You want this year to be
unlike any other. You want the tide to turn so
that the current works in your favor. You want the
wind at your back, propelling you forward. You
feel optimistic that things will be better,
but
if you leave it up to your sense of optimism,
it isn't going to happen. You have to be the one
taking the first step and the second...and the third to
make it happen.
Timothy Ferris
offers some great advice in his new book "The 4-Hour
Workweek" He states that optimism is often
fear disguised as optimism. He quotes
Yvon Chouinard, founder of Patagonia who
says "There's no difference between a pessimist who
says, 'Oh, it's hopeless, so don't bother doing
anything,' and an optimist who says, 'Don't bother doing
anything, it's going to turn out fine anyway.'
Either way, nothing happens."
While there are some
benefits to seeing the positive side of things, if
it is keeping you stuck in doing nothing, then you need
to rethink your approach. Action is the
only way to make things happen. Leaders take
action. I don't care what "The Secret"
says, you can't just think your way to success.
In order to propel
yourself forward to growing your business or achieving
your goals, you first have to see where you are,
relative to where you are going. On your
mark. What I mean by your "mark" is
having the focus on your vision. Think about those
runners on the starting block. They are standing
clear and sturdy, with a sharp eye towards their mark.
They know where they stand and they know where they are
going.
Focus on where you are
going. Timothy Ferris also reminds us of the
importance of the Pareto Principle as we build our
focus. You need to understand the 80/20
rule for your business and your life. What is the
20% that gets you the 80%? Don't waste
your time on the 80% of stuff that brings in the low
results. Focus on the big stuff that gets you to
your vision.
Secondly, you have to
be set for action, which means that you
understand the need for action. Don't
be like the pessimist or the optimist who doesn't see
the need for action. Get real and see the need for
action. Robert Woodruff who was the
President of The Coca-Cola Company for nearly
60 years said "The world belongs to the
discontent." This quote reminds us
that change is the result of the dissonance that we
feel. If you are where you want to be and
see no need for action, then you have no
dissonance. But, if you want this to be your best
year ever, get clear on what needs to change and stop
waiting for chance to make it happen. Don't accept the
status quo.
Now.....Go! Or as my husband Lewis likes to
say "Get after it!"
Start the year right
with developing a leadership plan for yourself and
your life. Join Laura at her next workshop in
Houston on January 26. Click here for more
details:
www.Laura-Lopez.com/workshops.htm
