Goals – Page 4 – One Insight Closer

How Do I Decide What My Long Term Priorities Are?

May 16, 2013May 15, 2013 by EvieBurke, posted in Goals, planning, schedule, Time

At the beginning of last week I was at a conference, Spark & Hustle, with a bunch of other small business owners. And I heard this said many times and in many ways: “How do I get all my day to day things done and still have time for all those other things that should be done?”

Do you ever wonder that?

I know I have. And it’s usually accompanied by a feeling of overwhelm, a physical tightening of my back and feeling like I have a rock in my stomach. Oh, and it’s topped with a small voice telling me “there is NO way you will EVER get all of that done.”

How does it show up for you?

And then the voice might tell me I might as well go check Facebook or watch TV, basically just give up now, don’t waste your time.

I’d love to tell you I never experience this anymore, but that’s not truthful. It still happens on occasion. However, it does happen less than before and the voice that tells me I’m wasting my time isn’t quite as loud as it once was. And sometimes it doesn’t bother showing up at all, it must know I’d ignore it now anyway.

So, what to do?

It’d be easy and decent advice to tell you to just identify your priorities. But it probably wouldn’t be extremely helpful. I know when I’m in that place described above and someone tells me to figure out my priorities my thoughts are along the lines of: “Well, yes, setting priorities is the extremely logical thing to do. However if I could easily do that, I wouldn’t be having this problem! Right now the priority is my day-to-day stuff, and that’s part of the problem!”

I’m going to use the term “long term priorities” to mean those projects or tasks that you want to work on, but seem to get lost in the day-to-day tasks. These projects or tasks might not take long to accomplish, but they don’t seem to move forward either.

What I needed was:

A little help deciding what those long term priorities were.
A way to find time to tackle the long term priorities.

This week’s article tackles the first topic and next week we’ll look at the second topic.

Note: I’m using the term “long term priorities” to mean those projects or tasks that you want to work on, but seem to get lost in the day-to-day tasks. These projects or tasks might not take long to accomplish, but they don’t seem to move forward either.

Help deciding what your long term priorities are

What method currently is bringing you the most clients? And if you don’t have clients yet, what method will most quickly bring you the most clients (hint: if you’re a new business, the fastest way is almost always going out and meeting people).

Is there anything on your “I should do this” list that relates directly to that method?
For example, perhaps you met most of your current and previous customers networking. And when networking you pass out your business cards, but your business cards have an old email address on it that you cross out and write in your current email address. Then, getting new business cards with your current email address would be a task directly related to networking.
1. Yes, there are directly related tasks: Those tasks are your highest priority.
2. No, I don’t have any directly related tasks: What is the second way you are most likely to meet clients? Ask step 2 again.
Optional: Is there anything on your “I should do this” list that indirectly relates to that method?
For example, using the above example of networking and business cards, let’s say that the website on your business cards is correct, but is no longer an accurate representation of what you do (hey, it happens, our business tend to evolve). Then, updating your website would be a task indirectly related to networking.

What are your priorities? Did any priorities from this exercise surprise you? Share in the comments below!

Image courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

What Season Are You In?

March 28, 2013May 15, 2013 by EvieBurke, posted in Goals, planning

Supposedly, the season is changing here in the Midwest from winter to spring. The weather must have received the memo on that a bit late though. So, I’ve been thinking more than usual about seasons changing.

And while I was wondering if it was ever going to warm up, I had a random question pop into my head: What season am I in and what’s the next one?

I journaled about that for a bit and it highlighted what I want to leave behind me in my business and what I want for the future. It was really useful, so I wanted to share the prompts I used with you.

What season of your life / business are you leaving?
And what behaviors, habits, results, feelings, etc. characterized that season?
What is the next season of your life / business?
1. What is the melting snow washing away?
  What behaviors, habits, feelings, results, etc. are you leaving behind?
2. What flowers are coming up?
  What behaviors habits, feelings, results, etc. will characterize this coming season?
3. What additional behaviors, habits, feelings, results, etc. need to be washed away to allow those new flowers to flourish?
4. What kind of fertilizer or care will encourage those flowers to grow?
  What support or strategies will you have in place?

Print this out and spend some time with it.

You’ll find some really great insights to where you want to be in your business. And, you’ll outline some of the ways that will support you on that path.

I’d love to know a little bit about your seasons! Share what season you’re leaving or what season is just beginning for you below!

What Are You Tolerating?

February 21, 2013February 21, 2013 by EvieBurke, posted in Changes, Goals

What are you tolerating right now in your business? In your office? On your task list?

What goals are you tolerating right now?

You know the one (or maybe ones) – the goal that you look at, sigh, and decide to work on something else.

Why did you set that goal? What was the intent?

Actually spend some time thinking about it – what goal are you tolerating and why did you set it. Go ahead, think. I promise these words will be here when you get back.

…

Ok, now that you’re back, I’m wondering – does that intent still apply? Or, have you accomplished that intent in a different way? Maybe you don’t need to spend time on that particular goal anymore because the intent of the goal was met by something else.

Or, maybe your focus has changed slightly and doing that goal doesn’t really make sense anymore.

Or, maybe it seemed like the next logical step, but it doesn’t really feel right for you right now.

Whatever the reason, it’s still on your list, whether it’s a mental list or a written one, this goal is still there and incomplete.

I’m going to reference something I wrote about to-do lists that can also apply to goals: they are there to help you, work for you and you do not work for them. Or – you set the goals, they don’t set you.

Sometimes your priorities, in business or life, change. And when your priorities change, your goals usually change too. And sometimes it’s not your priorities that change, sometimes your focus changes. You have the same priorities, but the way you support them was adjusted. And again, that probably means your goals will change a bit too.

This came up because I was talking with someone who realized that they had a blind spot in their business around their follow-up process. She wanted to address it immediately, but she didn’t have the time to do that and meet all of the goals she set for herself. Which was really frustrating, because she knew that what she was doing for her other goals could be more effective if she addressed the blind spot.

She felt that when you set a goal you don’t change it. Either you meet the goal or you don’t, but you can’t change it.

The result of trying to meet her other goals and leaving the blind spot alone for now? Frustration! It felt almost counterproductive to continue working on those other goals.

When she realized she didn’t have to, that she could postpone them, change them or let them go – she was so happy! So happy that she dived right into clearing up that blind spot with a whole lot more enthusiasm than she had for any of those goals she was tolerating!

Again, goals are there to support and help you, when they stop doing that, they’re no longer serving their purpose, and incidentally – your purpose. And when they’re no longer doing that, it’s time to make some changes.

What goals are you tolerating? What changes will you make? Share below with a comment!

Image courtesy of adamr / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Where Do I Start?

February 7, 2013February 11, 2013 by EvieBurke, posted in Goals, Overwhelm, planning, Task List

It’s easy to answer “Where do I start?” with “at the beginning” isn’t it? Sometimes though, the beginning isn’t immediately obvious.

“I’m soooo overwhelmed with what has to be done! And I have no idea where to even start making changes so that I feel like I’m accomplishing something on a regular basis.”

Sound familiar?

I’ve heard it a few times, heck – I’ve said it myself a few times!

I pulled this great quote from David Allen’s book Getting Things Done:

Trying to manage from the top down, when the bottom is out of control, may be the least effective approach.

This describes exactly why I believe you need to know what’s currently on your plate before you set your long term goals.

Now, you might be saying, but Evie! You’re a coach, don’t you encourage your clients to set goals right away?

And yes, I do, but the shorter term goal of “I want to understand what’s currently on my plate” needs to be accomplished before adding more goals to the plate.

So, why take the time and energy to know what’s on your plate before you set your goals? Well, there are three reasons:

When you don’t already know exactly what is on your plate, taking on more things only adds to the confusion and overwhelm. ‘Should’ becomes a constant companion as in, “Oh, I should be doing this” and you spend less and less time with what makes you excited, as in “Ohhh! I get to do this today!”
When you know what’s on your plate, you can easily see where you’ve taken too much on or what’s not as important as you previously though. And then you can let that stuff go. Remember, just because you’ve always done it that way, or other people in your profession have, doesn’t mean that you have to do it that way.
When you set your goals after you know what’s on your plate, you can easily see what you’re already doing that supports those goals. And you might find that with a slight tweak, some things you’re already doing will support your new goals.

Think of it like this, if you’re driving and get lost, you stop and find out where you are (or pull out your phone or GPS) so you can determine how and when you’ll get to your destination.

So, what’s on your plate that you can let go of? Share in the comments below!

Taking it One Step at a Time

January 31, 2013January 31, 2013 by EvieBurke, posted in Goals, Overwhelm

Late last year, at the small community gym I go to, I noticed a gentleman in his late 70’s or early 80’s. I knew he was a regular based on how others greeted him.

Now, this particular gentleman stood out to me because he took the elevator to the second floor where the gym is located. And he walked quite slowly, with a cane and was quite hunched over.

I’m not entirely sure what he did at the gym, since I’m usually leaving as he arrives, but he was there week after week. And I marveled at his dedication when it would have been so easy for him to stay home.

I’ve seen him off and on as the months have passed, but when I saw him today something was different and I couldn’t immediately put my finger on what.

It wasn’t until later that I realized what had changed.

He was no longer walking with a cane! And he was moving a bit faster and standing slightly taller. A couple minutes later I realized another change – he took the stairs to the second floor!

I don’t know how long he’s been walking without the cane and taking the stairs, but I do know that he’s made significant progress in a few short months to be able to do that.

And he continues to come to the gym. I’m sure as time goes on he will be walking a little bit faster and standing a bit taller.

Why am I sharing this story?

Well, sometimes I hear from clients or others who are frustrated with the long list of things they have to do: “Oh, there’s so much to do! How can I possibly get everything done!”

And the answer to that question, as with so many things, is to do it one step at a time.

The gentleman from my gym did that quite literally. He took one step at a time so he could more easily take future steps, and take them faster. It would have been extremely easy for him to stay at home and do something else, but he didn’t. Even though the steps where small and slow, he took them.

When we take steps toward our goals, dreams or anything – the steps might feel unnatural, incredibly slow and frustrating. And initially, they probably are! But when you take those initial steps, you’re laying the ground work for what’s to come, you’re gaining strength and momentum.

So, stick with it. Course correct when necessary, but keep putting one foot in front of the other and eventually, you’ll be moving a bit faster and with more confidence!

What are your steps taking you toward? I’d love to know! Share in the comments below.