How to Get Big Results - Part 8: Keep it Simple
Keep It Simple - Master the Basics
As a business coach, early in the coaching process one of the questions I ask is, “What is your business building?” In other words, vision is the “WHAT.” Vision is what it looks like after it’s built. Then, another question is, “What goals after they are completed will build towards that vision?” Goals are building blocks towards a bigger vision. Coach Lombardi said in his 1961 training camp, “Gentlemen, this is a football.” In essence, he was reminding the team in the midst of all the fancy plays, elevated attitudes and peripheral noise on the field, the basic fundamentals. The football is the centerpiece and must get to the end zone to score touchdowns. In other words, every practice, workout, and studying plays is building for future success!
“Out of clutter, find simplicity. From discord, find harmony. In the middle of difficulty, lies opportunity.” ~ Albert Einstein
Distractions or Attractions
If you were to connect the dots from the past couple years to where you are going the next twelve months, where is your football on the field? Obviously this is a metaphorical picture. In the context of “Keep It Simple,” how do you recognize the chatter or clutter from distractions? In other words, recognizing what are time wasters that pull us out of completing our goals? Here is a question to consider; how do you typically respond to the defensive line, those challenges, events or situations trying to cause a fumble?
Crab Mentality
You may have heard the crab mentality story. In a snapshot, it’s based on a casual observation of crabs that are trapped in a bucket. When any crab starts to climb out, the crab mentality kicks into action pulling that crab back into the bucket. What a metaphor of awareness on the goal journey to habits, choices, attitudes that have a crab mentality bent to them. Consider writing down a few patterns of reactions that are not serving you and what new habit or response pattern can you replace them with? What next steps of courage could you take today? Here is a quick thought, what if you took a big risk today?
Playing the Right Mental Movie
Recently, I watched the Eagles playing as their defense was out on the field experiencing some push back, and simultaneously noticed their quarterback, Jalen Hurts, sitting on the bench with almost a reflective, quiet disposition. They then came back to win the game! Jalen Hurts’ ability to stay in the zone mentally blocking out all the turnovers, negative chatter and still being able to move the football down the field to win the game is powerful.
5 Keys - Detoxifying from Distractions
Build a Greenhouse: Create your own personal ecosystems that you can shift into throughout the day. For example, people go to a gym to be in a physical fitness ecosystem. What if you prioritize certain daily pillars then create a greenhouse like going to the gym. Example, if you sit at your desk at 9:00 AM, how could you build a thriving ecosystem to grow your business? Clutter can collect like dust in an HVAC filter. What steps could you take to create a greenhouse of growth in the areas you live and work?
Transform Your Words: Reimagining a fresh, new culture and ecosystem can begin with the simple but powerful approach - Transforming our language! Our words form words and influence our thinking and those around us. Feed your colleagues and clients with a language that is filled with promise and honor. Anyone can complain about the potholes or what isn’t working. Here is a thought: Create a language that sees the potential after the potholes are solved. A language that creates your way to a better day!
Moving is Medicine: Our physical bodies house our spirit and soul. A brilliant neurologist shared with me that moving is medicine. One way to detoxify stagnation of creativity, emotions, and thinking by taking action is “MOVEMENT.” What if every 30 minutes you stood up, stretched, walked, or even moved your hands and feet at your desk? Consider doing walking phone meetings. Like pillars holding a building, how could you place two walking pillars in your day 10-15 minutes each? Our bodies are a powerful ecosystem that influence our capacity to think and create. Have a blast creating moments of movement!
Power of Music, Movies and Podcast: Think of our minds as soil that will grow whatever is planted. Our ears are like a gateway to tremendous treasures of possibilities. Would we wash our vehicles in soda or abrasive sand? What could be possible feeding your mind with intention to detoxify old thinking. Dr Caroline leaf said; “You cannot sit back and wait to be happy and healthy and have a great thought life; you have to make the choice to make this happen.” How could you build an ecosystem with your hearing to feed your growth?
Laughter and Fun: Have you heard someone laughing recently and you smiled? Did you notice, just the very fact that you hear laughter moves your emotions in a positive way. What brings you joy about what you do? What is fun for you? Andrew Carnegie said, “There is little success where there is little laughter.” How could you integrate fun in your daily routine? There is something so powerful when a person shifts their state of mind. Think for a moment about a person skipping? What if at this very moment you just start skipping? Did you smile? What thoughts did you think here and now? What am I saying? We can choose joy on the journey. Practice smiling all day and notice what happens! I dare you!
“ Focus and simplicity…once you get there, you can move mountains.” ~ Steve Jobs
As a young carpenter my dad always said, “Master the basics” and you’ll be a builder of masterpieces. I asked my dad, what are some of the basics? He smiled like the instructor in the movie, Karate Kid. He said, master measuring with a tape measure, cut square with a saw, leveling and plumbing and swinging the hammer properly. At first, I was so puzzled. What did he just say? That seems way too simple. Consider, what basics can you apply within your field of expertise? What life growth basics could you embrace over the next 21 days! Remember, you're a masterpiece!
You got what it takes!
Ed Garner