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FEATURE ARTICLE
10
Steps To Lasting Change
1.
Face the truth
No matter how good your intentions are
without the awareness of the truth about where you are today and how you
got there you will not be able to change. Ask yourself some
hard questions:
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Where are you today in your
business and your life?
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How did you get there?
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Is it working for me?
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Look at what you are doing and why
you are doing it?
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Habits don’t continue unless they
serve some kind of functional purpose. Assess the risks.
2.
Write a new story
We all tell ourselves stories that
rationalize why we are the way we are or why our life/business is the
way it is. If you want to change, you need to write a new story. Look
deep into your value system and write down the story of whom you hope to
be. Read the new story at least once a day for motivation.
3.
Set realistic goals
Stretch yourself not break yourself.
Don’t sabotage yourself by being too overzealous. If you underachieve
you’ll feel bad about yourself. The more successful we are in achieving
our goals, the more motivation grows.
4.
Make change in a positive way
When intentions are framed negatively----“I
won't overspend” or “I won't get angry” --- it rapidly depletes our
limited stores of will and discipline. It’s more effective to commit to
a financial plan or starting meditation program. People are more
willing to do something they know is right rather than give up something
they know is wrong.
5.
Focus.
Without focusing on the why you want the
change it will be unlikely you’ll stick to it. There is too much
distraction in this world. Focus on your WHY, like looking at Moby Dick
in a fishbowl. That’s all you can see.
6.
Set a date
Without a start date, you'll wait too long
to start you will lose your motivation.
7. Accountability
Without a deadline there is no
accountability. If you give human beings the opportunity to fail they
will. How many of you would pay your mortgage payment on time if there
were no accountability built in?
Work with a coach. Most of your friends or
your spouse want you to succeed on one level and not on another level.
If you succeed, they will be left behind and have to get out of their
comfort zone to keep up. They will do anything to keep you comfortable
in status quo so they don’t have to change.
8.
Put change at the top of your list
It’s crucial to make the process of change
one of your highest priorities. If you are trying to be more organized,
or more profitable or healthier you may have to pass up some familiar
habits. Your change is more important then the old habit or routine.
Experts advise to sticking to one or two changes in behavior at a time.
9.
Reward yourself
Reinforce your new behavior by doing
something you enjoy, such as getting a massage or getting in an
additional game of golf. Just make sure the reward comes after you’ve
accomplished what you intended. Over time, it is the more intrinsic
rewards that take over: feeling proud of yourself, knowing that you can
make a change and stick with it.
10.
Regroup, don’t retreat
Once you start slipping, it’s easy to
simply stop trying. But it’s the plan that is flawed, not your goal.
Or you have lost focus. When you are too busy to prospect today, you’ve
got to find another way. Make contingency plans: These options will
become part of your natural routine like putting on your seat belt. |
