Time Archives - Page 56 of 65

Build Your Best Ecosystem

Posted on January 13, 2021

Your habits, and the people you allow in your life, will have a bigger impact on your mindset than anything else. Build your best ecosystem. Be mindful of what you add to it.

Like building a house, car or office building, be clear with what you want the outcome to be. Visualise to start. Consider whether you want things to be fun, functional, quirky, mundane or exciting.

Then, create a blueprint. Write it out. This will help you understand where you want to end up. Do this as soon as you can. Because once you drift in a direction you will pick up speed and mental mass. Then it is harder to reverse or alter course.

As you write out your plan and ideal future situation, consider the blueprint again. Yes, it is challenging and sometimes frustrating to get into the detail, but that will save you time and anguish in the future. If you have clear directions to get somewhere, you won’t need to make frequent stops to check the map. Nor will you need to try to view the map while you drive – very bad idea.

Be conscious of the habits you have and those you want or would prefer. Also, be aware of who is influencing your thinking. Are they good for your mindset and the direction you want to go?

Build your best ecosystem.

Action Gratitude Time

Reaching A Milestone

Posted on January 9, 2021

I’m about to hit another milestone. It sure does feel good when that happens. I’m sure you would agree. Reaching a milestone can be quite an exciting, enjoyable or reflective event.

I started my daily blog on the 10th January 2020. My goal was to write and release a blog post every single day for one year. That would include weekends, bank holidays, and yes, even Christmas Day.

This is number 366 so I have realised that goal! I will have written about 81,000 words during this interesting year. I’ve learned many things about writing, posting, social media, people and myself.

12 months of writing every day seemed like a big task. For 366 consecutive days I would need to spend about an hour per day writing, releasing, posting to social media channels, monitoring metrics and interacting with people online. But now, looking back, it seems to have gone so quick and been so simple.

I’ve loved getting feedback on my posts, especially if it has helped people consider a different perspective. Sometimes it seemed to reinforce one they already had, which can be a real positive too.

What milestones are you about to reach? Which ones are you setting for the weeks and months ahead? What will keep you on track and focused?

Reaching a milestone feels great. Good luck and best wishes.

Action Progress Reframe your thoughts Time

You Call That A Plan?

Posted on January 5, 2021

I’ve seen more detail on a holiday itinerary. Plane tickets have more specifics than the plan you have for 2021. You call that a plan?

If you are serious about the plan you have, you should review it today. Set aside 15 – 30 minutes today and read what you have written down for your plan. Pretend this is your child’s plan. Would it past muster with you? If this was the plan of a random stranger, would you invest in it or bet they would achieve it?

It might be a good directional idea. You could call it a good first draft even. For that, you should give yourself a pat on the back. If you’ve written anything down, you’re way ahead of most people. But you are not most people. You want to look back on 2021, 12 months from now, and be delighted with your progress and growing success.

I know you can do it. I know you want to do it. My guess might be that you are a little hesitant. You might be procrastinating. There is something holding you back already. The crazy thing is that it is you.

It’s time to get uncomfortable for a bit. Accept that you are uncertain, and don’t want rejection, or to fail. That is ok. But you owe it to yourself to make a plan worth executing. Get specific with dates, times, milestones, weekly progress, metrics, measurements, celebrations and what you will need to give up or sacrifice to fit this new challenge in.

You call that a plan? Make it solid.

Financial Observe Time

Save Time Or The Environment

Posted on January 4, 2021

When you have a hole in your clothes or a button pops off, do you mend it, have it mended, recycle it or bin it? Do you save time or the environment?

We have a skateboard which has stiff wheels. Maybe the ball bearings need replacing. Or maybe it is the wheels. More lubricant does not seem to do the trick. The options are to get rid of the skateboard and buy a new one for £30, or keep it and try to fix it.

If we keep it and fix it, we need to spend time on finding and ordering new parts. Then we need to go collect the parts or have them delivered. Once we have them, we need to get tools out and spend time replacing the parts. Hopefully that solves the problem.

The parts might cost £10 and then there is delivery or pick up costs, such as petrol. Then it depends on what you consider your time is worth. You may see it as a monetary value per hour or simply the value of having an hour of time to yourself in a busy week. Either way, there is a cost to you.

So whether it is mending a shirt or a skateboard, we all make these assessments about our time, money and the environment.

Do you save time or the environment?

Action Progress Reframe your thoughts Time

Stick With It

Posted on January 3, 2021

Failure occurs when you stop trying. As long as you press forward, you have not failed, you are on the path to success. Stick with it!

Apart from ageing, change can be difficult, uncomfortable and time consuming. However, if you truly want to achieve anything, you need to set the course and stay the course. You will need perseverance and determination. Mental fortitude will be helpful, as will resolve.

If you can push through the challenges and see past the setbacks, you increase your probability of succeeding. It can get frustrating, embarrassing and even overwhelming at times. But these moments pass. Push through to the better times.

Accept you are not perfect and that setbacks occur. Realise some things won’t be easy for you, though other things will be. Enjoy the progress while you are making it. Double down on your resolve to succeed when the future looks bleak and uncertain.

Allow yourself to be uncomfortable in some situations. It’s natural. Accept that it might take longer, or stretch you further, both mentally and physically.

You will savour your progress, success or victory more if you have to endure challenges, uncertainty and hardship. It becomes less about the outcome and more about your ability to have weathered the storms.

Despite the gathering clouds and the anguish, stick with it.

Action Progress Time

Follow Up

Posted on January 2, 2021

What is the difference between done and pending? How do you shift a ‘no, not right now’, to a ‘yes, thank you‘? Often you just need to follow up.

This action does not always guarantee you will move something forward. However, in my experience, making an extra call, visit or effort, can move things closer to a resolution.

People are often not prepared to buy, or move forward with your request, until they feel comfortable of familiar with you or the situation. In addition, some studies note that you need seven, regularly frequent touch points before they will be ready to act.

So you need to be determined and persistent. ‘No’ can often mean not now or not yet. Sometimes it will be no, not now and not ever.

Often we see flyers come through the door and we do not act on them. We toss them in the recycling bin. But one day, our garden will need some work done or a room will need repainting. Then we will act and maybe call on the company we have seen drop flyers through our doors for the past several months.

Sometimes it is good timing that someone knocks on your door when you are in need of what they are offering. But sometimes they just need to follow up. Remember to do so too.

Action Reframe your thoughts Time

Welcome To Your Year

Posted on January 1, 2021

Everything you have chosen to do in life has lead you to where you are now. You have been preparing for this. Welcome to your year.

You have had your unique challenges and opportunities. You have made decisions and reacted, or responded, to situations you’ve been faced with. However, now you are ready. Enough is enough. Your training is over.

No more playing around the edges. No more playing small or not fulfilling your potential. This is going to be the year that you launch out of the gate. You will begin with a strong start followed by a determined follow through.

Think quickly but with long a term vision to guide you along. You will take action and seek definitive results. Play offence like your life depends on it.

Make the call. Delegate. Ask for help. Seek out mentors, advisors, guides and those who can help. Make new friends who challenge you to go beyond the yawn of daily life. Become an unstoppable force. Be sought after and recommended.

You can make this happen. But you have to want it bad enough. Yes, there will be some sacrifice. And you will be outside your comfort zone often. However, you, and only you, can take the actions to get the results. Finish 2021 with success and pride.

Welcome to your year.

Financial Gratitude Health & Fitness Time

Happy New Year!

Posted on December 31, 2020

Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I hope you are making the best of things. Whatever the future brings, I’d like to wish you a Happy New Year!

Although 2020 will be long remembered for many things, we know what the main one, world-wide, will be. Covid-19 and it’s many challenges, including physical, financial and mental health related.

This next year, 2021, will come in with some similar challenges. In addition to masks, social distancing, lockdowns, and tiers, there will be the added component of a vaccine.

Hopefully this will allow us to have a major shift in getting back to regular life.

This time last year, we did not know this major health and economic challenge was going to be impacting us. Now we do know. We still don’t know how it ends, as no one can accurately predict the future at any time.

However, this year, you start by knowing it will be a part of your life in various ways. How will you play the 12 months that you will have in 2021? Knowing what you know, how will you think, what will you do and what things will you focus on?

I hope you have found ways to successfully navigate the challenges you’ll find in the year ahead. May you have peace, prosperity and good health, both mental and physical.

Happy New Year! ?

Action Time

Get It Done!

Posted on December 28, 2020

Go after whatever it is on your mind. Take the first step today. Phone a friend, call a company or make a plan. Whatever it is, get it done!

Don’t let up and keep moving. The prize will come in the end. You’ll really have to go swiftly. Be sure not to break or to bend.

It may seem easy, especially to say it. But as you move forward you realise there is more to it. There will also be more obstacles than you had predicted. Getting things over the line is seldom easy. The persistence, tenacity, and discipline required can be exceptional.

Regardless, you just need to press on and keep your head held high. Ask some questions, particularly of someone who has knowledge in that area. People are often open to helping. Use your manners and be mindful of the time involved.

It is amazing how much easier it is when you focus and get some help. People are service oriented. In addition, if they know it is your dream, and it is a good, just and fair one, many will go to great lengths to assist.

Map out what the next five steps are to be completed. Then start working on those steps. Don’t delay.

Get it done!

Gratitude Health & Fitness Reframe your thoughts Time

Pause And Reflect

Posted on December 27, 2020

This is a great time of year to consider what you have going on and what you have achieved. You should pause and reflect on whether you like the destination that your current path is taking you to.

With our eyes open, we can see where our actions are sending us. Are you positive or negative in your thoughts and communications? Do you search for the argument or the peace? Whose life will you be shadowing if you continue down this road?

Sometimes our goals change due to a different perspective. It is good to keep checking in with ourselves. If you no longer want to arrive in Paris, it would be good to get off the motorway sooner rather than later.

You may save yourself a lot of time if you take a few moments now to consider your direction and destination. It’s not only that this is a good time of year due to the holidays and being the year end. In addition, you probably have a little more time between Christmas and New Year as things generally slow down.

Take some time and get a feel for where you are. You can also write out your major and minor achievements for the year. Where are these taking you? Did you hit the relevant goals you set out for 2020?

Pause and reflect on your past and future.