To all our highly valued clients and acquaintances:
If there were ever a time in our lifetime to reassess our perspectives on our situations and our priorities, considering all the changes and transitions of our most recent times, I would venture to say that now is such a time.
Recently, I was asked, “what do you hate not doing? I never heard that question asked that way. I thought I might pick up where I left off at 19??
If you ask Nandan Nilekani (co-founder of the IT firm Infosys with a current net worth of $3.6 billion, according to Forbes), the key to being successful in today’s ever-changing environments is much simpler than you may think.
“Be curious, connected, and relevant.”
Nandan’s achievements are not likely your interests or your goal and…
What were you thinking a year ago? What worked? What didn’t work?
What progress did you make? How did it feel? Learnings? What’s next??
Knowing what you now know, how to best build upon that to make your 2025 the most compelling, relevant, contemporary & fulfilling as possible?
We are all doing the best we can with what we know, including me. If we knew better, we’d do better. Socrates is known to have said, “To know thyself is the beginning of wisdom”. How can we access greater wisdom?
Based upon what?? This highlights the importance of our points/people of reference as we improve our abilities to think critically to make optimal choices shaped by our perspectives. Is our thinking based upon universal first principles or is it being driven by an inherited, preformed belief system?
Where are we looking, who are we listening to, and what are we learning, based upon what? Who researches our researchers and prognosticators??
Are we so attached to what’s familiar that we may not be looking in more innovative and contemporary places that dramatically make more sense for the zeitgeist of the time that we are now living in? Where can we explore??
Do we think that if something wasn’t invented here, it may not be for us??
Is what we hold dear and true helping us or holding us back? Or are we on a hamster wheel or an escalator, as far as our own growth is concerned?
To achieve something we’ve never achieved before, we’ve got to become someone we’ve never been before. What’s our 2–3-point plan and support system for that? Shall we stick with the comfort zones of our familiar relationships and communities, where there is often social agreement?
Or shall we invest 5-20% of our time, energy and resources to improve??
Here’s the good news as a human being on earth – we get to choose.
To that end, are you ready for a big dose/buffet of ideas to consider??
Creative innovation requires persistent hard work. May it be joyous for you.
“If you are not making the progress that you would like to make and are capable of making, it is simply because your goals are not clearly defined.” – Paul J. Meyer, Founder of Success Motivation Institute
Set Yourself Up to Win with 90-Day Goals to Optimize Your Results
A Framework to Accomplish Major Milestones and Breakthroughs
Successful People Plan 90 Days at a Time. From my experience, and from the many people I have worked with, 90 Days seems a great time frame where aspirations and planning can work reasonably well together.
Looking 90 Days out, you will likely have a good idea of what you can get done in that time frame, so your capacity estimations are about right, and you can also make very substantial progress towards your biggest goals.
There is enough focus time to establish key systems, lasting habits, or desired practices, and yet not too much time to get discouraged or bored.
When you are planning for 90 Days, you most likely will have good ideas of what opportunities are accessible to you at that time, and how you can capitalize on them as a springboard to create further breakthroughs and momentum. As you plan, even more opportunities (or challenges) may pop up, and you can look at that from inside your 90 Day Plans and determine whether to adjust your original plans. Like a GPS, you can then recalculate.
90-Day Time Frames are great for making new beginnings and developing long-lasting dynamics, consistent with your life vision, values, and purposes. 90-Day Time Frames create a rhythm and a pulse, a heartbeat of development, a compass, a blueprint, a roadmap, a guidance system, and alignment with Your True North (aka, Your Core Values). It can set in motion habits and often even lifetime traditions that will continue to serve you well. 90-Day Time Frames can help to create momentous fulfillment.
A few fundamental benefits of working in 90-Day Time Frames:
- Does not give you much time to procrastinate.
- Short enough to stay focused on your main things.
- Long enough to achieve some meaningful progress.
- There is an end in sight towards all your ‘ends in mind’.
- Grows your confidence as you are creating your momentum.
- Creates effective daily actions to master key habits and skills.
- Provides ways to accomplish milestones towards larger goals.
- Helps you maintain focus on your bigger, longer-term visions.
- Provides ways to track progress on all your highest life priorities.
Here’s a worksheet, to that end: ILD LLC 21 Goals for The Next 90 Days
I recently asked Marshall Goldsmith, global executive leadership coach and author. “How can I more effectively focus on what I can control??”
To more effectively focus on what you can control, start by identifying the areas of your life where you have the most influence. Write these down and reflect on how you can act within these domains. Here are some strategies to help you focus on what you can control:
- Set Clear Goals: Define what you want to achieve in the areas you can control. Make sure these goals are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound (SMART).
- Develop Action Plans: For each goal, create a step-by-step plan on how to achieve it. This breaks down larger objectives into manageable tasks.
- Practice Mindfulness: Stay present and focus on the current moment. This can help reduce the impact of external factors that are beyond your control.
- Cultivate a Positive Attitude: As I mentioned in the homework assignment, attitude is something you can control. Approach challenges with a positive mindset.
- Establish Routines: Create routines that foster control over your personal and professional life. This can include morning rituals, regular exercise, or a consistent work schedule.
- Reflect Daily: Use daily reflection to consider what went well, what didn’t, and how you can improve. This can be done through journaling or meditation.
- Learn to Let Go: Recognize when something is outside your control and practice letting go. This can help reduce stress and refocus your energy on what you can influence.
- Seek Feedback: Regularly ask for feedback from trusted colleagues, friends, or a coach. This can help you understand how your actions affect your goals and what you can do to improve.
- Adjust and Adapt: Be willing to adjust your plans as needed. Flexibility is key to maintaining control in a changing environment.
- 10.Focus on Your Response: While you can’t control everything that happens to you, you can control how you respond. Choose responses that align with your goals and values.
By concentrating on these areas, you can enhance your sense of control and reduce the impact of external factors. Remember, it’s not about controlling everything; it’s about focusing your efforts on where they count the most. (To learn/access more, https://marshallgoldsmith.com/resources/)
(You can also ask whatever you like, for free!! https://marshallgoldsmith.ai/ )
My review of a recommended innovative read: Building Dynamic Business Communities by Alan Weiss (Author) 4.9 out of 5 stars
Reviewed in the United States on December 21, 2024
“I experienced Alan’s latest book to also be mind-expanding and filled with practical applications, focused questions, understandable diagrams, comprehensive checklists and written exercises from which we can extract ideas to help fuel our own, personally inspired business building action plans.
The book includes contemporary public examples and real-time case studies to illustrate his principles and recommendations. I intend to revisit these synergistic growth ideas and catalytic practices in the weeks to come. I’ve already been sharing many of these concepts with both colleagues and clients, to put more “giddy up” and “snap, crackle, pop” into our future game plans for 2025 and beyond. It amazes me how much Alan has succinctly packed into just 122 pages. As other reviewers already said, Alan writes like he speaks. It is totally an engaging, productive conversation. Thank you again, Alan Weiss.”
Getting and keeping myself certified/current, all in service for you:
https://coachingfederation.org/credentials-and-standards/credentials-paths/pcc-credential
Continuing Ed for my Professional Certified Coach (PCC) Credential
Coaches who have earned the Professional Certified Coach credential have achieved proficiency in their knowledge of and ability to apply the ICF Core Competencies and the ICF Code of Ethics as a coaching professional. The PCC distinguishes coaches with the verified skills required for effective coaching practice and substantial experience partnering with clients. The PCC is designed for established coaches who provide coaching services as a primary focus of their professional practice.
Completed AQ Level 1: Foundation Certification
This unique training and certification program equips graduates to enhance their coaching and consulting capabilities. Once certified in the AQ Model, the coach will have the tools to measure an individual’s Adaptability Quotient, insights into areas for improvement and the ability to recommend approaches to increase resilience and skill building.
This training focuses on the AQ – Adaptability Intelligence Model that can be applied to personal and professional development, leadership, teams, and individual employees. Build a dynamic and resilient culture that thrives on change by learning to measure and enhance Adaptability.
Yikes? Let us know what you are up to/what you might be up against.
Shall we set up another brief zoom call for me to better understand your latest developments and possibly brainstorm to articulate all you can be??
Shall we make 2025 a Happier (Banner) Year?? A Year to Remember??
Let me know what’s best for you. I look forward to hearing back.
Ciao – Don
