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Are you like me? I am usually much more productive the day before a vacation. I work faster, follow my task list, avoid unproductive activities and achieve great results.
How much more might we accomplish if we worked every day like we were going on vacation the next day?
Studies show that this kind of “action orientation” is a trait successful people have in common. They move faster, try more, try harder, start earlier and are in constant motion.
CC Image courtesy of Aaron Fulkerson on Flickr
Thomas Jefferson put it this way: “Determine never to be idle. No person will have occasion to complain of the want of time, who never loses any. It is wonderful how much may be done, if we are always doing. The rising sun has never caught me in bed in my entire life.”
An action-oriented person differs from a workaholic. A workaholic over-focuses on work—and neglects the other areas needed for balanced living. Click HERE to see all seven goal areas in my recent article or click HERE to receive my entire eBook on life management when you subscribe to my free email updates.
How can we work like the day before vacation? How can we stay motivated, on time and on track?
I don’t always do this super well, but I have learned some great ideas that have really helped me be an achiever and I hope can help you as well:
1. Use 3×5 Cards to Envision Your Goals
This suggestion is simple but powerful: Write your goals on 3 x 5 cards—one goal per card. (Of course you can use your computer, phone, iPad, etc. if you prefer an electronic version.)
You might also want to illustrate your goals with pictures related to your dreams: that car you want to buy, that body you want to develop, the book you want to write and so on.
Keep the cards handy and review them regularly. Posting your goal cards in prominent places can also provide visual cues that can help motivate you become an extraordinary achiever.
2. Use a Daily Goal Progress Tracker
For example, check off each day when you have worked toward your goals on a chart like this:
My Daily Goal Tracking
Progress for the week of: ____________
GOAL MON TUES WED THUR FRI SAT SUN TOTAL Describe your goal XXXXX5
As an alternative, there is a goal tracking website called http://www.irunurun.com. I use it virtually every day.
3.Consider Using the Spiral Notebook Method
I’ve found Brian Tracy’s “Spiral Notebook” method helpful. He suggests you write in longhand your top goals and the current date. Each subsequent day simply write them again by memory.
At first you might struggle to recall each goal, but soon it will become easier. You will probably find your goal list becoming more clear and concise over time. You may also find that the order of priorities will change.
In approximately 30 days, as you write the list over and over, you will become far more focused and begin to make rapid progress on your goals.
4.Eliminate Goals and Refocus Regularly
To improve focus and help prevent burnout, consider following Bobb Biehl’s advice to revise your “To Do” regularly. He suggests the following process that I have found quite helpful:
Ask yourself: “If I could only accomplish one goal, solve one problem, or seize one opportunity in the next 12 months, what would it be?” Focus 60% of your time here.
Like Steve Douglass ask, “What 3 things could I do in the next 90 days to make a 50% difference by the end of the year?”
Ask yourself, “If I could only complete 1-3 things this week, what would they be?”Ask yourself, “If I could only do 1-3 things today what would I do?” Write these things on your “To Do” list.
5.Add New Goals When Appropriate
Reaching goals builds confidence. Relish the satisfaction of a goal accomplished and give thanks to the Lord.
Then, once you have reached a goal, replace it with a new one.
Extraordinary achievers are always looking for the next mountain to climb.
The Bible tells us to: “Act like people with good sense and not like fools. These are evil times, so make every minute count. Don’t be stupid. Instead, find out what the Lord wants you to do.”(Ephesians 5:15-17 CEV)
I hope these techniques help you to become an extraordinary achiever. As you do, please leave me a comment about how that has happened below—thanks.
If you found this article helpful, you might also enjoy my articles on:
This article and the others listed above are based on one of the chapters in my eBook called Don’t Miss Your Life. You can get it for free when you sign up to receive my updates via email.