Did you know that only 3% of the population set goals and only about 1% of people write them down?
Yet, success expert Brian Tracy writes that, “the ability to set goals and make plans for their accomplishment is the ‘master skill’ of success. It is the single most important skill that you can learn and perfect. Goal setting will do more to help you achieve the things you want in life than will anything else you’ve been exposed to.
Read MoreProductivity is about achieving meaningful results and making the most of your time, while busyness is simply being occupied with activities, whether they are important or not. The key to personal and professional success is to prioritize productivity over busyness, focusing on tasks and activities that truly contribute to your goals and using your time efficiently and effectively.
Read MoreIt’s that time of year again.
When we look at ourselves in the mirror and start berating ourselves.
“Why can’t you ever keep a resolution even for a single week?”
If you’re one of those, the good news - if you can call it that - is that you’re not alone.
How long do most people’s New Year's resolutions last?
Read MoreIn his book Atomic Habits, author James Clear explains why habits are so difficult to break.
It's because we tend to focus on surface-level actions.
Most people start by focusing on outcome-based goals like...
“I want to lose 20 pounds.”
“I want to write a best-selling book.”
But these are surface level changes.
Read MoreFrom the moment we wake up each day, we’re faced with a continuous flow of choices. Many are minor and some are major. Even things that don’t seem so important, like what to take along for lunch or which task to complete first, can become bigger deals when we start to consider how aligned they are (or aren’t) with our goals and strategic priorities.
When we’re confronted with too many options, we tend to feel overwhelmed, anxious, stressed or otherwise out of sorts. This is known as decision fatigue, a state of mental overload that can impede our ability to make additional decisions. When our minds are fatigued, we tend to make worse decisions and exercise less self-control.
Read More“More than the calf wants to suckle, the cow wants to nurse.” Talmud (Pesachim 112a)
Parents are natural givers.
They want to give even more than their kids want to take.
Which is why it’s so gratifying to be able to spend quality time with our kids and contribute to their happiness.
So, as much as my son was excited for me to join him at a camp water park a couple of weeks ago, I was happier to be able to bring him joy with my presence and participation.
This Talmudic principal, in my view, applies to teachers and coaches as well.
Now that we have determined which tasks we need to be doing, the next step is to set clear, actionable goals that will help us get our tasks done. Goal setting is a critical component of any growth process, personal or professional.
There are many benefits of setting goals, including:
Clarity and focus: Goals motivate us to cut through the weeds and get focused on what’s really important
Planning: Goals help us map out the necessary steps to achieve our desired result
Accountability: Goals force us to set and meet deadlines and be accountable to others
Transparency: When shared, goals help others understand what we’re focused on
Self-esteem: Goals raise our self-confidence as we see ourselves grow and progress
It’s no surprise that we use email and text for so many of our communications. It’s often faster, it’s neater, and it can easily be saved for future reference without paper sifting and clutter. Digital communication allows us to send and reply at our own convenience. And you can communicate with several people at one time,
But there are also some serious dangers that, unless managed properly, will turn these advantages into a huge disadvantage.
Read MoreAre you curious to know what separates the truly successful from everyone else? Do you want to know what the highest performers do that distinguish them from the pack?
Well, between my experience with my own high-achieving clients and my research, here are some qualities that I came up with.
Drive and passion – Successful people are driven and passionate about what they do. They work harder than most and make sure things get done. They take pride in seeing things getting completed and take charge when necessary. Their passion is contagious and rubs off on others around them, who start to believe what they believe.
