Bountiful Results

As a manager, getting bountiful results often requires the juggling of  multiple projects and tasks at the same time.  At times it is like juggling elephants.  When we cannot not focus on individual tasks and projects one at a time, we will find that this leads to stress and mediocre results.

I know that when I sit down to read an article or a book, I do not get too far before a thought pops into my mind about how to apply what I just read or a reminding thought about something that I need to do.  If I choose to ignore it and continue reading – the thought pops back up again.  At this point, I have a couple of options:  1. I can move on and expect frequent interruptions or 2. I can stop what I am doing and act on the thoughts by writing it down or go act on the thoughts. I often choose the latter option.  I keep a notepad with me or read with my laptop open and at the ready to take notes.  Our brain is an incredible thing.  It will try keep stuff in short term memory for as long as possible.  In order to keep it there it will need to bring it to the conscious level often, which means that it will disrupt what we are currently focusing on. Our sub-conscious knows that the memory is the only way of retaining a thought until we either white it down for future consideration or act on it.  Short term memory is believed to be 15-30 seconds.  If old memories are disrupting new thoughts it is very likely that you will forget or not retain the information you are currently trying to focus on.  This is why it is important to write down the interrupting thoughts.

To manage multiple priorities, we must be able to focus on one task at a time, even if it is for a minute.We them must clear that from our short term memory and then totally focus on the next task.

There are some great books out there that will give you different techniques for clearing one thing out of the way and bringing another into focus. The important thing is to find the one that works for you. I encourage people to read many points of view- try them and apply what gets results.  This is the premise of the bountiful results principle.  I do not have the only method for achieving exceptional results.  The Bountiful Results Principle is the method of applying what what works for you and getting bountiful results in the process.

The following is how I apply the principle to managing multiple priorities:

1. Acknowledge that I Need to do a better job of focusing on one project at a time.

2.Write out a Plan that includes SMART goals, learning objectives, milestones and reward.

3. Act on the plan soon and act boldly.

4. Acquire the necessary Tools to accomplish the training.

5. Motivate myself frequently by keeping my need in focus. Seek outside Motivation if necessary.

6. Adjust the plan and action if unforeseen circumstances derail my efforts to achieve the results that I desire.

7. Spend as much Time as necessary to achieve lasting results rather than a temporary fix. Do not mistake this for a license to coast and feel like you have all the time in the world.  The objective should be to achieve in the shortest time necessary so you can apply your new found results and skills. While all 7 components are critical to achieving results, short-cutting the time needed to achieve lasting results has become a major problem in today’s society.

These 7 components can be applied to any and all specific techniques on focusing and managing priorities.  The key is to use all 7.

The New Year is almost upon us – Are you resolved to go the extra mile and achieve bountiful results in all that you do in 2010?

The 4th component of getting bountiful results is the tools and training needed to get results.  Each and everyone of us has a unique set of skills and training that we have accumulated as we have gone through life.  Each of us are qualified to do something with our talents and skills.

Understanding how tools and training are crucial to getting results will help you on your journey to Bountiful Results.  Using the analogy of a car – tools and training is the vehicle that action rides in and the plan is steering the vehicle.

Let’s take a task like driving a nail into a board.   We must have some type of tool to drive the nail in and we must have some prior knowledge or training in order to be successful.  I know we can self teach,  but I also know it could be a painful lesson.  The most common tool for driving a nail is a hammer.  A hammer is not the most efficient method, the air powered nailer is.  I have also used a rock to drive a nail, again a potentially painful lesson.  I just listed three different tools that can be used to drive a nail.

The time that it takes to get to bountiful results is in direct proportion to the efficiency of the tool we select to use and our skill level with that tool.

If you want to be a carpenter.  Seek out the best training that you can find.  Get good tools that will be efficient.  Practice your new found skills with the new tools.  I am great with a saw and a utility knife, but that definitely doesn’t qualify me to be a surgeon.

So I guess what I am trying to say is -  do not underestimate the importance of the tools and training that you have when you are planning for success.

“We do not plan to fail, we fail to plan”.  The saying is true but I think that there is much more to it.  I think that sometimes I create a plan in haste and leave out some import aspects.  Some of my best plans have been developed over a day or two.  I will layout the framework of the plan and start filling in the who-what-when-where and then I will put it down for awhile.  I haven’t forgot about it, the details will come to me little by little.  I have noticed that if I write a plan in the morning and come back to it and reread it in the evening; I will have a fresh perspective.  Our body and mind go through cycles.  I am the most logical in the morning and the most creative in the afternoon.  I have the most energy physically in the evening and I am slow to start in the morning.  I know my cycles and will maximize these cycles for bountiful results.  When I work on things through these different cycles, I can make sure that I have tapped into the logical and the creative.

If I am struggling to build a bountiful plan I will use some if not all of the following to assist in the creative process.

• Put it down and come back to it 36 hours later.  My subconscious will still work on it, but it will be a different time of the day.
• Sometimes I use family, a friend or a teammate as a sounding board for my ideas.  Sometimes just saying it out loud generates additional thoughts.
• Mind-mapping is a good technique for getting your thoughts down on paper.  Our mind is full of associations to various points  in time and personal experiences.  Once you establish the main theme for the map – relax your mind and allow it to freely associate.  write down the information as your brain sees it.  Do not try to put it in a list form.  I find this helps me to look at all aspects of a task.

I am sure that you have your own tools that you use to generate ideas and unlock great inspirations in your own mind.  Don’t forget to consider the critical issues and the roadblocks that can pop up.

What do you do to plan for success?  I would love to hear from you.  Click on “comments” above or email me at: john@bountifulresults.com

Almost everyday I have a to-do list that has 20 plus tasks on it.  Some are critical and some are things that it would be nice to get to this week. As part of my personal development, I have seen just as many methods of dealing with the list.  This is one of those things that you have to try several of them and decide for yourself which one is best for your unique personality.

I have discovered a principle that has made managing the to-do list bountiful.  I must decide what is the “One Thing” for the day that will produce the most results.   It may not be the first thing that I do, but it often pushes me through the other tasks so I can get to the One Thing.  When that particular task is done, I try to pick a new One Thing as soon as possible.

The 5th component of getting bountiful results is Motivation and Accountability.  I incorporate this into the One Thing by declaring to someone else – “This is my One Thing for today”.  I have now signed my name to this task and hung my credibility on it.  If I go around saying that I am going to do something but fail to follow through, my credibility will be damaged.

My criteria for it becoming a “One Thing” item is:

• Am I the best person to do this at this time?
• Will it impact others if I do not get it done today?
• Will completing this task or project head off future problems or crisis?
• Is there a monetary loss or gain associated to this task?

Answering these questions will narrow down the list to a critical few and based on the strength of our response to each question; we will be able to set a One, Two, and Three.  Remember, after one is done, two should become our new number One.

I have taken this process a step further. I am asking, “What is my One Thing for the week?”   “What is my One Thing for the Month?”

My One Thing today was visiting a long time friend.  What is your One Thing going to be tomorrow?

Most great accomplishments start out as a vision of what could be.  A plan for success is then created.  Short and long term goals are put to paper.  Now, it is time to act on the vision and turn it into a reality.  Do you really believe it is possible?  If not, don’t go any further with your plan.  We must act boldly on our plan.  We must have confidence in ourselves and those that we have chosen to be part of the plan.  We must be able to visualize ourselves being successful.

So how do we act boldly?  There are 3 key steps:

• Proclaim your intention to be successful.  Share your vision with others.
• Get started as soon as possible and overachieve early on.
• When you hit your first obstacle – adjust and keep going.

Acting on your plan is at the heart of achieving; any shortcuts or feeble efforts will show up in your results.  I am reminded of some of the basics of planting vegetables.  If we skip the breaking up of the soil part or in haste toss the seed on top of the ground,  some plants will manage to grow, but it will be significantly less than what is possible.

I wish everyone bountiful results, but more important, I wish upon everyone the heart to act boldly on their dreams.

We are responsible for our own actions.  We are responsible for our own shortfalls.  I enjoy taking credit for my success.  I also feel the need to take credit for my failures.  I know I need other people to participate in some of my activities, but if I am the accountable for the results, I am still the one that must take responsibility for what was done under my watch.

If I set a goal to lose 20 lbs.  I cannot blame my wife’s good cooking for me only losing 5 lbs.  I chose to consume the quantity that I did.  I decided to stop exercising. I did not change my method of weight loss when I realized I was not on pace.

I am the only person that can make me successful.  Others most definitely play a part.

Would you agree that the following statement should be removed from our vocabulary.  “I gave Joe a chance to step up and prove himself.  I lost my promotion because he let me down.”  The first thing I see, there was already some uncertainty in Joe’s ability to do the task.  Two,  I cannot blame Joe for what I allowed.  I lost my own opportunity.  To get bountiful results I must include in the plan a series of progress updates from Joe and ample time prior to the deadline for any corrections or adjustments that need to be made. You cannot blame the fox for getting in the hen house if you left the door open.  He is just being a fox.

I try harder to succeed when I realize that I am accountable for my success and the overall end results.

Try this accountability exercise – Make a list of the things that you have accomplished before you do it. Sign the bottom of it and give it to your boss, spouse or friend.  This is the same as signing a check – you now own the accountability of those items.  You can start out safe, but to get to bountiful, you will want to make the list challenging.

Success and Failure are not opposites. On quite a few occasions, I have experienced failures(of a plan) on the way to success.  We all are so unique in so many ways – our personalities, our past experiences, our body types and the list continues.  There is not a single plan that will work for everyone.  Honestly, each of us needs our own customized plan because we are so unique.

In my opinion, failure is not trying to achieve our dreams and goals.  Failure is setting goals and quitting after the first or second plan doesn’t work.

Thomas Edison created over 3,000 variations of the incandescent light bulb before he came up with one that would burn for 13 hours and was safe to use. Those were not 3,000 failures – they were just ways not to make the light bulb.

When we are driving a car,  we do not steer by looking at the yellow lines beside us or directly in front .  We are aiming high by looking out ahead of us. We should do the same with achieving success. Aim High!  Our first plan may fail, that is when we utilize the 5th and 6th components of Bountiful Results, look to our motivation and adjust the plan for another try.

The path to bountiful results is lined with ways that are not right for our unique circumstance.  We often do not know that until we try.

Success will come to those who persevere. Aim for the stars and if you fall short you can still land on the moon.

Most experts agree that the X factor for being successful in your personal development is a positive attitude. It is not who you know. It is not the school that you graduated from or the book that you just read.  A positive attitude will enhance your education. It will help motivate your efforts and make achieving bountiful results possible.

We cannot be positive and negative at the same time.  They are polar opposites.  We can bounce back and forth between the two, but they cannot occupy the same space at the same time.  It is also true that both positive and negative attitudes will attract more of the same.  When I am in a good mood and full of positive thoughts, I often see other things around me in a positive light.  A positive attitude is often contagious – the airborne type. Try walking around with a smile on your face and compliment those you come in contact with. You will soon infect someone else with your positive energy.  Sure, there are a few out there that have built up an immunity to the basic strain of positive attitude.  They need a super dose of positive energy to break through the armor.  First you soften them up with a joke or two and then you perform an act of kindness. Don’t let them know that you are doing it ahead of time, they might foil your plan by accusing you of having an ulterior motive or something.

It is not easy to maintain a positive attitude without practice or exercise.  Here are a few of my favorite positive attitude exercises:

• Notice something positive in someone else and point it out.
• Every time someone asks you how you are doing – say “I am doing Great! or I am Fantastic”. Say it enough times and you will be.
• Make a list of things that you are thankful for.
• Read an inspiring book or article.

Thanksgiving is almost here.  I am going to make a list of 20 things that I am thankful for.  CAN YOU?

I salute you!  Thank you for your service.  Thank you for your sacrifices.

One of my mentors is a retired 22 year veteran of the Army.  The lessons that I have learned from him have been priceless.  The Military is either actively insuring our freedom or training to be prepared for service of our nation’s needs.  They are the epitome of planning for bountiful results.  They understand every critical issue that they may face and prepare tirelessly for success in the event that they need to apply the training.  In the business world, if we have a bad day, we may lose some money or a customer.  On the battlefield, a bad day may cost some lives.

Some of the less obvious contributions our military has contributed to society have been:

• A standardization of the way things are to be done.  A sequence to follow each and every time.
• Leadership Standards – They breed leaders that will own their accountability and not leave a man behind.
• Integrity and a code of conduct.  I personally have not met a disrespectful veteran.
• Work ethic -  See the mission through to the end.
• Teamwork – The impossible is accomplished when many work together as one.
• Loyalty – They run toward their responsibilities, instead of running away.

I am wiser and more prepared because of the lessons that LJ has shared with me.  Do you know a veteran that you can learn from?

Please give our veterans the respect they deserve.  They have already done it for you.  HUA!

The second component of getting bountiful results is The Plan. Like most plans it should have the key components such as the who, what, when, where & how long. I then start constructing SMART goals . The word SMART spells out an acronym.

S – specific, significant, stretching

M – measurable, meaningful, motivational

A – agreed upon, attainable, achievable, acceptable, action-oriented

R – realistic, relevant, reasonable, rewarding, results-oriented

T – time-based, timely, tangible, trackable

I will not go into detail about each aspect.  Wikipedia has great information you can read.

One additional aspect of planning for bountiful results is identifying and planning for the critical issues of the task, event, or mission. I define critical issues as the most difficult or challenging part of getting great result.  For instance, when I made my most recent career change, the critical issues were the hundreds of procedures and policies that I needed to learn.  It wasn’t managing the people or interacting with all the new team members.  I will always remember what my trainer told me about taking in all of the information in such a short period of time.  He said, “It is like getting a drink of water from a fire hydrant.”

What are the critical issues that you are facing?  Identify them and make a plan to deal with them.  What could potentially pop up and create a road block while you are trying to achieve your goals?  Create a solution now and then act on your plan boldly knowing that you thought it through and believe that you have addressed the things that would keep you from achieving bountiful results.

How many times have you said to yourself, “Things are going smoothly and I am ahead of schedule, so I am going to quit and move on.”  I do not say that either.  It is the tough times, the road blocks and resistance that discourages us and often causes us to fall short of bountiful.

Deal with the critical issues up front and plan to succeed.