The finish line is getting so close. One step today and one tomorrow and you will be well positioned to celebrate on New Year’s eve knowing you have in place the elements to lift your performance in 2012. Congratulations on your diligence in completing the steps that have preceded this one!
By now, you should have a high quality draft plan (completed in Step 23). You hopefully are starting to get constructive feedback from your Board of Advisors (Step 25). You have taken the plan to the next level by creating your Magnificent Milestones (Step 26). And you have begun identifying your support structures with your selection of an All Star Support Team (Step 27).
In this step. we are going to backstop the support provided by your All Star Support Team. In essence, we are going to double the support you will have in place to keep you on the track to successful implementation.
Before explaining that second level of support, I want to explain why I am so adamant with my consulting clients and with my mentees that they build in tons of support for their implementation efforts.
We live in a challenging world, and in very challenging times. No matter how strong our commitment to our Life Purpose and to our SMART Goals, all kinds of things can – and will - occur that can derail the best of intentions. A loved one gets sick, or even dies. A dear friend loses his or her job. A sibling gets badly sidetracked and starts doing drugs. Our employer’s business, or perhaps our own business, gets walloped by the sick economy. Things happen!
It has been my experience that the winners in life aren’t dealt better hands (using a card game analogy), but they play the hands they are dealt them better. Winners don’t fold. They adjust and keep on going.
The more support you have around you in 2012,
the more likely you will be to keep ongoing,
even in the face of adversity.
All of us will encounter some adversity in 2012. What you want to do is build in support levels before adversity happens. You want the support levels to cushion the blows promptly. You don’t want to just wait to you hit adversity and then hopefully have the presence of mind to go get the right support.
Your first line of support is your All Star Support Team. I want to encourage you to back-up that Team with a calendar of events where your participation will (1) provide additional skills or knowledge to speed your success, and/or (2) encourage you to be on plan by the time of the event.
I am sure you noticed how arbitrary dates can often accelerate our progress. Ever noticed how the week before a vacation, we can often get so much more done than usual. Or, consider how many of use year-end as an arbitrary deadline to get some important things done. Or, consider how people use a class reunion as a motivator to lose some weight.
I want to encourage you to schedule your participation in some events that are relevant to the attainment of your SMART Goals. Commit to yourself that you will be on track with respect to your monthly Magnificent Milestones by the time you arrive at the event.
Let me give you examples from my own calendar for 2012. I have already committed to attending two events in the first four months where I will be attending as a participant. In these events, I will not be speaking; I will just be looking to soak up ideas that can accelerate my success in 2012. And, looking to meet hi-performers who can help me to accelerate my success. I will be experiencing events from the participants point of view rather than the event leader role which is the norm for me.
Now, here is the key. I have committed to myself that my businesses will be shining as I participate in these events. I have told myself there is no way that I want to attend an event and not have my businesses in great shape.
In both cases, the events involve dear friends…my pride is too great to show for one of their events and have my businesses be other than an example of what they will be covering in these seminars. And, when my businesses is shining for the event, I will be in the best position to hear nuances that could take my businesses to an even higher level.
I expect that some of you will say “well Dave, that is easy for you, but money is tight for me and plus I can’t afford time away from work.” Again pardone’ my French. Excuses. Excuses.
Many seminar operators appreciate that times are challenging. Many have constructed deluxe programs that are very affordable. And, many are scheduling them for weekends so as to facilitate busy people attending. And, they are being scheduled near major cities so as to facilitate participants having lower travel costs.
Use events as midpoint evaluation of your progress, as a midcourse sharpening of your personal tools and as reward for yourself.
Add a page to your plan, behind the page listing your All-Star Support Team, listing events that can serve as a “get it done/learn more” support. If you are not sure of which events to attend at this point, at least block out some approximate time for events (e.g., a three day event in April, TBD).
Tomorrow, we will add a third and final level of support and you will then be ready for your final step on New Year’s Eve (the easiest step in the process).
The finish line is getting really close. On New Year’s eve, I look forward to celebrating your significant accomplishment of creating an inspiring personal plan for 2012, one that includes Magnificent Milestones, an All Star Support Team and some events to help you accelerate your success. Awesome!
The finish line is getting real, real close. Finish strong and finish in style.
When you have completed Step 28, you can access Step 29 here .
Please note: If you have arrived at this step first, it is not too late for you to join other high performers who are collaborating to follow the bite size steps that are unveiled here every day. Get started here.
This blog post was written by Dave Carpenter. Dave is a prolific author, inspiring speaker, and well-known consultant to professional service firms. Besides writing regularly for this blog, Dave’s writing can be seen in leading business and personal development publications. Dave is also the leader of the Accelerate Success mentoring program where he mentors high performers in a unique program designed to do great things for the favorite charity of each participant. If you are (1) a high performer who believes you still have untapped potential, and (2) passionate about a favorite charity, you may want to learn more about this powerful program. You can also follow Dave on Twitter, on Facebook, and/or on Google+.
