Welcome to goal setting week! Every podcast, blog, etc is talking about 2016 goals and I would be remiss if I didn’t address that is what everyone is working on.
I do have to be a little pain in the butt and say that any day is a good day for giving some focus to your focus. One of my favorite quotes is, “The best time to plant a bamboo tree is 100 years ago. The second time is today.”
Each goal you have is broken down into little steps. The journey of 1000 miles begins with a single step.
Our life is made up of little habits. When I coach people, we always set goals, and a plan. Basically action items. But why don’t they stick? What’s going on here? We need to look at the reasons your habits or actually action items, many of which are set up with such good intentions never materialize.
This podcast isn’t about your 2016 goals, this is about the execution of the things you know you need to do, 2016 or not. This is about the things you want to do more of in your business or your sales conversations in order to get your revenue.
The inspiration for this just an amazingly huge accomplishment that I finally reached last week. I know, that’s weird. It’s because for the first time in how ever far back I can remember, I didn’t have a cavity! Because I flossed. I actually flossed every freaking single day. And why was I successful this year over so many? I became a student of habits. Am I perfect in all ways? Yes! That’s why you listen to me! Just kidding. Not at all, but this is one habit that eluded me for years and I’m pumped to have mastered tarter build-up.
Before we talk about the reasons we fail, let’s get you a little more motivated. Think right now about a habit you want to form. Now think about what will happen if you don’t form it and you continue on your current path. What do you see in a few years?
1. The habit is a huge jump from what you are doing right now.
What to do instead: Remember the law of aggregate gains. Small victories every single day will lead up to way more success over time. We are progressing or declining every day, and over time it makes a huge difference in your performance.
Read the entire article by James Clear here.
2. You say you are going to do it first thing in the morning.
Example: I am going to work out first thing in the morning! Yeah, how often does that happen? Why? because it’s not built into your routine.
What to do instead: Habit stack. Watch the BJ Fogg Ted Talk here.
Build the tiny habits into your routine after something you already do! In the TED Talk, BJ explains how he established a consistent push-up habit by starting with one push-up every time he went to the bathroom.
3. You really, truly hate the action item.
There are some things that we know we should do, and we just hate to do them. Sometimes I say, “do something you hate every day, just for practice” which is definitely great for developing discipline. You need to ask yourself though if you hate it this much, will you ever do it? I always say I need to count my calories, but I really hate to do it. I know it gets results, but I can’t stay consistent. I procrastinate and oops, I forgot.
What to do instead: Find an alternate option that isn’t so horrible and doesn’t give you negative energy. Wow, that’s a lot of negatives. Sometimes we pair up with someone to give some momentum, but if we are being honest, those habits don’t stick long term.
Let’s walk through some examples:
1. Make more calls
What doesn’t work: Saying you will do it first thing in the morning, not leave your desk until you make 50 calls.
Try this instead… set small output goals. If you are making no calls now, up it to 2 or 3. Or even 1! Crazy right? Hear me out. Then habit stack it with something you already do. Do you already check your email? Make one call after each time you check your email. Knowing how often we all check email, that’s going to be quite an improvement This will help you to establish a consistent habit of making follow-up calls. Give yourself a small reward each time you make the call. Maybe use a jar of coins and each call is one coin. Watch it add up. Do something awesome with that money, even if it’s just a card to a friend, or a cheap shirt at Target. I used to teach people to use M&Ms, but we are not getting any younger so find something different than candy. Because then in a few months, I will have to record a podcast on how to break your M&M habit.
2. Any new verbiage you are trying to implement. What doesn’t work: I have seen so many people fail because they get in the middle of their conversation and “forget” to ask, or say what they are supposed to.. That sounds lame but what is happening is real. There is no trigger for this question. Start with Hello, I’m ____ and built your next statement until it becomes habit. Put your new question, or statement, or whatever right after something you already ALWAYS say. It will roll off your tongue in no time.
3. You want to plan your upcoming week more consistently. What doesn’t work: remember to do it. What is one thing you do every week, without fail? Let’s say you go to church. Set it up so you plan your week after church. Write it down in your schedule to do. When you plan for next week, make sure to write in church and then plan. Or let’s say you always make pancakes on Saturday morning. Plan after pancakes, or during pancakes for that matter. After a few weeks, this will be your default and you will be on your way to a habit that lasts.
We all have one habit that you know will generate the most revenue for your business. Pick that habit, break it down, and put it right after something you already do. It sounds so simple, and it is. You too, believe it or not, can go to your next dentist appointment with no cavities!
Happy New Year! To kick off the New Year, I would really appreciate it if you would take a minute to leave me a review, which will help more people just like you find me on iTunes or Stitcher. Enjoy your celebrations and talk to you next week.