One of my own, personal ambitions is a commitment to improve the quality of my life each day. Sometimes that means finding easier, less stressful ways to accomplish my goals. Sometimes that means looking for ways to make the lives of others better. I am a continual student of life, and the lessons learned through experience (even mistakes). I’d like to share one of my most monumental discoveries with you now that will RADICALLY change your world for the better, as it has done in my own life.
[dropcap]W[/dropcap]hen I awake in the middle of the night, I ask God why He woke me up. Then I wait to see what in myself, my relationships or my business needs attention. Recently this happened and my mind focused on what wasn’t being done in my company. Thankfully, I was able to turn my thoughts in a positive direction and make a plan for improvement. I arose from my bed deciding to RADICALLY CHANGE MY LIFE! You too can cause EVERYTHING in your life to head in the right direction with a few simple steps:
1. CELEBRATE WHAT’S DONE WELL. Stop the thoughts of disappointment and blame. How? The same way you change anything else; replace it with something new. I replaced the negative thoughts with celebratory thoughts about goals that had been achieved.
2. DISCOVER WHAT GOALS AREN’T BEING ACHIEVED. If things are going to change, you have to face what needs improvement. Ask yourself, “What isn’t working? What goals aren’t being achieved? What systems and tools aren’t being used?”
3. DETERMINE IF SOMEONE IS NOT ONLY WILLING BUT ALSO ABLE. I asked myself two questions requiring brutally honest answers. One, was each person on my team able to do the job? I didn’t have to question if they were willing. They’re amazingly loyal people who have the desire to serve others and see us achieve. But I had to ask, “Are they capable of doing what needs to be done? Do they have the skill or the ability to acquire the skill?” This was hard to do, but I had to face it if radical change was going to take place.
4. REMIND MYSELF OF MY ROLE AND DO IT. I also had to ask a question of myself. Was I willing to do what needed to be done? Did those around me know how to do the job? Had I trained them? How much of the goal not being achieved was MY responsibility? 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. 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. MAKE A SPECIFIC PLAN TO ACHIEVE THE GOAL INCLUDING CHANGES THAT NEED TO TAKE PLACE. This is where too many of us fall short. We set a goal but either don’t plan enough or don’t follow through on our plan. Remember, there’s ALWAYS a solution! Ask yourself what needs to change. If something isn’t working, what changes could make it work?
Go through these steps regularly, make positive changes and do what needs done, or keep doing the same thing and not achieving goals. Every day 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?
