It is a perfect time of the year to look back and look forwards. \u00a0Particularly as today in Thanksgiving in the Americas. \u00a0Even if you are not from that part of the world, it is a useful exercise to be grateful for all that has happened to you in the past year and for the friendships and experiences you have had.<\/p>\n
At the same time, it is also worth looking forwards. \u00a0Thinking about the habits that you want to grow, or the\u00a0ones that you want to release. \u00a0Thinking about the ideas or\u00a0relationships\u00a0you want to nurture and the ones you want to celebrate or change.<\/p>\n
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There\u00a0is an old phrase \u201cReady, Aim, Fire\u201d that covers the stages you go through when firing an arrow at a target. \u00a0For a bit of amusement, I decided to reverse the order of\u00a0these three steps to see what new thinking might emerge. \u00a0It ended up as \u00a0“Fire, Aim, Ready\u201d. \u00a0Not a very significant sequence\u00a0of\u00a0events if you want to hit a target, you might think.<\/p>\n
FIRE<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n But wait! \u00a0What if we use the word\u00a0\u201cFire\u201d in some slightly different meanings: FIRE that you are fired-up by – or FIRE when you have a\u00a0\u201cburning platform\u201d\u00a0that needs immediate attention – or FIRE when we fire someone from work or a relationship.<\/p>\n If you write down your purpose and underneath put the three or four things that are\u00a0firing you up at the moment or that they need immediate attention, then FIRE becomes a good first step to deciding the few things on which you should focus. \u00a0Either because they are important (as in fired-up) or because they\u00a0are urgent (as in burning platform) or else you want to be rid of it (as in “you’re fired”). \u00a0What few things do you want to add, act on urgently or get rid of in your life? \u00a0For me, I have a bonfire worth of business books that have been lying up against the wall on the landing for the past year!<\/p>\n AIM<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n By listing-out these few aims (or goals) and then understanding what sort of change is needed in your life, you can then try to envisage what life would be like with more (or less) of the factor. \u00a0New role at work, more time with family, change-out the car, less time tripping over books. \u00a0That sort of thing. READY<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n If nothing else, by doing this exercise in\u00a0the\u00a0next few days, you will be in a better position to shape your ideas, projects and activities as we move into 2016 and be ready to design some bold, boring or fun New Year\u2019s resolutions over the next few weeks ahead of the rush. \u00a0Typically, in the past, I have jotted my resolutions down on a paper napkin with a hangover from the holiday period on 1st January and then throw them out with the rest of the excess paper a few days later! \u00a0It is only in the past few years that I have become a bit more disciplined – but I still have a way to go.<\/p>\n Writing out your aims and then having the discipline to review them regularly reaps the rewards. \u00a0Not least, by the above definition of success, you will be much more effective in\u00a0aligning your activities to your purpose and living a more fulfilling life!<\/p>\n ———-<\/p>\n Next week we will focus on how you can measure your aims (or goals) by breaking each one into a series of defined objectives. \u00a0Not only will\u00a0this\u00a0allow you to envision more clearly what success looks like, but it will also let\u00a0you recognise success\u00a0when you arrive at your destination sometime in the future!<\/p>\n If you are interested in digging deeper into these ideas in the New Year – as well as wanting some help to accelerate success in achieving your aims and objectives, then please do email me at lorne@objectivedesigners.com<\/a>\u00a0and I will send you some additional information in December.<\/p>\n And to add a Zen-like koan at the end of all of this just to get you thinking even harder (or not at all):<\/p>\n \u201c<\/em>A good traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent on arriving.\u201d\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Lao Tzu<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n ———-<\/p>\n
\nAt this stage, it is so important to write these ideas down on a bit of paper. \u00a0Sure, a computer will do, but somehow writing them down on paper and referring to them on a regular basis helps speed the process to achieving the aim – and either adding to or subtracting from the fire! \u00a0They need to be the bigger things in your life. \u00a0Otherwise, you will bury yourself in a long to-do list. \u00a0If this happens, try to pick the top five or six ideas and work on them.<\/p>\n