Yes, you read that right, a power post-it. Every year, I put a post-it in the middle of my desk and it’s helped me reach my goals consistently, while staying true to my deepest values.
It’s simple, practically free, and consists of just three elements: a theme for the year, your values, and your one main goal.
A theme. Each year, I choose a theme for the year. Usually consisting of just one word, a theme represents your hope for the year, and your focus. Some themes that I and others have used include strength, stability, powerful, flourish, authenticity, drive, focus.
Your values.
Your values are beliefs that motivate and fulfill you. They do not change with age, or your businesses, or when you marry; they are inherent elements of who you are. When you align your actions and decisions with your values, you have more clarity and peace, less resistance, and often reach your goals faster.Your main goal.
Most people set more than one goal for the year, but generally there is one central goal that the other goals support. In business, that central goal is generally a revenue or income goal.In order to make this a powerful tool, once you have all three elements and create your power post-it, I recommend taping it down to your desk directly in front of you. That way you are physically, literally aligned with your theme, values and goals every time you sit down to work.
By having this in front of you all the time, you are getting a visual reminder of your theme, values, and goals constantly. Eventually they just slip into your consciousness, influencing every decision to be aligned with what is most important to you, and helping you reach your goals faster!
Are These Pebbles of Inspiration or Am I Just Weird?
On the first day of the year, I walked the beach at my beloved Morro Bay. As I watched the pebbles wash ashore – every one of them gorgeous and unique – I was struck with an inspiration.
Wouldn’t it be amazing to tangibly capture and share this moment? A moment of calm and inspiration, when everything seems precious, full of possibility and excitement.
So I started gathering these New Year’s Day inspiration pebbles.
I bent and picked up pebble after pebble. Sighing over the smoothness of one, the perfect roundness of another and the gorgeous coloring of yet another.
As I filled my pockets, I thought of these pebbles sitting on the desks of my fellow entrepreneurs. Inspiring them to make this year brilliant and unique. I gathered more and thought of the connection I would create with people across the country. I gathered more and more, my mind racing… with the possibilities of inspiring others, inspiring myself, and carrying this inspiration throughout the year.
Then I got them home and I noticed how dull and ordinary they looked. Just rocks, not pebbles of inspiration.
Doubts crept in and I started thinking, “Am I crazy? These aren’t inspiring. They’re just rocks. And kind of boring rocks at that. People are going to think I am so weird. No one’s going to understand this. No one’s going to want a dull rock. And how am I going to ship these? What was I thinking?”
This is exactly how entrepreneurs crush their own brilliant ideas: through the ordinary grind of work, through lack of confidence, through letting “how” get in the way.
Don’t shrink away from being your brilliant, weird self. You will inspire others to let their own authentic, “weird” stuff out into the world.
Inspiration fades, so prepare for it. When you’re inspired, put together a plan of action so you can keep moving forward even when your ideas shift from brilliant to ordinary.
If you’re not sure how to implement your inspiration, ask for help. Surround yourself with people who are smart, encouraging and wonderfully weird like you so when you need help, it’s right there waiting for you.
Happy New Year. Email me your mailing address to receive your own New Year’s Day pebble of inspiration.