We know the big ones. Weight Loss. Saving Money. Get a new job. Get an education. Get a second education. Have a second breakfast. wait ... no, sorry, Lord of the Rings reference snuck in there on me.
And we all know how quickly these fade. How quickly all the will power is used up and gone. How quickly we abandon these resolutions and goals and return to the status quo. Personally, sometime in the summer (when shorts and capris have returned) and sometime in the fall into winter (when I have to put on the oversize sweatshirts and bulky winter coat) I realize how little I have done to improve myself or my station in life over the last whatever months. I remember why I set those goals and what I wanted to achieve. I read this blog all the time and he talks about Big Wins and Immediate Results. And I Love It!! And I love a ton of other things about his principles and ideas, but we'll stick with the Big Wins and Immediate Results thing for now.
I overthink things. Regularly. Ridiculously. I shoveled my carport today. 4 of the stalls weren't cleared out at all. Granted we didn't have 12" of snow because it is enclosed on 3 sides, but there was still enough to make a mess. So I cleared all the stalls that weren't already cleared out. I needed the exercise, and wanted to do something nice for my fellow tenants. While I'm doing it I start wondering if the office will call me and ask me not to do it again. Because I wasn't clearing it perfectly, because there was some left behind, because I didn't "technically" do everyone's, because it's not my job. And I had this whole argument in my head ... over something that was almost certainly NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN!!
So, setting goals can be hard for me. Well, no, I take that back. Setting the goal isn't hard, following through on the goal is hard. Two reasons, First and foremost I try to set all my goals for the whole year at once. And then right alongside that is the fact that I overthink and overplan everything. So I have 5 goals and I have 10 steps to each goal and each of the 10 steps has 3-5 baby steps associated with it and next thing i know I'm sitting on the couch watching Season 1 of Bones yet again because I can't seem to force myself to do anything at all.
I am almost 33 years old and I am just now figuring out that Taking one Baby Step at a time is not only okay, but is preferred. Also, just because conventional wisdom says to "eat less, move more" if you can only do one, then just focus on the one. If conventional wisdom says exercise at least twenty minutes three times a week, and I can only make myself do my own made-up program of weight-training for 15 minutes twice a week, then do that! I am just figuring this out!!
But boy am I glad I did! I got three things moved around between my kitchen and office, by taking it in small steps. I got a bunch of stuff rearranged in my kitchen cupboards and storage, by taking it in small steps.
And, drumroll please, the one I am most proud of right now
I did warm lead calls, exactly according to my goals (3 calls Monday night, 3 calls Wednesday night, and 3 calls Friday afternoon), TWO DAYS IN A ROW NOW!
It may sound pathetic, but I have never been able to do this before. And, felt so incredibly good about it. Some of our trainers have said 5 people a day, 5 days a week, 4 weeks a month. and I don't disagree with her. I think that is a fantastic way to crank your business into high gear. If you can stand to do that. I have this phone anxiety and just could NOT make myself make calls more than once a week. But since I am shifting my mindset, and I'm only making 3 calls at a time, suddenly it's not quite so daunting and terrifying.
Another one of the many things on the very long list of Things I Love About Direct Selling is the easy achievements. I set this goal for myself, and I'm doing well at it! I can see myself continuing it for quite awhile. I can see it becoming a highly successful habit for me. And that makes me proud.
Alongside that, I emailed my leader and shared my joy with her. I told her what i had done, and I told her I hadn't gotten any tangible results yet (no bookings, no parties etc) and her response?
Yippee Yippee - This is your year - i just know it - you go girl
I Love It!! If you join the right team with the right company, you can go as far as you'll let yourself go!
Where do you want to get to??
