It's Thanksgiving and time to think about gratitude and thanks. As
has been the theme of this blog, I am always talking about "millimeter"
changes. Smaller and more doable changes make it easier to accomplish
anything -- and I mean anything. When change becomes less scary and less
challenging, it is easier to accomplish. Using my "millimeter"
technique breaks it down and makes it even rewarding. Because change can
be very rewarding. It can bring new things and people into your life.
Be grateful for what it brings. Don't be afraid. You never know where
small and big changes will lead you -- and sometimes it's nowhere close
to what you expected, but it can be somewhere even better. This
Thanksgiving be grateful for your family, friends and your life.
How to Remove Obstacles to Change: A "Millimeter" at a Time
Most people don't make change because all they see are obstacles or reasons "why not" vs. "why not".
Obstacles or reasons not to change can be removed a "millimeter" at a
time. For example, let's say you want to change careers or start a
business, but the thought seems impossible. I don't have enough money. I
don't know anything about starting a business. I don't know how.
Each
reason can be easily removed with my "millimeter" technique. Write down
each obstacle. One day at a time, do something to remove that obstacle
until it's gone. Let's take the most common reason people don't do
things -- lack of money. Write that down on your obstacle list. Then
much like one of those commercials where you can sponsor something or
make payments, figure out how much money out of your paycheck you can
set aside and save specifically to start a business or change careers or
even go back to school. Begin the "millimeter process" of saving. If
it's easier do something as simple as put a $1 a day. Keep saving and
give yourself daily, monthly or even annual goals. Best advice: save at
least six months worth of your current salary to get you properly
started and give you enough time to make money -- a millimeter at a
time.
It's Never too Late to Change
The
old adage "you can't teach a dog new tricks" just isn't true --
especially when you use my "millimeter" approach to anything. Small
changes are possible for anyone of any age. The only thing you really
have to shift is your perspective and attitude not the possibility of
it. Small, daily changes don't require a whole new way of doing
everything or even thinking about something. Millimeter changes don't
challenge your comfort zone -- to much ... just a little bit. The reason
some dogs don't like new tricks is because of that aforementioned
challenge to one's comfort. But when you do very minor shifts on a daily
basis it's a "little less" uncomfortable. Even if that change, for
example, is for a technophobe to just start by turning on the Smart
Phone. Then the next day, trying just one thing (like texting) on the
Smart Phone. Do that for a week or two, and then do something like try
to go on the Internet. You see, if it's a small effort it's not so
daunting, is it? Even for a technophobe.
Millimeter Changes or More of the Same?
“If you do what you’ve always done, you’ll get what you’ve always gotten.” -Tony Robbins
That
quote if you never heard it before is very illuminating. People often
do the same thing over and over again, and they mistakenly believe
they'll get something different. It's akin to writing the wrong address
on the envelope every time and continuing to get "return to sender" and
not understanding why. It's also like math 1 + 1 = 2
Why
do we keep doing the same things over and over and expecting a
different outcome? Because it's comfortable. We know how to do it. We
avoid change. Trying something new though will give you a different
outcome -- and the outcome is unknown. Maybe that's why people don't
try. They don't know what to expect.
Using
the my "millimeter" system of one little change at a time makes doing
that one thing different not quite some scary. A small change a day or
even a week is like an experiment. It gives you room to slowly watch and
see what the different outcomes could be. Does that scare you? Doing
something small vs. big or even huge gives you room to see what it could be like if you do it differently. Why not start today with just one small change -- and get that first different outcome.
Persistent is the Power of Success
“Never, never, never, never give up.” – Winston Churchill
What You DO Have Power Over
“Incredible change happens in your life when you decide to take control
of what you do have power over instead of craving control over what you
don’t.” – Steve Maraboli
We
don't have control over other people. We don't have control over
events. Sometimes we don't have any control at all. You do have control
over yourself. You do have the ability to make powerful changes in your
life. Even what we perceive as too much, too big, or too many can be
done using my "millimeter" approach to change. People look at the big
picture, and they think, "I can't get THERE! I don't even know how." But
when you think about it in daily steps and slowly each day move toward
it in "millimeter" steps before you know it, you're there. Big picture
thinking is visionary. Millimeter thinking is like the jigsaw puzzle to
that big vision. Each day put a piece in place. As each piece goes into
place the big picture becomes clearer and more precise. Even if it's a
500 piece puzzle, a piece a day always eventually leads to the completed
project -- it just might take 500 days. Remember, you have the power.
You have the ability. You have control over what YOU do. With that
self-empowerment and a great vision, you can get there a millimeter at a
time.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)