Being Point

Month: October 2008

  • Strategy October 17, 2008

    This week, we have been discussing strategy.

    Zig Ziglar said,

    “What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals.”

    Many of the things we want to achieve in life are personal.  Is it possible to integrate our personal goals  and our professional goals into a single strategy?

    This quote presents an interesting view of goals that speaks to this question.  Perhaps one of the ways to think about how to integrate all of our goals into one strategy is to consider who we want to become as we execute our overall strategy.

  • Strategy October 16, 2008

    Alan Cohen said,

    “It takes a lot of courage to release the familiar and seemingly secure, to embrace the new.  But there is no real security in what is no longer meaningful.”

    When a new opportunity presents itself, how do you decide whether to continue engaging your current strategy or whether to adopt a new strategy to accommodate this new opportunity?

    Cohen suggests an interesting notion.  We must be aware of new possibilities no matter how carefully we have planned.  Continually examining our strategy for effectiveness is just as important as executing that strategy.

  • Strategy October 15, 2008

    Abraham Lincoln said,

    “I claim not to have controlled events, but confess plainly that events have controlled me.”

    What happens when strategy runs head-on into reality and reality has other ideas?

    How do you hold onto your strategy when you’re being dragged forcibly away?

    Conversely, how do you know when it’s time to let go of even a carefully natured strategy?

    Lincoln inferred that unforeseen events can interrupt the best intended strategies – so we want to be able to appropriately react to situations without being “reactive.

  • Strategy October 14, 2008

    What happens when strategy runs head-on into reality and reality has other ideas?

    How do you hold onto your strategy when you’re being dragged forcibly away?

    Conversely, how do you know when it’s time to let go of even a carefully natured strategy?

  • Strategy October 13, 2008

    Churchill said,

    “However beautiful the strategy, you should occasionally look at the results.”

    Strategy is the HOW results will be achieved.  Many times, we humans have operated without clear strategies.

    Strategy is enhanced my making clear, affirmative choices that are intended to culminate in a desired set of outcomes.

    Are you a strategic thinker?  Churchill inferred that humans have had a tendency to become enamored of strategy – so we want to regularly check our strategy to make sure that it is producing the desired results.  This week, we’ll examine your strategy and tactics.

  • Dramatically Improving Planning October 10, 2008

    How was your planning this week?  Did you notice a shift in your awareness and effectiveness?  As we segue from planning into a consideration of strategy and tactics for next week’s Results 101 curriculum: do you consider yourself a strategic planner and thinker?

    What makes a plan become a strategic plan?  Generally, strategy is performed at a higher level than tactics.  A simple way to think of strategy is that it is the “why” of your actions – and the tactics are the “to do’s.”  Strategy is observing the entire “game board,” while tactics are moving the pieces around it.

    A plan becomes increasingly strategic as it is thought through to various potential outcomes.

    No matter the strategy, seek to stay grounded in the present for it is the only place where we have power.

  • Dramatically Improving Planning October 9, 2008

    Have you ever noticed that we humans often experience increased synchronicity and serendipity when we’re prepared?

    Louis Pasteur said, “Chance favors the prepared  mind.”

    The Roman philosopher, Seneca, said, “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.”

    Consider the possibility that, by being well prepared – by planning and thinking things through – we can potentially improve our luck.  Fascinating thought!

    How might you improve your luck through planning and preparation?

  • Dramatically Improving Planning October 8, 2008

    “To be prepared is half the victory.”    Cervantes

    Ah, preparation!  As simple as the groceries needed . . .

    . . . to making a daily to-do list  . . .

    . . . to naming the top three results desired for today . . .

    . . . to role playing that key phone call before making it . . .

    . . . to thinking through your career and business goals.

    Planning IS preparing – thinking things through.

    How would you score yourself 1-100 in the category of preparation?

    Consider setting aside some time each week – say, 1 to 2 hours – to prepare yourself and visualize an intended outcome.

  • Dramatically Improving Planning October 7, 2008

    WORKING YOUR PLAN IN PRIORITY ORDER AND STICKING TO IT.

    The discipline of taking planned items one at a time and not allowing the distraction of doing things out of order.

    How would you rate yourself at this critical skill?

  • Dramatically Improving Planning October 6, 2008

    This week, our topic is How to Dramatically Improving Planning.

    Increasingly, humans have found themselves buffeted about by life’s circumstances.

    As John Lennon said:

    “Life is what happens to you when you’re busy making other plans.”

    Still, there is a need to have clear direction, focus and identifiable milestones as we move toward accomplishing our goals.

    The heart of the most effective plan is to be extremely clear about your priorities and a focus on first things first.