Mindset

Am I Getting Ahead if I’m Going Backwards?

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In the wonderful worlds of personal growth and entrepreneurism, the answer to that question is often YES.

You see, we generally think that progressing towards our goals is a fairly linear process. It’s no wonder we get frustrated!

It’s important to understand that progress and direction do not always run together. The first time I heard this idea was from Allison Levine, who led the first American Women’s Mount Everest Expedition.

She explained that when climbing Mount Everest, you can’t go directly from Base Camp to the summit. In fact, you spend the bulk of your time going backwards to regroup in order to make the next ascent.

Look at the climb process:

  • Base Camp (17,600 ft.), spend a few days to acclimatize
  • Set out for Camp 1 (19,900 ft.).
  • Go back to Base Camp
  • Head to Camp 2 (21,300 ft.)
  • Go back to Base Camp
  • Work through the camps again to the summit.

If they didn’t go backwards as a part of their process, climbers could not adjust to the altitude in order to reach the summit.

If you feel like you’re on a detour on the path to your goals, pause and reflect. Are you “adjusting to the altitude”, so to speak, by learning perseverance or patience? Are you meeting new people who might help you along your way? Or do you just need to refocus? Trust the process.

Whatever the lesson, know that getting off course is a natural part of progress. Be open to what you’re learning, be gentle with yourself, and enjoy the ride!

Where Greatness Happens, Part 2

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Don’t worry about looking silly… celebrate yourself!

I got to thinking about all of those thankless tasks I mentioned last week, and I realized that they don’t actually have to be thankless. Everyone needs recognition, even for the little things.

So here are four ways to recognize yourself when you’re on track with the critical, unglamorous tasks of running a business:

  1. Make a YIPPEE file. At the end of each day, make a note of what you accomplished and put it in your YIPPEE file. Even the small things – sending a card, completing an article, writing a chapter – be sure to put those small wins in the file. Over time you’ll see that they add up to create big wins!
  2. Brag on Facebook. Facebook is great when you need an atta-boy. All you have to do is post, “Today I got done this tiny task that’s been weighing on me and I just had to publicly pat myself on the back.” People will join in the patting, and it will be a great example for them to also give themselves credit.
  3. Get an accountability partner. Having someone you trust to call and hold you accountable is not only a great way to make sure you get things done, it’s also a perfect solution when you need someone to cheer on your successes.
  4. Get a coach. Most of my coaching clients work on their own, often at home. I get to help make sure they know that every little win counts, and that they’re on track with their goals. Unless they’re off track, and I help them get back in the groove quickly.

I’d love to hear your suggestions of ways to give yourself credit and celebrate yourself!

Where Greatness Happens, Part 1

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While visiting my parents in Reno last week, we settled in for a typical Sunday in front of the TV to watch football. I love the opportunity to watch football (I don’t have cable or dish or anything). But the real treat was watching the commercials. Feel free to ridicule me now…

Scoff if you must, but I was inspired by one of these commercials. In a Gatorade commercial (see below), a concept unexpectedly struck home – greatness happens when people aren’t looking. It’s the habits you establish and actions you take outside the limelight that determine success. It’s the phone calls, the follow up, the workshops, the mistakes, the checklists, the newsletters – the unglamorous, totally thankless stuff.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Wu2DyizWgU?rel=0&w=300&h=169

These behind-the-scenes actions build success, and add invaluable traits to your character: perseverance, consistency, tenacity, resilience. Look at successful people, and these character traits are what make success a consistent presence in their lives, rather than being just a flash in the pan.

Got a Case of “It’s All Been Done”

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Have you ever been visited by this sneaky saboteur? The “it’s all been done” syndrome?

I had a case of it last week as I wracked my brain for a topic to write about. Every time I came up with an idea, I immediately told myself, “yeah, but that’s been done before.” This kept me spinning for days.

After giving up, I was reminded of a moment of profound change I experienced many years ago. I was on a teleclass on professional speaking taught by the indomitable Les Brown. I chose to be on the call because I LOVE public speaking, but I always held myself back because I couldn’t come up with a 100% unique topic to speak on. I was limiting myself with the belief that “it’s all been done.”

Giving voice to my fears, Les acknowledged that there are very few speakers with wholly original ideas. But then he said, “You can’t let that stop you. There are people out there who can only hear your voice.”

And I knew exactly what he meant. I’d hear a concept from five different people, but only fully absorb it from the one person whose “voice” – energy, experience, persona, attitude, philosophy – I truly connected with.

I work with business owners all the time who hide their talents, insights, and services because of this feeling of “it’s been done” or “everyone else is doing the same thing.” I’m here to tell you that that attitude is a saboteur, and it can become a cop out.

Don’t let this sabotage you, and do not use it as an excuse not to pursue your life’s work. There are people out there who are listening for your voice. It’s time to speak up!

Vacation Discombobulation

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This week I was really not myself. A bit cranky, disorganized, and downright lazy. What happened? I had a blast on vacation (see photos). Wasn’t it supposed to energize me?

But it took me four days to get back into the swing of things. I’m convinced that in entrepreneur years those four days are actually a full month.

I’m on track now, and feeling so much more focused and clear about my priorities. Want to know what I did?

1. I judged myself. That’s right – beat myself up good.

2. I stopped judging myself. I remembered that I am a smart, hardworking person (and gosh darnit, people like me), and that I was allowed to have a few off days.

3. I identified the basics in my business, and took care of them. No need to pile on more guilt!

4. I picked up some positive reading materials. Even though I didn’t want to.

5. I recognized the opportunity. Before my vacation, I was getting bogged down in details and busy-ness of my business. Feeling unhappy after vacation made me realize I needed to refocus, review my priorities and goals, and recreate my plan for the rest of the year.

So today I am grateful for the discombobulation. I was so uncomfortable that I was forced to upgrade my plans, and recommit to my goals. As entrepreneurs, one of the best habits we can create is to look on our problems as opportunities.

If you’re having a hard time pulling your attitude out of your problems, please consider checking in with me to see how I can help.

Lessons From Two Freds

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My Dad – a smart man with a serious sense of humor!

Fred #1: Fred Preller – AKA my Dad (see picture at right). Hi Dad!

His lesson – pay attention to peoples’ patterns. Watch what people do on a consistent basis, and those consistent behaviors will give you clear insights about them. Sounds simplistic, right? But there are two traps you can avoid by keeping this perspective front and center in your mind.

  1. The trap of potential. It’s a beautiful thing to see people’s potential. But when you depend on a picture of someone’s unrealized potential, to the exclusion of their actual patterns, you can get in trouble. The damage ranges from you forming resentments when they fail to live up to your expectations, to severely harming your business or reputation when you rely on their unrealized potential. See the best in people, but rely on them based on their actual patterns of behavior.
  2. The trap of self-delusion. This one can be even harder, because now you turn the standards on yourself. What are your patterns? Do you think of yourself as someone who is responsible and caring, but often show up late and keep people waiting, or fail to respond to phone calls and email? Like it or not, people are watching your patterns – what are you teaching them about you?

Fred #2: Fred Rogers – AKA Mr. Rogers.

As a child, I watched Mr. Rogers’ comforting, but not incredibly exciting, television show. Since then, he faded to a bland memory, and the subject of jokes. But recently I viewed a video that compiled snippets of his gentle wisdom, and was absolutely floored. His messages of humanity, compassion, curiosity, and boundless possibilities left me choked up and teary.

His delightful insights are just as applicable today as they were when I was a child. Perhaps more so. Enjoy.