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">pair up with other people</strong>, or find a way to enjoy them. The other key is to add more activities that give you strength to each and every day. This is the secret of renewal and boundless energy for making things happen in your life.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Example of Mapping Out Your Weaknesses</strong><br />
Here is an example of a map of activities that are weaknesses throughout the week:</div>
<table border="1" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><tbody style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<tr style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><th style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</th><th style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Monday</th><th style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Tuesday</th><th style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Wednesday</th><th style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Thursday</th><th style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Friday</th></tr>
<tr style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">7:00</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td></tr>
<tr style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">8:00</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td></tr>
<tr style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">9:00</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">W</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">W</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td></tr>
<tr style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">10:00</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">W</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">W</td></tr>
<tr style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">11:00</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">W</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td></tr>
<tr style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">12:00</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">W</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">W</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td></tr>
<tr style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">1:00</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">W</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">W</td></tr>
<tr style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">2:00</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td></tr>
<tr style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">3:00</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">W</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">W</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">W</td></tr>
<tr style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">4:00</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">W</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">W</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td></tr>
<tr style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">5:00</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td></tr>
<tr style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">6:00</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td></tr>
<tr style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">7:00</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td></tr>
<tr style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">8:00</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td></tr>
<tr style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">9:00</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td></tr>
<tr style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">10:00</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
Simply use a “W” to indicate that that time is spent in a “Weakness.”</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Example of Mapping Out Your Strengths</strong><br />
Here is an example of activities that are strengths throughout the week:</div>
<table border="1" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><tbody style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<tr style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><th style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</th><th style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Monday</th><th style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Tuesday</th><th style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Wednesday</th><th style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Thursday</th><th style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Friday</th></tr>
<tr style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">7:00</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td></tr>
<tr style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">8:00</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td></tr>
<tr style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">9:00</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">S</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">S</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">S</td></tr>
<tr style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">10:00</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">S</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td></tr>
<tr style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">11:00</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td></tr>
<tr style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">12:00</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">S</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">S</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td></tr>
<tr style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">1:00</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td></tr>
<tr style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">2:00</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">S</td></tr>
<tr style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">3:00</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td></tr>
<tr style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">4:00</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td></tr>
<tr style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">5:00</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td></tr>
<tr style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">6:00</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td></tr>
<tr style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">7:00</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td></tr>
<tr style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">8:00</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td></tr>
<tr style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">9:00</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td></tr>
<tr style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">10:00</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
Simply use an “S” to indicate “Strength”.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Example of a Strong Week</strong><br />
Here is an example of a strong week by design:</div>
<table border="1" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><tbody style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<tr style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><th style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</th><th style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Monday</th><th style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Tuesday</th><th style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Wednesday</th><th style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Thursday</th><th style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Friday</th></tr>
<tr style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">7:00</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td></tr>
<tr style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">8:00</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td></tr>
<tr style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">9:00</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">W</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">W</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">W</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">W</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">W</td></tr>
<tr style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">10:00</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">S</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">S</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">S</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">S</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">S</td></tr>
<tr style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">11:00</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td></tr>
<tr style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">12:00</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">S</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">S</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td></tr>
<tr style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">1:00</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">S</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td></tr>
<tr style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">2:00</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">S</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td></tr>
<tr style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">3:00</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">S</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">S</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td></tr>
<tr style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">4:00</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">S</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">S</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">S</td></tr>
<tr style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">5:00</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td></tr>
<tr style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">6:00</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td></tr>
<tr style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">7:00</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td></tr>
<tr style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">8:00</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td></tr>
<tr style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">9:00</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td></tr>
<tr style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">10:00</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">-</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
Simply use an “S” to indicate activities that make you strong or catalyzes you, and a “W” to indicate activities that make you weak or drains you.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Cornerstone Concepts</strong><br />
Here are some cornerstone concepts to help you really adopt a strengths-based approach to your life:</div>
<ul style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Everybody has strengths and weaknesses.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Strengths are not simply what you’re good at.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Strengths are what you naturally think, feel, or do.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Spend more time in your strengths. Schedule it. If you schedule it, it happens. If you don’t, it won’t.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Own it. Only you can do this. Only you know what your strengths are.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Do less of what makes you weak.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Energy can come from your mind, body, emotions, or spirit.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">By spending less time in your weaknesses and more time in your strengths, you renew, rebuild, and rejuvenate your mind, body, emotions, and spirit … it’s your multiplier.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">You have to own getting on your strengths path.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Find the specific things you want to spend more time doing each day – the things that make you STRONG.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Find the jobs, tasks, and activities that are directly related to your strengths.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Find creative ways to change how you do what you already do to gradually integrate more of your strengths. Your little wins will add up.</li>
</ul>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Your Assignment</strong></div>
<ol style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Find your strengths and <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">write them down</strong> in ways that sing to your heart and put precision on what truly makes you strong. Your done when your list feels like a short-list of your super skills.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Map out your strengths and weaknesses.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Find creative ways to eliminate, consolidate, or reduce the activities that make you weak, and find a way to spend at least one more hour per week in something that makes you strong. Trade-up spending time in your weaknesses in favor of spending more time in your strengths.</li>
</ol>
J.D. Meierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02678290889994566788noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6670536641670524825.post-50718232845201228012012-07-20T22:36:00.000-07:002012-08-13T17:50:05.403-07:00Day 11 – Reduce Friction and Create Glide-Paths for Your Day<em style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.”</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px;"> — Leonardo da Vinci</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL7yhjTu4y6QaNIi_KcQyAzgVlDqkCm78yEI7ZOC5sE-CqNe3my8e6kMyL2EYD3DAzZ-vr9q2DMoPmI3JWEv0V0GAiR8m7qG5sCizP7k0Goe5tQFDWKnP6tMOhlTICemoAvn-h5csohobR/s1600/Day11.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL7yhjTu4y6QaNIi_KcQyAzgVlDqkCm78yEI7ZOC5sE-CqNe3my8e6kMyL2EYD3DAzZ-vr9q2DMoPmI3JWEv0V0GAiR8m7qG5sCizP7k0Goe5tQFDWKnP6tMOhlTICemoAvn-h5csohobR/s200/Day11.png" width="200" /></a></div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Your Outcome:</strong> Simplify your day by getting rid of the hurdles and personal obstacle courses that are in your way throughout the day.<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </strong>Doing your daily chores or common tasks shouldn’t be a jungle gym. It should be a glide path.</div>
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Make your day a whole lot easier by eliminating or reducing the friction in your day. Establish “friction-free” glide paths that support you throughout your entire day. By reducing the friction and simplifying your daily routines and common tasks, you make it easier to glide through your results.</div>
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Welcome to <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">day 11</strong> of 30 Days of Getting Results. In <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">day 10</strong>, we learned how to feel strong all week long. Today, we learn how to reduce the friction in our day, and make it easier to do the common things we do. This way we spend less energy on little things getting in our way, so we have more energy and focus to tackle the big things.</div>
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<em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Don’t die the death of a 1000 paper cuts throughout your day!</em></div>
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All the little friction in our day can wear us down. Especially if it’s things within our control. Don’t complain about the stuff in your way … do something about it. Your glide paths will really help you on days when you’re run down, or you’re running late, and you really need it most.</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">3 Steps to Creating Friction-Free Glide Paths</strong><br />
Here are three steps to creating friction-free glide paths.</div>
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<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Step 1. Walk your paths</strong>. Simply write down your common routines and common tasks you throughout your day. If you don’t know where to start, write down breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Chances are you have a lot of recurring activities each day that you can choose to tune.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Step 2. Identify the friction</strong>. Identify the things that create friction throughout your day: What slows you down? … What hoops do you have to jump through? … What’s always in your way or what are you constantly moving out of your way to get to something else?</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Step 3. Simplify your paths</strong>. Declutter and reduce the friction for your common scenarios, routines, and tasks. Most of the ways to do this will be obvious to you now that you’ve listed your common tasks and points of friction. Brainstorm ideas for making these routines less complicated and less friction.</li>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">10 Examples of Friction-Free Glide Paths</strong><br />
Here are some examples of friction-free glide paths:</div>
<ol style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Get rid of the clothes on the top of the hamper. Tip – If you want clothes to go in the hamper, then don’t have clothes on top of it. Nobody should have to lift the hamper lid with a bunch of clothes on top. If the lid keeps turning into one more shelf, then remove the lid.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Clear your workspace. Keep your workspace clear and ready to go. You can clear it the night before or you can do a quick sweep right before you use it.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Put your sneakers by the bed. If you workout in the morning, have your sneakers and gym clothes ready to go. This is one less excuse for not working out on a day when you don’t feel like it.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Put garbage cans where you need them.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Create checklists for common routines. You won’t have to try and remember what to do next and you can make it easier to follow your routine.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Put things where you look for them. If you are always looking for something in the wrong place, then make the wrong place, the right place and put it there.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Make space on your bookshelf so you don’t have to stack or balance things or squeeze with all your might to get that very last book to fit just right. Pulling books off your shelf shouldn’t be a chore, and neither should putting them back.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Put your calendar where you can see it at a glance. Make it easy to quickly see what your schedule looks like.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Make it easy to look things up. If you regularly look certain things up, consolidate them and put them in easy reach.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Remove anything that you have to step over or walk around. Pave a simpler path and make it easy to go wherever you need to get to on a regular basis.</li>
</ol>
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There are many, many ways to create glide paths in your day. These are just some random ideas to get your started. Get creative. You probably already know what you need to do, you just have to decide to do it. This is worth making time for since it pays you back throughout your day, and it pays you back everyday .. with interest.</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Your Assignment</strong></div>
<ol style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Identify your worst friction points in your day.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Create three glide paths to simplify your day. Pick any routines or common tasks that you want to make easier for yourself.</li>
</ol>
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<em style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jayhem/" rel="nofollow" style="color: #3c78a7; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">jayhem</a>.</em>
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J.D. Meierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02678290889994566788noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6670536641670524825.post-28888643664335251902012-07-19T22:36:00.000-07:002012-08-13T17:50:34.156-07:00Day 12 – Productivity Personas – Are You a Starter or a Finisher?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTZFKTHN91-aR3uRf_6NHjr2c9l_OZPkcB0uUrjxtz7oLQs1pJc8INu3p7dCtUb1oLQ6KKnDAyycpr025kiZLxoMpaueib7rUbPJ5uNPyp8tbTIUH-liM_RNatutiTQJRwSMxCEAPouZqG/s1600/Day12.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTZFKTHN91-aR3uRf_6NHjr2c9l_OZPkcB0uUrjxtz7oLQs1pJc8INu3p7dCtUb1oLQ6KKnDAyycpr025kiZLxoMpaueib7rUbPJ5uNPyp8tbTIUH-liM_RNatutiTQJRwSMxCEAPouZqG/s200/Day12.png" width="200" /></a><em style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“Our chief want is someone who will inspire us to be what we know we could be.”</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px;"> — Ralph Waldo Emerson</span><br />
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Your Outcome:</strong> Become a “productive artist.” Find whether you are a “starter” or a “finisher” and improve your success in everything you do.</div>
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Some people are natural “starters.” They live for the creative beginning of projects, but not the day-to-day execution or the detailed follow up and follow through. Some people are natural “finishers.” They like the day-to-day work and the routine execution. When “starters” and “finishers” pair up, everybody wins.</div>
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Welcome to <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">day 12</strong> of 30 Days of Getting Results. In <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">day 11</strong>, we learned how to reduce friction and create glide paths for your day. Today, we learn how to figure out our strengths and weaknesses when it comes to productivity using <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Productivity personas</strong>. The beauty is that you can <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Productivity personas</strong> to get a better lens on yourself, your situation, or people you work with. With this lens, you can be more effective and get better results in any situation, whether it’s a one-man band or part of a team.</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Starters and Finishers</strong><br />
One of my friends is great at starting things. Just don’t expect him to finish. He would light a lot of fires in a lot of places and then he’d be on to his next big idea. Trust me, unless you want to just fade away, you want fire starters around. They light things up and create value and possibilities out of thin air. <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">He’s a natural “starter.”</strong></div>
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Another one of my friends is great at finishing things. He is a master at knowing the details and being complete. Words that come to mind are “thorough,” “attention to detail,” “responsible,” “sees things through,” … you get the idea. What he lacks in getting things started, he makes up for in bringing things to close and going the last mile. <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">He is a “finisher” at heart</strong>.</div>
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When a starter and finisher pair up … look out. Great things happen. The fastest way to suck your life force out of anyone is to always play the “finisher” role when you’re a starter, or always play a starter role when you’re a finisher.</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Why Productivity Personas</strong><br />
Your personal success at getting results is clearly a place where a little knowledge goes a long way. By adding the lens of <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Productivity Personas</strong> to your tool belt, you will be better equipped to deal with any productivity issue, whether it’s for yourself, helping a friend, or leading a team.</div>
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If you’re feeling drained or like you’re spinning your wheels or simply not making the impact you know you can make, this might just be your ticket to faster, simpler, and better results.</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">3 Ways to Use Productivity Personas</strong><br />
Here are three ways you can use the <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Productivity Personas</strong> to your advantage:</div>
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<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Know Yourself</strong>. Use the <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Productivity Personas</strong> to know yourself. If you’re aware of the personas, you can use them to your advantage. For example, don’t let your inner <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Critic</strong> or <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Perfectionist</strong> get in the way of your <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Doer</strong>. Ask yourself, <em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“When am I at my best? Am I more of a Starter or a Finisher? Am I more of a Maximizer or a Simplifier? Am I more of a Thinker or a Doer?”</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Team Up</strong>. Use the <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Productivity Personas</strong> to pair up with other people and improve your own effectiveness. You can also use the <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Productivity Personas</strong> to create more effective teams or to optimize teamwork. Ask yourself, <em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“Who can I team up with to get results? How can I build more effective teams? Who should be paired up on the team for best results?”</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Improve the Situation</strong>. You can imagine how some behaviors work better with others and how some can create conflict. Swap out for more effective personas based on the scenario. For example, if you really need a <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Starter</strong> for the situation, but you can’t break out of <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Finisher</strong> mode, then see if you can find somebody who can play the role. Ask yourself, <em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“What are the best behaviors for the situation?”</em></li>
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Remember to use the <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Productivity Personas</strong> as a lens. The labels are for behaviors, not for limiting or boxing in personalities. Anybody can demonstrate any of the behaviors at any time.</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Productivity Personas at a Glance</strong><br />
“Starter” and “finisher” are just one lens. Here are some additional <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Productivity Personas</strong> to give you some more lenses:</div>
<table border="1" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><tbody style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<tr style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><th style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Persona</th><th style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Notes</th></tr>
<tr style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" valign="top"><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Starter</strong></td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Starts things but doesn’t always finish. Their energy comes from thinking up new ideas and kicking things off. Love prototyping an idea, but once they’ve figured it out, they’re ready to move on to something else.</td></tr>
<tr style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" valign="top"><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Finisher</strong></td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Brings things to closure. Effective finishers, complete things and move on. Is a fit and finish type of person. It’s finished when they say it’s finished.</td></tr>
<tr style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" valign="top"><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Thinker</strong></td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Is an “ideas” person. Thinking is what they do best. Analysis is their game, but doing is somebody else’s game. They don’t have to act on their thoughts to enjoy them.</td></tr>
<tr style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" valign="top"><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Doer</strong></td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Does their job. They tend to get their job done. They may not come up with new ideas, but they have a preference for taking action.</td></tr>
<tr style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" valign="top"><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Simplifier</strong></td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Finds the simplest path. Strips things down to the minimum. Good enough for now is OK in their book.</td></tr>
<tr style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" valign="top"><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Maximizer</strong></td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Finds the maximum impact.</td></tr>
<tr style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" valign="top"><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Critic</strong></td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Finds the faults. They’ll find ways why you can’t or why it’s wrong. They’ll critique themselves, their work, or their ideas. Anything is fair game.</td></tr>
<tr style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" valign="top"><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Can Do</strong></td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Finds a way. Where there’s a will, there’s a way, and they’ll find it. It may not be the optimal solution, but they’ll find a workaround.</td></tr>
<tr style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" valign="top"><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Opportunist</strong></td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Finds the opportunity in any situation.</td></tr>
<tr style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" valign="top"><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Perfectionist</strong></td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Treats everything like a work of art. Quality is their name, finishing isn’t their game. They’ll be done when it’s done. It will be done just as soon as it’s perfect. Whenever that is.</td></tr>
<tr style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" valign="top"><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Details</strong></td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Loves the details and will want to see things through. Dots the i’s and crosses the t’s. They’re passionate about spreadsheets.</td></tr>
<tr style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" valign="top"><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Big Picture</strong></td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Sees the forest from the trees. Likes the big ideas and doesn’t want to get lost in the minutia.</td></tr>
<tr style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" valign="top"><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Facts and Figure</strong><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">s</em></td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Is a numbers person. They want quantifiable measurements. Like Details, they too like spreadsheets.</td></tr>
<tr style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" valign="top"><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Controller</strong></td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Likes to control things. This could be the Doers, the project, or their world.</td></tr>
<tr style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" valign="top"><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Tinkerer</strong></td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Likes to tinker. The world is their sandbox. Dabbles here, dabbles there.</td></tr>
<tr style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" valign="top"><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Marketer</strong></td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Communicates the value. Knows how to sell ideas.</td></tr>
<tr style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" valign="top"><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Achiever</strong></td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Likes to accomplish things.</td></tr>
<tr style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" valign="top"><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Randomizer</strong></td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Turns their latest priority into other people’s problems.</td></tr>
<tr style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" valign="top"><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Daydreamer</strong></td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Likes to dream up better ways for better days. They’d rather dream than do. They don’t have to act on their dreams to enjoy them.</td></tr>
<tr style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" valign="top"><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Procrastinator</strong></td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Finds way to put off to tomorrow, what they really should do today. They only send belated birthday cards since they know they’ll never send them out on time.</td></tr>
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Simply familiarize yourself with some of the various <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Productivity Personas</strong> so they can help you when you need to make sense of a productivity challenge or scenario, as well as to learn more about yourself. The key is to be aware of the preferences, for yourself and others, and to choose more effective behaviors as well as to optimize yourself and others in any situation.</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Your Assignment</strong></div>
<ol style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Identify your natural preferences in terms of a “starter” or “finisher.”</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Identify the most common <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Productivity Personas</strong> or roles that you play in your day to day.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Find one simple thing you can do to complement your natural productivity pattern.</li>
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<em style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Photo by </em><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/iamagenious/" style="background-color: white; color: #3c78a7; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">permanently scatterbrained</em></a><em style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">.</em>
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J.D. Meierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02678290889994566788noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6670536641670524825.post-19491524160975385252012-07-18T22:37:00.000-07:002012-08-13T17:52:08.513-07:00Day 13 – Triage Your Action Items with Skill<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtBmH0x5KwMpJSut6PbQqvOgy0fRQxDwNte4pfXCcQVKiMif3OYYVaDNkWioXzjtomFj3HCIekmxQwfiMItYuyfDd8EHecdLXQ39bM0KXVI5E8O66Ao1AroAz8XRWNlCrgJx5iSVnhZQ1f/s1600/Day13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtBmH0x5KwMpJSut6PbQqvOgy0fRQxDwNte4pfXCcQVKiMif3OYYVaDNkWioXzjtomFj3HCIekmxQwfiMItYuyfDd8EHecdLXQ39bM0KXVI5E8O66Ao1AroAz8XRWNlCrgJx5iSVnhZQ1f/s200/Day13.jpg" width="200" /></a><em style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.”</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px;"> — Theodore Roosevelt</span><br />
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Your Outcome</strong>: Learn how to deal with a barrage of incoming action items and demands on your time.</div>
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Welcome to <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">day 13</strong> of 30 Days of Getting Results. In <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">day 12</strong>, we learned how to use Productivity Personas to analyze and improve our results in any situation. Today, we learn how to “triage” an overflowing plate of action items and tasks.<br />
<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Triage is a Healthy Process of Sorting, Sifting, and Selecting</strong></div>
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“Triage” is a process of sorting, sifting and selecting what to work on. You might have heard about doctors “triaging” their incoming patients in emergency settings. When I first joined Microsoft, “Triage” was a common practice our team used to deal with our incoming issues. It helped us sort our backlogs and queues of issues into more meaningful buckets. We couldn’t just do everything at once and we couldn’t keep up with our flow of incoming requests. Triaging helped us more effectively make the most of our time, energy, and resources we had on hand at the moment against our incoming actions.</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Triage in Practice</strong><br />
I’ve used triage successfully to deal with everything from dealing with email, to dealing with a flood of incoming tasks, to <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">dealing with aging backlogs of action items</strong>, both at the personal, and the team level. When I lead a distributed team, I use email triage as an ad hoc and lightweight way to get the team’s eyeballs quickly focused on an issue. I’ve also used triage to clear my email inbox and to keep my email at zero inbox for years, and I’ve shown many others, including teams around Microsoft, to do the same (and we have a lot of email at Microsoft.) I affectionately call this approach, The Zen of Zero Mail.</div>
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For things that you need to act on, prioritize, or get off your plate, “triage” is a healthy process of sorting and selecting in a mindful way.</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Do It, Queue It, Schedule It, or Delegate It</strong><br />
You can triage an incoming action item to either do it, queue it, schedule it, or delegate it:</div>
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<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Do It</strong> – Do it if now is the time: it’s the next best thing for you to do; now is the most opportunistic time; or it will cost you more pain, time or effort to do it later.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Queue It</strong> – Queue it, by adding it to your queue if it’s something you need to get done, but now is not the right time. A queue is simply a list of action items.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Schedule It</strong> – Schedule it by adding it to your calendar if you need a block of time to get the work done. Only add things to your calendar if you truly need a reminder or if you really need to block off a chunk of time to work on it. Remember that if you schedule it, it will happen, but if you don’t, it won’t. If it’s really important, then make time for it. If it’s just something to do “later,” and it won’t really happen, then justlet it go with skill.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Delegate It</strong> – Delegate it if it’s something that should be done by somebody else and it makes sense to do so, and you have that option. When you delegate, try to match it to another person’s learning opportunity or passion. (There’s a difference between delegating and dumping.)</li>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">3 Steps to Triaging Your Action Items</strong><br />
Here are three steps for triaging your stack of action items:</div>
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<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Consolidate your action items</strong>. Dealing with them in a batch really shows the benefit of this approach, because you can quickly whack your stack down to size.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Triage each item</strong>. For each item, determine what the best plan of attack is: Do It, Queue It, Schedule It, or Delegate It.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Repeat the process</strong>. Repeat the process until you have a manageable set of actions and you feel that things are appropriately in the right places, either in your list of actions, your queue, or your schedule, or off your plate. If you end up spending too much time triaging, and not enough time doing, then establish a timebox or time limit to pace yourself and to know when to stop.</li>
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Really what you’re doing is setting the stage for your success. By having a time for things, and having them on your calendar or in your queue, you can focus on what you have in front of you with more confidence, clarity, and conviction, knowing that you’re making the most of what you’ve got. You can also more effectively prioritize with MUST, SHOULD, and COULD.</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Questions to Help Guide You</strong><br />
Here are some questions I find useful as a checkpoint:</div>
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<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">What do you want to accomplish?</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Does it matter?</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">How important is it?</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">What’s the impact?</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">What’s the next best thing to do?</em></li>
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You can always check your actions against the bigger picture and what you want to accomplish: This is just a starting point and you’ll want to create and test your own questions to see what works for you.</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Putting It All Together</strong><br />
Let’s take a quick step back and do a rundown of what you’ve learned so far during 30 Days of Getting Results and how this fits in:</div>
<ol style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">You can use </em><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">The Rule of 3</em><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> to avoid getting overwhelmed.</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">You’re the author of your life and you can write your story forward, one moment or one day at a time</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">You can </em><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">use three stories to drive your day</em><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> and and light up your day by connecting to your values (</em><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Daily Outcomes</em><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">).</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">On Mondays, you can </em><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">use three stories to drive your week</em><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> (</em><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Monday Vision</em><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">).</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">On Fridays, you can use </em><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Friday Reflection</em><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> to celebrate your wins and find your personal success patterns.</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">You can </em><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">map out what’s important in your life using Hot Spots</em><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> to create a meaningful map.</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">You can </em><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">let things slough off with skill</em><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> … no more straws breaking the camel’s back .</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">You can create space in your life to renew and recharge by </em><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">setting up boundaries and buffers</em><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">.</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">You can </em><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">dump your brain to free up your mind</em><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">.</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">You can </em><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">prioritize more effectively by using MUST, SHOULD, and COULD</em><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">.</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">You can </em><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">feel strong all week long</em><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> by spending more time in your strengths and less time in your weaknesses.</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">You can </em><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">establish glide-paths to simplify your day</em><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> and make your routines friction free.</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">You can analyze and be more productive in any scenario using </em><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">productivity personas</em><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">.</em></li>
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By adding triaging to your belt, you now have <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">a simple mental model for dealing with incoming action items</strong>more effectively.</div>
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Agile Results is <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">a simple system for meaningful results</strong> that you can use to support you for the rest of your life, no matter what you do. The beauty is not just that it’s simple or that it’s proven … it’s that <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">each day you get a new chance at bat – a fresh start</strong>. Each day you wake up is another chance to ask the question,<em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“What are three things you want for today?”</em> … and so you <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">write your story forward, one day at a time.</strong></div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Today’s Assignment</strong></div>
<ol style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">When an incoming action item comes your way, triage it and decide whether to <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Do It</strong>, <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Queue It</strong>,<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Schedule It</strong>, or <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Delegate It</strong>.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Triage one of your stacks of things to do to whack it down to size.</li>
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J.D. Meierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02678290889994566788noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6670536641670524825.post-56936407188257001842012-07-17T22:39:00.000-07:002012-08-13T17:52:44.548-07:00Day 16 – Use Metaphors to Find Your Motivation<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit5hPO79QpdVQIeFwtL40PB_QpO2RdaPtVQOZTJyc-CI2Gd40bIrfG5V7HXzR_HWpmmvbi2DZGX_RbuJGZihVMnCWVwg7T3Q7w98oELmivB-q5tqHyy1_xi2o5A-cHkglZ6Uuuww6QgfWs/s1600/Day16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit5hPO79QpdVQIeFwtL40PB_QpO2RdaPtVQOZTJyc-CI2Gd40bIrfG5V7HXzR_HWpmmvbi2DZGX_RbuJGZihVMnCWVwg7T3Q7w98oELmivB-q5tqHyy1_xi2o5A-cHkglZ6Uuuww6QgfWs/s200/Day16.jpg" width="200" /></a><em style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“To different minds, the same world is a hell, and a heaven.”</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px;"> – Ralph Waldo Emerson</span><br />
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Your Outcome</strong>: Find the metaphors that empower your for your best results in work and life. Use inspiring metaphors to make meaning and enjoy the journey and your destination. This is your way to get “on your path” or “back on your horse” or “get up to bat” and make the most of what you’ve got.</div>
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Welcome to <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">day 16</strong> of 30 Days of Getting Results. In <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">day 15</strong>, we learned how to achieve a peaceful calm state of mind. Today, we learn how to use metaphors to find our motivation and drive. Metaphors are a simple way to add juice to your life. By using metaphors, you can empower yourself more effectively, and <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">create more meaningful and compelling situations</strong> and circumstances. When you use metaphors that connect to your values, you find ways to turn ordinary situations into extraordinary situations. For example, I don’t drive a project, I “lead an epic adventure.” Adventure is one of my values, so I try and connect to it wherever I can.</div>
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<em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">In your life, it’s your story and you are the director. You choose what to point your camera at and the meaning you’ll make. Metaphors help you shape your story.</em></div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Why Metaphors</strong><br />
It’s about language and the pictures we hold in our minds. Creating a vision and holding it in our heads will tend to steer us <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">towards the emotions and feelings</strong> that we associate with such a picture. Whether or not the picture is an accurate representation of what we are relating it to, we tend to create that picture anyway – and the emotions that go along with it. It therefore has a tendency to become reality, at least on an emotional level. The bottom line is, <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">metaphors shape your overall experience</strong>, filter what you perceive, and influence how you make meaning. You are the most important meaning maker (and perhaps not always the best, especially if it’s by default and not by design). Choose your metaphors thoughtfully; here’s why:</div>
<ol style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">They shape your experience.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">They empower you to change how you think and feel (and your thinking and feeling impact your doing).</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">They help you make meaning.</li>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Example Metaphors</strong><br />
Here are some common metaphors:</div>
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<tr style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><th style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Positive Metaphors</th><th style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Negative Metaphors</th></tr>
<tr style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><ul style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Chipping away at the stone</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Expedition</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Eye of the tiger</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Grab the bull by the horns</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Mission</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Your ship has come in</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Your ship is sailing and you’re on it</li>
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</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><ul style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Hitting a wall</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Life sucks then you die</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Swimming upstream</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">That ship has sailed</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Up the stream without a paddle</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Uphill battle</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">You’re on your own</li>
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Whether a metaphor is positive or negative is up to you. For example, most people would probably think of an uphill battle as negative. Then again, some people <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">might like the challenge</strong>. Ultimately, it’s your context and how you think about a particular metaphor that decides whether it’s positive or negative.</div>
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You can use metaphors for yourself and for life.</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Metaphors for You</strong><br />
You can use metaphors for who you are or what you do, as a simple way to shape your experience, or to help others make sense of what you do. Here are some examples:</div>
<ul style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">I’m a survivor</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">I’m a lover</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">I’m a fighter</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">I’m a healer</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">I’m a teddy bear</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">I’m a lion</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">I’m a bull</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">I’m a peaceful warrior</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">I’m a truth seeker</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">I’m a mentor</em></li>
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Contrast that some of some disempowering or negative metaphors. You can use metaphors to more purposefully shape the experiences you want to create. For example … Are you an “old dog” or a “lifelong learner” or “forever young” or “young at heart” or do you “age like a fine wine” and get better with age? The choice is yours.</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Metaphors for Life</strong><br />
Your metaphor for life has a big impact on your day to day experience. Your metaphor for life shapes your day-to-day experience in simple but profound ways. Consider some examples:</div>
<ul style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Life’s a game</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Life’s a dance</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Life’s magic</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Life’s a tragedy</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Life’s an adventure</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Life’s a comedy</em></li>
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If you see life as a tragedy, it becomes one. If you see life as a game, you might try and find out how to win. If life is a comedy, then maybe everyday is like your favorite sitcom. If life is a dance, maybe you find ways to see grace or beauty in yourself and others. If life is magic, then you find the wonder in the world and you enjoy seeking out mystery and possibility.</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Key Take Aways</strong><br />
Here are key take aways to help you use metaphors to find your motivation:</div>
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<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Metaphors shape your experience.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Metaphors can be a simple way to empower yourself.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Choose the metaphors that work for you.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">You can find a metaphor for yourself and for life.</li>
</ol>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Today’s Assignment</strong></div>
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<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Find an empowering metaphor for your situation or circumstance.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Find an empowering metaphor for yourself or what you do.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Find an empowering metaphor for life.</li>
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Remember that the key to a successful metaphor is that it motivates you and helps you respond to any challenge that comes your way or succeed at whatever you do. It’s not whether it makes sense, it’s how it makes you feel and the results you get. Measure and test your metaphors against personal effectiveness as your ultimate yardstick.</div>
J.D. Meierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02678290889994566788noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6670536641670524825.post-76987438177472485522012-07-17T22:38:00.000-07:002012-08-13T17:52:21.316-07:00Day 14 – Carve Out Time for What’s Important<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHYxd9inCsvD53JmAPm5pXKTpXIu7q10P5FllEiN1EbJUgv7M6TcKBHA4RgnhDhNTHeiDV3y5-YC9Cmltyfjx-jOxCB0umuOAaLFM7utEK5mMcB0FJvLHUNqRK-mHSXxHzvw_sbRFK4BiX/s1600/Day14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHYxd9inCsvD53JmAPm5pXKTpXIu7q10P5FllEiN1EbJUgv7M6TcKBHA4RgnhDhNTHeiDV3y5-YC9Cmltyfjx-jOxCB0umuOAaLFM7utEK5mMcB0FJvLHUNqRK-mHSXxHzvw_sbRFK4BiX/s200/Day14.jpg" width="200" /></a><em style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“Things which matter most, should never be at the mercy of things which matter least.”</em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px;">– Goethe</span><br />
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Your Outcome:</strong> Make time for what’s important. Spend more time in what really matters in YOUR life, and spend less time in what does not. As one of my friend’s puts it, “time is all we have.”</div>
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Welcome to <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">day 14</strong> of 30 Days of Getting Results, a series of posts where I share with you the art and science of getting more effective results from my book, <a href="http://gettingresults.com/" style="color: #3c78a7; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Getting Results the Agile Way</a> . In <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">day 13</strong>, we learned how to triage our action items with skill to chop our backlogs or overflowing plates down to size. Today, we learn a vital key to successful and effective time management. We learn how to make time for what really matters in our life, a day at a time and a moment at a time.</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">A Lesson in Life for the Best of Your Life</strong>One of the most crucial lessons in life that many people learn the hard way is this:</div>
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<em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">You don’t have time, you make time. If you don’t make time for what’s important, it doesn’t happen.</em></div>
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You’ll never get off the treadmill or stop treading water, <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">unless you decide to</strong>. And that’s what this series of posts is all about … helping you get results, enjoy the journey, and make the most of what you’ve got … with skill (versus just hoping for the best or trying harder or wishful thinking.)</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Put in the Big Rocks First</strong><br />
This is a story I first heard from Stephen Covey a long time back that really stuck out for me. As the story goes, a teacher fills a jar with rocks until no more would fit. He then asks the class, “Is the jar is full?” The class says, “Yes.” The teacher reaches under the table, pulls out some gravel, and adds the gravel to the jar. The gravel fills the spaces between the rocks. The teacher asks again, “Is the jar full?” Some nod their head. The teacher then adds sand to the jar filling up the remaining spaces. The teacher asks, “Is the jar full?”</div>
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The class is on to him now and says, “No.” “Good,” the teacher replies, and he proceeds to pour water into the jar until it’s filled to the brim. The teacher asks, “What’s the point of this illustration?” One of the students replies that no matter how full your schedule is, you can always fit more things in. ”No,” the teacher responds. The point is this:</div>
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<em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">If you don’t make room for the big rocks, you’ll never fit them in.</em></div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Make Room for Your Big Rocks Today, Each Day</strong><br />
This is where The Rule of 3 helps. Are you spending the right amount of time today on those three results or stories that you want to accomplish? The default pattern is to try and fit them in with all your existing routines. A more powerful approach is to <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">make time for your three results today</strong> <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">and optimize around that</strong>.</div>
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This might mean disrupting other habits and routines you have, but this is a good thing. The more you get in the habit of making time for what’s important, the more you’ll get the results you want. If you’re not getting the results you want you can start <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">asking better questions</strong>. For example, are you investing enough time? Are you investing the right energy? Maybe the approach is off.</div>
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Just maybe, a different thing happens. Maybe you start accomplishing the results you *thought* you wanted, but you don’t like what you get. The grass is NOT always greener. Now you can step back and ask whether you’re choosing the right outcomes or stories for <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">what YOU really want or really need</strong> in your life right now.</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">What are You Rushing Through For?</strong><br />
Covey teaches us, be efficient with things, but effective with people. Whenever I see somebody rushing through something or it feels like it’s a drive by dump or exchange, I have to ask:</div>
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<em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">““What are you rushing through for?” …</em></div>
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Sometimes it’s because people are late. Sometimes it’s because they are more focused on the goal, than the journey. A lot of times, it’s because they simply didn’t allow themselves to be here now, where <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">this moment is the one that really counts</strong>.</div>
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It doesn’t mean being slow, unless slow makes sense for the situation. In fact, I can’t help but to think of John Wooden’s saying, “Be quick – but don’t hurry!” For me, it reminds me to <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">be deliberate and mindful</strong> on how I pace myself. I can be quick without haste or rushing through things, as if something else is always more important, somewhere else.</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">3 Ways to Carve Out Time for What’s Important</strong><br />
Take the time to step back and reflect on where you spend your time on a regular basis. Here are three ways to make time for what’s important:</div>
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<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Reset your day</strong>. You can do a reset for your day by stepping back and asking yourself, “What three results do I want for today?” For example, one of my outcomes today is, “Enjoy the nice day outside.” I’m not going to let something else get in the way of missing our fleeting sunny Summer days.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Reset your schedule</strong>. You can do a reset for the week by stepping back and asking yourself, “What three results do I want for this week?” … or “What three stories do I want to light up in my life or make happen for the week?” You can then fit everything else around that. You can also simply check whether you’ve made enough time in your schedule on a weekly basis for the things that really count, for you, in your life right now. It’s not all-or-nothing, and there’s always a way to spend a little more time here, and a little less there, but you might have to get creative. If you get stuck here, pair up with somebody and ask for their help … you might be surprised how this simple act gives you clarity on your calendar, and how another pair of eyes can really shine the light on ways to get more of what you want.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Invest in your Hot Spots</strong>. However you define your Hot Spots (mind, body, emotions, career, financial, relationships, and fun), you can very deliberately map out what’s important in your life, and you can deliberately invest in your Hot Spots. I found the single most important factor here is to make time on my weekly schedule for my Hot Spots. If I’m not getting enough time in a bucket, then I schedule more time. If I’m putting too much time into one bucket, and not another, then I adjust it. Once I have enough time in the right buckets, then I make sure I’m investing my best energy and best mindset. I never want to be in a scenario where I’m always rushing through, because I didn’t make time for it.</li>
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And, of course, you can always simply ask yourself, “What are you rushing through for?” and do a reset, at any moment, at any time.</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Today’s Assignment</strong></div>
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<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Make time TODAY for something you really want to spend more time in, that’s important for you. Maybe it’s as simple as feeding the ducks. Maybe it’s spending time with an old friend. Maybe it’s spending more time learning about <a href="http://gettingresults.com/" style="color: #3c78a7; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Getting Results the Agile Way</a> <img alt=":)" class="wp-smiley" src="http://sourcesofinsight.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 2px; padding-right: 2px; padding-top: 2px;" /> Who’s to judge? You’re the judge. Just remember, you’re the one that lives with the consequences of how you choose to spend your time … each moment, each day, every day. Be the author of your life, and write your story forward. No regrets, just choosing your own adventure from here forward.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Step back and ask the tough question, “What are you rushing through for? If the answer is nothing, then just kick back and enjoy doing whatever you’re doing right here, right now.</li>
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J.D. Meierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02678290889994566788noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6670536641670524825.post-38770511951744438512012-07-16T22:40:00.000-07:002012-08-13T17:53:09.802-07:00Day 17 – Add Power Hours to Your Week<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0KO1cQ2R84BbpFCvn_fkX5KlY4JqyHyNXgZdYymYm41W4G7d4ozSUsRaOqn8UsmwIKhPkJptbckkufJL7DKoHR1iz-hxuFVna0rcQNgujKpEE8G10z6ADhV3uKm5bGCaES50Ly_ZUdM5n/s1600/Day17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0KO1cQ2R84BbpFCvn_fkX5KlY4JqyHyNXgZdYymYm41W4G7d4ozSUsRaOqn8UsmwIKhPkJptbckkufJL7DKoHR1iz-hxuFVna0rcQNgujKpEE8G10z6ADhV3uKm5bGCaES50Ly_ZUdM5n/s320/Day17.jpg" width="224" /></a><em style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“The energy of the mind is the essence of life.”</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px;"> — Aristotle</span><br />
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Your Outcome:</strong> Add <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Power Hours</strong> to your week and use your best energy for your best results. By guarding your peak hours throughout the day, and applying them where you need it most, you dramatically improve your ability to achieve faster, better, and easier results.</div>
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Welcome to <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">day 17</strong> of 30 Days of Getting Results based on my book, <a href="http://gettingresults.com/" style="color: #3c78a7; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Getting Results the Agile Way</a>. In <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">day 16</strong>, we learned how to use metaphors to find our motivation. Today, we learn how to increase the number of power hours we have throughout the week. By adding <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Power Hours</strong>, we keep our energy strong and we achieve more than would normally be possible.</div>
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Out of your week, how many hours are hours where you actually feel like you are on top of your game and getting your work done or making your ideas happen? Many people I know get the bulk of their work done in a short period of time. They have to. They only have a few uninterrupted hours where they can fully focus and produce their results. They’ve mastered their <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Power Hours</strong>.</div>
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<em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">The beauty of the <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Power Hour</strong> is that It’s a small block of time. It’s YOUR peak hour and it’s YOUR force multiplier. You can deliberately turn more of your hours, into your peak hours to multiply your results.</em></div>
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If you’re already working on the right things, the right way, I can’t think of any stronger multiplier to your day than using your best energy to amplify your results.</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">3 Keys to Results</strong><br />
Here is a simple mental model for thinking about how you can impact your results:<br />
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Basically, you can throw more time at something, or you can change your approach or your technique, or you can change the energy or effort you apply. The key is to spend the right time, on the right things, the right way, with the right energy. That’s the true secret of faster, simpler, easier results.</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Power Hours are Your Peak Hours</strong><br />
A <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Power Hour</strong> is simply an hour where you are “in the zone” and at your best. It’s a term I heard often while growing up, whether it was somebody having a “power hour” when they worked out, or having a “power hour” on the job. On the job, a “power hour” meant that you are firing on all cylinders, clearing hurdles with ease, and plowing through your work in an unstoppable way, with energy and zest.</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Why Power Hours</strong><br />
Not all hours are created equal. Some hours are better than others throughout the week. There are many reasons to add more Power Hours to your week, but here are a few:</div>
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<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Power Hours are the key to exponential results</strong> They are your force multiplier. I’d rather have four Power Hours, than forty non-peak hours.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Power Hours are exclusively yours</strong>. They are your peak hours. Your batteries are charged and you are ready to go.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Power Hours refuel you</strong>. They help you renew, refuel, and build momentum throughout your day and throughout your week.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Power Hours help you conquer your mountains</strong>. They help you blast through your work or better deal with your worst hurdles or challenges in work and life.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Power Hours are the secret to working less</strong>. They are the key to working less, while achieving more.</li>
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The main reason to add <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Power Hours</strong> to your week is to get leverage from the time and energy you already spend. If you’ve ever thrown time at your problems, or had your work feel like it stretches on and on, or you’ve gone through the motions but didn’t feel like you were getting anywhere, then you know exactly why you need to add more <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Power Hours</strong> to your week.</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">3 Steps to Adding Power Hours to Your Week</strong><br />
Here are three ways you can add Power Hours to your week:</div>
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<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Step 1. Find the Power Hours you already have</strong>. We all have them. Some of our hours are way more effective than others or we feel way more alert and alive. Simply identify throughout the week, which hours are the hours where you feel you are at your best, and you could do your best work. Don’t confuse this with when do you actually do your work. This is like knowing when you feel hungry versus when do you actually eat. In this case, simply identify your best hours of energy in the week.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Step 2. Guard your Power Hours</strong>. Find ways to block of your Power Hours as if your life depended on it. In fact, your livelihood might depend on it. Now that you’ve actually identified when your <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Power Hours</strong> are, protect them so that you can spend them where you need it most. What some people do is they create appointments with themselves. They stop setting up meetings with other people during those times. They push back on meeting requests for those times. Simply by protecting the Power Hours that you already have is the fastest way to add <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Power Hours</strong> to your week (or, to put it another way, it’s how not to ruin the your peak hours.)</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Step 3. Spend More Time in Your Strengths</strong>. You can add <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Power Hours </strong>by shuffling your schedule around to spend more time in your strengths. For example, I deliberately added activities like brainstorming or having lunch with my mentors as weekly routines to add more <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Power Hours</strong> to my day. </li>
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When I first counted up my <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Power Hours</strong> for the week several years back, I found I had around four. I was pretty upset until I checked with other people and found out they were lucky if they had that. I can happily say that by deliberately focusing on adding <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Power Hours</strong> to my week, I have a minimum of four <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Power Hours</strong> per day. This helps me achieve a lot more with less time, and spend my best energy where I need it most. This was my key for exponential results.</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Today’s Assignment</strong></div>
<ol style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Identify your current Power Hours for the week. Find the recurring rhythms and patterns. It might be just before breakfast or right after, or maybe it’s after lunch. Look to where you feel your best during the day.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Guard your power hours. Find a way to free those Power Hours back up so that you can use them either for getting your work done or making your ideas happen or blasting through barriers.</li>
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J.D. Meierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02678290889994566788noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6670536641670524825.post-56664541324682114622012-07-16T22:39:00.000-07:002012-08-13T17:52:30.738-07:00Day 15 – Achieve a Peaceful Calm State of Mind<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVbvgd_6nH1pzlx0G81uqjHp64ANpmvmNVOE2Y_noQ-LexF4j1HCFKH2vEU4yO9qW_4TJgKLGjyiZkHnoL3svpH5pC4dYLNw5dh8HZKgySSK5k6eO3TdoyzprKgdaAVc6kQu-WDi3KcCpp/s1600/Day15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVbvgd_6nH1pzlx0G81uqjHp64ANpmvmNVOE2Y_noQ-LexF4j1HCFKH2vEU4yO9qW_4TJgKLGjyiZkHnoL3svpH5pC4dYLNw5dh8HZKgySSK5k6eO3TdoyzprKgdaAVc6kQu-WDi3KcCpp/s200/Day15.jpg" width="200" /></a><em style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“After a storm comes a calm.”</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px;"> — Matthew Henry</span><br />
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Your Outcome:</strong> Quiet the buzz in your mind. Achieve a “peaceful calm” state of mind that is relaxed, responsive, and ready.</div>
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Welcome to <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">day 15</strong> of 30 Days of Getting Results, a series of posts where I share with you a simple system for meaningful results from my book,<a href="http://gettingresults.com/" style="color: #3c78a7; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Getting Results the Agile Way</a>. In <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">day 14</strong>, we learned a key way to master time management by carving out time for what’s important. Today, we learn how to quiet our mind and achieve a “peaceful calm”. From this vantage point, you’ll see things with more clarity, you’ll feel “centered,” and you’ll think your best thoughts. You’ll also find it easier to quiet your mental chatter, and just be in the moment. You’ll direct your attention with skill.</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">A “Peaceful Calm” State of Mind</strong><br />
If you aren’t sure what it’s like to feel a peaceful calm, the best way I can describe it is it’s like looking out over the Grand Canyon for the first time. Your mind just takes it all in. There are no worries about the past, the present, or the future. Your mind is fully absorbed in the moment.</div>
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For that brief moment, your mind is captivated by the experience. Your mind is empty, but fully alert, fully aware, and not distracted by any mental chatter or any of your head movies. Instead of replaying scenes in your mind, you are the movie.</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Relaxed, Ready, and Resourceful</strong><br />
While the world might be a jungle, fight-or-flight mode can limit our best thinking. To think our best thoughts or create our best ideas, or solve our problems in the most resourceful way, we need to operate from a place that’s “centered” and serene.</div>
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When I think of “peaceful calm”, words that come to mind are: <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">tranquil</strong>, <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">centered</strong>, <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">serene</strong>, and <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">peaceful</strong>. I also think of a series of “R” words including <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">restful</strong>, <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">resourceful</strong>, <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">relaxed</strong>, <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">responsive</strong>, and <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">ready</strong>.<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></strong></div>
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<em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">An empty mind is a powerful one. It’s ready for action. It’s relaxed, ready, and responsive.</em></div>
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When your mind is relaxed, you can take in information with less distortion. You’re connected to your emotions, but rather than being overwhelmed or randomized, it’s more like using your emotions as input. When your mind is ready, you are responsive. You are able to easily see the situation and respond with skill instead of react out of fear or anxiety. When your mind is resourceful, you are able to easily think the thoughts that serve you. Your creative mind is ready to solve problems with you instead of work against you.</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">3 Ways to Achieve a Peaceful Calm</strong><br />
Here are three actionable things you can do to achieve a peaceful calm state of mind:</div>
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<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Dump your brain</strong>. Put it all down on paper. Just dump it all out. When it’s on paper, you can better decide what’s worth worrying about and what’s not. Otherwise, you’ll stew in your own juices.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Have a time and a place for things</strong>. Schedule a time for things that you really need to make time for. Simply by having a time for things or a place for things, you can free up your mind. If you know that your carved out an hour for worrying about your problem, than whenever it pops up, remind yourself that, “Now, is not the time” and more importantly, you have a specific time and a specific place for it. It’s when you don’t make time for things, that they will keep harassing you. You can also create a block of time to consolidate things and deal with them in a batch. One example is to schedule a worry break, where you can worry all you want, but only for a limited time. This way, whenever something to worry about comes up, instead of just saying you’ll worry about it later, you actually have an appointment!</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Change your focus.</strong> Direct your attention with skill. Don’t just tell yourself to think about something else. It doesn’t work. Instead, ask yourself a different question. You can change your focus by changing the question. For example, if your immediate response in a situation is to start figuring out everything that’s wrong with the situation, you might ask yourself, “What’s right with this situation?” If you find you get stuck in your head, ask yourself, “What did it feel like the first time I saw the Grand Canyon?” To experience a “peaceful calm” state of mind, you want to focus more on feeling, sensing, and experiencing, than on your mental chatter or analysis. It’s a balance and a blend of your senses and your mind, where your mind is empty of racing thoughts, mental chit chat, and worries about the past, present, or the future. It’s relaxed, ready, and responsive. Play around with the questions you ask yourself to find what works for you. One thing that works very easily for me is simply to remind myself to, “remember the feeling.” That’s a trigger for me to recall when my mind is in its best state.</li>
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One thing that I will point out is that if I don’t eat well and sleep well, that takes away from my “peaceful calm.” I’ve also noticed that if I have too much caffeine that takes away from my “peaceful calm” too. What happens is that my mind has to keep analyzing and making sense of that feeling from the caffeine in my body — is it the caffeine or is there something to be worried about. It’s a distracting loop.</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Additional Ways to Center Yourself and Achieve a Peaceful Calm</strong><br />
Here are some additional ways to help you achieve a peaceful state of calm:</div>
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<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Take away the threat</strong>. If there’s one thing that can keep eating at you, it’s the threats in your life. If you take away the threats, you solidify your foundation. You either have to decide what to do about it, or let it go, or decide it’s not how you’re going to live. One of the best ways to deal with a threat is to reframe it as a challenge and take the bull by the horns. Another way is to assume the worst case scenario and deal with it. For example, lets say your threat is losing your job. Then assume you’ll lose it, and make the preparations – get staffing companies on your side, build your network, and create a winning resume.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Make a map of what’s important</strong>. This simple step will add clarity for your mind and a place to focus your thoughts, when they might seem random or all over the board. Map out your priorities and outcomes.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Find your why</strong>. By finding your why, you simplify your life down to a driving purpose. It gives you a simple way to prioritize and evaluate what you will spend your time or your energy on.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Learn to pause</strong>. By taking a brief pause, you can respond over react. It will help you stay centered in more situations and respond more effectively. </li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Reset your mental model</strong>. Ask yourself, “Who do you want to be?” and “What experiences do you want to create?” Do you want to be running around like a chicken with its head cut off or do you want to show some self-control, confidence, clarity, and deliberate action? Simply by doing a reset, when you find yourself off-kilter, can help you center yourself with skill.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Focus on your breathing</strong>. You’d think we do this well, given how much we breathe all the time. Well, usually we don’t. It’s easy to get stressed and then breathe high and shallow instead of deep and full. If you want to center yourself, then focus on your breathing. Key tip – don’t treat it weird or act like it’s a magic ritual. Simply feel the flow of your breath in, down, and around, then back out. Pause when it’s fully in, and simply notice what a full, deep breath feels like. Simply enjoy your breath. Then have another, it’s on the house.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Visualize with skill</strong>. This is particularly effective if you tend to be very visual. You can simply recall some of your favorite scenery or scenes from your life, where you felt a “peaceful calm.” This will help you remember the feeling, and it will give your mind a quick way to focus on something that it already knows.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Remind yourself that things can always be worse</strong>. They really can. If you need examples, you can find them easily. Somebody is always worse off. If you adjust your frame of reference, this can help you keep things in your own life in better perspective. One thing that sticks out for me here is a line from Navy Seals try outs that goes like this, “The only easy day was yesterday.” And of course, yesterday, was an absolute nightmare … but by comparison, it’s a walk in the park.</li>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Today’s Assignment</strong></div>
<ol style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Get a good mental picture that you can use to get to your “peaceful calm”. Remember a time when your mind was at it’s most relaxed, ready, and resourceful state. Really get a good picture in your mind of this experience. Notice what it feels like. Walk your five senses one-by-one (site, hearing, touch, smell, taste): What do you see? … What do you hear? …What do you feel? … What do you smell? … What do you taste?” For example, if your image is on the beach, you might sea the waves lap against the shore, you might hear the seagulls, you might feel the sand between your toes and the warm sun on your shoulders, you might smell the boardwalk, and you might taste the salt in the air. Simply walking your senses will dramatically improve your ability to fully remember the feeling. The more you practice the better you get.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Write down everything that’s buzzing around in your brain. Whether it’s things that are bugging you or ideas that keep floating around. Just empty it and keep emptying it until you’ve got it all down. Breathe a sigh of relief. You’re looking at your mind on paper.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Make a time and a place for things. For the things that you really have to deal with, create an appointment with yourself, add it to your schedule, and whenever the issue comes up, reminder yourself that you have an appointment to “deal with it.”</li>
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J.D. Meierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02678290889994566788noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6670536641670524825.post-22851753230422026352012-07-15T22:40:00.000-07:002012-08-13T17:53:37.582-07:00Day 18 – Add Creative Hours to Your Week<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguM66Voh1Qx3p-dxlZQl62E9A0Yo8QuVc24gG3Jcbpe5oS6k_1vCYZxJsgWzSWuoIIxUDcosA0X43wBpfJccwk6QHLOFc8fu5FnL4PF34MmpdDya9uJ39XT0Szx8XVTGybFCBrtQx3vRjT/s1600/Day18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguM66Voh1Qx3p-dxlZQl62E9A0Yo8QuVc24gG3Jcbpe5oS6k_1vCYZxJsgWzSWuoIIxUDcosA0X43wBpfJccwk6QHLOFc8fu5FnL4PF34MmpdDya9uJ39XT0Szx8XVTGybFCBrtQx3vRjT/s200/Day18.jpg" width="200" /></a><em style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep.” -- </em><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px;">Scott Adams</span><br />
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Your Outcome</strong>: Add more <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Creative Hours</strong> to your week. Let your ideas and imagination come out to play, while you uncork your creative genius and flex your creative mind.</div>
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Welcome to <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">day 18</strong> of 30 Days of Getting Results based on my book, <a href="http://gettingresults.com/" style="color: #3c78a7; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Getting Results the Agile Way</a>. In <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">day 17</strong>, we learned how to add Power Hours to your week. Today, we learn how to add creative hours to our week. With our creative hours, we can innovate or think of new ideas or work on our creative art.</div>
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Just like adding <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Power Hours</strong>, you might benefit from adding more <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Creative Hours</strong> to your week. Count how many <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Creative Hours</strong> you have during the week. If it’s not enough, schedule more and set yourself up so that they truly are <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Creative Hours</strong>. If you’re the creative type, this will be especially important. If you don’t think of yourself as very creative, then simply think of these as free hours to let your mind wander and explore or reflect.</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Creative Hours are Your Free-Form Thinking</strong><br />
It’s those times when your mind feels free to explore ideas: creating new ideas from scratch, putting new ideas together, or simply reflecting. Your <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Creative Hours</strong> are really a state of mind—a state of daydreaming. It’s the mindset that’s important. Whereas your <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Power Hour</strong>s may be focused on results, your <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Creative Hours</strong> are focused on free-form thinking and exploration. You might find that <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Creative Hours</strong> are your perfect balance to <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Power Hours</strong>. You might also find that you thrive best when you add more <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Creative Hours</strong> to your week. Ultimately, you might find that your <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Power Hours</strong> free up time for your <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Creative Hours</strong>, or that your<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Creative Hours</strong> change the game and improve your <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Power Hours</strong>. Your power hours might also be how you leverage your ideas from your <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Creative Hours</strong>. Test your results.</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">3 Common Patterns for Your Mind at Work</strong><br />
For simplicity’s sake, let’s start by calling out three common patterns or modes of thinking:</div>
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<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Creative inspiration</strong>. Your creative juices are flowing. This is where your imagination runs wild and your ideas are free-flowing and you are full of creative inspiration. You’re able to think out of the box and ideas seem to come to you.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Thoughtful Task</strong>. Your brain is engaged and this is where you have to think your way through your activity. You are actively thinking and processing information and using your memory.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Routine Activity</strong>. Your brain does not have to be engaged. It’s a familiar or repetitive task that you can do without thinking. You just know what to do and you can just do it, without much mental intervention.</li>
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You can use these patterns as a lens to help you better identify when you are in your most creative state. Keep in mind that the nature of your work will influence your pattern.</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">3 Steps to Adding More Creative Hours to Your Week</strong><br />
Here are three ways to add more Creative Hours to your week:</div>
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<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Step 1. Protect the Creative Hours you already have.</strong> First identify the when you’re at your creative best throughout the week. You might find that your best hours for creativity follow certain routines or occur at repeatable times. For example, maybe your ride home from work puts you in a creative state.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Step 2. Create Space</strong>. You might need to add space in your schedule to give yourself room for imagination and creativity. For example, if you’re always rushing to make a deadline or always worried about what you have to do next, you might not be making enough space or downtime to experience your best creativity. You might need to create space in terms of time or create space in terms of location.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Step 3. Change up your routines</strong>. You might need to change your routines to find patterns that help you get into your creative mode more easily. For example, maybe by simply moving around some of your routines, you find that you suddenly experience more creative energy and your ideas flow on a more regular basis.</li>
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The key in all this is simply being more mindful of when you are at your creative best, and finding ways to experience more of your creative mindset by design instead of just lucking into it. Experiment and test to find what works for you.</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Experiment Between Morning Person and Night Owl</strong><br />
Some people find that they are more creative at night but are more productive during the day. Other people find they simply can’t be creative in certain situations or that they can’t be productive in others. Experiment between being a night owl and a morning person to <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">see which patterns work best for you</strong>. You might even find that these patterns switch, depending on the season. For example, you might prefer to be a night owl in the winter and a morning person in the summer.</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Today’s Assignment</strong></div>
<ol style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Identify your <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Creative Hours</strong>.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Create more space for your <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Creative Hours</strong>.</li>
</ol>
J.D. Meierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02678290889994566788noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6670536641670524825.post-68514513449841819892012-07-14T22:41:00.000-07:002012-08-13T17:53:59.605-07:00Day 19 – Who are You Doing it For?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrBjhuoEyWnz15V0mqz_WmuE0JCcEOyWpFA8SFLXoa3-31FiUKakcv9iREaFnDgIqnqMwxrh5UX939izeLeV-eoOhrQAdX7zvILPNDoRmejnpsr-XEYrb6ApVXu8jvBe18nTxD3ovqV4YY/s1600/Day19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrBjhuoEyWnz15V0mqz_WmuE0JCcEOyWpFA8SFLXoa3-31FiUKakcv9iREaFnDgIqnqMwxrh5UX939izeLeV-eoOhrQAdX7zvILPNDoRmejnpsr-XEYrb6ApVXu8jvBe18nTxD3ovqV4YY/s320/Day19.jpg" width="213" /></a><em style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“Beauty is altogether in the eye of the beholder.?”</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px;">— Lew Wallace</span><br />
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Your Outcome:</strong> Figure out who the things you do are really for. See how whether the work you do is actually “above the line” or “below the line” in terms of whether you’re getting ahead, or just treading water.</div>
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Welcome to <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">day 19</strong> of 30 Days of Getting Results. In <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">day 18</strong>, we learned how to add more creative hours to your week. Today, we learn how to get clarity on who the work we do is really for. With great clarity, comes great conviction. When you know who you are actually doing things for, you can check whether what you’re doing is really valued, or if there is something higher priority. You can then invest more of your time and energy in things that have more value. More importantly, <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">you can better map the value you create to what people actually care about, including yourself</strong>. When something you do is actually for you, make sure it’s what you really value. When something you do is for something else, make sure it’s what they really want or care about.</div>
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<em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">This one simple practice will help you avoid crossed-expectations with yourself and others</em>.</div>
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It will also help you avoid feeling underappreciated, and it will also help you actually flow more value for yourself and others on a regular basis. A little clarity goes a long way.</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">What Value Are You Delivering?</strong><br />
When you throw time and energy at things, look at it in terms of “value delivered” versus “activity performed”, and remember that value is in the eye of the beholder … whether it’s value to yourself, to your manager, for the company, or for the world.</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Value is in the Eye of the Beholder</strong><br />
One common pitfall is throwing a lot of time and effort at things, only to find that when you’re done, nobody cares. You need to figure out who you are really doing it for, and how valued it really is.</div>
<ul style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">If it’s for you, don’t expect appreciation</strong>. If it’s actually for you, that’s perfectly fine. You have to take care of your needs and wants, too. Just don’t expect others to appreciate it, since it’s not actually for them. If you keep feeling a lack of appreciation, then ask yourself, “Who was I really doing it for?” If it was actually for yourself, then figure out whether it was what you most cared about, or whether you could have invested the same time in something else and made more impact.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">If it’s for somebody else, find out how much they really care</strong>. If you were doing it for somebody else, ask them whether what you’re working on is really the most important thing to them, right now. Check with them! Whether it’s your customer or your partner or whoever, it’s easy to assume they should value it, just because you do, or because you think they should. It’s also very possible that what was important to them at one point, is no longer as important (time changes what’s important.) <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">If you’re working on a lot of low-priority items, don’t expect to get the rewards</strong>. Your success depends on figuring out their true priorities and mapping the value you deliver to that. At work, I find that people don’t always know what they really value, so I tend to simply ask, “What are some of your worst problems on your plate?” This helps quickly separate all the things a manager might tell you to do versus what’s really on their radar and what they really care about.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Don’t become a dumping ground</strong>. The more you work on low-priority items, the more you become a dumping ground. The more you become a dumping ground, the busier you get; and the busier you get, the more overloaded you will feel. Now the worst happens—you’re overworked, underappreciated, and no fun to be around.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Get off the treadmill</strong>. By failing to work on what’s valuable and by failing to understand and reset expectations, you’ve worked yourself into an unrewarding, high-stress scenario.</li>
</ul>
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A common scenario on a team is where somebody spends a lot of time ramping up and learning. They aren’t actually delivering value for the team yet. They get frustrated that they don’t feel appreciated and they say how much time they’ve spent learning or figuring things out or working hard. The lens they are missing is that they are just doing what’s expected which is “below the line”, and they haven’t risen “above the line” yet. They need to see that, at that stage or at this point in time, the value is actually for them and that it’s their own growth.</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Above the Line or Below the Line</strong><br />
Some things you do will be “value-add.” Others will just be expected. In the following figure, the dotted line separates what’s expected from what’s valued:</div>
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<a href="http://sourcesofinsight.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/image16.png" style="color: #3c78a7; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="244" src="http://sourcesofinsight.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/image_thumb16.png" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 2px; padding-right: 2px; padding-top: 2px;" title="image" width="201" /></a></div>
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You need to consider whether the work you do is “above the line” or “below the line.” If you want to maximize your impact, you need to first take care of what’s expected, and then focus on value “above the line.”</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Above the Line (Valued)</strong><br />
Here’s a figure to help you visualize “above the line.”</div>
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<a href="http://sourcesofinsight.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/image17.png" style="color: #3c78a7; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="187" src="http://sourcesofinsight.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/image_thumb17.png" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 2px; padding-right: 2px; padding-top: 2px;" title="image" width="244" /></a></div>
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Work that’s “above the line” is considered value-add. Value is in the eye of the beholder. Note that even in “above the line” work, you should still prioritize to maximize value to yourself or others.</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Below the Line (Expected)</strong><br />
Here’s a figure to help you visualize “below the line.”</div>
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<a href="http://sourcesofinsight.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/image18.png" style="color: #3c78a7; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="191" src="http://sourcesofinsight.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/image_thumb18.png" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 2px; padding-right: 2px; padding-top: 2px;" title="image" width="244" /></a></div>
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Work that’s “below the line” is just expected. It’s like treading water. The funny thing about “below the line” work is that <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">doing more of it won’t get you ahead, but not doing it will likely cause you pain</strong>. Some people call this “the cost of doing business” or “the tax you pay.”</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Points to Ponder to Deliver More Value</strong><br />
Here are some points for you to ponder to help you deliver more value to yourself and others:</div>
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<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Is the work you do considered “above the line” or “below the line”?</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Where are you at in terms of achieving results: “above the line” or “below the line”?</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Are you working on stuff that’s valued?</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Who is the value for: you or somebody else?</em></li>
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The important thing is for you to have an appropriate frame of reference for the value of what you’re doing. If you don’t feel appreciated for what you’re doing, this might be “below the line” to somebody else. You also might find that you’re stuck taking care of everything that’s “below the line” and you can’t get your head above water. The fix is usually <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">reprioritizing what’s on your plate</strong>,<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> figuring out what the real values and expectations are, and resetting expectations with yourself and others</strong>. The last place you want to be is grinding away on something that neither you nor anyone else will value, or worse, missing basic expectations that minimizes your overall effectiveness.</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Today’s Assignment</strong></div>
<ol style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">For the things that are on your plate, get clarity on who they are really for. It’s fine for things to be both for you and other people, but if it’s for other people, you might want to check whether they actually value it or would prefer something else. Don’t be surprised if what they value is not the same as what you value. However, you can often find or create a bridge.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Figure out the things that you really need to do for yourself. Do them guilt-free. Remember that the better you can take care of yourself, the better you can take care of others. Build a firm foundation and a platform for yourself, so you can do great things and flow value for yourself and others. One way to remind yourself of some of your basic needs is to explore <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslow's_hierarchy_of_needs" style="color: #3c78a7; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs</a>.</li>
</ol>
J.D. Meierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02678290889994566788noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6670536641670524825.post-35605701921127063792012-07-13T22:42:00.000-07:002012-08-13T17:54:10.364-07:00Day 20 – Ask Better Questions, Get Better Results<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJyrELsqNq_PO6PiCj-Caw9_l2K7CVMAXc2_bV7s_XnaZif2LH9Poej0seS9EsEPd6o66IWUAY9sdD6mJ_BXUO2avm4tG8b4LyxwYVHnn2EhtIhaIv-eIKasM8B47Dcwk3Ne7NpxbtpQEC/s1600/Day20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJyrELsqNq_PO6PiCj-Caw9_l2K7CVMAXc2_bV7s_XnaZif2LH9Poej0seS9EsEPd6o66IWUAY9sdD6mJ_BXUO2avm4tG8b4LyxwYVHnn2EhtIhaIv-eIKasM8B47Dcwk3Ne7NpxbtpQEC/s200/Day20.jpg" width="200" /></a><em style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“There are no right answers to wrong questions.”–</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px;">Ursula K. Le Guin</span><br />
<strong style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br /></strong>
<strong style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Your Outcome</strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px;">: Learn how to ask “cutting” questions to instantly start helping you improve your results. By asking key questions, you can cut through the fog or cut to the chase and figure out what really counts.</span><br />
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Welcome to <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">day 20</strong> of 30 Days of Getting Results, based on my book, <a href="http://gettingresults.com/" style="color: #3c78a7; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Getting Results the Agile Way</a>. In <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">day 19</strong>, we learned to ask the question, “Who are you doing it for?” to help us get clarity on why we are doing what we’re doing and whether it is really valued and who actually values it. This also helps us map the value better, whether it’s for ourselves or for somebody else. Today, we build on this approach of asking questions, to improve our results.</div>
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<em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Asking cutting questions helps you improve your ability to work on the right things, with the right energy, at the right time, the right way … for YOUR BEST RESULTS.</em></div>
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Asking better questions is an ongoing process. The one who gains the most is you. Your ability to improve the questions you ask yourself will improve the quality of your life in all areas.</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Why Ask Questions</strong><br />
Asking the right questions can help you balance, focus, make better decisions, and prioritize more effectively. Let’s elaborate on that:</div>
<ul style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Asking the right questions leads us to better answers</strong>. If we think of thinking as a process of asking and answering questions, then to get better answers, we have to ask better questions. Think about that. Whether it’s your own self-talk or in a meeting, how powerful is it to ask the right question?</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Asking questions changes your focus</strong>. You can change your focus by changing your question, and this allows you to quickly switch perspectives or get a new lens on things. For example, by asking yourself “What’s right in your life?” you get a very different result than asking, “What’s wrong with your life?” Some people never ask themselves what’s right in their life, and they lose appreciation for what they’ve got, and they blow the bad things out of proportion.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Direct your self-talk more effectively</strong>. Change your questions and you change your game. Rather than “tell” yourself to do things, you can ask more effective questions to get more resourceful. For example, “How might I solve this” or “What’s a good approach?” or “Who else shares this problem that I can learn from?” You can also get unstuck by switching gears from “Why” to “How” questions. For example, rather than ask, “Why does this always happen to me?”, ask yourself either, “What are you going to do about it?” or “How will you avoid this in the future?”</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Asking questions creates opportunity</strong>. If you want more conflict in your life, simply make more statements. Statements create conflict. Somebody can always argue with a statement. You can even argue with yourself. Switching to questions, opens up exploration.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Questions create “ah-has.”</strong> When you ask questions, you can actually create emotional connections as you have your insight and “ah-ha” moments. These emotional links are more powerful than just raw information.</li>
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As you can see, there are lots of reasons why improving your questions can improve your everyday experience in a very practical way.</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Quotes About Questions</strong><br />
Here are some of my favorite quotes about the value of asking good questions:</div>
<ol style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“A child can ask questions that a wise man cannot answer.”—</em>Unknown</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“<em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">A prudent question is one-half of wisdom.”</em> – Francis Bacon</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“An answer is always a form of death.”—</em>John Fowles</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“It is not every question that deserves an answer.”</em> — Publilius Syrus</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“No question is so difficult to answer as that to which the answer is obvious.”</em> — Karl Otto von Schonhausen Bismarck</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“Quality questions create a quality life. Successful people ask better questions, and as a result, they get better answers.”</em> — Anthony Robbins</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“Questions are never indiscreet. Answers sometimes are.”</em> – Publilius Syrus</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“The man who questions opinion is wise; the man who quarrels with fact is a fool.”–</em>Frank A Garbutt</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“The only questions that really matter are the ones you ask yourself.”</em> –Ursula K. LeGuin</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“The uncreative mind can spot wrong answers, but it takes a very creative mind to spot wrong questions.”</em> —Antony Jay</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“We learn more by looking for the answer to a question and not finding it than we do from learning the answer itself.”—</em>Lloyd Alexander</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“When we have arrived at the question, the answer is already near.”–</em>Ralph Waldo Emerson</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“You can tell whether a man is clever by his answers. You can tell whether a man is wise by his questions”.—</em>Naguib Mahfouz</li>
</ol>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Questions for Improving Your Results</strong><br />
Here is a table of questions you can draw from to help you improve your results:</div>
<table border="1" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><tbody style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<tr style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><th style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" width="123">Category</th><th style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" width="431">Questions</th></tr>
<tr style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" valign="top"><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" width="123"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">General</strong></td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" width="431"><ul style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Are the right people working on the right things?</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">What’s the right thing to do?</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">What’s the best play for this scenario?</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Does your container limit or support you?</em></li>
</ul>
</td></tr>
<tr style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" valign="top"><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" width="123"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Action</strong></td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" width="431"><ul style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">What’s the next best thing to do?</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Next steps?</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">What are the actions?</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">What’s the simplest thing you can do now?</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Is your current action moving your forwards or backwards?</em></li>
</ul>
</td></tr>
<tr style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" valign="top"><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" width="123"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Efficiency and<em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Effectiveness</em></strong></td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" width="431"><ul style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">What are you optimizing?</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Is it effective?</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Are you going faster AND in the right direction?</em></li>
</ul>
</td></tr>
<tr style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" valign="top"><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" width="123"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Goals and Objectives</strong></td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" width="431"><ul style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">What do you want to accomplish?</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">What are the tests for success?</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Are these really your goals or someone else’s?</em></li>
</ul>
</td></tr>
<tr style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" valign="top"><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" width="123"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Learning</strong></td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" width="431"><ul style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Who can you learn from?</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">What are 3 examples to model from?</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">What are 3 things going well?</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">What are 3 things to improve?</em></li>
</ul>
</td></tr>
<tr style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" valign="top"><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" width="123"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Motivation</strong></td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" width="431"><ul style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Do you want to do it?</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Do you like to do it?</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">How can you enjoy the process?</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">What thoughts are getting in the way of your motivation?</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Can you make a different choice that is more motivating?</em></li>
</ul>
</td></tr>
<tr style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" valign="top"><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" width="123"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Time Management</strong></td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" width="431"><ul style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">How much time did you spend on it?</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">How much time should you spend on it?</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Is now the right time?</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">What’s good enough for now?</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Are you spending $20 on a $5 problem?</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">How can you manage your energy to use your time more effectively?</em></li>
</ul>
</td></tr>
<tr style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" valign="top"><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" width="123"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Value</strong></td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" width="431"><ul style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Does it matter?</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Is it significant?</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Who feels it has value? You? Others?</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">If others value it, does it conflict or align with what you value?</em></li>
</ul>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Use the table as a starting point, but the key is to find the questions that work for you and continue to add to your “question toolbox” over time. You’ll find that some questions will really empower you from getting unstuck, to finding solutions, to getting inspired, to figuring out your next best thing to do.</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Today’s Assignment</strong></div>
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<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Identify one question you can ask yourself that can help you get better results.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Identify one question you need to stop asking yourself, so you can get better results. Find a more effective question you can replace the ineffective question with.</li>
</ol>
J.D. Meierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02678290889994566788noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6670536641670524825.post-16435154575619057652012-07-12T22:42:00.000-07:002012-08-13T17:54:35.571-07:00Day 21 — Carry the Good Forward and Let the Rest Go<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj2YKgB4vB2ItIEzg7B94mfGmNsbpr2Dfrr8j7gvZgBprOy1FBZluKcyyCRjyJiQYysYBOaKctrk7HahAW_CiESmIOUsatDiCk7hKJ_lY8i3lcQ5BVGpsxAS5jacTEX6KhvZoAp9CZfEJI/s1600/Day21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj2YKgB4vB2ItIEzg7B94mfGmNsbpr2Dfrr8j7gvZgBprOy1FBZluKcyyCRjyJiQYysYBOaKctrk7HahAW_CiESmIOUsatDiCk7hKJ_lY8i3lcQ5BVGpsxAS5jacTEX6KhvZoAp9CZfEJI/s200/Day21.jpg" width="200" /></a><em style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.”</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px;"> — Lao Tzu</span><br />
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Your Outcome:</strong> Make the most of your setbacks, failures, and lessons. Take the lessons you learn each week, carry the good forward, and use them to refine your approach. Let the rest go.</div>
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Welcome to <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">day 21</strong> of 30 Days of Getting Results, based on my book, <a href="http://gettingresults.com/" style="color: #3c78a7; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Getting Results the Agile Way</a>. In <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">day 20</strong>, we learned how to ask better questions to get better results. By asking better questions, we get clarity on what counts for ourselves and others, and we figure out what’s really valued. Today, we learn how to find the lessons, fail fast, and fail forward. The keys to rapid learning are turning failures into feedback, carrying the good forward, and <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">staying curious</strong>. The worst pitfall to fall into is a state of “learned helplessness”, where you shutdown or start thinking that no matter what you try, it just won’t work.</div>
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<em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Don’t dwell on what you did wrong, figure out what you can do right.</em></div>
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Just because you don’t get the results you expected, don’t lose your way. One of my favorite reminders in Peaceful Warrior is that a warrior does what they love, despite the setbacks and the challenges. They find a way.</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Why Carry the Good Forward</strong><br />
When you carry the good forward, and let the rest go, your lessons become a spring board that support you in all areas of your life. Rather than get bogged down, or beat yourself up from all the things that don’t go as planned, you find smarter strategies and tactics for improving your success. This builds momentum and a personal toolbox you can draw from whenever you need it.</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Find the lessons</strong><br />
No matter what goes wrong you can always find the lessons. Mistakes happen. We’re human. Things don’t always go as planned. It’s easy to look back and second guess yourself after the fact, with perfect “20-20 hindsight.” That’s what makes judging and critiquing so easy, since you have a new vantage point and more information. Rather than use the vantage point as a critic, turn your inner-critic into your personal coach and use your feedback as a way to pave a path forward.</div>
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You can use questions to find the lessons:</div>
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<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">What did I learn?</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">How can I make the most of this?</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">How can I use this?</em></li>
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Test your results and find the questions that work for you. If you’re in a situation that doesn’t seem like it will change, then change yourself first by asking the question, “If this situation never were to change, what’s the one quality I need to make the most of this?”</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Fail Forward</strong><br />
Turn failures into lessons. Don’t just ask, “Why did I fail?” It’s important to also ask, “What did I learn?” Carry the good forward.</div>
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As you get into the habit of failing forward, you’ll find it easier and easier to turn failure into feedback, while learning the key lessons and insight that help you spread your wings or bounce back faster each time.</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Fail Fast</strong><br />
This is a practice I learned early on at Microsoft. The idea is to test your results as soon as possible to find out what works and what won’t. Rather than spend a long time planning, figure out a mini-plan, start taking action, get feedback and adjust your plan. This way, your plan is <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">informed by real-world feedback, you stay out of analysis paralysis, and you learn faster with real success, failures, feedback</strong>, and data under your belt.</div>
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The key to failing fast is to shorten your learning loops so that you can adjust your approach. Stay flexible in your approach. Use feedback as your guide to improve your results. When something is not working, find the way forward by paying more attention to what you’re learning from the experience.</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Catch the Next Train</strong><br />
Don’t be late for today. Be early for tomorrow. All the time you spend dwelling on what you missed or opportunity lost, takes away from you getting ready to catch the next train. While your rear-view mirror is helpful for learning lessons, find a way forward and lead yourself with skill by staying forward looking in your approach. Whenever you find yourself dwelling, ask yourself, “What’s next?”</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Get Up to Bat</strong><br />
This is one of my favorite metaphors. You get a new chance at bat each day, each week, each month, each year. As long as you keep getting up to bat, you have another chance. If you’re going through change, then remember that change is a process and that it might take multiple times or multiple chances to get it right.</div>
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Allow for the fact that change is hard. You might fail multiple times; just <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">keep getting back on your horse</strong>, learn from each setback, and carry the good forward. Don’t break yourself against your own goals by biting off too much or beating yourself over the head with them; instead, use them to lift you and guide your choices.</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Cut the Chains that Bind You</strong><br />
If you saw Disney’s movie “Up,” then you know what it’s like to cut the ties that bind you. Cut the deadwood or whatever is holding you back. In “Peaceful Warrior”, the reminder was to “put your bags down.” In the movie, “Up in the Air,” the main actor, played by George Clooney, asks the question, “What’s in your backpack?” This forces you to take a look at all the possessions, relationships, commitments, and responsibilities that you carry around in your metaphorical backpack, and whether they’re helping or hurting you, or just how much they are weighting you down.</div>
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The way that I turn all of these insights into action and keep it simple is with a one-liner reminder — “Carry the good forward, and let the rest go.”</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Today’s Assignment</strong></div>
<ol style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Add the question, “How can I use this?” to your mental toolbox for dealing with your setbacks, mistakes, and failures.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Add the question, “If this situation never were to change, what’s the one quality I need to make the most of this?” to your mental toolbox for dealing with the worst in your life.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Reframe your “failures” as “feedback.” Treat your feedback as an endless supply of learnings and lessons you can choose to act on, ignore, or make the most of.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Each Friday, find the three lessons you can carry forward from the week, into your next week, to create your momentum and a springboard for your success.</li>
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J.D. Meierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02678290889994566788noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6670536641670524825.post-13921672512151150462012-07-11T22:44:00.000-07:002012-08-13T17:54:49.595-07:00Day 22 – Design Your Day with Skill<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBBTilGtAssh0Y2IePodwQZ1w4uq8fqtdmorgFQR-PG5RrVYCQE4tQGuo2v2xot_MTOhpviT3o47MZE73TBlm3uARTVJg6D_7U-Fc7vrpNUOeJcqsVhvVhkIQVOTTyjL59drWeDeybehVl/s1600/Day22old.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="136" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBBTilGtAssh0Y2IePodwQZ1w4uq8fqtdmorgFQR-PG5RrVYCQE4tQGuo2v2xot_MTOhpviT3o47MZE73TBlm3uARTVJg6D_7U-Fc7vrpNUOeJcqsVhvVhkIQVOTTyjL59drWeDeybehVl/s200/Day22old.jpg" width="200" /></a><em style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“Let your imagination release your imprisoned possibilities.”</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px;"> — Robert H. Schuller</span><br />
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<strong style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Your Outcome</strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px;">: Design your day to support you for success. Learn how to structure your day to make the most of what you’ve got. Chunk up your day and avoid being overwhelmed.</span><br />
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Welcome to <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">day 22</strong> of 30 Days of Getting Results, based on my book, <a href="http://gettingresults.com/" style="color: #3c78a7; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Getting Results the Agile Way</a>. In <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">day 21</strong>, we learned how to carry the good forward and let the rest go to fail forward, fail fast, and improve as we go. Today, we learn how to design our day with skill. By designing our day in a mindful way, we create just enough routines to give us a firm foundation and platform for success. When we’re having a great day, <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">these habits amplify and catapult our success</strong>. When we’re having an off day, <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">this foundation will help us deal with whatever life throws our way</strong>, as well as vault our key challenges or hurdles. It’s all about getting the system on our side, by design.</div>
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<em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">You drive your day or your day drives you. When you drive your day, you get to define what good looks like, and when you set the rules, you win the game.</em></div>
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It only takes a moment to take a look from the balcony before you get on the stage. Before you are mired in your day, take this brief look to see the scenes you’ll be stepping into. if each day is a play, you have a beginning, a middle an an end. What roles do you want to play, and <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">what do you want your day to be about</strong>. Whether it’s from the balcony or the director’s chair, you need to set the stage for your success, one scene, one act, or one play at a time.</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Each Day is a Fresh Start</strong><br />
Each day is a fresh start. Remember as a kid waking up each morning to a new and exciting day? That’s the point you need to start from. <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">The difference is now you have skills</strong>. You also picked up some good habits and some bad habits along the way. You looked forward to growing up so you could do whatever you want.</div>
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Unfortunately over time, maybe you started to think that life isn’t as full of possibilities or as limitless as you once thought. But what’s really limiting you? You are, and all the limits you bring to each new day. Baggage brings you down. <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Don’t pick up your bags today.</strong> <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Travel light.</strong> Test yourself. Test your limits. Chances are you’ll surprise yourself time and again; just give yourself a chance. If things don’t work out today, then you can still walk away with lessons that will help you shape a better tomorrow.</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">3 Ways to Design Your Day with Skill</strong><br />
Here are three ways to design your day with skill:</div>
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<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Create an effective Startup Routine</strong> — This is how you bootstrap your day. You already have a startup routine. It’s the activities you do to start your day and feel grounded. For example, on weekdays, my startup routine is to wake up, throw my shoes on, workout for 30 minutes, shower, eat breakfast slowly, and take the back way to work. On my drive to work, I listen to my favorite music, and I think of my three most compelling outcomes for the day. When I get to work, I scan my inbox, my queues, and my calendar to see if I need to adjust my three outcomes.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Create an effective Shut-Down Routine</strong> — This is how you end your day. Just like having an effective startup routine helps bootstrap your day, an effective shutdown routine helps you wind down. The key to an effective shutdown routine is testing different patterns until you find one that helps put you in the right frame of mind for a more restful sleep. Sleeping well is the means to starting the next day refreshed.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Drive your day with the Rule of 3</strong> — If you remember nothing else, start your day with The Rule of 3. Know the minimum three outcomes that you want for the day—simply identify three results. These are your “tests for success.” It’s your chance to define your success, and you get a clean slate each day.</li>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Designing a Great Startup Routine</strong><br />
The way you start you day can have a dramatic impact on whether you start the day fresh, centered, and from a firm foundation, or you start the day like a chicken with its head cut off. I’ve seen the difference in myself and I’ve seen the difference in many others, up and down the ranks.</div>
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As I’ve built teams over the years, I’ve asked various team members how they start their day. Normally, they would tell me what they do at work. I’d say backup, start from when you wake up out of bed. I was surprised to find how varied many started their day with the news and their email, even before they got to work. They would also tell me how the news would either make them feel anxious or depressed. They would also be running through their emails in their mind all the way to work.</div>
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That’s the key right there. By the time you’re at work, it’s too late. You’re in the line of fire. You’re reacting. The key is to use your <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Startup Routine</strong> to create a firm foundation for your day before you even get to work. It’s not about watching the news or checking your email. It’s about first <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">deciding what you want your day to be about</strong> and what you want to accomplish. Now you are ready to “respond” instead of “react” to the barrage of inputs throughout the rest of your day, from emails, to news, to people stopping by and whatever changes your course throughout the day. Because you created a quick mini-plan for your day, you can effectively choose how to respond and make more effective trade-offs, rather than get knocked around by whatever comes your way.</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Designing a Great Shutdown Routine</strong><br />
You might think it would be easy enough to think of a great shutdown routine, but there are a lot of variables. It’s actually better to <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">test a variety of patterns to see what helps you the most</strong>, whether it’s watching TV, reading a book, meditating, etc. For example, if you tend to watch the news before you sleep, test watching a comedy; different shows will produce different results. If you like to read a book before bed, are you reading a book that helps you wind down, or are you reading material that makes it hard for you to fall asleep? Simply notice the results you’re getting and test different approaches.</div>
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There’s a lot of research and opinions, but the most important thing is to find what works for you.<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> It’s less about the specific activity you do and it’s more about how it impacts you or how you react to it.</strong> For example, if you watch a comedy where the main character always gets into a stressful situation, and you have a lot of empathy, maybe this is not the best thing for you before bed. Then again, maybe the happy ending is just the perfect tension and release you need for the perfect slumber. Test your results and<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">change your approach if it’s not working</strong>. At the end of the day, you’re the most important judge.</div>
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Lastly, in addition to how you feel at the end of your day, it’s also important to notice how you feel when you wake up. If you’re not waking up refreshed, chances are that <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">it’s what you did the night before that makes all the difference</strong> (barring any medical conditions, of course). So go ahead and find what works for you. Test some new patterns. Get creative. Explore your results.</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Why Use the Rule of 3 to Drive Your Day</strong><br />
The Rule of 3 is one of your main tools for driving your day. You can use it anytime, anywhere to make the most of what you’ve got. Here are some of the main reasons to start your day with The Rule of 3:</div>
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<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">You define the three tests for success. If you set the rules, you win the game.</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">You get to define what good looks like. It’s your life.</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">You get to chart your course. If you start by quickly looking over the time you’ll spend for the day, then you have a map to guide you through your day and to lead you if you get lost in the thick of things.</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">If you know what you’re trying to accomplish, you can prioritize more effectively. There are a lot of little mini-decisions during your day that you can influence by knowing where you want to go.</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">If you know you’re working on the right things, it’s easier to give your all—to find your motivation.</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">When you map your day, you know how to pace yourself. You can’t run ahead if you can’t see what’s in front of you.</em></li>
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Remember that your three outcomes aren’t tasks. You might have lots of tasks that roll up to these three outcomes, but these are three results you want for the day. For example, for today I want see a good movie, have a great lunch, and ship a post that helps people make the most of their life, a day at a time. Those are the lines I’ve drawn in the sand for my day. They are subject to change, but they chart a simple course that I can choose to depart from, and trade-up or scale back with skill. Even if I decide to do nothing, it’s the art of making a mindful choice that matters.</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Today’s Assignment</strong></div>
<ol style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Design a Startup Routine that works for you. Own the way you start your day. Find the simple habits or routines that unleash your inner-Tigger or your corporate warrior or whatever supports you in the most effective way.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Design a Shutdown Routine that works for you. Own the way you end your day and cap the night. This is one of life’s little moments that you can shape each day in a way that renews you.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Use The Rule of 3 to shape three stories, outcomes, or results for your day, in an inspiring way. Own your destiny, a story at a time. Remember that our favorite characters in our stories don’t always choose the adventures or challenges they find themselves in, but it’s how they respond, especially when they get tested, that we really care about.</li>
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J.D. Meierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02678290889994566788noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6670536641670524825.post-8549509085603452062012-07-10T22:45:00.000-07:002012-08-13T17:55:06.052-07:00Day 23 – Design Your Week with Skill<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2tiy1srf3P6ZLUu1iN5zzKoE0jfbhLarguNhn9kzQYi55ZG-yLhdoyoBp2w0KM3EmIX0tYKOI1m9RzPX35YU3lyRfZPiHY8ya7_kHromwxET9XJksznPCTkCxoQrlTBIKPF2dljNBqago/s1600/Day23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2tiy1srf3P6ZLUu1iN5zzKoE0jfbhLarguNhn9kzQYi55ZG-yLhdoyoBp2w0KM3EmIX0tYKOI1m9RzPX35YU3lyRfZPiHY8ya7_kHromwxET9XJksznPCTkCxoQrlTBIKPF2dljNBqago/s200/Day23.jpg" width="200" /></a><em style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“Time is but the stream I go a-fishing in.”</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px;"> — Henry David Thoreau</span><br />
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Your Outcome:</strong> Design a week that supports you in a sustainable way. Have more time for the things you want, spend less time in the things that you don’t want, and add more free time to your week.</div>
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Welcome to <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">day 23</strong> of 30 Days of Getting Results, based on my book, <a href="http://gettingresults.com/" style="color: #3c78a7; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Getting Results the Agile Way</a>. In <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">day 22</strong>, you learned how to design your day with skill. Today, we take a step back and look at how to design your week with skill. Your week is a large chunk of time to get a handle on. By designing a week that supports you, you set yourself up for weekly results.<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Each week is a fresh start.</strong> You can carry the lessons forward from one week into the next. All you really have is time, so the key is to make the most of it. If you have recurring activities, you probably added them over time without realizing it. That’s a schedule by default, not by design. Seize the opportunity now to design a week which actually supports you.</div>
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<em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Designing your week is one of the single most effective ways to enhance your life</em>.</div>
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If there is one place where I’ve seen <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">breakthrough after breakthrough</strong>, it’s when a person takes control of their weekly schedule and maps out how they want to spend their time by design, not by default. How you spend your time on a weekly basis can either help lift you up and <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">spiral your success upward by leaps and bounds</strong>, or you can spiral down, if how you’re spending your time is working against you.</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Why Design Your Week</strong><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">Is your week by design or by default? One of the keys to results is owning your schedule. You can drive your schedule, or it can drive you. Imagine a week where you spend each day working on the right things with the right people and making the right impact. Imagine looking forward to the start of the week, whether it’s because it’s a fresh start, or it’s a chance to </span><strong style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">experience more of what you want</strong><span style="background-color: white;">. Imagine spending more time each day on the things that make you strong, give you energy and make you feel powerful. Imagine a week filled with Power Hours, Creative Hours, and enough free time that </span><strong style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">you feel balanced and</strong><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><strong style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">effective</strong><span style="background-color: white;">. Imagine a week where you get </span><strong style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">enough sleep, get enough movement, and have enough energy to accomplish whatever you want</strong><span style="background-color: white;">. This is a week by design. It’s not just about weekly results; it’s about sustainable results.</span></div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">3 Ways to Design Your Week with Skill</strong></div>
<ol style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Baseline your week. Map out how you spend your time for the week</strong>. If you’re not spending enough time on the things you want, this is your first step to fixing it. Simply by making the map, it helps you to see where your time already goes. This is the first step to seeing your time “leaks,” your time wasters, your time pain points and opportunities.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Set boundaries and limits</strong>. Setting time boundaries and limits is one of the best ways to design your week. This is ultimately where you choose the life style that you want to lead. This is where you choose whether to be the “workaholic” or more balanced. For example, you might decide that weekends or nights are your free time. You might decide that you won’t work more than 40 hours, and whatever falls off, falls off. When you don’t set limits for yourself, you put yourself at risk. When you set boundaries, you establish what a healthy model of a week is for you.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Carve Out Time for What’s Important</strong>. If you want to spend more time in something, than make time for it. It will most likely mean letting something else go. The key is to make it a mindful choice instead of playing a victim role where you never have time for this or that. If you want more free time, then make free time, by cutting something else. Don’t feel guilty, be deliberate.</li>
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The key to remember here is that nobody will come along and design your time for you in the best way possible. You are the ultimate architect and designer of how you spend your time in a way that works for you.</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Baseline Your Schedule</strong><br />
Map out how you already spend your time. One of the most effective tools for time management is to baseline your schedule. Here is a template I use to map out a weekly schedule:</div>
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<a href="http://sourcesofinsight.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/image23.png" style="color: #3c78a7; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="404" src="http://sourcesofinsight.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/image_thumb23.png" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 2px; padding-right: 2px; padding-top: 2px;" title="image" width="454" /></a></div>
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A baseline is simply a current picture of your week. It’s a map of the days and the times and the recurring activities or events that you have.</div>
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Here are some examples of what to put on your map:</div>
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<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Sleeping</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Eating</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Workouts</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Meetings</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Work time</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Recurring Activities</em></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Free time</em></li>
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This helps give you a balcony view of your week at a glance.</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Setting Boundaries and Limits</strong><br />
Try using <a href="http://gettingresults.com/wiki/Hot_Spots" style="color: #3c78a7; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Hot Spots</a> (mind, body, emotions, career, financial, relationships, and fun) to help you set boundaries:</div>
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<a href="http://sourcesofinsight.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/image24.png" style="color: #3c78a7; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="205" src="http://sourcesofinsight.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/image_thumb24.png" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 2px; padding-right: 2px; padding-top: 2px;" title="image" width="450" /></a></div>
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For example, try setting a maximum on career and a minimum on relationships, body, and fun. Setting boundaries and limits is how you achieve your balance. If you don’t make time for things, they won’t happen. If you don’t set limits for things, they will take over other important parts of your life.</div>
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You can start with simple boundaries. Here are some examples:</div>
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<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Dinner on the table at 5:30 p.m.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">No work on the weekend.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Tuesday night is date night.</li>
</ol>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Monday Vision, Daily Outcomes, and Friday Reflection</strong><br />
Whether you design your week or not, remember that the Monday Vision, Daily Outcomes, Friday Reflection pattern is the heart of your week . This is the scaffolding to support your weekly results. It’s how you’ll get a fresh start each week and each day. It’s also how you’ll improve over time. It’s a simple, yet consistent pattern you can count on. On Mondays, you envision what you’d like to accomplish for the week; you simply imagine—if this was Friday, what three results would you like under your belt? Each day, you figure out three results for the day that help you move towards your three results for the week. At the same time, you stay flexible so that you’re always working on the next best thing for you to do. On Fridays, you reflect on your results and you carry the good forward.</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">5 Ways to Improve Your Week</strong><br />
Here are some additional ways to improve your week:</div>
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<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Schedule Your Free Time. If you schedule it, it happens. If you don’t, it won’t.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Fix time for eating, sleeping, and working out. This is one of the most common success patterns I see time and again. Have a time where you regularly eat, sleep, and exercise and <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">make everything work around that</strong>. This is your foundation and core. It’s part of your platform for personal success.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Consolidate your related activities. One of the best ways to free up your time or spend less time on things is to do them in a batch. Lump them together so you can tackle them with efficiency and effectiveness.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Consolidate activates that make you weak. If some activities drain you, try to lump them together and consolidate the amount of time you spend in them. Again, batching is your friend.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Add more activities that make you strong. If you need to add more energy to your week, simply find ways to spend more time in things that make you strong. It’s not doing nothing that helps you renew your energy, it’s actually doing what you love or doing the things that make you stronger that help you bounce back with skill. For me, I regularly meet with my mentors to get new perspectives on things. This is one of my renewal patterns that supports me each week.</li>
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The key to remember in all this is it’s not about being a productive machine. It’s about spending more time on the things you want, driving from your life style, being who you want to be, and creating the experiences you want in your life.</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Free Yourself Up</strong><br />
You can tune and prune your week from here, but step one is simply having a weekly schedule that has some simple buffers and boundaries and free time, to help you take the pressure off, and to be your most effective self. When you spend the right energy on the right things the right way, you get them done in way less time. This frees you up in multiple ways, beyond just giving you some hours back. It gives you peace of mind and it gets time on your side. When time is on your side, you are unstoppable.</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Today’s Assignment</strong></div>
<ol style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Baseline your schedule. Take the time to map out your weekly schedule and take a look from the balcony.</li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Schedule your free time. If you don’t have enough free time, the single most effective way you can add free time is to add more free time to your schedule. Remember <a href="http://sourcesofinsight.com/2010/08/14/day-14-carve-out-time-for-whats-important/" style="color: #3c78a7; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">the big rocks story</a>? First make room for your free time, if that’s what’s important to you, then add things around that.</li>
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J.D. Meierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02678290889994566788noreply@blogger.com