Improving Your Motivation in 2013

 

We spend January 1 walking through our lives, room by room, drawing up a list of work to be done, cracks to be patched. Maybe this year, to balance the list, we ought to walk through the rooms of our lives... not looking for flaws, but for potential.

-Ellen Goodman

Goodman's quote smacked me in the face when I read it January 1st. Like most people, I, too, focus on my areas of deficiency and ones needing improvement instead of looking at the potential that already exists. It's much easier to build on the positive than to try and correct a negative.

To improve your motivation to get better results in 2013, look at areas of your work or life where you already have momentum or resources available. What can you do to keep things moving in the right direction in 2013?

Binoculars And Change

It was quite a sight at my house last week. On Wednesday there was a rare planetary occurence where you could see Jupiter in the daytime sky as a brilliant pinpoint. We all gathered outside at 4 PM EST, armed with our charts and instructions, but try as we might, we could not see the planet. As our necks were tiring, one of us got the idea to try using binoculars. It worked! There was Jupiter-just as described. What I found strange was that after using the binoculars for a few moments we could then see it with the naked eye, even though a few minutes ago we could not. The binoculars gave us the right perspective.

When we embark on a change, I think we need the same type of assistance, especially if the change is more than just a one or two step process. Getting the perspective of someone who has been successful with a similar change gives us some initial direction. Getting additional feedback or insights from more people makes our necessary steps even more clear.

What change are you trying to envision today? If the end result, or how to get there, is not coming into view, perhaps you need a stronger set of eyes. Their help might just set the course for results that are, well...out of this world.

The Apple In Your Hand

What are you working on right now? More importantly, what results will you get from working on it? What tangible result will you have after your work on the task is completed?

Too often I think we make ourselves busy with tasks, but never stop to think about if we are creating something of value-REAL value. At the end of almost every task there should be a concrete result that comes from working on it. The result may be a completed form, a new widget or even a smile from the person who is the recipient of your efforts. If there is not a quick tangible result you can envision, why are you working on it?

In keeping with the spirit of apples and "orchard thinking," what will be the apple in your hand when you get done with your current tasks for the day? If you can't identify something concrete, maybe it is time to revisit your choice of tasks to undertake.

More Blue Ribbons in 2012

To help you apply the "sensible ideology" found in my new book to your new year's resolutions, I have created a 2012 Planting Guide. Use it to plan a year full of the right kinds of growing, grafting, pruning and harvesting more of the results you are REALLY hungry for. Click here to get the form.

Happy New Year! May you get lots of blue ribbons in 2012!

When It's Not Growing Season

Earlier this week I had the opportunity to drive through some of the most fertile agriculture land in the United States. As I marveled at the rich, dark soil I also thought about the amazing farmers who make this land so productive. During the coming Winter they will work on equipment, plan planting schedules, research best growing practices and maybe even take some much needed time for themselves.

In the next couple of weeks you will have the chance to take a break from your own busy "growing season" at work. How will you spend it? Hopefully you will take the time to celebrate many harvest moments from this past year and prepare your own "planting schedule" for 2012.

Just realize that growing season will be here again before you know it.