Career Success Partners

2012 Personal Plan - Step 8 - Craft Your Life Purpose

Day 8 of 31 days to Creating Your Inspiring Personal Plan for 2012

Having given thought to your desired legacy (Step 7), it is now time to focus on the closely related issue of your life purpose. For Step 8, you will develop a one sentence description of your life purpose.

I want you to know that I have my flak jacket on to shield myself from the critics who have told me that it is ludicrous to ask people to define their life purpose in 24 hours. (How ironic that some of these critics are professionals teaching people to do all kind of things without even considering their life purpose. How much sense does it make, for example, to learn how to use time more efficiently if you have not defined your highest life aspiration. You may not be able to select the perfect life purpose in 24 hours, but I believe that by following my process (today and in tomorrow’s lesson), you will create, at minimum, a great starting point for further exploration.

For many people, discovering their life purpose is indeed a lifelong quest. And, I hope it will become that for you, as I strongly believe that having an open mind with regard to our life purpose is a wonderful thing, worthy of reflection from now until you pass. I encourage you to read on this subject, attend programs designed to help you discover your purpose, meditate on it, or do whatever will best help you deepen your understanding of this all-important topic. The forty day process in Rev. Rick Warren’s best seller, The Purpose Driven Life, is an excellent self-study program that costs only the cost of the book (less than $15).

For me, the journey to get clarity with regard to my life purpose has been a long one. I look back and now chuckle on the energy I put into pursuing dreams without ever getting to this most important issue. My life was a series of quests to achieve milestones that were, in retrospect, largely ego centered. It is nice that I achieved uncommon success in automobile racing at such an early age. It is nice that I was the youngest officer in the history of a major bank and then the youngest consulting partner in history at one of the major accounting firms. Etc. Etc. But, is that what life really is about? Isn’t life something more than beating someone else to a spot? I now realize that those milestones were just preparation for my real life purpose.

Tomorrow, I will share with you my own statement of life purpose (as well as providing you with your Step 9). But, for today, I want you to reflect on this issue for yourself, and then draft a one sentence statement of your life purpose.

Like in every step so far, put at least a hypothesis down in writing. You can always polish the description later. What is most important is that you see how all of the elements in this process weave together. Getting hung-up, on any step, with perfection will get in the way of the iterative procedure I have designed into the process by encouraging you to take a bite-size step every day. (If you are struggling with perfectionism with regard to any step in this process, please see this wonderful quick read guest post by Janet Vanderhoof Perfectionism: What a Killer! )

When you have your own life purpose statement draft – and only then (please do not peak) – take a quick look at the front page of the Dave Carpenter web site and see if you can discern my life purpose and how it weaves through my vocational activities (and even beyond that).

Click HERE to continue reading the full "8th Step" article -- Craft Your Life Purpose.

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Andy Robinson, Executive Career Coach
Co-host, Career Success Radio Show
A leading authority on career success; 15-year executive coaching veteran
Contact: Andy@CRGLeaders.com, 239-285-5575

Photo Credit: BigStockPhoto.com

2012 Personal Plan - Step 7 - Design Your Desired Legacy

Day 7 of 31 days to Creating Your Inspiring Personal Plan for 2012.

Congratulations. If you have completed the previous six steps you are now 20% of the way to a personal plan for  that will accelerate your success in 2012. If you have some loose ends from the first six steps, set a goal of having them tied-up by the end of the upcoming weekend. (If you are just arriving to the process, it starts here.)

Over the last week, we focused on building a foundation for your 2012 Plan. Many of you report being inspired just with this prep work. That is great, as that means you are feeling the power of all the strengths with which you are blessed.

For the next seven days, we move into what many find the most challenging, and most rewarding, part of the 31 day process. Over the coming week, we each will be defining our respective Legacy, Life Purpose, and Current Vision. You can get an overview of how this work fits into the process with this week-by-week summary.

Before introducing you to Step 7, Designing a Legacy Worth Living, I want to caution you. The work we will be doing over the next seven days is very, very important work. Many people spend weeks, months and even years searching for the meaning of life. Many benefit by getting a coach to work them through reflection on these important subjects. The fact that we will be motoring through these challenging subjects in one week is not meant to marginalize the work of coaches who work people through longer processes. I, myself, have benefitted from years of study on these important subjects. I strongly recommend that you use our one week on these subjects as just a starting point for your study of these important areas.

My philosophy is that all of us need a personal plan. And, none of us can really afford to wait for months to get one. I believe it is better to have some plan, even if it is one that you will be tweaking through further work, than to go into the new year with no plan.

So set aside thoughts of perfection and instead focus on moving forward. Follow and complete each step over the coming week and I am confident that, one week from now, you will have an invigorated sense of purpose and a much clearer sense of your personal vision.

Hang on, as we have some very introspective work to do together in the coming days.

Steve Covey has long recommended to “start with the end in mind.” And I believe that profound advice applies to the life planning that should precede any serious annual planning.

So let’s fast forward to the end of your life and ask: "What is it that you would want friends, colleagues and loved ones to say about you at your funeral?"

Now, I know that sounds somewhat morbid. But, since none of us control when we will pass, it is important that we know NOW what we would want people to say so that we can start living our life in accord with our legacy NOW.

All of us have the power to shape our lives in a way that will support our desired legacy. In my experience, most people don’t do so because we assume we know when we will pass and that we have plenty of time to focus later on our legacy. Well obviously, none of us know when we will pass. So it becomes important to start living the legacy you desire. NOW!

Step 7 is to create a list of the six attributes that you would want people to use in summarizing what your life was about.

What is really, really important to you when one looks at the totality of your life?

Click HERE to continue reading the full "7th Step" article -- Design Your Desired Legacy.

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Andy Robinson, Executive Career Coach
Co-host, Career Success Radio Show
A leading authority on career success; 15-year executive coaching veteran
Contact: Andy@CRGLeaders.com, 239-285-5575

Photo Credit: BigStockPhoto.com

2012 Personal Plan - Step 1 - Select the Right Planning Buddy

My long-time friend, Mentor and Success-Guru, Dave Carpenter, has rolled out an AWESOME Personal Planning Tool for 2012.

Dave has broken the planning process into 31 “bite size” steps. Close to 5,000 people have successfully used this step-by-step process in past years. These participants benefited by ringing in the New Year knowing they have a great plan for success in the coming year.

Each step will take you an average of 15-20 minutes to complete. Using the one step per day approach, as you enter the New Year, you will have a plan that inspires you and taps into the strengths with which you are blessed (as part of this process, you will learn more about your strengths from trusted friends and colleagues).

The program starts with Step 1 - Select the Right Planning Buddy (click to begin).

At the end of every step is a link to the next step so you can easily proceed at your own pace. If you fall behind, just get back into the process as you can. There are even a couple of catch-up days built into this 31 day process.

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Andy Robinson, Executive Career Coach
Co-host, Career Success Radio Show
A leading authority on career success; 15-year executive coaching veteran
Contact: Andy@CRGLeaders.com, 239-285-5575

Photo Credit: BigStockPhoto.com

Are You Cultivating Powerful Habits?

"The price that must be paid for mastery is discipline. No one achieves lasting success without it. From the moment you awake each day, devote yourself to the perfection of whatever you pursue. Do this and you will achieve self-mastery. Achieve self-mastery and you will have the makings of a great leader... Discipline is all about cultivating powerful habits that become part of your lifestyle." - Robin Crow - Rock Solid Leadership

What powerful habits have YOU cultivated and incorporated into your lifestyle?

• Do you have a reading routine that helps keep you current in the latest thinking in your area(s) of expertise?
• Do you invest in your personal and professional development on a regular basis?
• Do you meet regularly with a mentor or coach or mastermind group that helps stretch your thinking?
• Do you regularly write or "blog" about topics relevant to your strengths and areas of expertise?  Writing helps support and "cement in" the things we've learned.  Many times, getting going with a blog opens up a book-writing opportunity.
• Do you regularly speak on topics relevant to your areas of expertise?  Do you seek out speaking opportunities?
• Do you have a way and means for staying in touch with your key business and personal connections?  Is this a habit?
• Have you built exercise and healthy eating into your weekly and daily routine?
• What did you do TODAY to help perfect your areas of mastery?

 

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Andy Robinson, Executive Career Coach
Co-host, Career Success Radio Show
A leading authority on career success; 15-year executive coaching veteran
Contact: Andy@CRGLeaders.com, 239-285-5575

10 Minutes Times 2 = Progress and Productivity

I've got a routine that I've followed for years that completely complements and supplements my once-a-week Weekly Planning Time (which I adopted from the methodology outlined in David Allen's best-seller, "Getting Things Done").  I've named the routine my 10 x 2 Daily Recap, and here's how it plays out....

Beginning of the Day:

Before I begin ANY work for the day, I always spend at least 10 minutes -- first thing in the morning -- making sure I have clarity on the key things I want to get done that day; I do the following:

• Review my calendar for the day to ensure I have adequate PLANNING time scheduled in advance of ALL of my client calls and meetings.
• Ensure I have time BLOCKED on my calendar for any project/task that is likely to take 30 minutes or more.
• Review the key goals I set at the beginning of the week during my Monday Weekly Planning time.
• Review my "To Do" list for the day (which I maintain, using my favorite task management tool, ToodleDo.com), and make adjustments to the list, reprioritizing as necessary.
• Ensure I have adequate "cushion" in my schedule to handle my "To Do" list items and other things that always surface as the typical day plays out.
• Ensure I have adequate time scheduled for my daily fitness routine (cycling or strength training, depending upon the day).
• Do a quick review of my email inbox, ensuring I've noted/captured the important actions that need to be taken care of that day.

Those 10 minutes, first thing in the morning, help prepare me for a productive day.  I enter the day FEELING IN CONTROL.

At the End of the Day:

Before I "shut down" for the day, I spend a final 10 minutes reflecting back on the day, recapping the day, and teeing up things for my morning 10 minute review; I typically do the following:

• Ensure I have "follow-ups" noted in my "To Do" list regarding meetings/calls held during the current day
• Do a quick review of the coming day's calendar to get my bearings and make note of any advance prep material I may need to assemble
• Organize my email inbox (most incoming emails will have been dealt with throughout the day -- action taken if two minutes or less of time is required, moved into my "Handle in the next 24 hours" folder, moved into my "Handle this week" folder, filed, or deleted)
• "Clear" my "To Do" list and get it set tomorrow morning's 10-minute review
• Clear the top of my desk
• Ensure all "open loops" are in my master "To Do" list

Again, I end the day and leave the office with a sense of control, and will be ready for a productive 10 minute beginning-of-the day review the next day.

What type of routine do you follow to stay productive and maintain a sense of control?

Photo Credit: BigStockPhoto.com

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Andy Robinson, Executive Career Coach
Co-host, Career Success Radio Show
A leading authority on career success; 15-year executive coaching veteran
Contact: Andy@CRGLeaders.com, 239-285-5575

Do You Take Advantage of Dead Time?

"Dead Time" -- What is it?

• It's waiting in the hallway for an upcoming meeting or

• The time spent taking a cab to a client's office

• It's waiting "on hold" on a phone call, or

• Standing in line a Starbucks, or

• Waiting for an appointment to show up, or waiting at a doctor's office

Stay conscious of your daily "dead time" -- those time gaps that occur throughout the day -- and use this time to catch up on e-mail, read an interesting article, jot down notes about a project, brainstorm and capture new ideas, send a quick "thank you" email, etc.

Those 3-5 minute blocks of time, when added up over the course of the week, can lead to increased productivity. For longer blocks of time (i.e. morning commutes), subscribe to an audio podcast via iTunes and use the time to make yourself smarter before the work day even starts.  Commute time is a great time to invest in learning activities.

What do you do with your dead time?

Photo Credit: BigStockPhoto.com

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Andy Robinson, Executive Career Coach
Co-host, Career Success Radio Show
A leading authority on career success; 15-year executive coaching veteran
Contact:  Andy@CareerSuccessCommunity.com

www.CareerSuccessCommunity.com - The Premier Interactive Career Development Community

Today's 2-MINUTE CHALLENGE: Is It on the Calendar?

Today's Quick 2-Minute Podcast Tip:

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Andy Robinson, Executive Career Coach
Co-host, Career Success Radio Show
A leading authority on career success; 15-year executive coaching veteran
Contact:  Andy@CareerSuccessCommunity.com

www.CareerSuccessCommunity.com - The Premier Interactive Career Development Community

On-the-Job "Interval Training" for Peak Performance

As an amateur cyclist and former road bike racing enthusiast, I am all too familiar with one of the sport's toughest and most lung-busting workout routines, popularly known as "interval training."

Interval training consists of two elements: (1) working HARD at a heightened level of effort for a predetermined period of time and (2) fully recovering between the interval and/or sets of intervals. Work hard, then rest; work hard, then rest; repeat till done.

The payoff? .... Interval training DOES work -- in fact, it works VERY well ... significantly improving your performance and speed when done correctly. Nothing else compares.

The secret? .... Without the REST and recovery between the hard efforts, those hard efforts can NOT be optimized -- top end performance and peaks of effort can simply not be reached, consistently, and breakthrough improvement can NEVER be achieved. Recovery is key; it's an ESSENTIAL ingredient of the process.

By the way, this same principle applies to strength training in the gym -- which is why body-builders build in rest days between focusing on specific body parts. In fact ... ask around -- talk to any athlete, regardless of sport, and you'll find that "interval training" or it's equivalent is a key component of achieving breakthrough performance in that sport.

WIIFM? .... What's In It for ME?

So ... What does this mean as it relates to our WORK LIFE? Can we apply interval training to achieve breakthrough performance at work? YOU BET .... here's how....

Build Interval Training Into Your Workday ... Every day:

• Set your daily calendar up to work in "bursts" of effort ... 20-30 minute or 45-60 minute time blocks (or "intervals")

• Go "all out" during those work intervals -- forward your phone, turn off your email, shut your office door, e.g., create a small chunk of time free from distraction

• Know EXACTLY what you're going to focus on during those interval periods -- decide ahead of time and make sure you have EVERYTHING you need to accomplish the task at hand .... files, data, access to key people, and availability of necessary information

• Then ... FOCUS YOUR EFFORT .... let your creative juices flow, concentrate on solving or doing the task at hand, PUSH through it, then ....

• REST or recover for 5-10 minutes -- go for a walk outside, shift your focus to something relaxing that requires little to no mental effort, read something uplifting, grab a glass of water, whatever

• Now .... REPEAT the process

• After two or three of these, take a longer break .... Lunch, for example

• Repeat this whole process in the afternoon

Plan your upcoming week with "interval training" embedded in your work day. Adjust the interval periods to suit the level of effort required for the task at hand. For longer work intervals, allowing for slightly longer rest periods. Remember though .... REST between efforts IS THE KEY.

THE PAYOFF -- Optimum levels of productivity .... You'll get maximum done in minimum time .... I guarantee it.

Try it!

How will you build YOUR day tomorrow to
incorporate interval training into your work day?

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Andy Robinson, Executive Coach
Co-host, Career Success Radio Show
A leading authority on career success; 15-year executive coaching veteran
Contact: Andy@CareerSuccessCommunity.com

www.CareerSuccessCommunity.com - The Premier Interactive Career Development Community

A Super-Productivity Tip: Applying the "Pre-Vacation Process"

My wife and I are making preparations for our annual late summer trek to the North Carolina mountains to help move our son back into his college accommodations for the upcoming school year.  He's opted to live in an apartment this year (his junior year) as opposed to a dorm room, so the move in process is a little but more involved this go-round.

Our plans are to work three days this week, then head out up on Thursday morning, leaving our house-sitter behind to watch the animals.  We're wrapping a family vacation around the whole trip.

In planning my week this week, I seem to be doing a particularly thorough job of filtering out the REALLY IMPORTANT things that need to GET DONE before we leave -- both work-related things and personal things. I've identified those things, and I've ensured I have sufficient time ON MY CALENDAR to get those things done.

I then stopped and stepped back and asked myself.... "Why am I not this thorough and focused EVERY WEEK -- vacation or not?  Wouldn't I have much better chance of focusing on the MOST IMPORTANT things and getting them done?  Absolutely!"

So, my commitment coming back is to apply the "Pre-Vacation Planning Process" I went through today to EVERY WEEK, on EVERY MONDAY going forward.  So, here it is for anyone interested:

The Pre-Vacation Planning Process (that REALLY applies to EVERY WEEK's PLAN):

• Set aside at least an hour, early in the day on Monday, free from distraction. 
• Close your office door (if you have one), forward your phone, and close down your email application.
• Review your near term goals -- written and personal
  
  • Make note of any ACTION that should be taken THIS WEEK on any of those goals
• Review your "project list" and to do lists (tasks lists)
  • Make note of items on those lists for which SPECIFIC ACTION should be taken THIS WEEK
• Review your calendar for last week, this week and next week and consider....
  
  • Any follow-ups needed THIS WEEK for last week's calendar items
  • Any prep time that needs to be scheduled THIS WEEK for this week's calendar items
  • Any advance notice/confirmation, information requests or prep that needs to be done next week or the week after
  • Make note of KEY ACTION items
• Review your paper INBOX and quickly process all items
  • Make note of ACTIONS that should be taken THIS WEEK
  • File reference material or other "non-actionable" material
  • Discard unneeded material
  • Delegate/forward material that can be completed by others
• Now, the BIG one for MOST OF US, review your EMAIL INBOX, and
  • Make note of ACTIONS that should be taken THIS WEEK; denote those emails in some way
  • File reference emails that are non-actionable
  • Forward emails that can be handled by others
  • Delete non-necessary emails
• Review ALL of THIS WEEK ACTIONS as compiled above....
  • What are the FIVE MOST IMPORTANT things to get done THIS WEEK?
  • Are you sure?  How do you know you're sure?  Is that list of five reasonably balanced between business and personal things?
  • Check again.  Ensure you've identified the TOP FIVE.
  • Do you have crystal clear clarity on the VERY FIRST THING to do with respect to each of those five things?  Make note of it.
  • Schedule time ON YOUR CALENDAR to get those things done -- make sure adequate time is scheduled
  • Is time scheduled TODAY for one or more of those items?  Why not?
• SAY NO, DEFLECT or DEFER anything else that comes your way that is NOT AS IMPORTANT as your TOP FIVE
• FOCUS on the TOP FIVE
• Keep the TOP FIVE on a list IN FRONT OF YOU
• REFLECT on the TOP FIVE at the end of the day, every day
• CELEBRATE getting EACH ONE of the TOP FIVE done
• REPEAT next week!

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Andy Robinson, Executive Coach
Co-host, Career Success Radio Show
A leading authority on career success; 15-year executive coaching veteran
Contact: Andy@CareerSuccessCommunity.com

www.CareerSuccessCommunity.com - The Premier Interactive Career Development Community

Job Fatigue - 10 Tips For Burning Bright vs. Burning Out

Burnout on the job is very real these days. People are both overworked and overwhelmed. They keep saying something has to change, but they're unclear about what that could look like short of leaving the position. While resigning is certainly an option, it may not be a viable one or a wise one during the economic sludge that, unfortunately, has become part of the American fiber. So if walking out the door can't happen now, then what?

You can incorporate certain choices and strategies into every work day right where you are. That's right. Today. Tomorrow. Which of the following ten tips appeal to you? Which would you like to try? Which could provide just enough change to refresh you without making a major move?

1. Start the work day by getting yourself grounded.
Determine what you need to do to quiet your body, mind, and spirit. Develop a little ritual that may, in total, take twenty minutes. Engage in yoga, meditation, prayer. Eat a healthful breakfast. Hum a song you love. Read a meaningful passage from a book. Exercise. Empty your head. These are some ideas but not an exclusive list.

2. Be clear about your priorities.
While you may think you have fifty priorities before you collapse tonight, you actually have five or less. Identify them before you get out of bed each morning. To do this you have to get real with yourself. Cut to the chase. What three or five things absolutely have to happen today? What are the consequences if they don't? Organize your day around those carefully chosen priorities.

3. Schedule at least fifteen minutes twice a day to sweep out mental clutter.
Actually doing this relaxes the mind, and you will look forward to these periods as sacred time. No matter what you're working on, lay it aside and close your eyes. Give yourself permission to daydream or to think about nothing. Breathe deeply, and become aware of how your muscles loosen up. Massage your scalp and forehead.

4. Reduce your "open door policy" time.
If you are supervising staff and feel you need to be accessible to them all day long, revise your thinking on this one. While you do need to be available as a resource, you can set boundaries around it. Decide to close your door tightly for half an hour each day, and let employees know that, unless there's an emergency, you don't want to be interrupted during that time.

5. Set aside thirty minutes per week for visioning.
One of the most energizing exercises you can do is allow yourself the opportunity to think about the future: yours and the company's. Lean back in your chair and take stock of what's going well, what isn't going well, what can be done to relieve the problems, and what else you could contribute to enhance your experience in the organization. Be creative. Avoid limiting thoughts and ideas.

6. Find a new way to deal with mundane tasks.
If you've always filed paperwork first thing in the morning, try doing it before you go home at the end of the day. Instead of being distracted by incoming emails every few minutes, position yourself so that you don't see the computer screen for an hour or more. If you don't like establishing your calendar daily, do it weekly. The point is to do things differently from how you usually do them, no matter how slight the shift.

7. Decorate or redecorate your work space.
Consider adding an interesting plant, or bring a bouquet of flowers to the office occasionally. Change the color scheme if possible. Bring photos from home and arrange them on top of the desk or credenza. Turn a bulletin board into a work of art. You don't have to spend a lot of money to make these little additions. Just focus on making your space more interesting, more soothing, more comfortable.

8. Limit the number of interruptions.
Although this is not always possible, it is more possible than you may imagine. Schedule brief intervals throughout the day when people may interrupt you to get their needs met. Publicize those times. As a result of "planning" your interruptions, you will get more work done more effectively. Try this. It's a great strategy that helps to preserve your sanity.

9. Delegate tasks other people can handle.
Our egos tell us we have to do everything ourselves. That is simply not true. Learn to identify what you absolutely must take care of yourself, and look for opportunities to delegate the rest of it to others who are capable of handling it. This is not about using people; it's about managing your time responsibly. Make a list of everything currently on your plate, then mark the tasks that staff or peers can easily do.

10. Know when enough is enough.
This means know when to turn out the light. Arriving at work at 7:30 AM and leaving at 8:00 PM on a regular basis is a crazy way to live. In fact, it's not a life at all. It's a mere existence, and a guarantee for burning yourself out. If you are doing this, ask yourself why. Are you disorganized, tired, unproductive, wasting time? What's the root cause of such long hours? You need to figure out why you continue to function like this and take steps to stop it.

Sylvia Hepler, Owner and President of Launching Lives, is an executive coach based in South Central PA. Her mission is support corporate and nonprofit executives and business owners as they solve problems, develop leadership skills, and increase balance in their lives. Her background includes: nonprofit executive management, public speaking, business and freelance writing, teaching, and retail sales.

If you would like to discuss the issues keeping you awake at night and create viable solutions, CONTACT:
Sylvia@launchinglives.biz
717-761-5457

http://www.launchinglives.biz

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sylvia_Hepler

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Andy Robinson, Executive Career Coach
Co-host, Career Success Radio Show
A leading authority on career success; 15-year executive coaching veteran
Contact: Andy@CRGLeaders.com, 239-285-5575

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