For years I got out of bed and went about my day doing things. I had a list of things to accomplish, and that is pretty much how I went about my day. It was pretty much a whirlwind-filled day, or as some say—a rat race!
One day I woke up and thought: “What am I trying to do?”
I thought: “I have to slow down and get focused on what I am trying to do versus letting the world drive me to do a bunch of stuff that may not even be that important in the end.”
Most of what I used to focus on was a list of work. That work did not often enough include people and what they wanted and needed. I know now—more than I ever did—that unless you know clearly what you are trying to do you will not spend your time wisely.
Yes—you will get a lot of things done . . . but will they really contribute to what you are trying to do?
- I know that the main thing in my personal life I am trying to do is to maintain good health and a very strong relationship with my family.
- I know that in my professional life I am trying to build a strong healthy organization where individuals can accomplish whatever they are capable of.
Think about this. What are you trying to do for your children as you raise them? Are you trying to make them happy every day or make them responsible citizens who are honest and have high integrity
I would submit that what you should be trying to do is to get them ready to be responsible, independent citizens who are honest, ethical, and highly responsible by the time they reach the age of 18.
When you know what you are trying to accomplish, you are able to make the right decisions every day.
In both of these parts of my life, at home and at work, I now know that what I am really trying to accomplish each day is to create a healthy environment where people are made to feel special, respected, treated as individuals, developed, involved, and listened to.
I know that if I can use my position and authority to create a healthy environment our entire organization and my family will be able to succeed in what they are trying to accomplish. Helping others get what they want is a pretty good feeling. I can tell you it is a lot better feeling than just getting what I want.
One of the big outcomes of creating a healthy environment is that you help others have good self-esteem, and you help build their self-confidence, which are the two building blocks for future success in all parts of life.
One of the ways that I can use my authority and position to do this is to make sure that we have the organization structure organized properly. The second way is to make sure that we are creating great leaders. The third way is to make sure that we are focused on training and development for everyone.
Remember that being committed to something and being interested in something are two different things. Begin with the end in mind.
Visualize the future state of things. Visualize your health and how you want to feel at 60, 70, 80, and beyond.
Visualize how you want your children to behave and be viewed by others at 10, 12, 16, 18, and beyond.
Visualize how you want your relationships to be with those special people in your lives in 5, 10, 20 years, and beyond.
YOU are the person who has the most control over how all of what you are committed to will turn out.
FOCUS early on all things if you want them to turn out the way you want them to a long time from now.
What should you really do today that won’t pay off for a long time?
THINK about this every day and then act….Lee