Clarity in Setting a Goal

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I had a great conversation with a fellow ‘motivator’ on how to best set goals.

So often, we take a scattered approach and have difficulty maintaining or even establishing a clearly focused goal.

It seems to me that the best way to have focus is to understand the “Why”.

Why do you want this goal? Why should you care if you make; or fail to reach it?

If you don’t know the Why yet, don’t despair.

You are not alone.

You need to build your story.

A story of emotional energy that tells of the greatest impact this goal will have on your life and those around you.

Develop the story without any association to do with reaching this goal.  You already have it!

In other words, the journey to the goal is not on the table here.  You simply wish to develop your ownership of the outcome and the massive benefits that will be derived.

Write these benefits down. Own them.  Make them emotional.  Provide hypothetical examples and use examples of others if required.

Feel free to give the consequences of not having these benefits and relate the loss of opportunity and disappointment.

When you have the Story strong enough – you own the “Why’ and you are on your way to a crystal clear goal.

Next time, we’ll discuss the importance of setting the really important goals out in the distance.

Personal Mission Statement

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My challenge to you is to write out a mission statement for yourself.  Right now. You can send yourself an email or put it on your desktop as a note.  Spend the moment right now to define who you are.  It is one of the best ways to work toward the goal setting that we all need in order to change the perspective on our abilities.

Write your mission statement now.  Put it in the first person.  If you would like an example here is mine. For good measure, I also included my Value Statement.

Dale’s Personal Mission Statement- Bring out the best in others. Through dynamic and caring communication, I describe life experiences and values to enhance the performance and actions of those who seek to have a better life.

If you notice this Mission Statement covers the Why, the How and the What.  You must have a “Why“.

Dale’s Personal Value Statement – Present to people with honesty and integrity – providing interest and value so that they can be inspired to improve their lives as well as those around them.

There are many fine examples available online, including some very successful celebrities.  I hope you find one that matches your values.

Notice the “Why”in the Mission Statement of Starbucks –

“Our mission: To inspire and nurture the human spirit – one person, one cup and one neighbourhood at a time.”

Achieving Goals That You Have Set

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The last blog described how our goals can be sabotaged through a series of doubts and regrets. We learned a great method to overcome those challenges. I hope it worked for you. This week we want to dive into how we can make the goals effective – and achievable!

It is one thing to write out your goals. They may be virtuous, courageous and provide a laser sharp light source to your objective. How do we ensure that it doesn’t just sit there and fizzle out, constantly replaced by everyday events and other bright shiny objects that bury its brilliance.

Three factors will ensure success in reaching your goals.

  1. Emotion. You must be attached emotionally to your goals. The buy in cannot be only logical. You own the goal – it is part of your fibre and it is something that brings passion.
  2. Pathway. You need a roadmap, with clear steps, and benchmarks to provide you the reinforcement and guidance during the many storms and distractions that will seduce you from your dream.
  3. Appreciation. Take each small step knowing that they will be hard at first, they will show negligible results and seem pointless at times, yet they are to be rewarded, praised and recorded to reinforce your bigger aim. Give yourself the gift of gratitude for having the courage to make steps in the right direction every day. Know that a stumble is likely and only an opportunity to show that you cannot not be discouraged from reaching the aim that you emotionally own.

I recently discovered an article from Communications trainer, Conor Neall. His interview of top performing athletes can help provide a blueprint for your own goal setting.

They seem to share some common traits. Conor Neall, describes what these traits are:

  1. Acceptance – An athlete accepts any circumstance at face value and reacts to it. They don’t judge or blame or pine over the challenge, they simply adjust to meet their objective.
  2. Presence – The high performing athlete will stay right in the moment. Making each action and decision based upon his or her present reality. Like a racehorse – that knows not when the end is, the horse just runs its hardest making each step. An athlete will ask the same question of himself – can I make the next step – if so – then I will do it.
  3. Responsibility – Conor Neall discovered that high performers seek assistance from coaches and physio trainers but ultimately centre the responsibility for all of their actions and feelings on themselves.
  4. Humility – This final trait is essential to ensure that success and victories do not lull the ego into relaxing ones efforts to improve and perform at ones best.

This is fine for the Superstars – but can this work for the rest of us? I can think of no better strategy in building momentum in any challenging goal.

Next time…. Why do successful companies have mission statements, yet very few individuals have them?

Goal Setting 101 – Clarity in Expressing your Vision

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To understand the importance of Goal setting, you must also focus on the concept of: “Begin with the end in mind.”

Where do you see yourself in 5 or 10 years? Imagine what it feels like to be passionate, in focus and congruent with thought, word and deed. Some can do this right now.

For the rest of us, we need to step back a few steps.

Let’s start with your life, as it exists today. What are your biggest weaknesses – or your greatest challenges? What are the behaviours and environmental circumstances that are holding you back from moving forward? Have you developed habits that sabotage any chance of meaningful change and improvement? Is your comfort zone so desirable that you paralyze your spirit and repeat another day – just like yesterday? This may not be you but perhaps it is someone you care about?

If so, then perhaps we are challenged to think about a few examples that may provide the starter fuel to our goal of setting a clear vision for our future.

I would like to suggest that this may be because we come from an area of scarcity instead of abundance. Sadly, many of us resist goal setting because it puts us in a place of fear or regret, doubt or shame. This scarcity focus will crash any chance of dreams as they might become nightmares.

There is good news! We can use a simple technique to put your goals in a positive light.

1. Write out as many goals as you can imagine. At least 20.

2. Write out goals or dreams that you have already accomplished or received.

 

What?

 

That’s right. In order to place your mind in an area of abundance, you need to describe in writing your goals and dreams that are already in your life.

It may be – I want a loyal loving dog that I can come home to and this companion loves and accepts me for who I am.   If you have that pet, then write it out somewhat as shown.

This exercise not only gives you great appreciation and gratitude but it is essential in your goal setting exercise. You see beyond the benefits just mentioned, it places you in a position of abundance.

3. Now write out your goals, alternating between the dreams that you have achieved and the ones that are still out there.

This technique will enable you to interleave the positive ‘abundant’ goals with the ones that may trigger doubt, remorse, shame, guilt and all of the other chains and anchors stopping you from making wonderful life filling progress.

Once that is done, you will have made a large step towards building up a powerful list of achievable goals.

Please try this now. 20 goals of hopes and dreams and 20 goals that are already in your life. You will be able to pair them down later.

I should caution that once you have these goals, you may experience some emotions that might be uncomfortable. That is normal. It is like receiving a gift that you feel you don’t deserve. Accept these feelings but then place them to the side as you understand the importance of having your goals serve your needs – (not the other way around).

Credit: life Coach School – Brooke Castillo podcast Ep. # 3 How to Set Goals.

Leadership and Life Coaching – Time to Get Serious

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I am so excited to start providing better content for your needs.

It’s time to roll up our sleeves and get serious about what is important.  The fundamentals that are important to you and valuable to your immediate world – and finally that in turn will become a benefit to our larger world; a human world where we find our path.  A world where we listen to the needs of others and become more effective at helping others and as a selfish benefit, we become more fulfilled in the process.

Are you ready?

I am.  I will be making mistakes along the way but with your input and feedback, we can make changes that improve lives – one step and one person at a time.

So, how do we do this?

First, we realize that we need a vision.  A goal.  There is no sense pursuing a path without understanding the objective.  The Why?

If we want to change in meaningful ways, then our vision must be clear.

How can we articulate our vision?  Many of us know that we want to be better.  We ‘feel’ that in our bones.  Yet we can’t express it with clarity.

In the next blog, we will start with ‘Clarity in Expressing Your Vision’.  Funny play on words but pertinent as we cannot guide ourselves or others until we have that objective completed.  Martin Luther King Jr. was able to express his vision.  As did John F. Kennedy, Steven Jobs, Richard Branson, Ghandi and the list goes on.

 

Enjoy life and see you soon. We are in for an afterburner ride to success and fulfillment.

Exciting Radio Interview

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Wow, the wonders of our internet age. I joined Twitter; gathered a following and followed others; made some connections and within no time, I have an interview invite from someone more than 3,000 miles away.

Domonick Domasky is an author and host of an Inspirational Talk show.  His friendly approachable character made the opportunity to share some stories a pleasure.  If you have time to sit with a cup of your favourite beverage, I invite you to listen in.

Just click on the Title below.

Taking Flight to Your Dreams.

Aviation is Now Normal – What a Pity

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I recently saw the trailer to the upcoming documentary, Invisible Highway.

I look forward to seeing the program as it is aligned with my deepest beliefs.  My love of flying, my gratitude to the pioneers and visionaries that have made the amazing strides in flying efficiency and wonder.  These men and women  have steered my  soul since I was a teen. It saddens me to think that most of us have become complacent, even openly critical about our air transportation system.

It is legitimate to feel frustrated if you have an expectation, however we also sadly miss the opportunity to be grateful.  We lose when we don’t make that marked effort to appreciate how fortunate we truly are. The fact that just a century ago our world had no ability to connect at these speeds and locations.  Today the masses have access to safer transportation and you no longer need to be in the elite or the daredevil class to fly.  This gift is only due to man’s curiosity, courage, tenacity and belief in a dream.  Let us continue to nurture these virtues. Let’s not lose out on the pleasure and fulfillment of gratitude.

Flying has come so far and it is moving faster and better at exponential rates.

Hang on for the ride.  I know I am.

Your Life – Painter’s Canvas or an Office InBox.

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Many of us seem to live our life as a never empty inBox.  Tasks stack up and we work through them.  Just when the pile is getting lowered, another pile of duties and problems roll in and we are forced to handle yet another crisis or mundane task.  This is hardly an appealing way to look at our lives and for many the option of breaking free from this drudgery seems hopeless.

But what if we kept these tasks. Continued to handle them and yet felt freedom and creative energy of a brilliant artist?

What?

I propose that we chose our state of mind

You cannot control what happens to you, but you can control your attitude toward what happens to you, and in that, you will be mastering change rather than allowing it to master you. ~ Brian Tracy

So how do we make this subtle but critical twist?

In aviation, we often complete repetitive tasks that require attention and precision but can become at times boring or laborious.  One of the joys of flying is that every trip or mission is different and even though many of the tasks may seem the same we have an opportunity to perfect them. Just as a musician makes a better example of her work each time she plays a piece, a pilot can see the results of his efforts at the conclusion of his flight.  A debrief will illuminate what went well and what could have been improved.

The best way I know to stay focused and motivated on each and every flight is to conduct it like I was given a blank artist’s canvas.  Each check, radio call, communication with the crew or timely switch selection is recorded like a painter’s brush stroke.  Some perfectly placed and others –  well ‘smudged’ at best.  The satisfaction is stepping back and looking at your completed piece at the end of the flight. What went well and what could have been improved.

So how can you turn your tasks from a dreary mundane inBox into a creative Canvas.

Remember, there are no shortages of canvases. Tomorrow, you will have more tasks and problems that challenge your creative gifts to solve.  Try to imagine them as a chance for you to paint a canvas that is a fine piece of art.  Attempt to execute the routine and the mundane in creative motivating ways that solve problems more elegantly and with less effort.  Perhaps benefiting more of those around you.

This perspective can change your outlook to your working world, whether at home, office or away.

Good luck on your new painting!

Accident analysis – Reason’s Model how does this apply in Life

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What can we learn from Accident Investigation in our own lives?  And, what valuable life lessons can we use daily?

Dr. Reason provided a model that has become known as the Swiss Cheese layers for accident prevention. His example demonstrates how a  variety of processes can interrupt the chain of events leading to an accident.  However each step set in place no matter how close to perfection,  has holes (like swiss cheese) and when the holes line up, a chain of events that can lead to an accident may occur.

So, when it comes to our own lives, what can we do to ensure a safe and desired outcome – in any endeavour?

1. Build layers of protection into our lives.

Here are some examples. We can think of healthy exercise, proper eating, and rest, as layers of defence against disease and illness.  Or, planning our budget, building a savings and investment portfolio to assure financial independence when we no are no longer able or have the desire to work.

2.  Pre conditions.

Fatigue, complacency, attitude, beliefs.  These behaviours can set us up for a disaster.  Samples include: Allowing insurance policies to lapse, driving while tired, believing preparation is unnecessary without regard to the potential failures and hazards. These can all result in reduced layers of protection.

3. Unsafe acts.

Most of us have survived some pretty foolish acts.  Perhaps it involved excessive alcohol/drugs, a daredevil stunt or simply ignoring an obvious precaution.

These are just a few of the latent or active failures that allow an accident chain to breach through all of the layers of defence.

We not only want to have a healthy successful life, but we also enjoy the journey when we can overcome challenges and risk.   The greater the challenges, often results in the most satisfying rewards.

Smart risk therefore, is when we consider the hazards, plan our defences and then tackle the challenge with the confidence that we have put effective planning and preparation in place.

To have a truly exciting and satisfying life we must occasionally take actions that expose us to risk.  It is also most satisfying when we can achieve difficult goals by skillfully navigating through various challenges and hazards.

By creating effective layers of protection as demonstrated in Dr. Reason’s model, we can confidently take the risks required to achieve our goals.

 

The Gift of Giving – It’s not for who you may think

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Growing up, I was amazed at how happy those that served others often felt. They seemed to have a truly inner satisfaction that the rest of us were missing.

I also wondered why I didn’t have a ‘calling’ like so many others to volunteer as willingly as I should.  What was I missing that led me to chose more self-centered pursuits?

Some research shows that people normally develop through 3 phases of maturity.

Dependant, independent and interdependent.

The first is obvious as an infant; we are totally reliant on others for our nurturing and survival.  Once we become able children we exert our independence – pushing away help and accepting the challenges on our own.

Finally, we realize that our needs are best met by enlisting the help of others to match up with our own efforts to produce a finer result.

So that may serve our needs but what about the needs of others?  What motivates us to reach out and help?

Ironically it may even be a selfish act.  Needed, altruistic and admired – but selfish all the same.

Why?

Because it meets our needs more than we can possibly understand.  By turning around the paradigm of looking after ‘me’, we find that joy, freedom, inspiration and satisfaction flow richly into our lives in ways that we never expected.

So how do we start?

  •  Observe.  People who need your help are all around. You know when you start to focus on any idea and it will start to appear all around you.  Just bought a new white car by Nissan?  Notice all of the white Nissan’s on the road? – so it is with people that could use a hand. Think about helping others and your thoughts will manifest the opportunity.
  •  Take action. Small at first, but make the first step. Say hello and then while assessing their needs, determine how you may help.  Ask, “Can I help you?”  It doesn’t have to be perfect, and you may meet rejection but above all don’t take it personal. Many in need don’t see it or don’t trust and they certainly are not in the most receptive state of mind.
  • Be Generous.  Your time – your money – your energy and maybe most difficult – your pride and reputation.  It costs to be generous – but as many will attest – it is more than worth the investment.
  • Tune out the radio station – WII FM  ‘What’s in it for me’.  When you truly give without expectation of return, you will soon find that the returns are not external.  They come from within. And when that happens, you have reached lasting joy that just can’t be derived from material or selfish means.

Like most pursuits, they take time to master. And the learning can be filled with ups and downs.  Know in your heart you are moving in the right direction and by taking small – real steps each day, you will meet your goals.  (And your needs!)