Mark S. Brown

The pace of life is incredibly fast. Working on your personal goals requires you manage your time, your actions, your priorities, your ideas, your relationships, and still dedicate time for thinking and growing. It is a challenge, but yet, it should not feel like work. Defining purpose and creating harmony will naturally align your daily activities. Yet the one thing that creates harmony, can sometimes be the toughest. You need to think big, dream bigger, and create a grand vision of your success.

We all have needs in our lives. Love and significance are two that help drive our level of satisfaction. So this week I have found myself pondering the link between my personal vision and the satisfaction that comes from significance.

I discovered that if your vision lacks significance, then you will lack the drive to see it through. And if you do achieve your vision, and it lacks significance, then your satisfaction will not be high.

Benjamin Disraeli said, “Nurture great thoughts for you will never go higher than your thoughts.” We need great thoughts, great dreams, and significance. If you are able to achieve all three, then your actions, priorities, and goals will align. Your work becomes your passion, and your level of satisfaction increases.

The lesson I learned is that if you become disconnected with your vision, then everything else will become very difficult. Daily tasks will overwhelm you. Your activity level may climb, but your productivity will plummet.

There are several great reflection questions buried in this lesson. Does your vision provide significance? Are you connected and committed to your vision?

If you find yourself struggling with your daily responsibilities, then step back and take a look at your purpose, your vision, and your goals. You may find you need to make a few adjustments to get back on a productive path.

 

What happens when we find ourselves in a commitment that we don’t want to keep? We have all probably experienced this uncomfortable situation.

Each of us value responsibility to a different extent. On one end of the spectrum, some people would just quit, move on, and not give it another thought. At the other end, some people would work grudgingly toward their commitment for as long as it takes. Quitting would not be an option. Most of us fall someplace in the middle.

Where we are on this responsibility scale affects other aspects of our lives. We will feel the impact of our decisions and actions in our level of stress, the level of harmony between work and home, and how we set our priorities.

When I initially contemplated this issue in my mind, I discovered three perspectives I should consider before taking action. Please share how you would decide what to do in these situations. Here are my thoughts:

1) Be grounded in my values. Whatever course of action I decide to take, it should be based on my values. I should make sure I am remaining true to my beliefs and values.

2) Understand my motives. Why have I changed my mind about my commitment? Motives matter when you are changing direction.

3) What would I wish to have happen if I was the other person or the team that is affected by my decision? It is very important to think through the situation from the perspective of others. You must reflect and live what you believe, but also make it visible for people to see. It is difficult to see ourselves as others see us without intentionally thinking from this perspective.

After considering these factors, you should have a better understanding of your options. We all want to keep all of our commitments, but sometimes that is impossible. Maybe we should spend some time thinking about how we make commitments also.

Zig Zigler said, “The real opportunity for success lies within the person and not in the job.” He also said, “If you don’t see yourself as a winner, then you cannot perform as a winner.”

The challenge is to overcome your limiting self-image to find the opportunity that is already within you. Your uniqueness provides opportunities especially for you, but you need to see them.

Coaching is an amazing profession because I get to see this transformation in people on a constant basis. I don’t change people, but I get to raise their awareness. It allows them to change their thoughts and daily actions. They begin to discover the success that has been within them all along.

Have you discovered your dream? Are you stuck in that dream, or are you on your way to achieving it?

We don’t always do what is best for us. We all know that eating healthy and exercise should be part of our normal routine. Coaching is similar in that I believe everyone can benefit from working with a coach and unlocking their dreams and potential. But like exercising, only some people are willing to invest the time, money, and effort required to be better.

Success is a personal standard. It is defined differently for each of us. But it still requires reaching for the highest that is in us, and becoming all that we can be. The opportunity is within you.

Recently a mastermind group was discussing The Law of Solid Ground and The Law of Respect from John Maxwell’s book, The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership. The discussion evolved to strategies on building your character. Danny, one of the group participants, simply said, “You have to look at yourself in the mirror.”

It is a very simple, but direct action that we can take: reflection, self-evaluation, and contemplation. This is what allows us to change and build our character.

We have all been in a situation when we said the wrong thing. And we knew it. But it was too late.

If we ignore these situations and go on with life, we may never grow from that particular incident. If we take time to look in the mirror and question our actions, we will learn and grow.

It seems so simple, but yet this practice is very elusive for most people.

Today is April 2nd. Yesterday would have been a great day to sit down and reflect on the month of March. Where was your success? What can you celebrate? What adjustments do you have to make going forward? What have you learned?

I am willing to guess at least 80% of the people reading this did not reflect on their results for March. Why? Most people would respond they don’t have time. Yet, taking the time makes you more effective, builds your character, increases your success, and improves your life. If you think you do not have the time, maybe you should reconsider.