You may not be a resolution kind of person (I’m not either), but that doesn’t mean that you don’t want to accelerate your success. Jon Mertz shared a concept that I love for the new year – it’s a second chance to take the good, bad and ugly from last year and move forward with purpose on purpose. To help you kick off the new year as you make a fresh start, I have an idea or two (or fifty) for you to consider.Wait! Before you close your browser and feel completely overwhelmed, I’m not suggesting that you do all 50 on a daily basis. My gut tells me that you know where you need to start.
What are you willing to do to accelerate your success?
Don’t wait for success – go out and create it! Block time on your schedule to crank on work and remain meeting-free Learn to say “no” Exercise – de-stress and build strength! Find a mentor Set up informational interviews to learn about other’s path to success Share your ideas even when you’re afraid they will sound stupid Ask: “How Can I Help?” Hire a coach Eat breakfast Take a vacation Spend time with your friends – decompress Keep a notebook (or app) handy to write down inspiration when it strikes Smile Dress to feel good – you don’t have to impress, but put on something that makes you feel your best Persevere even when you’re tempted to give up Banish the phrase “it’s impossible” from your lexicon Don’t assume you’ll remember your brainstorm in the morning – open your eyes and write it down Know your values and use them as a guidepost to lead with integrity Make time for your family – reenergize and recharge Read a non-fiction book on leadership, management, innovation or another topic of interest Read a fiction book and take a mental break from challenges at work Spend time hip-to-hip with the front lines Ask people for their opinions and be willing to shift yours Attend a conference in your field Make real connections on Social Media (aka avoid exclusively one-way sharing) Stop making assumptions about what others think and their motivations – ask Train for a marathon (or something else that requires discipline) Wake up early and use the quiet morning time to prioritize for the day Leave your phone in your bag (or in another room) during meetings Let go of the pressure to return every email, IM and tweet immediately Share the story about the time you were less than perfect – show people you’re human Blog about your knowledge and experiences Join in on Tweet chats like #PeopleSkills, #DaretoBe, #TChat or #LeadwithGiants to get inspired and build relationships Set limits on mindless game time like Candy Crush Take an online course designed to help you take your next step Admit when you’re wrong instead of digging in (it won’t make you right) Join Toastmasters and fine tune your public speaking skills Don’t be afraid to rock the boat – change takes discomfort Read one blog a day and apply what you learned Be a scientist – hypothesize, act, reflect, shift Get a new job when you’re reached the limits in your current position or organization Update your resume to include your latest experience and accomplishments before you need it Create or join a mastermind group Make time to get to know people beyond their titles and job functions Notice when you’re selling to the wrong people at the wrong time (i.e. friends over catch up dinner and drinks) Shake things up – even a small change could help get you unstuck Reframe a plateau as a time to get stronger before your next leap Break the Frame of “because that’s the way we’ve always done it” and follow your gut Allow for setbacks and embrace the learning Believe you CANWhat would you add?Most important: What will you DO?
Break the Frame Action:
Bookmark this page or print it out. When you need a little inspiration or feel like someone else needs to give you permission to forward your personal development and accelerate your success, think again.
