Making plans happen is why we get up each morning,but it is no substitute for action.
Planning is an important part of success. The reason you make plans in the first place is to make
things happen, to accomplish your goals.
With the pressure to get things done, it's sometimes hard to dig out the planning book to see if your
current activity agrees with the goals you set forth in your plan.
The exercise of developing an operating plan is worthless if the plan book stays on the shelf and is
only referred to in the New Year to establish new goals for the coming year. Or at work , if you only
look at it when a progress report is due to the boss. To make your personal and business plans
come to life, we need to keep them up front in our daily activity.
Tracking progress should be number one on our "To Do" list each day. We need to know if we are
on track or not so that we may take the appropriate action to get us closer to our goals. We need to
remind ourselves about our plans each day so that we can dream about what life would be like upon
achieving our goals.
Sometimes we get behind on action plan accomplishment because we are overwhelmed with what's
involved. Try this:
1. Call time out. Mentally and physically come to a complete stop. If the plan is within your power to
do, all you need to do is do it.. Sounds simple but it works. Still perplexed? Read on.
2. Step back and get a big picture perspective of the battlefield. Think of yourself as a business
analyst. Collect the facts. Study the process. Determine who will need to be involved. Know the
purpose and value of the plan and who it will help. What resources will be needed?
3. Eliminate everything in your mind that isn't crucial to getting the main part of your plan done.
Think...Make hard decisions. Then clear the deck for action.
4. Don't try to do everything at once, but do something. The only way to eat an elephant is to eat it
one bite at a time. Prioritize your actions. Do the most important thing first.
5. Concentrate exclusively on the project at hand.
6. Sustain your movements at a comfortable pace. Do it right the first time. Remember quality is
cheap, re-doing things is expensive in time effort and money.
7. Don't stop until you are done, and you aren't done until your solution to a problem or obstacle
works. Take pride in the accomplished result. Celebrate!
8. Then and only then move on to the next step of your plan.
Planning is necessary and can point us in the right direction , but don't let it slow the action. A classic
example is planning to do a task in three weeks that with a little creative thought could take a
day or so. It happens.
Every business and personal action plan should have the active involvement of the employees or
family members who must work in the planning stage or in the execution stage. Planning involvement
gains commitment. Commitment is what it takes to get the job done.
Planning is essential, but it is the victorious execution of the plan that wins the battle.
OUR LIFE IS COMPOSED OF DREAMS THAT MUST BE WOVEN TOGETHER WITH
ACTION.
PUSH YOURSELF-
If you want to know the satisfaction of accomplishment, then you must also feel the apprehension
that comes from pushing yourself to the edge of your abilities. In order to grow , we must take on
challenges that make us uncomfortable.
It can be frightening, taking on new challenges. And we are fearful of fear.
Have you ever considered the benefits of fear?
Fear gives us a heightened sense of alertness and razor sharp focus. We breath in a little deeper to
take in more oxygen, and the heart beats a little faster. Fear blocks out all the trivial stuff, and gives
us increased energy, isn't that exactly what we need to take on a difficult challenge? Is fear really so
bad?
Venture out. Reach higher than you are comfortable with. Push yourself to the point where you can
feel the exciting apprehension that gives you the motivation and the energy to win.
SET OUT WITH CLEAR GOALS AND POSITIVE EXPECTATIONS, THEN WATCH FOR
GUIDANCE AND TAKE ACTION. BEING COURAGEOUS ENOUGH TO ACT ON YOUR INTUITION BRINGS YOUR GOALS INTO REALITY
An RRSP is an advisable and essential part of today's economic realities.
Moving Mountains
Do you want to sell more? Market more efficiently? Be more successful? Live a happier and more
fulfilling life? Earn more money? If so, develop, commit and implement a primary purpose. Unlike a
mission statement that may address a wide range of behaviors and objectives, a primary purpose is like
a single goal on steroids, it becomes the driving force in your life. It becomes the reason you wake up in
the morning. As the French say, it is your " Raison d'être" - your reason for being. A primary purpose
is helpful in a variety of ways.
STAYING FOCUSED
You will be surprised at how easy daily decisions become once you create a primary purpose. Life
almost becomes simple. Not sure on whether or not to invest in a particular thing or fund? Can't make
up your mind on whether or not to attend a meeting or seminar you've been putting off ? Indecision no
more! Simply ask yourself, does this decision get me closer to achieving my primary purpose? The
answer is usually obvious. If it's a yes, then by all means go ahead and do it. If no is the answer, then
find something else to do that will take you closer to your primary purpose.
Well trained sales and business people can sometimes be their worst enemy, WHY? Because they often
focus too much on the overall business plan and the accomplishment of multiple, often conflicting, goals.
Consequently , they attempt to accomplish many goals simultaneously and as a result lose focus.
MEASURING SUCCESS
When you become focused on a simple goal , the measure of success towards achieving the goal
becomes easier. A primary purpose is easy to measure. The activity, behavior or indecision is based
simply on the fact of whether or not the end result will bring you closer to your primary purpose. If your
primary purpose is to increase your sales this year, the answer to whether or not you should attend a
seminar that will help you close more sales, is of course, yes. Why? Because such a program will either
directly or indirectly get you closer to achieving your primary purpose. In this case increasing sales.
DEVELOPING A PRIMARY PURPOSE
A primary purpose is a powerful concept and must be chosen carefully. A few items to consider when
choosing a primary purpose are:
1. Make sure the purpose and it's achievement will benefit many parts of your life.
2. Tie all your daily actions to it. Remember it is your reason for being.
3. Don't let a day go by without doing something , no matter how small, to make your purpose more of
a reality.
4. Measure all your time and effort decisions in terms of whether or not it will bring you closer to
achieving your purpose.
5. Don't give up - DON'T EVER GIVE UP!
-Sean McArdle
THOUGHTS ARE LIKE ARROWS - ONCE RELEASED THEY HIT THEIR MARK. GUARD THEM WELL OR ONE DAY YOU WILL BECOME YOUR OWN VICTIM. (Navajo Proverb)
TRIED AND TRUE
For over 50 years , Dale Carnegie courses have been teaching the road to success. Lee Iacocca claims
that it was the confidence he acquired from a Carnegie course that lifted him from being a mediocre
manager to being a success.
Carnegie's practical advice is as relevant today as ever.
Be interested in the other person, ask them questions about themselves, and listen with interest. Avoid
condemning people. Put yourself in their shoes, try to understand their perspective. You can't win an
argument - avoid them. Show respect for the other person's opinion. If you are wrong , admit it and ask
forgiveness. To get co-operation , share the credit, make the other person feel like the new idea was also
his or hers. Listen to others and encourage their ideas. Praise people for every good thing they do, no
matter how small.
People who do these things will find it easier to work with people.
DO ONE THING TODAY THAT WILL GET YOU CLOSER TO YOUR GOAL.
The year 1997 is here. What will it bring? Every day of the coming year will be filled with
opportunity and possibilities. Every day will give you a chance to make your life count, to make a
difference, to grow, to learn, to achieve and to be the person you want to be.
Today you stand at the threshold of a New Year. A blank slate ready to be filled by you. The New
Year makes no promises , and has no guarantees other than this - every day will be filled with
challenges and opportunities. It is up to you to recognize the opportunities, to see the possibilities,
and to overcome the challenges. And by so doing , your life, and the world around you, will be
enriched.
You don't have to wish for a Happy New Year. You have the power to make it a truly happy year,
a year of fulfillment and accomplishment for you. A year that will lead to many great New Years.
It doesn't seem that long ago that we ushered in 1996, and 1998 is already looming in the
horizon.Time is precious, and we cannot save it up. We must use it as it comes or it is wasted.
You have within you the power and ability to solve every problem and deal with every challenge
that life presents you this year.
Your mind is a powerful tool that is always working to make your world the place you expect it to
be.. If you expect to be lonely, and sick and without money - then your mind will find a way to
make it come true. And when you expect to be healthy , prosperous and loved, then your mind will
find a way for that to happen.
Is what you expect for yourself the same as what you want for yourself? The people whom we view
as successful, are those who fully expect to get what they want, whatever that may be. And they
find a way to get it .
Do you even know what you want? Most people have a general idea of what they would like - a
bigger house, interesting friends, more money. But it's impossible to focus your mind to achieve
generalities. Your mind must have specific goals to reach them. Not just a "bigger house" but
specifically "what house, on what street, in what neighborhood, how many bedrooms, what color
carpet?"
Know what you want, fully expect to get it, and take the necessary actions to bring it about. Know
that there will be obstacles, and that you will find a way through them. YOU CAN DO IT.
One of the most challenging aspects of attaining success is to maintain a sense of urgency about your
work, while at the same time being patient enough to stick with it for as long as necessary. It takes belief , faith and confidence.
Belief in what you are doing. Faith that the value you are creating will eventually come back to you,
multiplied many times over. Confidence that comes from knowing that you are putting forth your very best effort.
If you work on something long enough, sincerely giving your best effort every day, constantly
looking for ways to improve your performance and the value that you bring to the work -
IT WILL SUCCEED
Climb aboard 1997 and hold on. Know where you are going, do your best work, give everything
you possibly can, every opportunity you get. Keep your eyes open - there's opportunity to improve
and succeed around every bend. Have fun. It's going to be a great ride and your efforts will be rewarded.
When one door closes, another opens, but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed
door that we do not see the ones open for us. -Alexander Graham Bell
TAKE TIME FOR PEACE
Rarely in today's world do we ever take time to enjoy a few peaceful moments. In this
interconnected, global business world, it is always "business hours" somewhere. And even when
we're not doing business, we're busy entertaining or being entertained, socializing, exercising, eating,
playing, sleeping, shopping, cleaning, gardening or keeping all our stuff maintained.
When was the last time you spent a quiet moment just doing nothing - just sitting looking at the lake,
or watching the wind blowing the tree limbs, or waves rippling on a pond, a flickering candle, a
crackling fireplace or children playing? When was the last time you didn't have something scheduled, that you could just relax and sit until you were ready to move on?
Sometimes we need to sort things out. Especially in this hurry up world. A few peaceful moments,
now and then can help us see more clearly. There is so much beauty around us, in the things we
hurry past every day. Take a deep breath. Relax and take in the abundance of life. Just stop and
enjoy.
FINDING MORE TIME
Have you ever had the feeling that there are not enough hours in the day to do everything that you
would like to accomplish?
What are you doing each day that doesn't have to be done? Are you watching any TV? Reading all
the negativity in the daily newspaper just because it's there? Stopping by the water cooler for a chat
with your friends at the office? If so, do you have to do all of these things?
All you have to do to find more time for things that you want to accomplish is to stop doing things
that don't have to be done.
That scares a lot of people. They don't have to give up their morning newspaper, or evening news,
or soap opera on TV or visits to the water cooler. If you feel like that , then try a different
approach.
Instead of eliminating the unnecessary activities, simply cut back on them. For that matter, why not
cut back on the time you spend on everything?
Think of it as a time tithe. The idea is to trim by 10% the amount of time you spend on each of your
daily activities. Then invest the extra time in something you've been longing to do, but couldn't find
the time for.
You might think that someone as busy as you are can't possibly trim any time from your daily
activities. But you can, everyone can.
The most curious principal of time management is that the less time we have to do something , the
more likely we are to get it done.. That's why deadlines work. That's why more people file their tax
returns the week before they're due than file them the entire month before they're due. That's why
stores on Christmas Eve are so full of people doing last minute shopping- because it's the last minute
they can shop.
The second most curious principal of time management is that the less time we have , the more we
tend to get things done. We force ourselves to concentrate on the things that are most important to
us and ignore the rest. That's why we so often accomplish more the day before we leave on
vacation than we do the week before,
The less you have of any precious resource the more you tend to stretch it to make do.
Start tithing your time with the activities that make up your daily routine. For example, You don't
have to give up your morning paper, just trim 10% from the time you currently spend reading it.
Trim 10% from the time you spend taking a shower, getting dressed each morning.
When you come home in the evening, trim 10% from the time you spend watching TV. Trim 10%
from the time you sleep each night. This alone will generate an extra half hour or so each day.
Whatever activities you perform each day, give yourself 10% less time to perform each one. They'll
still get done - and you'll free two and a half hours each day to devote to your top priorities.
The next time you catch yourself saying you don't have the time, remind yourself that it's not a
shortage of time that's your problem, but rather it's what you chose to with the twenty-four hours
you are given each day.
WHERE THERE'S A WILL....
The willingness to do something creates the ability to do it. If you are willing enough to get
something done, it will get done.. Don't spend too much time worrying about how it will get done.
You'll find a way if you are willing. Your willingness can summon enormous resources within
yourself and without, to bring about what you want.
So how do you create this powerful desire within yourself?
By knowing WHY. When you truly understand WHY you want something, you'll have the
willingness required to get it. And if you can't find a why, then you really don't want it in the first place. You can use willingness to turn around any negative, limiting thoughts that might creep into your mind. Just add the phrase" but I'm Willing to" and you instantly turn a negative into a positive , like this. "I don't know how to do this...But I'm willing to learn" or "My plan didn't work ...but I'm willing to keep trying until I succeed."
MORNING SMILE
A man and his 10 year old son were on a fishing trip miles from home.
At the boy's insistence they decided to attend Sunday worship services at a small rural church.
As they walked back to the car after the service, the father was filled with complaints. "The service
was too long," he lamented." The sermon was boring, and the singing was off-key."
"Daddy," the boy said, "I thought it was pretty good for a quarter."
OUTLOOK ON LIFE
Wouldn't it be great if everything went according to plan? If you always got your way? If everyone
always agreed with you? If you could easily have all the things you wanted? Wouldn't that be an
ideal life?
As great as that may seem, the reality is that things do not always go according to plan, we don't
always get our way, other people often think differently, and most things worth having are difficult to
come by. Is that so bad, though?
Not really. If things always went according to plan, there would be no
pleasant surprises. In fact we'd likely get stuck in a rut. Some of the most delightful experiences
come when we get sidetracked and must struggle to return on course.
What can we learn from people who always agree with us? Not much. The varied opinions of
others is what helps us grow in our own knowledge. The true value of anything is in the struggle and
effort that goes into getting it.
The things that come easy are usually of little value, regardless of what the price tag says. It's what
you put into it that matters. The happiest people are not those who always get their way , but rather
those who make the most of what they've been handed. It's those people who boldly face the
challenges of the world with a positive attitude and conquer the difficulties required to achieve their
heart's desire.
People who remain focused on the positive are often accused of being unrealistic. This is shallow
logic. Where there is hope, there is hope. That is to say that hope does not just occur, it is created
by being hopeful. It is never unrealistic to be positive because a positive outlook is ultimately self -
fulfilling.
A hopeless situation changes, as soon as someone cares. As soon as someone believes they can
make things better, there is hope.
Being positively focused is not unrealistic. It is, rather, a proactive approach to life. The pessimist
looks for proof and justification of his or her pessimism. The optimist , on the other hand, has no
such requirement, because the optimist is not content to settle for things the way they are. Positive
thinking acknowledges circumstances and reality without surrendering power to it. The optimist
knows that reality can be changed for the better, and looks for possibilities to do so.
Able to see the positive aspects in any circumstance, the Optimist begins the process of actually
bringing it about. They see it in their mind first, then their mind starts the process of creating that
thought in the physical world.
Suppose you were driving along a mountain highway when you heard the sound of your right front
tire blowing out. As you feel the pull that is forcing you closer and closer to the cliff, you deem this
to be a very dangerous situation as you could plunge to the depths of the cliff if you don't get control of
the vehicle. What should you do?
You could thing that this is an impossible situation and simply let go of the wheel as there is nothing
you can do to avoid it. Or you could think positively and come to the conclusion that there is a
chance of keeping your car on the highway and do everything in your power to control the vehicle,
thus avoiding imminent death.
Is that unrealistic? The pessimists of the world would say so. You'd be much better served ,
however, by having positive hopefulness and doing what you can to make it materialize.
Things are not always rosy. In fact, they rarely are. Acknowledge the negative , then focus on the
positive, and you'll begin to make things better.
FEW CASES OF EYESTRAIN HAVE DEVELOPED FROM LOOKING AT THE BRIGHTER SIDE OF THINGS
DAILY ALLOWANCE
If you had a bank account that every morning credited your account with $86,400.00, carried over
no balance, allowed no cash to remain in the account, and at the end of the day , canceled what you
failed to use- what would you do? Withdraw it fast - correct?
Believe it or not, you do have this account , and it is called Time. Each morning it gives you 86,400
seconds. Whatever is not used is lost. There are no balances carried over to the next day, no
overdrafts, and all the records are burned when the day ends . If you don't use the daily deposit the
loss is all yours.
There are no returns - no drawings against tomorrow. You live in the present on today's deposit, it
is up to you to invest and use it wisely - or lose it altogether.
The great dividing line between success and failure can be expressed in six words "I did not make
the time."
Morning Smile
An employee walked into the boss's office and said " You'll have to give me a raise, Sir Three
companies anxiously want me."
"Really?" the boss replied. "What three companies?"
Looking his boss straight in the eye, the employee calmly replied, "The Electric Company, The Telephone Company and the Gas Company."
-
-
-