22 1/2 ways to make it a great year.
January 15th, 2010It’s January and I’m feeling guilty (am I the only one?). The goals are supposed to be set, mapped out on the calendar and already under way. Whoa!
This year I am taking a different approach. Sure I’m making my goals – and I’m excited about them. But I am even more excited about my new focus on all the small stuff I do every day. I am going to micro-build my success this year, one habit at a time.
And I want to share my top picks for 2010 with you. These are 22 ½ little things that make your day brighter, your lists shorter, and help make you a happy camper (OK I admit: I added the ½ just to get your attention).
Before you start, here’s my warning to you: DON’T MAKE THIS ANOTHER LIST! You’ve got enough already.
Here’s what you need to do instead:
1. Read the list, have fun, enjoy dreaming about doing everything (because it would only be a dream anyway).
2. Pick no more than three things you will commit to. Repeat after me: “only three”.
3. Write these down and keep them visible for at least one month. Dashboard of your car, screen saver, fridge at work, day time, somewhere that you look at frequently.
4. Start today to bring these to action and revisit them every day until they become new habits.
OK here they are…
1. Get scared – make a practice of doing something every day that makes you a little uncomfortable. You’ll learn a lot about what’s possible.
2. Keep your promises – treat commitments like contracts. Promises are how we prove we are worthy of trust. You need to earn it.
3. Get off the email – do you really want to lose another three weeks this year to your InBox? Check less often, limit your time and stay off it in the morning.
4. Have a Stop Doing List - decide once and for all to stop doing things that don’t add to your results. Have fun with this one!
5. Get a hobby – I mean it. You need a life beyond 9 to 5 and your brain will love it.
6. Block time for you - treat your needs with the same importance as a client meeting.
7. Do one thing at a time - multitasking doesn’t work. Full stop. So help your brain to focus and work efficiently.
8. Fake it till you make it! - act as if you are the person you pretend to be. You want more confidence? Act like you have it already.
9. Drop the excuses – you procrastinate because you value something else more. Change your value system; keep your promises; change your results.
10. Being Present – breathe, be here, NOW, breathe.
11. Get fit – there is only one formula that lasts: eat less, eat better, and exercise more. Just do it(!)
12. Be Generous – you are a foundation of one. Share your riches so others can reach their potential. It’s part of being human and it all comes around.
13. There is no #13. This is just to remind you to take time for you. No list, no to-do’s just hang with you.
14. Clear the clutter – do yourself a favour: finish the day with a clean sweep.
15. Act like it’s the day before vacation – get ruthless about completion, say ‘No’ easily and stick to your plan.
16. Jump start your day – don’t wait to see what happens. Make a choice that it will be a great day full of blessings. Keep that vision and watch the magic unfold.
17. Laugh more – treat yourself today to a giggle and release those endorphins (they’re dying to come out).
18. Protect the first 90 minutes – get off the email, call that client, move that Boulder ahead, make decisions and stay on track. You’re biggest wins will come before 10:30AM.
19. Reconnect with a friend – you have no idea how you can change a day. One phone call, one email, or one note. That’s all it takes.
20. Practice Asking – there are no dumb questions only dumb assumptions.
21. Take mini vacations – follow hard work with celebration. Take breaks, go for a walk, read or sit quietly and recharge.
22. Learn something new – find sources that inspire and engage you. Read quickly, absorb slowly and change forever.
22 ½ “Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does!!” (by Regina Brett, 90 years old)
Feel free to share these with friends, clients, co-workers and complete strangers.
Hugh D. Culver is a thought leader in personal performance at work. He has worked with over 450 organizations, like: Imperial Oil, Shoppers Drug Mart, Royal Bank of Canada, Sun Rype Products, Telus, and the Red Cross to inspire personal performance at work. His adventure exploits have taken him from the arctic to the Antarctic, from mountain peaks to the rapids of some of the wildest rivers. While his business adventures have included a private airline, real estate, tourism and consulting to leading organizations.
You can reach Hugh at hugh@HughCulver.com
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Look forward to meeting
Good morning Hugh!
Enjoyed looking through your website and watching a couple of your video’s.
It looks great!
Have a great year!
Cheers
Greg
Hi Greg. I was thinking of you a week ago as I presented to the the local Royal Lepage realators. How’s your year shaping up?
Hugh