productivity » Empowering Your Mind

Think Before You Leap

Oct 172017

Do you sometimes leap into a situation before you look at it? Does it ever turn out as you hoped? If you think about the action you’re going to take before you commit to it, you’ll get better results. Discover what you can do to improve your results and some questions to ask that can lead you in that direction.

Transcript:

Do you sometimes jump into a situation before you’ve had time to assess it? How often does that turn out the way you hoped? And how can you get better results?

I’m Linda-Ann Stewart, vision strategist, hypnotherapist and speaker. I help women entrepreneurs to focus, gain control, and accelerate to the next level of their business. Today, I’d like to talk to you about how you can get better outcomes by planning before you step into a situation. Many people will leap before they look, and it rarely brings them the results they expected.

Maybe a friend made a suggestion that sounded good to you at the time. For instance, years ago, I took a friend’s advice and joined a gym for 6 months. I hated it, and after the first few visits, the membership went unused. Has anything like that ever happened to you?

Or maybe you made a commitment before you’d thought it through. Such as volunteering for a charity before you knew much about it. Once you found out more, you realized it wasn’t right for you. Have you ever done that?

Or, as entrepreneurs, we often spring into different types of marketing without any idea of whether they work for our business. For example, you decide to network because someone said it was the best thing since sliced bread. But, when you attend an event, you stand in the corner of the room, never meet anyone, and never follow up with those you do meet. Have you known of anyone who did this?

It’s a truism, that, as Ben Franklin said, “If you fail to plan, you’re planning to fail.” It feels good to spring into action. You feel like you’re doing something, making progress, building momentum. But all too often, you’re just wasting time and energy because it doesn’t fit into a whole picture. It’s just pieces that don’t fit together.

Don’t get me wrong. Action is important, because without it nothing happens. It also anchors a commitment to change and to move forward. But action needs to be targeted, with a specific reason for doing it. That’s where the plan comes in. Think before you leap.

Some questions to ask yourself: What is your plan for your action? Why are you doing it? What do you expect from it? Will there be any consequences? After you leap, what’s next? What steps are you going to take, and how will you know when you’re getting results?

I’ll post the questions I just mentioned with the video (see above). And for a free ebook of tips on how to take charge of your day, and get more done more easily, click on the link for it that accompanies this video (see below).

Think through what you plan to do. When you’re deliberate and intentional about your actions, you’ll be much more successful. They’ll be more integrated with who you are and what you want. So how can you create a thoughtful plan that supports your next steps?

Free Guide: Take Control of Your Day, with specific tips and instructions on how you can get more done more easily. Increase your efficiency, confidence and clarity, while reducing your sense of struggle and overwhelm. http://www.Linda-AnnStewart.com/guide.html

Read the complementary article, Are You Putting the Cart Before the Horse?

~ Linda-Ann Stewart

Are You Putting the Cart Before the Horse?

Article 1 Response »

Oct 052017

by Linda-Ann Stewart

“Action without planning is the cause of every failure.” Alec Mackenzie, time management expert

Last year, my husband and I hiked a mile-and-a-half down the South Kaibab trail in the Grand Canyon. We planned and trained for almost a year. When the day arrived, we had the right boots and equipment, and enough food and water to sustain us. Unfortunately, many people on the trail hadn’t had the same foresight.

There are warnings all over the park and at the trailhead about how much water a hiker needs. But sadly, many hikers we saw took only a fraction of the water they needed. We witnessed several people in distress due to dehydration: weak, tired or dizzy. A family fought over their child’s small bottle of water, because they’d already drunk their allotment. Two women hiked the dirt and rock trail, that was hundreds of feet above the canyon floor, in high heels. One turned ankle in the wrong place could have been disastrous.

These visitors let their enthusiasm overrun their common sense. Instead of thinking ahead, they impetuously jumped into an experience and suffered for it. Fortunately, most Grand Canyon visitors survive with just blisters, sore muscles and a headache from dehydration. But they could have avoided those consequences if they’d just heeded the warnings and considered what they’d need for a safe hike.

Unfortunately, many people act in a similar way when they get an idea. They leap into action before they even know what to do. In our Western culture, action is idolized. Supposedly, if you just take action, any action, you’ll be successful. Action is considered a panacea and always brings you results, so the thought goes. But how many people do you know who are so busy that they barely have a personal life, but they’re not achieving their goals?

Some people want to let the Universe guide their way. They don’t have any direction, and just react to whatever shows up in their path. In this case, the Universe is simply acting on their strongest desires. And those desires change from day to day. Even when you let the Universe guide you, have a vision of where you want to end up. You can always intend, “This or something better.” Then the Law of Attraction can draw what you need to manifest your greater good.

Have you ever seen a skyrocket firecracker flying through the air? It spirals all over the place because it has thrust, but no guidance system. Most of the time, it goes up to explode in a beautiful display, but there are occasions when it swirls down to the ground and sets something on fire. This is what it’s like when you jump into action before developing a plan. You’re probably going to go up, but you don’t have any control over your direction. And you also have a good chance of crashing and burning.

The same is true if you have a plan, but you don’t know where you want to end up. If you have no vision, it’s like throwing darts at a target while blindfolded. You don’t know where your target is, so you waste your energy and ammunition. This happens if you have a marketing plan, before you settle on a niche. You spray the consumers with information, but because it’s not aimed properly, it’s ineffective. Instead, you need to find the right people for your product or service then spend your energy on connecting with them.

There are times when jumping into action, without a plan, can be helpful. But it has to be strategic. You want to build up some momentum, stir up some information, gain clarity or some other specific reason. Doing that is a plan in itself. You know the results you want from your actions.

Conversely, you need to keep from getting stuck in the planning process. Your plan isn’t going to ever be perfect. You’ll tweak it along the way. And there will be times when it will change completely, as you get feedback or knowledge. Making progress is better than perfecting your plan.

When you’ve decided to create something new in your life, be intentional about it. Don’t “Put the cart before the horse.” Keep your priorities straight and make sure you have some sort of plan. Life can be treacherous and catch you off guard. If you’re going for a trek in unfamiliar territory, isn’t it a good idea to heed the warnings, make sure you have the right equipment and plenty of resources to sustain you? This isn’t just good advice for the Grand Canyon, but also for every area of your life. Make sure your horse draws your cart, and you’ll make faster progress.

Affirmation:
I decide what direction I want to go in, and the Universe then lights my path. It ensures that I receive whatever I need for the fulfillment of my desire. I stay on track and take the steps I need towards my vision. Each step illumines the next one. And the Universe provides me with whatever is for my Highest Good.

Watch the complementary video Think Before You Leap.

As a vision strategist, hypnotherapist, and speaker, Linda-Ann Stewart helps women entrepreneurs and small business owners who feel stuck, immobilized and overwhelmed to to get clear, focused and on the fast track to the next level of their business. If you'd like some help to reach your goals, email her at LAS@Linda-AnnStewart.com with "Complimentary Consultation" in the subject line.

Stop Fighting Yourself

Video No Responses »

Sep 202017

Do you have personality traits that you’re rejecting by trying to fit yourself into a mold that works for others, especially in your career? If so, you’re going to be wasting energy and not being as productive as you could be. Accepting yourself and working with your characteristics will make you much happier and more successful.

Transcript:
Do you have natural characteristics that involves your work life, that you’re fighting against?
I’m not talking about procrastination or perfectionism, which are learned traits. But what natural characteristics are you trying to repress them to fit into what everyone else expects from you? When you do, it’s a form of self-rejection. Not only does it erode your self-esteem, but it reduces your effectiveness.

For instance, years ago, I took a creative writing class that met at 9am every Thursday. I’m not at my peak at that time. I’m functional at best. A group of us from the class formed an organization to sponsor what became an international writing contest. I was secretary of the group and took notes at our meetings. One day, the president suggested we meet at 8am. I’m not a morning person. The person who sat next to me in class said, “Don’t do that to Linda-Ann. Haven’t you noticed that she doesn’t mentally join the class and start participating until 10am?” We all laughed, and because it was true, the president set the meeting at 10am.

How about you? Is there a personality trait you have that you’re fighting against? Are you trying to fit into someone else’s mold? I know that there are times it’s unavoidable. But if you are, you’re wasting your time and energy. They could be better used to accepting your idiosyncrasies and viewing them as your strengths. In other words, you know how to optimize your productivity.

For example, do you work best listening to music? How can you do that in a way that doesn’t affect others? Do you prefer to work in groups? What about teams? Maybe you can find a partner or partners to bounce ideas off of, so you can collaborate with them and have a sense of camaraderie.

When you’re able to honor your personality traits, you build a sense of self-trust and feel better about yourself. What are your idiosyncrasies? How can you accept and adjust them to fit into your work? When you’re able to do this, not only will you be more productive and successful, and be a whole lot happier.

Read the accompanying article Achieve Success through Self-Trust.

~ Linda-Ann Stewart