Well the party is over! Everyone had a nice break with extended weekends over Christmas and the New Year. My own spin cycles significantly decelerated along with over indulgence in good food, merrymaking and the company of friends and family. I did all that the text book asked me to do over the holiday season … But now the party is over!
We mulled, heaved and groaned about how tough 2011 was, let’s not pretend that 2012 will be a walk in the park. The American economy sputters and stutters, Europe is a freaking mess and God knows what’s going behind the curtains in China and India with inflation woes and diverted foreign Investments murderously decapitating the currency! Despite low interest rates, capital formation will be limited – job market pressures will mount and you will have to be really good to keep your job leave alone grow in it!
I will share with you three insights that set you in the groove for the year in anything that you plan to do. To some these may sound cliche .. don’t fall for that though! Most people slip on the floors that they know all too well. So much for cliches! So here you go..
Prioritization: Your work will seem like an unending maze, especially when you are back from time off. The best way to rewire yourself is to ‘Prioritize’. List all the ‘To-Do’s and then line them up in the order of priority … Absolutely-do, Must-do, Have to – do and finally Do if I have the time. Get it? Stacking you priorities gives you a vision of all that needs to be done – kind of like a radar and puts you naturally in control. Once you have this list going – set a goal, a time line to get each To- Do done. Be absolutely committed to this goal.
If you were to peek at most people’s priority list you would see the Have-to-do or Do-if-I- have-time at the top of the list. Human psychology takes comfort in doing the easy stuff first! This is fine as long as the ‘Easy’ stuff is ‘Important’ otherwise you are not getting the most of the time you have!
Once each goal is attained, do what you will love doing the most … strike out the task. Done. You will start to feel really good as you plow through the list.
Procrastination : let’s cut the literary gush … basically I am asking you never to postpone anything you plan to do. Cut all the excuses that all of us are so good at crafting to justify our actions. This often is the difference between the successful and the also-ran! You will see folks prioritizing correctly but then never getting to complete or even commence the task – this is classic procrastination!
Build a solid system that prevents procrastination. A diary or calendar are tools that help remind you, the electronic versions even cajole and goad you to get stuff done. It finally boils down to yourself. For me, pain works better than pleasure in ensuring I do what I am supposed to do within the time I have set for myself. The pain of not keeping a promise I made to myself, my family or my close friends is far more acute for than the momentary pleasure of delaying a difficult action. This works well for me … Find something for yourself. Keep the calendar handy but do not forget the system
Position: When was the last time you judged your suitability and interest in your current employment position. Many are unaware that they are neither suitable nor happy in the roles that they are employed in. They get up every morning and trudge to work because they get a paycheck at the end of the month! There are others who know they are misfits in their profession but don’t do anything about it because it seems like a lot of work to better themselves or find something else that they could be better at! Others do not make changes because they are cocooned within a comfortable machinery (people, products, market leadership) that camouflage their weaknesses.
Well 2012 might well be the year of revelations for all the laggards, so if you are even vaguely in this category, make your moves now. Check your position – talk to friends and family that you trust, talk to your boss if possible and determine your ranking versus your peers & areas of improvement. Another advise – you will improve rapidly by fixing your areas of weakness rather than strengthening your strengths! Once you have a prioritized list, work on it with intent! If the list is too daunting and/or the odds are horribly stacked against you then look at another role or even another vocation if you have age on your side!
They least I expect from you is to take action ….. Be at least fair to yourself and do this before the invisible hand acts against you. Let’s go, get that cup of coffee now!
