BE WHO YOU WANT TO BE, STARTING NOW...
10 DECISIONS THAT WILL TAKE YOU FORWARD IN 2012!
Throughout the rest of 2012, InAccord will share 10 great decisions we can make to build a better future for ourselves and become who we really want to be.
BE A SELF-REFLECTOR
STOPJust do it !! If we stop running from issue to issue we can reflect and connect the dots on what is going on for us right now. We don’t think we can do it... we’re even afraid to STOP. The late Apple CEO and Founder Steve Jobs shares his story of ”connecting the dots in the past that will somehow connect in your future. Again, you can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something — your gut, destiny, life, God, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life.” Click here to read “Life Lessons from Steve Jobs”
ACT
Turn reflection into action! Taking time to stop and reflect is a waste of time if we don’t
do anything with what we learn. Reflection must lead to action... a change in perspective
or the way we use our abilities or how we relate to others around us. Action toward worthy goals requires self discipline. Let’s face it: everyone wants to be slim, but few want to diet. Everyone wants to live a long life; few want to exercise. Everybody wants financial success, yet few want to work hard. Successful people conquer their feelings and form the habit of doing things unsuccessful people don’t like to do. The decision to act requires self discipline to keep going despite the “pain”. The pain of self-discipline is more bearable than the pain of self regret, and even if every action may not produce the desired result, making mistakes, getting it almost right, and experimenting to see what happens are all part of the process of eventually getting it right.
Fernando Ramirez shared a “Daily Dozen” actions that make a lot of sense…
1. Choose and display the right attitudes.
2. Determine and act on important priorities.
3. Know and follow healthy guidelines.
4. Communicate with and care for my family.
5. Practice and develop good thinking.
6. Make and keep proper commitments.
7. Earn and properly manage finances.
8. Deepen and live out my faith
9. Initiate and invest in solid relationships.
10. Plan for and model generosity.
11. Embrace and practice good values.
12. Seek and experience improvements.
So, starting today, act on these decisions and practice these disciplines, and then one day - see the compounding results of each day lived well.
SHARE
Tell someone what you have learned! This is the heart of “added value”. We benefit from reflecting and acting on what we learn, but we also inspire others by our growth, inviting them into the practice of living each day well.
Success or Significance? Sharing what we’ve learned brings both.
A lot of people believe they are successful because they have everything they want. They have added value to themselves. But significance comes when you add value to others—and you can’t have true success without significance. These are the thoughts of John Maxwell, author of Your Road Map for Success. In researching quotes on success, he came up with 137 and carefully thought them through. After several months, he decided that success can be simply defined as:
• knowing your purpose in life,
• growing to your maximum potential
• sowing seeds that benefit others.
The big question is: Once you’ve learned something, do you have a heart to share it with others, or do you hold it for yourself? Success is indeed a journey, but if you stop at adding value to yourself, you miss the additional reward of significance.
REPEAT
Practice reflection often! If we make it a habit, it becomes instinct...to measure quality in our lives: in relationships we’re in, things we produce or services we deliver, transactions we enter into. Find out why it’s priceless to reflect on both the positive and negative. We want to reflect on the positive – it feels better, and tells us we’re on track, making all the right moves (results, money, praise, rewards, happiness, inner-peace, etc). But, there is as much value in reflecting (not commiserating!) on the negative as there is in the positive. We see where we’re off course, headed in the wrong direction, doing the wrong thing. This is priceless information! These are improvement opportunities. These are the places where we can get better!
Let your body do some talking too! In our habit of reflecting, we can’t overlook what our body will tell us. When we are relaxed and happy, our body is telling us that we’re on track. When we are constantly exhausted, tense, in pain, unhappy and angry, then we are off track.
Take time to listen to what your body is saying to you. Are you listening?
Stay in the game, keep reflecting, listening and learning and you can’t help but make progress and play a role in the progress of others.
Remember to Stop, Act, Share and Repeat!
InAccord Consultants would love to help you take the first steps toward the practice of reflecting. We have discovered what we believe is the best evaluation method for anyone who wants to shed light on their strengths, motivational needs, behaviours and potential.
Ask us today for a free introduction!
Ask us today for a free introduction!
Coming up in 2012, 9 more decisions that will change your life and help you have the future you hope for.
