Productivity – Page 18 – Mark S. Brown

Are You Feeling Overwhelmed with Your Goals?

At the beginning of the year many people set goals, and then quickly give up because of the overwhelming challenge they have given themselves.

If you find yourself in this position, don’t panic. Don’t give up. Evaluate these ideas and then set yourself on a path for success.

1. Don’t compromise. As soon as you hit a barrier, a complication, or a challenge, it may become tempting to change your goal… don’t. The fact is you won’t achieve your goal without overcoming obstacles. Do you really want to compromise your dream?

2. Be persistent. Achieving your goals requires work, not luck. It is about making progress every single day. Achieve small wins that accumulate to bigger achievements. Take action. If you are sitting on the sideline and waiting for something to happen, you may be waiting for a long time. Action creates opportunity.

3. Find inspiration. Why do you want to achieve your goal? Who inspires you to achieve it? Where are you getting support? Find energy in the reasons you want to achieve your goals.

4. Celebrate wins. Celebrate when you make progress. Reward yourself, and renew your challenge to finish. Enjoy your progress and then get back to work.

I hope you are not stuck so early in 2016, but if you are, think through your goals, and these ideas. What can help you get back on track? Reach out for the help you need. Let’s achieve those big goals and dreams we have for 2016.

Do Your Goals Include Money?

You have probably heard the quote, “Money is the root of all evil.” Yet, money is a requirement to live from day to day. If you have created a list of goals for 2016, at least one probably concerns money. Does that make you evil?

For 99.9% of us, more money is better, and not evil. Money is just a tool to simplify transactions. Evil comes from greed, abuse, or misuse.

How can we embrace more, and not be tempted by greed? I think it is simply using money for the good of others. I made a list of things that money provides me. Here is my list, how would yours be different? For me, money provides security, comfort, motivation, generosity, and the fulfillment of dreams.

I have created a financial goal for 2016. I hope you have as well. I view my goal as good. It is not about the amount, but about what I can do based on my results. It is not just about my family. It is about the world that I can influence and touch.

I encourage you to review your goals. Set your target higher. Dream bigger. Earn more money. It is not evil. It is a tool for you to help others. I wish you a great, prosperous, and generous 2016.

The Tragedy of Insecure Leaders

We have all heard it said, “People are much faster to quit a bad boss, than a bad job.” I think one of the worst bosses to work for, is an insecure boss. I have always wondered how these people get promoted to their position.

A leader that is insecure is poison for an organization. They will destroy morale, and people will begin to leave. Maybe you have worked for one of these people in the past. They are easy to recognize.

1. An insecure leader does not provide security for others. These leaders are always looking out for themselves first. Their insecurity has them act to protect their job at the expense of others.

2. An insecure leader takes more from people than they give. These leaders are demanding of their people. In many cases they may not even understand the work associated with their demands. They want to beat their goals at any cost to keep their position.

3. An insecure leader limits the potential of people around them. They don’t ask for input. They don’t listen to suggestions. They are receiving all their input from the top. Those are the people they need to please, not their team. Your personal goals and growth do not matter to an insecure leader.

4. An insecure leader limits their own organization. Organizations are more effective when the talents of all are best utilized. This can never happen in an organization with insecure leaders.

If you are stuck working for an insecure leader, what is your escape plan? You are wasting your talents stuck in a position where you are not appreciated. Don’t think it will get better. Only when enough people leave will an organization see they have a problem.

This article may seem a little harsh, but do you really want to waste your potential?

Who Else Wants 2016 to Be a Great Year?

Maybe you are like me, and towards the end of each year, you reflect back and then set some goals for the next year. I was preparing myself for that annual activity, and decided that I wanted to take a different approach this year. I am sharing this so that maybe I can provide you with some new ideas, or an incentive to refresh your annual planning process.

One day last week, I was thinking about the goals I had achieved in 2015, and where I fell short of my targets. I also wondered if 2015 would really have been better if I achieved all my goals. That may sound crazy, but I was thinking that even if I achieved my goals, would I be the person I wanted to be.

The question that stuck in my head was, “How can I become a better person?” It is a much different question than, “What goals do I want to achieve in 2016?” My focus shifted from accomplishing a specific thing, to development. How can I grow my character? How can I improve my life?

Since that day of reflection, my attitude towards a plan for 2016 has been very stimulating. What does it really mean to be a better person?

With those thoughts in mind, I have started compiling areas to explore for my 2016 plan. Here is the list I have so far.

My attitude and how it affects everything I do
My faith
My relationships and investing in them
My generosity both money and time
My values and how I live them
My continued growth
My mental, physical, and spiritual health
My self-esteem
Making and handling commitments to others and myself
My approach to priorities

I think through this approach I will be able to develop a 2016 plan that is very rewarding, and probably more valuable than simply setting goals. I am excited about this approach and where it may lead me.

Some questions for you to think about:

What else do you think belongs on this list?
What is your plan for an end of year review?
What do you want to achieve in 2016?