OK...let's assume that you're truly motivated to change. Great. But how do you stay that way? That's a very important question, because most people fail to change not because they don't want to, but because they can't sustain their motivating drive throughout the process. Here are a few things to think about, to do, and to watch out for.
First, make a conscious decision about how much of your time and effort you're willing to invest in the change process. This decision will, of course, influence or determine how long it will take to change, the degree of change over time, and so forth. But by quantifying your time allocation you'll be less likely to give too much time to activities that aren't productive. You'll also more easily focus on NOT trying to over-perfect things that are OK as is. And finally, by allocating your time you'll keep your effort in this area in balance with the rest of your life
Next, make only wise comparisons. As you make progress, you're going to want to measure it. Often we measure ourselves by our observations of others. Guard against comparing yourself to the top experts ? those people you believe are absolutely perfect. They'll represent impossible-to-reach targets and you'll get discouraged. Measure yourself against those who are just far enough ahead of you to represent a viable challenge for you.
One way to avoid that trap is to measure yourself tomorrow against yourself yesterday. The old sports cliché of "personal best" holds here. This yardstick measures only how far you've come, not necessarily how far you have to go. It's easier on the ego and generally more positive.
The next idea has to do with getting UNmotivated. Avoid toxic people. Not everyone will share your goal of wanting to become the best you can be. In fact, many people will get jealous when you bring up that kind of subject, and they'll try to shoot you down. Identify these people as soon as you can and run as fast as possible away from them.
Finally, you absolutely MUST learn to accept setbacks. They're inevitable. Conflicting schedules, problems with the learning curve, the need to know one thing you don't know in order to learn another thing you need to know...there are many obstacles. Don't let them throw you. Find some supportive people you can vent to. That'll relieve the pressure and let you move on.
A final note about people you ask for advice. Make sure that there are as many of them as possible, and rotate the people you ask. If you hear too much from any one person, you may find yourself hearing the same messages, limiting your own growth, and perhaps antagonizing the person you're leaning on.
At the very bottom of all this are those core ideas
¨ that change takes time and effort...
¨ that it's entirely your responsibility...
¨ that there are many ways to achieve the same outcome, and
¨ that there are people who will support you.
So it's not at all impossible to change ANYTHING that will help you to grow as a person in any dimension . . . physical, mental, emotional and spiritual.
Copyright 2002, 2005 Optimum Performance Associates/Paul McNeese.
Paul McNeese is CEO of Optimum Performance Associates, a consulting firm specializing in transitional and transformational change for individuals and institutions through publication. His publishing company, OPA Publishing, is an advocacy for self-publishing authors of informational, instructional, inspirational and insightful nonfiction.
Email: pmcneese@opapublishing.com
Websites: http://www.opapublishing.com and http://www.opapresents.com
As the song goes, this is the time to relax,... Read More
How often have you tried to manage your time in... Read More
If you can motivate yourself at will to get any... Read More
"Fashionably late" is no longer in fashion. In today's heavily... Read More
Zak is my three-year old godson. He is the apple... Read More
In our time-crazed society, lots of time is what most... Read More
We all get overwhelmed from time to time, and sometimes... Read More
I have a habit of sending a thank you letter... Read More
How you spend the first sixty minutes of your day... Read More
Time, time, time. It seems there is never enough of... Read More
When I was small, I have never considered the importance... Read More
It's 6:00 a.m. I'm awake. I'm pumped! I'm ready to... Read More
Are you a worrier? Do you frequently spend time and... Read More
If you have spent any time at all working at... Read More
Vilfredo Pareto's Principle, or The "Pareto Principle," is more commonly... Read More
Your time and energy are the two most precious gifts... Read More
Most of us know how to manage our time. It... Read More
What would be your reaction if someone said to you... Read More
Are you working a "day job" while building your home-based... Read More
Everyday, in life, we are bombarded with 101 tasks that... Read More
In this fast and crazy world, we want to multi-task... Read More
Goal Planning-Achieving balance in a person's life requires assessment of... Read More
Such an innocuous little phrase, yet when you are hard... Read More
I keep a fossil on my desk at all times.... Read More
Do you believe that the best way to deal with... Read More
We live in a world where more is expected of... Read More
Too much to do, too little time, constant stress. Most... Read More
If you're like most people, you want to get better... Read More
Our daily lives are inundated with a crammed to-do list.... Read More
Show me, O Lord, my life's end and the number... Read More
Here's some time management tips to try:1) Set strict office... Read More
It is common knowledge that creating and living according to... Read More
Determine Your Procrastination PersonalityBrook Noel is the author of The... Read More
Any habit of mind or body that interferes with taking... Read More
Work brings together people of different characters and behavior, and... Read More
One of the biggest problems most people have when it... Read More
Years ago when I started in this business, it seemed... Read More
It's been said, "That no one has enough time yet,... Read More
Most of us have a to-do list ? some of... Read More
Want to improve your time management?Edward W. Smith, motivational speaker,... Read More
What would you say to me if I told you... Read More
I've divided my tips into two sections - 5 ways... Read More
We all face decisions that involve doing things that affect... Read More
* If you were paying you to prioritise emails over... Read More
The biggest time management mistake you can ever make is... Read More
When a good friend asked me to contribute a little... Read More
Balancing a family's varying schedules can be near impossible. Soccer,... Read More
As the song goes, this is the time to relax,... Read More
Do you wish you could work less and play more?... Read More
Having a home based business can be overwhelming. When you... Read More
My husband and I recently returned from a trip to... Read More
As each day passes, and more and more things need... Read More
Hey - Did someone press the FFW button?Have you ever... Read More
In most organizations, meetings are often the biggest time-wasters. With... Read More
Whatever providence has in store for us tomorrow is not... Read More
"I never seem to have any time for myself. What... Read More
We are all born equal! We all have the same... Read More
It's easy to waste time on things that seem urgent... Read More
There is an old way of goal setting and a... Read More
Still awaiting the birth of my baby (I am overdue),... Read More
Sometime ago, my lovely wife woke me up in the... Read More
Increased productivity, the ability to get more value for our... Read More
How many of us are guilty of "Putting the cart... Read More
I am an ordinary man - A middle class high... Read More
How much time do you spend on Mastering Your Time?... Read More
How you spend the first sixty minutes of your day... Read More
Time Management |