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LIVING BY DESIGN NEWSLETTER
by Leslie Karen Sann, MA, LCPC
V3, #10
September 4, 2003
IN THIS ISSUE
Small
Steps Lead to Big Success
Quotes
Practically Speaking
Wonder Questions
SMALL
STEPS LEAD TO BIG SUCCESS
LIVING
BY DESIGN
(Part 5)
(This article is a continuation in a series
about the creative process.)
The best method for accomplishing anything is to
take it one small step at a time. Baby steps are preferred. A child
walking is the miracle of all the little baby steps. Smaller still, a
child begins to learn to walk as soon as s/he is born.
Little things are giant. A baby's ability to hold
their head erect, an essential step in the process of walking, is a giant
leap forward, yet in some ways is a little thing. Little things make a big
difference.
Taking this baby-step approach to creating what we
want helps to reduce the chances of getting overwhelmed, while greatly
increasing motivation, satisfaction, and a sense of accomplishment.
You may be reluctant to start a project because it
is BIG and cannot be completed in one session. Perhaps you don't know
where to start. Yet, waiting until you can do the 'whole thing' often ends
up in nothing getting done.
Your best bet is to give yourself 'smaller' projects
that you can complete in less time. It's called chunking it down into
doable pieces.
I am committed to drinking at least 8 glasses of
water a day. 8 x 8 ounces = 64 ounces of water per day. That's two of
those large bottles of water. When I look at those two large bottles of
water I wonder, "How am I going to drink that much water?" I
think it is hard and it becomes difficult.
I recently bought an eight-pack of 8 ounce bottles
of water. I look at those baby bottles and think, "It is easy for me
to drink one." Now it has become easy for me to drink all of my water
and then some (I'm always willing to exceed my goals.)
Breaking projects down into doable actions is the
easiest way to manifest a goal. If I want to paint my house, I ask myself,
"What is the next DOABLE action?" I may hear, "Pick out the
paint color." That's doable, and off to the store I go and come home
with color swatches. Once the paint color is decided I can take a next
action.
Organizing the entire office might be too large of a
goal. But, if you break it down into smaller projects, the task becomes
more manageable. First, clear the papers from the top of the desk. Next,
empty the top drawer. Next, empty the next drawer. Next organize the
closet, etc. You've now given yourself projects that can be started, and
completed, and with every completion you get a spurt of energy to be used
for the next mini- project.
Homes are built one brick at a time. Marathons are
run, one step at a time. Goals are achieved one action at a time. The key
is to stay in motion toward your goal. An object at rest, tends to stay at
rest, an object in motion, tends to stay in motion . . .
Define your next action and DO it!
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QUOTES:
"By the inch is a cinch. By the yard is
hard."
~ Unknown ~
"A next action is an action that can be
completed in one action. Anything more than that is a project."
~ David
Allen, author, "Getting Things Done"
"Small things done consistently in strategic
places produce major positive results."
~ Ron Hulnick ~
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PRACTICALLY SPEAKING:
- State your goal in the present tense, with the
focus on completion. For example: My office is organized and ordered
and I can easily find everything I am looking for. (versus: My office
is no longer a mess.)
- What is a next action step goal you COULD take to
move you in the right direction?
- Commit to taking the action by a certain time.
- Do it.
- Ask yourself, what is the next action I could
take to move me toward my goal.
- Commit to taking the action by a certain time.
- Do it.
- Continue until goal is attained!
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WONDER QUESTIONS:
- What do you really want?
- How could you get it? What are your next doable
actions?
- How can you make this fun?
- Baby steps deserve to be applauded. Will you
applaud yours?
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COPYRIGHT/CONTACT INFO/REPRINT PERMISSION
c Copyright 2003 by Leslie Karen Sann, Living by Design
Visit this link for contact information:
leslie@living-bydesign.com
Reprint permission granted in part or whole when the following credit appears in full:
Copyright 2003 by Leslie Karen Sann,
Living by Design.All rights reserved.
Web site. http://www.living-bydesign.com
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