Only if you're willing to fail will you grow bigger

Hey, you, it’s 2014. I know that may be obvious to you, but for a moment let that thought roll around your brain. Recently someone referred to “10 years ago) and I realized my thought was, “Oh, back in the 1990s." Then, I had to do a double-take. 

10 years ago was 2004

When you go to “rewind and review" mode, what comes to your mind? Knowing a bit about how the psyche works, I know there’s a fight - at least a tennis match - that occurs mentally. The binary choice is between:

Remembering the wins, the good times, the successes.

Remembering the losses, the bad times, the failures.

Now, you tell me: Which ones come to your mind first? You know the saying that Tony Robbins drilled in to our minds in his tape program 20 years ago, right? (I can’t believe it’s been 20 years since I first listened to one of his programs; he was known as Anthony Robbins at the time!)

“We move toward pleasure, and away from pain."

Listen, Robbins was NOT the first person to say that, nor will he be the last. Look at anyone living. Or dying, if you have someone in your life fighting right now. They are looking to get better; feel better; be better.

We SHOULD study our failure.

There’s SO much information in our failures, it’s amazing. Before I share with you the three things to think about when you consider failure, let’s take a look at what failure provides.

Failure means:

1. We stepped in to the unknown.
2. We attempted something bigger.
3. We were focused on something new.
4. We believed it was possible to get there.

What would YOU say #5 is? Leave it in the comment area below; I’m going to pick one commenter and provide you with a 7-day membership with full access to the HABITS theme at Get Momentum.

What can we learn from failure?

There are three things that we can learn from our failures. When we can look back on what happened and realize that by taking that step toward what we didn’t know how to do, we put ourselves in a position to grow, and go further…faster. You’re the kind of person who wants this, believe me...

When you look back on the last decade or so, what do you remember the most? Was it something you wanted to do, but didn’t? What about a goal you worked on, but didn’t turn out like you’d hoped it would?

If you DON’T achieve what you set out to accomplish, do you call it:

Failure… ?

Before we go much further, let’s take a look at what the dictionary says “Failure” is:

lack of success; the omission of expected or required action; a lack or deficiency of a desirable quality

For a moment, I want you to take on the feeling you had when you experienced something that you feel was a failure. For a moment, let that roll around your mind, and your body. What comes up for you? Is it chronic and lasting? Sharp and acute? Can you see it in your minds’ eye, or hear the conversation going on? Personally, the one I am focused on right now is all-encompassing. I can literally feel myself balled up in a confused state of discomfort and loss...

 Now, with that feeling of experience right there, let’s look at the three things that we learn from failure:

1. Lack Success

Success, such a subjective term. When you pull to mind that failure you experienced - at least for me and the one I’m thinking of - it is a matter of what you wanted NOT matching the experience you got. Hmmmm, what an interesting position to be in. You know, I’ve seen more people spend SO MUCH time explaining that they didn’t get what they wanted, and how they really wanted it. They avoid discussing what they really SHOULD be talking about…how they were not (1) educated, (2) informed, (3) equipped, or (4) persistent enough to get it.

“Always be yourself, express yourself, have faith in yourself, do not go out and look for a successful personality and duplicate it.”
- Bruce Lee 

In my book, Your Best Just Got Better, I share a story that BJ Bedford Miller told me about her making the United States Olympic Swim Team (after “failing” at the Olympic Trials twice!). When I asked her for some of her “secrets” to success, the two she gave me were: Stay Focused, Do the Work Necessary. If you only read once chapter of that book, start with Chapter 4. That chapter is written, and the activities are designed, to give you the step-by-step experience you need to stay focused on what you need and take advantage of the next two lessons in failure.

2. Omit the Required Action

Who are you? You’re a leader. You own a small business. You’re a parent. You serve the community. You influence others. You’re you...

Then, one day you wake up and realize it’s not enough. You want more. You want to BE, and DO, and HAVE more. But, you’ll have to recognize that the effort you’ve made to get you HERE is not equal to the work it’s going to take to get THERE. Where is your there? More responsibility? More employees and customers? More, better student-athlete? More community involvement? You get the point…more is more.

“Apply what you know: Just knowing is not enough, you must apply; willing is not enough, you must do. Test your self all the time.”
- Bruce Lee 

I’ve stopped reading the “quick tips” articles that abound on the internet. I don’t need another 4 ways to do this, 7 things to have to get that, 3 factors to avoid if… you get the point. I already know what I need to do, the biggest decision I have to make is whether I will STOP doing some of the things that get in my way of doing what I need to do. Oh by, that’s a big decision to make...

3. Lack a Desired Quality

When you’re moving toward a new level - a new position professionally, a new circle socially, a new experience emotionally - you’re going to have to check (and test) your qualities. I’ve seen some of the most determined and “hard-headed” people you’ll ever meet. And, I can usually tell you within a few minutes of talking with them if they’re going to “make it” or not. Now, of course “making it” is completely an opinion I have made up that may or may not have any value to add to their experience…but, here’s how Bruce Lee put it:

“Be flexible in your approach, learn from everybody and everything, don’t get locked in a particular style.”

What you have, who you are, what you do, where you go, when you experience joy, how you live over the next 60 months is going to come down to the 5 or so people you’ll spend time with. Look, you want to change your life? Change who you spend time with. You want to find new work to earn an income? Find people who have the kinds of experiences at their work that you would be interested in having?

Careful, don’t just try and find someone with a “JOB” you recognize, that’s rookie.

Want to know how I do it? I’ll email you one of my tactics, just send me a note via the contact page at Get Momentum…just click here.

Failure…it’s the experience you get to tap the “reset” button and go at it anew. If you can dream it - said Napoleon Hill - you can achieve it. Just remember to be yourself, to do the work necessary, and to always - ALWAYS - strive to be better.

 

 

 

Need some extra time this holiday season?

I believe that we actually get MORE free time during the Holidays than any other time of the year.
(Especially if you travel!)

YOU may not think this is true because you are not (yet) ready to take advantage of all the “extra” time that I am confident is going to come your way. Think of it as the “hurry up and wait” season...

Have you ever experienced something like this:

“You’re on your way to a meeting or an event - or maybe a family holiday gathering! Suddenly, something happens that surprises you, and you find yourself waiting. Maybe the people you’re meeting with are running late, your flight is delayed, or the commute is extremely long…"
What do you do with that “extra” time?

These windows of time are wasted if you’re not prepared.

The reason I prepare so intensely is that I want to get as much of the little stuff done and out of the way during these nonessential times. Then when I do arrive, I have time to relax and enjoy the time with my friends and family!

A Little Goes a Long Way

Take 1% of your day (= 15 minutes) right now and prepare for what you can do when you’re surprised with some of this “extra” time. (I’ve shared SOME of the items from my list this year below…)

Ok, so besides those thank you cards that I wrote about a while back, here are the rest of the “Top 10” things I know I can do in about 15 minutes.

Feel free to use this list while you make your own!
9. Unpack, purge and repack my travel bag or wallet
8. Start a “Jason’s Update” letter to send to one of my mentors
7. Review and organize the articles and content folders in my “cloud” storage
6. Do a “mind dump;” write down a list of +50 things that have my attention
5. Update the apps/icons on my SmartPhone, make sure what I need is  there
4. Clean up the desktop of my laptop computer (file, delete, share)
3. Listen to podcasts or audiobooks that I’ve downloaded to my SmartPhone
2. Review my calendar for the next 3 weeks looking for appointments/reservations to make
1. Call my mom (my dad, my sister, or a good friend)

More time is lost during the Holidays than any other time of year

It’s not hard to see why the Holidays are a perfect time to set yourself up for success by having at least one small task that you could do to push your mission forward.

Don’t think too hard about this -- your 15 minute activities might be listening to a podcast, researching gifts on your mobile phone, or simply slowing down and enjoying the moment (yes, you can consider this meditation as a task).

What is ONE 15-minute activity that you are going to focus on this Holiday season? Please type it in the comment section below. I’m curious to see what you’re hoping to accomplish. (Also, I look forward to all of us reading this post and getting ideas from one another.)

I wish you the BEST for a happy and stress-less Holiday season.

Want to achieve more? Do these 3 things.

Have you ever found yourself reflecting on a conversation long (even years) after you had it? I have. In fact, here’s one that I’m about to celebrate a new anniversary of: In 2011, a mentor of mine said:

“You’ve got to find a problem you can fall in love with. A problem that draws you in, teases you, and brings out the best in you."

If you want write that in a notebook. Memorize it. Say it to yourself in the morning as you drive/commute to work. Since Rao asked me that question years ago, I’ve been thinking, dreaming, wondering, and building with that prompt in mind. It was something he said over a #CoffeeChat in #Ventura, CA and I’ve used it to create workshops, write speeches, write books, and advise clients worldwide. When it’s time to create something and bring it to the planet, you (no doubt in my mind) want to experience success.

Have you discovered YOUR question yet??? I have…”How do I continue to get better, do less, and experience more in this short time I have on the planet?"

My grandpa passed away recently. For all 42.5 years I’ve been on the planet, I’ve known him as a man of integrity, someone who could guide me to change my mind by simply “looking my way,” and a grandpa who gave me my name (we both have Wayne as our middle name…). I learned a LOT from my grandpa. A LOT. As I prepare for the new year, and look forward to getting “teased” by the problem I’ve fallen in love with, I’m putting together a series of discussions - in person AND on line - to share ideas of problem solving and engagement with the communities I’m a part of.

Will I see at an upcoming #CoffeeChat (click here) or during an online Town Hall at Get Momentum (and, click HERE). Over the next few months, here are the topics we’ll explore. They are what I call the “not so secret steps to success."

Show Up

Recently, a Get Momentum member (and graduate of our past two Leadership Retreat programs in Ojai, CA) invited me to discuss the Get Momentum tenets of “FutureCasting” in to the new year with a small group of her most trusted clients AND advisors. Ranjani Mohana is an extremely successful small business owner in the Silicon Valley, and over the past few years, I’ve worked as her coach as she continues to “Show Up.” She builds her network by looking for ways to be of service. Think about that...

So, here’s the tactic I can recommend: Open your calendar - right now - and block out a MINIMUM of 12 days over the next 12 months. You can do 2-3 days a time, or 1 day a month, whatever you think might work for you. Your goal, find somewhere you can “show up,” at a meeting, a conference, an event, where your question can be “tested.” (You know, the problem you’ve fallen in love with.) 

I’ve got 9 of my 12 mapped out for 2015. Wanna talk about them? Want to meet me there? Let me know!

Do Good Work

"Good"…It’s such a darned relative word. What does “good work” mean to you? Is it work you enjoy doing? Is it work you get paid (well) to do? Is it work that you give away? Is it ALL of that? Or, is it something totally different? I know, I know, that was a long list of questions. But, it’s important that you know - from the get go - what “good work” means to you.

At the end of the day, for the next 5 days or so, do yourself a favor: Write down the times during that day where and when you were WAY engaged. When did time seem to disappear? Where did you notice that your energy was rockin’ at a night level? Where did you feel like you were doing “who” you are, not just what you do? Keep track of this over a week so you can do some kind of Weekly Review at the end. In there will be a lot (and I mean a LOT) of information.

Ok, so I’ve been writing in a daily journal at the end of each day since 1997. I answer the same three prompts at the end of the day, and I’d love to share that with you. Members of Get Momentum will tell you that these discussions around “searching for the good work” are always worth the time. Welcome!

Stay In Touch

Accountability. To the project. To the people. To the process. When you are there, time-and-time again, for the work that needs to be done, for the people you work with, and for all of the activities that need to happen in order to achieve success, you will find more and more opportunities coming your way. The people around you - what I call your “Social Network” - are the ones that are going to look forward to your call. They are the ones who will turn to you for assistance. And, they are the ones who will refer you to others, when the time is right. 

Today, right now in fact, go through your “Sent Items” in email. Look back over the last 30 days, and identify the people you’ve emailed who are “new” to your network. Then, as you think about who they are, what they work on, what keeps them busy, ask yourself this question, “Is there anything I can do to be of service?"

I’ve said it before, and I know I’ll say it again: “The best time to build your network is when you have something to give.”

What did I miss?

As YOU think about the secrets to success, what would you add to that list of four?

Simple, natural ways to get #Better

Do you know of a powerful way to make significant changes to the way you get things done? In life, and at work, you have a “way of being.” I remember reading that book a long time ago by Carl Rogers, and my main take-away was: I’ve got to question what I do, to know if what I do is working...

Via twitter, I met a guy named Marc. He has started a podcast (he’s still rockin’ and rollin’, talking with people all over the world). Recently, he and I had a chat on his “Natural Born Coaches” podcast and I gotta tell you, there’s some gold in there! 

Throughout our 35 minute conversation, he asked some great questions that caused me to think. I did my best to share my insights on what it takes to build not just a coaching business, but any business! Oh, and a MAJOR plus, he read the book before we talked!

Click here to see the podcast, along with Marc’s notes...

Or, of course, if you’re an iTunes podcast subscriber, here’s the link!

After you listen, leave a comment on it or send me a message to let me know what stood out most for you! You can ALWAYS send me a message via http://www.GetMomentum.co/contact

12 months from now...

How DO you really think about your future?

 

Good morning, we're getting some much-needed rain here in Ojai this week.

One thing I know: This rain is what we need for those flowers to grow and the lakes can fill. (You see, I like to hike and race triathlon in the Spring!)

 

Sometime this month, please (PLEASE!) do yourself a favor and visit the MODULE of this month's Momentum Theme: http://www.FutureCast.Life

 

And, if you have 5 minutes to spare today, please DO add your comment to the prompt at LinkedIn (Members click here…)

 

We're asking GM Members around the world to share THEIR best practices. Let's all learn from one another!

 

Are you thinking the #Best way you can be thinking?

If it were easier to achieve more success at work, and more joy in your personal life, would you want to know how? It’s a very serious/honest question. I have a feeling that sometimes, some people look out and see how hard things are - in their life, at their jobs.

So, imagine my thinking when I parked my car at the LAX airport last week and looked toward the east to see this billboard about the coming “World Games.” It was exactly what I needed to see to “remind myself” that I do - in fact - have things pretty darned easy.

It was a great start to my trip, as I’ve been thinking ever since about how quickly we’re coming in to the end of this year.

Here is a link to the 5 questions I suggest you ask THIS WEEK. Each one has been carefully crafted to get (and keep) you thinking through the few days to come.

Have you stopped to ask yourself if you’ll achieve more success* in 2015? Stop, right now, and think about it: There are just 45 days left in the calendar year.

What you do over the next 6 or so weeks can lay the foundation for a much, much more successful year next year.

If you want to achieve your next level of success - in life and at work - be sure to answer these four questions.

—> click here <— 

*Of COURSE it’s necessary for you to identify what the word “Success” means to you. When I jumped over to Wiktionary.org, here’s what I found: 

The achievement of one's aim or goal. [from 16th c.]

One who, or that which, achieves assumed goals.

The fact of getting or achieving wealth, respect, or fame.

Productivity Tips (While you're out on the road...)

Since 1997, I’ve looked to learn by getting away from it all…So I can come back to more.

Where Do You Do What You Do?

When asked, “Why are you on the road so much?” I reply, “I go to learn, I go to experience, I go to see new things.” I can work on an American Airlines flight over the Atlantic or Pacific Ocean, set up a “temporary office” at a Starwood hotel, or review client notes at a locally-owned, community-focused coffee shop. In fact, I wrote the book Your Best Just Got Better while I was traveling across 4 different countries, visiting more than 15 cities, working wit more than 20 clients...
Pause for a moment…Before you read the 5 tips below, ask yourself WHERE you work, and where you get your BEST work done. Over the next 5 days, position yourself where and when you can get the right things done.
So, what are some of the productivity tips I count on to get things done, move forward on my biggest priorities, and enjoy life to the fullest? Here, I’ll share a few with you. My only ask, will YOU share one of YOUR tips in the comment area below? Each week for the next month I’ll review and comment on your comments - and one lucky writer will win a signed copy of my book!

Productivity Tips

Let’s do this in a Question and Answer format. Ready?

1. How do I streamline my work and my effort?
There are two tactics I use every day that I need to be engaged and productive. (Full Transparency: That’s most days. I can’t really tell the difference between being on stage working with a client group, racing a triathlon, or writing a chapter for an upcoming book…)

Tactic #1: I choose a maximum of THREE Most Important Things for each day. MITs are topics - or areas of focus - that I commit to working on throughout the day. They’re bigger than tasks, and smaller than year-long objectives. Generally, I set the MITs for the week on Sunday or Monday. I use these as “Guideposts” during the week. Generally, SOMEthing will come in to test my resolve as to whether I’ll stay true to the plan. Then, at the end of the week I have something to measure my progress against. Namely, the question: “Did I do what I said I would do?"

Tactic: 2: The “Ideal Day Process” that I write about in chapter one of Your Best Just Got Better. (Download the chapter for free right here.) Here’s what I do: I choose a pretty big day sometime in the near future. A work day. A triathlon competition day. A writing day. A travel day. A day off with Jodi… It doesn’t matter what KIND of day; it only matters that it’s an important one and it’s about a week or a month out in the future.

Next, I take out a piece of paper and on top of that paper I write, “If this day were a great day…” and then I write about 8 to 10 paragraphs. I call this my Ideal Day Process; it’s a time when I give myself the gift of my own attention and focus on what the day would be like if everything went well. Often, I’ll surprise myself the more I write. After I finish writing it, I’ll ask myself the question, “Now, is there anything I can do ahead of time that will increase the likelihood that what I wrote can happen?”

I always add a few things to my To Do list.

2. What is my everyday struggle?
The hardest thing we have to do as knowledge workers is decide what opportunity to turn down. Just recently, a local organization came to Jodi and I and asked if we’d want to head up a leadership development program for high school students in our local community. There was ample support from different community-based civic and business organizations, and the timing of the roll-out was far enough away that we “could have possibly” managed it.
It took Jodi and I two long walks, and three dinners of discussion before we came to our final answer. “No.” It was difficult, but looking out over the next 24 months we have so many things coming toward us, and our attention is so much dedicated to growing a part of our business that I had to put my foot down and say that we couldn’t do it. Is there remorse?
Or retreat? That’s the hardest thing about being productive. When I do say “No” to something, I will always wonder: “Should I have done it?” The answer - when and if it comes - is always delayed…Sometimes coming much, much later.

3. What are my favorite productivity “tools?"
I must say my favorite productivity tools are varied. It’s going to help to understand what I even mean when I use the word productive. So, here’s my definition:
“I am productive when I do what I say I was going to do in the time that I promised."

Now, that being said, I’ll use almost ANYthing to help me be productive. But, my FAVORITE tools would have to be:

• A pen
• A notebook
• A whiteboard
• A camera
• A digital list manager
• A digital (online/shareable) calendar
• A telephone

As I think about the work I do and the clients I do it for, those would have to be the “tools of choice” that I turn to time and time again.

4. How do I clear the roadblocks?
I have a philosophy here: Once I notice a roadblock, it’s too late. When I’m not motivated is the worst time to try to pump myself up. When I don’t feel like working out, that’s the wrong time to hit the open road or run along the trails. So, I have milestones in place. Each Thursday I ask myself the Weekly Decompress questions that we devised (see www.GetMomentum.co/decompresslite).

These four questions cause me to focus on what it is I’ve done over the past few days, and also put me in a mindset to avoid the roadblocks that I intuit are coming around the corner.
When it comes to getting the right things done, half the battle is knowing that I don’t know all the moving pieces. At some point, something is going to come my way and knock me off balance. The real trick is to have as grounded a position as possible BEFORE the knock...

5. Do I use mobile devices (phones, phablets, tablets, laptops) to get things done?

Ok, so I’ve got them all:

• iPhone
• Nexus
• iPad
• MacBook Pro

Each one has specific uses, and I tend to NOT blend them. That is, my Nexus 5 is a GREAT digital “consumption” device where my MacBook is a great “creation” tool. My iPad is good for raw text entry (first draft of this blog post for example) while my iPhone is perfect for taking pictures of notes I take in meetings on a whiteboard or in a notebook.

The most important - and productive thing - I help people do is decide HOW to use each of their productivity tools to the best of their ability...

As you think about the week ahead, you’ll see how you can be as productive as ever, just about anywhere you find yourself. At the office, at the kitchen counter, in the living room, on an airplane, at an airport, in a hotel room…Getting things done is about ending a work session and feeling like you made something better. That’s the arbiter of a good day at work (or in life).

What's the promise AND effective habit-building?

Do you do things that are challenging? Is there a part of your day that’s more difficult than other times? Are things hard? Think about your habits, and you’ll think about changing your life...

The promise...The effect

It's probably easy to think about the EFFECT of building a habit, but when was the last time you paused to reflect on the question of starting a new habit in the first place?

Let's take health and fitness, for example: Last Thursday and Friday I hiked 52 miles in 37 hours! During my journey, I recorded three videos for you while I was in the Grand Canyon. Click on the picture above to see #3 in the series!

Over the past 5 months I had had this series of hikes on my mind. I practiced, I rehearsed, I planned...And, along the way, I realized that success (or failure) was going to come down to one factor: The Health Habit.

So, that got me started thinking, "How do we identify, form, practice, and take on new habits?"

Three Questions:

1. Do you have any bad habits?
2. Have you thought about replacing them with better habits?
3. Would you like a little help in creating new and better habits?

Before you continue reading, watch that third VIDEO I made for you while walking through the Grand Canyon last Friday.

NOTE: I had been hiking for almost 45 miles by this time, and I’m a little short of breath as I was up around 7,500 feet / 2,500 meters altitude…

Now for the BIG news:

This month’s THEME at Get Momentum launches today!

I’d love for you to be a part of this, so click here to join, ok?

Look, each month, Get Momentum members around the world study one Leadership Skill…

...this month, you could be learning how to answer these questions.

• What are good habits?
• How do you make new habits?
• How to you turn habits into routines?

All of this will be answered during the month of Leadership Development Training at GetMomentum.co

See you there!

By the way, when you join as a member of Get Momentum, not only will it get you access to this month’s theme, but it will also give you the momentum you desperately need to achieve more in life and at work.

• You get FULL access to the entire archive of more than 15 other Leadership Themes.
• You are invited to join a Private, online discussion group of fellow Momentum Members.
• You get me as your coach, holding you accountable to your goals – personal OR professional.
• You get a three-month membership to getAbstract.com book summaries.
• You could get 5 extra copies of my best-selling book, Your Best Just Got Better.
• And more…join today

Oh, and in case you're interested, I'll be doing that hike again next September. Want to join? Just let me know!

Your way...Is it working for you?

Do you have your own way?

Recently, a journalist reached out after reading Your Best Just Got Better (chapter 1 here) and asked:

“Do you have a list of “To Dos” that you you make sure to do every day?"

I opened up my favorite application for “free-thinking” and wrote out a quick mind-map of the things that I know “if I do, my day is #Better.” So, here’s my list:

1. Start the day w/ gratitude. Write a letter to a client, vendor, author, or other to let them know what what THEY do makes MY life better.
2. Increase the heart rate, for at least 30 minutes. Walk, ride, run, swim, do SOMEthing to strengthen the HEART muscle; I need that blood system runnin' to strengthen the MENTAL muscle.
3. Eat. Better. The NEXT 5 hours of productivity will be affected by what I do/don't put into the system right now. Snacks that are high in fat, low in sugar...At least two a day.
4. Think big...As in "Predict. Adapt. Improve." I know that my work and my world 12 months from now will be limited by the thoughts I didn't have today. So, I do this by reading, watching, listening or interviewing someone to help me think bigger.
5. Scan social media, find a place to lend a comment, idea, activity, etc ... something that comes from http://wmck.co/ybjgbreviews that could help that person move further...Faster.
   
   

Think about it, these are not just “To” dos, for me they are the things that increase the likelihood that I’ll have a good day. No, it’s not a guarantee, but boy does it go a long way in creating the conditions that are just right.

How about you? What are your “Must Dos” that help you have better days?

Don't let this happen - change your social network!

The Right Kind…

 

Mark your calendar - and mark my words - 12 months from now your personal world will depend on your professional network.

 

Years ago, I studied “The Pareto Principle.” The idea that 80% of our results can come from just 20% of our resources or our efforts (or, some combination thereof). I decided to see what would happen if I applied this concept to my social network.

Before Facebook Existed

If you’ve read the book, Your Best Just Got Better, you saw that chapter 5 is titled, “Improvement and Your Social Network.” But, the network I’m talking about existed long before LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter or Instagram (or…whatever social sharing site is coming up next!). The network you are a part of includes your family, your teachers, your co-workers and your neighbors.

Now, much like the “social network and sharing sites” today, the people you spend time with can influence what you do, what you believe is possible, and what you achieve. It’s not for you to just believe that; spend a few minutes putting this theory to the test. Test it, before you buy it.

The 5 People…

This was a wild experiment I ran in 1998; I remember it like it was yesterday. On the white board in my office I wrote the names of the 5 people I was spending the most time with. The list included my then-girlfriend, a work colleague, and a mentor I met with about once month. Next to each of their names, I wrote things that I could imagine such as:

1. About how much money they earned.

2. About how many vacations they took last year.

3. About how many movies we talked about seeing.

4. About how many books we discussed.

5. The “most common” topics we talked about, when we had time.

Then Came the Shock

I realized that these 5 people had actually created a limitation; I was only able to see, think, and be about the average of those around me. Sure, I wanted to believe that I could be the “tall poppy,” but when it came down to it, I was living about the average of those 5 people. I was making about the average in salary, taking about the average in vacations, going to about the average in seminars and conferences.

But, in my heart and mind…I’m not average!

Who Are You Meeting Along The Way?

Look, over the next 30 days, I challenge you to end the day with a simple process. Write down the names of people you meet each day. One person, 10 people, people you may meet with again, and people you’re likely never going to see again. Be aware of people’s names as they introduce themselves to you, and watch what happens over the next 30 days.

Really, watch what happens over the next 365 days.

Your peer group (peer: a person of the same age, status, or ability as another specified person) may be the most significant limitation you experience, personally AND professionally.

You need to find people who will push on you, and you need to push on them. Raise the bar, hear the truth, and make a different.

What is the next thing for you to do to find your next group of “personal change makers”?

Technology and Productivity: Are you "byte-lingual"?

Learn the language of technology to become more productive (save time) every day; become byte-lingual.

How would you rate your overall "fluency" with your technology and tools? You use your email system and SMART phone every day; what would the impact be if you learned one new productivity feature each week for a year?

Three Ways to Become Byte-Lingual

Seek Micro-Improvements. Saving YouTube learning videos to my computer to watch later, programming special “shortcuts” in to my smart phone and learning the speed keys across my most frequently used applications alone saves at least 15 minutes a day.

Observe others. Years ago, I watched someone download a YouTube video to their computer, edit the parts of the video they wanted to show in a meeting, and then import that video clip in to their PowerPoint presentation. That one hour changed my life; I save about 2 hours each presentation I create (plus, no more headache of having to be “online” during every client presentation).

Watch Online Video Tutorials: Visit video (or product) websites to learn about the product (service, program, etc) you’re interested in. Watch these “bite-sized” videos, and learn more…faster. Also, consider leaving a tip (or a question) in the comment area below!

For more ideas, visit: http://wmck.co/byte-lingual

Using tools, applications and gear more effectively, you could be saving anywhere from 30 minutes to 90 minutes of time…every day. Imagine of your team of 5 people had 120 hours of “extra” time this coming year. What would you be able to get done?

“where we come from” is more important than we may think

Are you an influential leader?

What causes a person to think of herself or himself as a “leader?” 

Look out at the community you live and work in and identify those brave enough to stand up and say, “I am a leader.”
This month, Get Momentum members around the world have the opportunity to learn from one of our country's greatest leaders: Frances Hesselbein.

Now, just because you haven’t heard of her yet doesn’t mean you can skip this email.
I can give you just a few reasons you’d want to sit down with her - “knee to knee” as she says in our video interview available exclusively to Get Momentum members - and partake of the wisdom she so willingly shares.

* She was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom

* She has received more than 20 Honorary Doctoral Degrees

* She has written 3 books, and edited 27 books in nearly 30 languages

* FOUR American Presidents have recognized her as one of our country's greatest leaders

The Get Momentum Theme for September:

“You: The Influential Leader”

As your Productivity Coach, I spent more than 6 years getting to know Frances, and just 50 minutes interviewing Frances. I've watched that interview three times this month, and I'll share three things I'm sure of:

- Influence: “Who” we spend time with changes “what” we believe is possible. If you're going to be a better leader, you have to spend time with the most influential people.

- Community: The groups we lead (family, friends, colleagues, communities) want to follow us...if they trust us.

- Leadership: Today is the most important time in history for us to step up and BE leaders.

And, a BONUS...Ready?

- Productivity: There is a myth that we need to “do” anything more; truth is, “Leadership is a matter of how to BE, not what to do.”

How would YOU like to learn from a mentor, a teacher, a leader and a (newfound) friend who has more than NINE DECADES of experience?

She’s willing and able to share her perspective on how we can be better, and in less than an hour you’ll have the information and inspiration you need to make a difference.

 

*** Members of Get Momentum ***

Sign In at: GetMomentum.co and look for the following highlights during this month’s Success Profile video w/ Frances Hesselbein.

18:13 - The “who” we spend time with WILL positively & negatively influence how we are as leaders.

21:31 - How “love” changes everything from a leaders’ perspective.

24:44 - More than ever - in the current political and economic world we live in - THIS is the most important thing to emphasize…

29:11 - How “where we come from” is more important than we may think.

31:49 - How one conversation in a Presbyterian church put Frances in charge of a few girls, and...

... how that ultimately led to her being asked to serve as the CEO of the Girl Scouts of the USA (1976-1990).

Can you ever know if it's REALLY worth it?

You know those days that go “Productively Weird?” A meeting you’ve looked forward to gets cancelled. You feel stressed out and stuck. You don’t have the motivation you know you need. When you’re out of it, do you know how to get back?

How Do You Know If It Matters?

It’s important to stay balanced between overwhelmed and uber-productive; getting things done can’t be the only goal, you’ve got to experience the feeling that momentum provides. You’re engaged, you’re proud of what you’re doing, you’re being the “You” that others can count on.

Even with a plan (or elegantly organized list of to-do items), days can still go weird. There are 5 things you can do to reset your brain to get that next task done. Oh, and these work for any kinds of tasks: The creative ones and the more analytical, left-brained to-dos.

After you read through these ideas, add a 6th way that you reset yourself and ensure setbacks don’t sabotage your day’s productivity level.

Get Ready to Get Things Done #Better Than Ever Before

Any of these 5 approaches can save your psyche for maximum performance at a moment’s notice:

1. Rethink what you DO manage. (Hint: It’s NOT time.) You don’t finish a day and recount what you did minute-by-minute. Instead, you reflect back on accomplishing a project, a presenting information effectively and making a sale, or even hearing back about a budget issue, etc. Managing yourself implies you know what to do next and you’re ready to engage. Mentally, flip-forward to the end of the day and ask yourself: “What are some of the things I’d like to have done?” Big ones, little ones, everything in between … then, see if you can set yourself up so that when things go weird, you focus on taking action.

2. Reprogram Your Breathing. It only takes 10 deep breaths to consciously change your breathing, which in turn changes your mindset and calms you. This practice is performed in biofeedback sessions the world over, and can be done right at your desk or workspace. Breathe in slowly for five seconds, and then out for another five seconds. Repeat this 10 times and note how you feel. This small relaxation technique might be just what you need to clear your head and move on to your next task.

3. Change Your Scenery. If a schedule change or a productivity misstep leaves you frazzled, sometimes you just need to walk away. Stepping away from your computer to take a walk around the block or to get some water can refresh your energy to your pre-thrown-for-a-loop levels. If a physical change isn’t possible, or you feel pressed for time, try switching up your tools: If your task is creative, for example, try writing with a legal pad instead of using the computer. Or, combine these two suggestions by printing out your latest draft and taking it with you to an area of your workspace where you can see sit in a comfortable chair or look out a window.

4. Reach Out and Vent. Getting rid of the negative vibes that unforeseen circumstances create can be a recipe for renewal. Sometimes all you need is a five-minute conversation with a trusted friend or colleague to vent your frustration. Just be sure to keep it brief (so as not to stew, causing further negativity), and be careful not to disclose any confidential information. Once you’ve purged your mind of all your reactionary feelings, you’ll have made room for positive feelings about how to readjust your day.

5. Take a TV Timeout. Before you get the wrong idea, we’re not suggesting you watch TV to escape your frustration! Rather, think of how live sporting events are required to take a quick break in the action and make it mandatory for yourself to tackle a task that you can achieve in two minutes or less. Send a couple follow-up emails, make a phone call or archive some files. Choose something easy, and not only will it allow you to quickly shift your focus to another topic, but it’ll also give you the confidence you need to get your head back in the game.

Try any of these five techniques, one at a time, and see which resonate with your work process. You may surprise yourself by how quickly you can recover when things go awry. Allowing a break in focus when you need to recalibrate, refocus and reengage in what needs to be done next on any given day will elevate your productivity status — and your mindset — from sabotaged to successful.

How about you? How do YOU figure out if it's worth it? If it matters?

You...Only better. On call!

How many times have you heard that alarm clock ring/start/go off, and you thought, “Oh goody, another start to the day?"

Ok, ok, stop laughing. What follows is a really, REALLY important question:

What are your morning rituals? I believe that how we begin the day is a pretty good indicator of the kind of day we’re going to experience. Wake up tired, cranky and short-tempered, you might want to warn people. Wake up ready to move on the “mission,” and make big things happen? Connect with someone in your physical and/or virtual network and ask them to hold you accountable!

Here’s another question that “may” be worth asking:

“When I start the day thinking about potential, possibility and abundance, how does what happens that day change?"

Look, when you start the day behind, looking forward to the end of the day, feeling lonely/frustrated/upset (or all three!), what you do and who you are and how you show up is negatively affected. You don’t want to be “that guy” do you?

What you do early in the morning…That’s your time to “choose your life.” Choose to live. To bring life to the next thing. To “be” all you can be, while you’re doing all you’re doing.

So, here’s the scenario:

The alarm rings, and it's time to start another day. Will it be a productive one? Will clients return the calls you make? Will you be able to provide the best service you can throughout the day? These are questions people have on their minds, whether they're the CEO of Fortune 100 company, an individual contributor within that organization, or a community member with a vision of how things could be better!

Each new morning, we're given the opportunity to engage in habits we’ve put in to place to get us to where we are. What are some of yours? And, are they going to be enough to take you to the next level of who you want to be?

I recently spent 6 months coaching a client with a very focused goal: She wanted to get her most important work done before 11am every day. After spending more than 10 years  building her business, she found that what she does in that early part of the day always produces positive results.

Instead of beginning with a new set of routines, we started a basic tracking system. For the first 2 weeks, we talked regularly (sometimes daily) as she created an honest inventory of her morning routine. Once we knew that there were more than 30 things she was doing between the time she woke up and about 11am, then we began to monitor that routine.

Where did we start? She drafted a list of what I call, “I am at my best when...” statements. These are the things that if she does during the day, there is a higher likelihood of things going her way. For example, here are some of mine:

I am at my best when:

• I eat a complete and balanced breakfast.
• I ask for help on a project.
• I spend a little time outside.
• I say thank you to someone who may not expect it.

After you watch the video here, create your inventory and have a day better than most!

Can you really balance it all?

Now that the summer months are upon you, it could be time to click the “pause button” on work, and on life. Just this morning, I had a great call with the head of a division at a children’s hospital here in the United States. After attending a program I presented a while back, this organization has implemented an alternating “off the grid day.” Certain employees are able to schedule and plan for a day (about every 4-6 weeks) where they are not to attend any meetings, and not to respond to any digital communication. It’s as if they are on vacation, but they are in the office.

There are big reasons to consider doing this, least of which is the focus it would bring to the 19 or 29 days “IN BETWEEN” those days to catch up. Also, imagine the ability to get things done in an 8 or 10 hour day, if you knew you were not going to be interrupted.

Summer time is always a good time to click pause, look around, and ask the big questions. I’ve got a few of them for you to consider at the bottom of this post. For now, however, take a moment and reflect on what the word BALANCE even means to you in the first place. There are a few ways to do this.

1. Look the word up in the dictionary. I did, so here you are: an even distribution of weight enabling someone or something to remain upright and steady; a condition in which different elements are equal or in the correct proportions.
2. You could also interview (informally, of course) 3-5 people you look up to and ask them what balance means to THEM. Their answers may give you some “food for thought."
3. Or, you could think this through in your own journal. Draft a mind map, or even go through the process of writing down a word that begins with each of the 7 letters of the word balance. 

• B: 
• A: 
• L: 
• A: 
• N: 
• C: 
• E:

There are a things I’d have you think about this month, as you’re working to enhance your skills as a leader, manager, community activist. You’re too important, and what you’re working on means too much for you NOT to be working at your best, and getting the most important things done.

You can read about them right here. In the meantime, here’s some advice on how you can think about achieving more balance in life and at work. As you consider this, remember to do the math. Numbers are magical; they help us quantify what we have and what we need, and they give us a very clear and present sense of reality. Some of the “math” I ask clients to do includes:

• How many meetings are you invited to each week?
• How many meetings do you schedule each week?
• How many inbound phone calls do you receive?
• How many outbound phone calls do you make?
• How much money is in your checking/savings account?
• How much money is in your wallet RIGHT NOW?

Now, will THESE be the exact questions that will get you moving? Are they the questions that you need to ask? Maybe…Maybe not. The important thing is to pause and do this kind of thinking.

How can I help?

You’ve got a lot to do, and not enough time to do it all in.

Just the other day, I called a Get Momentum member in Europe. During a short 12-minute conversation, we experienced a realization that “making habits” may just be one of the least productive things someone can do.

When you sit down to “do your thing,” what happens next? What is there on the desk/table? Who do you let interrupt you? Who do YOU interrupt?

If you’re like the community of Get Momentum members (from the Americas, India, Australia, Canada, Mexico and many other countries!), you’re in an interesting and challenging position: You’ve got a lot to do, and not enough time to do it all in. Think about it: 

In the past week, is there something that has been left “un-done” because you just didn’t get to it? Did a task go unfinished, a deadline get passed, an important conversation post-ponned? My guess is yes. And, what did you blame? Not enough time...

So, my question to you to ponder is this one:

IF you have been too busy over the past week or two, how many of those “busy-ness” things have actually made significant differences? 

Are the things you’re doing being done because (and only because) they’ve always been done? If the answer is anywhere on this shade of “yes,” I challenge you to question whether or not you need to do them as much as you are. Look, I’m not saying DON’T do it, I’m suggesting you do a little tracking (read the book, chapter 6) and identify some routines you can move to once every other day, once a week, etc.

To read about how to eliminate the bad habits, just jump on over to the Get Momentum blog right here.

When it's time to talk, how do you do?

Later today, I’ll be presenting TWO "Town Halls" (online classes). During the 60-minute class, you’ll learn how to communicate effectively in life and at work. You see, we believe that one of the reasons people are NOT as productive or engaged as they could be, and a way they could  work together more effectively, is they are not communicating clearly.

Imagine: Communication is the means through which you'll get done more efficiently. And, I won’t just talk about communicating with others, you’re going to learn how to communicate with your SELF as well. And, when you know how to communicate more clearly, you’ll get to the end of each day feeling more productive and - perhaps more importantly - you’ll have time and focus at the end of the day for those things that are most important to you.

Register now, sign up for your membership at www.TimeToGetMomentum.com

Oh, this is important: I record every Town Hall class. This way, you can watch it later, if you can't make the live presentation. Not only that, but you can go back in time, and watch ANY other Town Hall you may think would be interesting. Topics include:

• Health and Wellness
• Resilience
• Mentoring
• Purpose
• Persistence
• and more...

In fact, the moment you register as a Get Momentum member, I’ll lead you through a 62 day Coaching Program via email, letters in the mail and phone calls. This program is designed to BOOST your productivity, leadership skills and workplace performance by 5% to 10%. Imagine having 1-2 EXTRA hours of time every day. 

Ready? Join Get Momentum today.

The #1 complaint I hear is...

When was the last time you had a “mis-understanding” or a “mis-communication” with someone important to you? It could be a boss, a colleague, a spouse, a child…You get it. Maybe it’s because I look for it, but I hear people say all the time, “I thought s/he meant…"

You see, there are times when we “think” we’re communicating but really, the other person is missing what it is we’re trying to get across to them. Maybe it’s because there’s too much happening. Perhaps we’re thinking of what’s next, while we are dealing with what is. Often, no matter what, there’s so much to do it seems like our mind is on “scan.” You know, when you’re driving along in the car and instead of listening to just one station, you click the “Scan” button and the radio automatically changes station every 5 seconds or so?

Over the past few weeks, I’ve had conversations with clients in California, Bali, Hong Kong, Mexico City, Bali and Vancouver, Canada. To the one, I heard people say, “I’m running out of time toward the end of the day. I want to get more done, but…"

Then, they outline WHY they’re not getting their projects done; why tasks are lingering; why meetings seem to repeat weekly; why…Why…Why…

“Do you get enough of the right things done every day?"

This month, the Get Momentum “Momentum Theme”is Communication. For the next few weeks, members will not just learn, they will practice REAL communication skills; and, during the Town Hall online class, we’ll discuss their wins, their learnings, and the things they can do to continue enhancing the ONE professional skill that impacts all others. Learn to communicate more effectively at work and in life.

 Would you like a PDF, a podcast, and a video to get you started? You can find it here.

"One way to keep momentum going is to have constantly greater goals." ~ Michael Korda

At 4:15pm (or anytime after), you can start listening in...

Anticipated Outcome: You and your friends/colleagues/community members will learn ONE of the most important tactics you can use to get more results from your effort, creating opportunity and engaging in your life-work.

A BONUS, and very special, GET MOMENTUM "Town Hall" (a BONUS for members and your colleagues).

Breakthrough results begin with breakthrough thinking.

1. There's no need to pre-register.
2. Just show up. (How as that for facilitating MOMENTUM???)
3. You're welcome to share this link with other people that could use a little support, too.
4. Get your notebook and a favorite afternoon/evening beverage, settle in, and get ready to GET MOMENTUM.

How Do You Make More of the Right Things Happen?

Tune in at 4:15pm Pacific time / 7:15pm Eastern time on January 13th, 2014 I will share the SECOND of the BONUS Town Hall Meetings you can attend.

Click here and share that link with your Facebook, Tweet, LinkedIn friends, or email it to ANyone you think would want to sit in on this 15 minute presentation.

During this "Town Hall" meeting, you'll get some ideas on how you can Work Smarter, Think Bigger and Achieve More - in life...and at work.

DETAILS:

• Cost ($149.00): Free to members and their guests. Please ask your guests to visit this page first AND then go ahead and tune in to the BONUS Town Hall here.
  (FYI: Our standard "Webinar" fee is $149.00 p/p; this Town Hall is free for you right now!)
• Length: I'll talk for "about" 15 minutes. (Questions? All you have to do is email your questions in ahead of time, during or after the Town Hall Meeting. Click here.)

Going far? How are you growing yourself?

There are more than 40 articles I have written for Entrepreneur Magazine online. (Link here.)

Today, I decided to give away subscriptions to the magazine - print and digital versions - to 15 high school students. Want to know why? Just visit this page for all the details.

You see, I used to TEACH high school and I remember too many students ask me, "Mr. Womack, what's the point of me doing all this work?"

Don't you think it's a good question? I used to tell them that going to school was something they did "on their way to something else."

You can create MOMENTUM in life and at work just spend more time learning about the ideas and activities that make it more likely you'll grow in a positive direction. Check out this link, and pass this opportunity on to someone who might get it!