Whew, bold title, huh? I suppose so. But it’s the right one. Sometimes I awake in the middle of the night. Most times I pray and ask God why He woke me up. “What do you want to tell me?” or some words similar to those are how I pray. Then I lay there waiting to see what in myself, my relationships or my company that I obviously need to see. Many times I will also get out of bed, write some notes down, work on my computer, read or create something. A most recent time was no different. This particular time the thoughts running through my mind when I awoke were not exactly happy ones.
My mind raced as I ran through our company frantically. All that my mind would go to was what WASN’T being done. I seemed to roam office by office in my mind, seeing what wasn’t happening and goals that weren’t being accomplished by each department. YIKES, what was happening to me?!?! I’m the original positive girl! I KNOW we become, create or attract what we think about. I know this!!! I had to figure out a way to stop this!! I figured it out!
Not only was I able to turn my thoughts and attitude in a positive and productive direction, I was able to make a plan for changing things and arose from my bed with a decision to RADICALLY CHANGE MY LIFE!! I got up inspired and ready to run excitedly head- on into my day!! While your experience may not occur while lying in bed, you CAN cause everything — yep, that said EVERYTHING — about your life to begin heading in the direction you’d like it to head. Interested? Read on…
1. CELEBRATE WHAT’S BEEN DONE WELL. First I stopped the thoughts of negativity, blame, and disappointment. How do you do this? The same way you change anything else; you replace it with something new. I replaced the negative thoughts with thoughts of celebration of what had been done well, thoughts of achievement and rejoicing and pride in those I work with. I made a list of all the things that were being done well, goals that had been hit. I suggest to you today that is your first step to radically changing your life.
2. WHAT GOALS AREN’T BEING ACHIEVED?
If things are going to change, I had to face what needed changed, so next I thought through the things that needed improvement. What wasn’t working? What goals weren’t being achieved? Where were we falling short? What programs weren’t being implemented? What systems and tools weren’t being used? The second step to radical improvement in your life is to look honestly at what you want that isn’t occurring.
3. IS THE PERSON MORE THAN WILLING…ARE THEY ABLE?
4. WHAT IS MY PART IN HELPING THEM, AND AM I DOING IT?
Next, I asked myself two questions that required brutally honest answers. One, was each person on my team able to do these things? I didn’t have to ask myself if they were willing. They’re all willing. They’re amazing people who have loyalty and desire to serve others and see us achieve as a part of their very core. They were willing indeed, but were they capable of doing what needed to be done? Do they have the skill, or the ability to acquire the skill? This answer might not be one I liked, but I had to face it if radical change was going to take place.
I also had to ask a question of ME. Coming to the realization I was coming to, was I willing to do what needed to be done? For you see, a good leader asks the first question in this paragraph with the realization that all things reflect the leader. Did those around me know how to do what needed to be done? Had I trained them? Did they know the goal? How much of the goal not being achieved was MY responsibility? Are you ready for the answer? ALL OF IT!! That’s right, if we’re to radically change our lives for the better, we need to take responsibility for our lives in the first place. Now, while I can’t make someone capable who isn’t, I can take responsibility for training, expectation and follow-up. Had I been the leader I needed to be?
5. WHAT’S THE SPECIFIC PLAN FOR ACHIEVING THE GOAL? WHAT CHANGES NEED TO TAKE PLACE?
Lastly, what is the specific plan for ACHIEVING THE GOAL? This is where too many of us fall short and don’t realize it. We set a goal, but don’t think enough about the plan we need to make, or we don’t follow through in order to achieve the goal. If our goal is to lose a certain number of pounds or get into a particular size, what exercises do you have to do in order to achieve that goal? What kinds of foods do you need to eat? What types of things are you going to add to your routine to help keep you motivated, educated and on track? Some of us do ok up to this point (some of us don’t though). This is where so many of us make a mistake–We need a plan to do what needs done like exercising, eating the right foods and adding the motivation and education to our daily routine. Without a plan to fit exercise in, eat the right foods in the correct amounts and keep the motivation levels up the weight loss can’t happen. The goal happens when we do what needs done. Now, what’s the plan to make THESE THINGS happen!!!??? What’s the plan for fixing what needs to be fixed? Remember, there’s ALWAYS a solution!!! Simply ask yourself what needs to change. If something isn’t working what changes could make it work?
Now, my friend, it’s time to get out of bed! You can go through these questions every morning, then get up ready to make positive changes and do what needs done, or you can get up and head into the same life of not achieving that you’ve been used to living. Every morning can be a new and exciting beginning, or a repeat of the same old, same old. Will today be the day for your radical change?