Do
you ever get overwhelmed when you go to start a project to the point
where you just shelve the whole idea? Did you know that even getting a
project started can be the hardest thing. Many people procrastinate and
let every other priority get in line ahead of overwhelming ideas or
projects that seem to enormous to implement. Smaller things seem easier
to start so we often put the perception of small right in front of what
we perceive as too big to tackle. What you need to do is apply my
"millimeter" wisdom to that "looming" and never-completed project. The
biggest step toward success is often the smallest one -- just doing
something! In the case of a big project just doing something may mean
just setting aside 15 minute a day to do something toward starting and
ultimately finishing that project. Put one "millimeter" moment in your
schedule devoted toward that one big thing -- that's it. If you'll do
that one thing, you'll soon find that never-completed project finished.
Big Dreams Only Take "Millimeter" Steps
Do
you have a big dream? Are you constantly thinking, "Wow! That would
take A LOT of efforts to make it happen?" Do you realize it's this exact
mindset that keeps you from achieving your dream? With my "millimeter"
approach, no dream is too big or lofty to achieve, not when you do a
little something about it each day. Just 15 minutes daily to try to make
your dream a reality is really what it takes. Some days you might carve
out more time, but with consistent "millimeter" steps you can make your
dream a reality. Whether it's making a phone call(s), researching a
question, sending out information, or taking a moment to do something to
adds toward it. Every action you take will get a reaction of some kind.
The best technique is to do your one thing at a set time of day --
whether it's with your morning coffee or right before you go to bed.
Thinking and doing small things always add up to big results.
The "Millimeter" Price of Change
"The price of doing the same old thing is far higher than the price of change." ~ Bill Clinton
Do you keep doing the same thing over and over again? Does your life feel stagnant or stuck? Are you the passive-aggressive type who waits for things to just happen? The New Year is the best time to set new goals and make change. Resolutions aren't typically kept. Goals are only sometimes met. But change is inevitable. But are you going to make it progressive and positive? Or are you just going to let life continue to happen to you and not for you? Using my "millimeter" approach makes it easy to make progressive, small changes toward positive change. Each day aggressively take one "small" action toward your desired life. It can be anything at all. Want a new relationship, just look at an online dating site (just a place to start). Maybe look at one day and the next day, look again. Maybe by the fourth of fifth day, subscribe. Want a new job. Same thing. Look at a Career site and so on. It doesn't take but more than 15 minutes a day to change something. The promise of moving forward is far better than the outcome of doing nothing and expecting something different.
Do you keep doing the same thing over and over again? Does your life feel stagnant or stuck? Are you the passive-aggressive type who waits for things to just happen? The New Year is the best time to set new goals and make change. Resolutions aren't typically kept. Goals are only sometimes met. But change is inevitable. But are you going to make it progressive and positive? Or are you just going to let life continue to happen to you and not for you? Using my "millimeter" approach makes it easy to make progressive, small changes toward positive change. Each day aggressively take one "small" action toward your desired life. It can be anything at all. Want a new relationship, just look at an online dating site (just a place to start). Maybe look at one day and the next day, look again. Maybe by the fourth of fifth day, subscribe. Want a new job. Same thing. Look at a Career site and so on. It doesn't take but more than 15 minutes a day to change something. The promise of moving forward is far better than the outcome of doing nothing and expecting something different.
The Little Things
I'm
sure you've heard the expression "it's the little things in life..." My
"millimeter" approach to everything is all about little things. Small
steps to do something. Today though we're going to talk about "little"
ways to look at your life to give you a fresh outlook. Sometimes we
think too big about what would make us happy. Happiness comes from
within. If you've been feeling discouraged about your life then start by
shifting your outlook with the little things and simple appreciation.
Abundance isn't about overflow or piles of coins. It's realizing the
"little" things that enrich your life. Start with "millimeter" ways to
appreciate your life. Next time someone smiles notice how it makes you
feel a "little" better. Next time you walk outside, notice if the sun is
shining. Stop and stand in the sun and let your face take in the light.
See a pretty flower, stop and smell it (for real). Notice how something
shifts in your body. Look around and "get real" about your life. Notice
the beauty of your home. See something as simple as the beautiful sofa
pillow you picked out or some piece of art that provides a memory. Think
about it, and enjoy the thought. Life doesn't have to be lived large to
find pleasure and joy! It's the "millimeter things" that can bring you
joy!
Millimeter Change is Good for the Stuck!
You
ever felt stuck? No matter what you do your self-control never seems to
kick in. My "millimeter" approach to change is invaluable to getting out
of feeling stuck somewhere. Let's say you're in a bad relationship. You
want out. You feel stuck -- for financial, emotional -- it doesn't
matter what is the reason. You feel you cannot leave. It's too scary.
It's too big to take it on. What will you do? Where will you go? Start
first with this question: what is the no. #1 thing holding you back? If
it's related to financial then you need to do what you might do if you
were wanting to leave a job for the same reason. Start a "millimeter"
savings plan. You don't have to save a "fortune" to make a change. You
start very small. You look at your budget. Then you create a
"millimeter" savings plan. What can you spare PER DAY not a LARGE amount
of time. Make everything small. Shrink it down. Is it .50 cents? Then
set aside .50 cents a day even if it means putting two quarters in a big
jar. Make a goal to pay firs and last month's rent or even a down
payment. If it's for career, six months of salary is safe. Do it each
and every day. Keep your eye on the "millimeter" amount NOT the large
amount. You will be surprised how fast your goal is accomplished one
"millimeter" contribution per day.
The "Millimeter" One-Minute Rule
Some
people are very reactionary. They knee-jerk responses to just about
anything that is said or done. These people are typically "drama"
people. Without careful thought or consideration, their sudden reactions
guide their lives and the responses of those people around them. You
may not recognize you are a drama person. Let me ask you this, do you
constantly have something major going on? You're always stressed out and
reacting to just about anything that happens. You make mountains out of
mole hills. No one is going to judge you here. If this sounds familiar
then I have some wonderful advice that will only take one, small extra
minute to start to change your life and reduce your stress and "drama".
When something happens, give yourself the one-minute timeout. Take one minute and don't just react. Instead take a deep breath. Think
about what you want to do or say. It's not magic and it's no hard. It
only requires a conscious choice to think vs. react. Reactions are often
reflexive. Reflex responses are not always the best choices. BUT take a
deep breath. Guess what that does, too. It re-oxygenates your brain. It
gives you a moment to reflect. A reflective choice is ALWAYS better
than a knee-jerk response. Give it a try. It's simple. You'll notice
almost immediate results. When you're not giving the other person
stimulus watch how that immediately improves their response, too. It's
just a small "millimeter" tip to reduce stress and drama.
Start by Making some New Year's Resolutions
Resolutions
are really goals. We just call them resolutions. When you make a New
Year's Resolution you are actually "resolving" to do something. Have you
made yours yet? It's time to think about how to improve your life
somehow. We can all improve something, right? Whether it's personal or
professional, time for change. Just remember "millimeter" changes are
easy. So think of it this way: resolutions are easy if you do them the
"millimeter" way. What's yours going to be? Just go forward and know you
can do anything! Believe in yourself! Know you can do it. "Resolve" to
do it.
Change Starts with a Decision
The
smallest or "millimeter" way to change is simple: make a decision. You
can't get on the road to change until you make a decision. It's the
smallest way to get moving toward what you want to do. Acting passive is
unlikely to get you where you want to go. Yes, sometimes things fall
into place, but realize they can't come to you unless you invite them.
So whatever the change (big or small) needs to start with you and your
choices. Are you going to continue what you're doing and "hope"
something changes or are you going to decide to make things happen.
You'll find the very act of "deciding" can immediately shift your
perspective and invite the right kinds of things to come into your life.
Whether it's subconscious or conscious, once you've decided it's almost
like taking off blinders. Have you ever noticed that when you think
about something you'll start noticing similar things around you? Making
an active decision is the first "millimeter" step in the right
direction. So make a decision!
Tips to Make and Keep Your New Year's Resolutions
How
many of your New Year's Resolutions have you kept? Maybe you can't keep
your resolutions because you've made them too big or lofty, and they
seem out of reach. Using my "millimeter" approach to change, your
resolutions are not only achievable but easily done.
Tip #1: Make daily resolutions
-- what does that mean? You do things on a daily basis to achieve your
annual goal. You don't make, say, a resolution to lose 50 pounds and
then try and lose 50 pounds in a week or even a month. You do one thing a
day to help you achieve your overall resolution. Maybe that one thing
is to stop eating dessert with every meal. Maybe that one thing is to
cut one portion at every meal in half. Start with the small goals to
achieve the big changes. (Hint: daily scale watching will not make your
goal come any faster. Be patient and make small resolutions to step on
the scale weekly or even monthly). Also, weight loss should be about
getting healthy and feeling better so focus on what you're eating and
how much you're eating.
Tip #2: Persist
-- even if you're persisting in the small goals and doing them daily at
least you're staying the course. Persistence is the overall key to just
about any success. Most things with enough time and pressure (think
about Andy's escape hole in Shawshank Redemption) just take consistent work even if it's a small hole dug each day. Giving up is what leads to failure not continuing to try.
Tip #3: Believe you can do it
-- some things whether big or small all start in a person's belief in
themselves. Daily reinforcement and doing small things each day
reinforce our abilities to do something -- anything. And in just the
very effort of "doing" is making it "become" what you want. So believe
you can do it and if you have to look in the mirror and say it every
day, "I can do it!" then do so. Self-empowerment starts with you being
your very own fan and supporter.
Being Thankful for Change
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
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
One
thing about the "millimeter" philosophy is that it pushes you through
continual small changes to persist -- daily. Persistence is how most
people succeed. Overnight success doesn't exist. No one is an overnight
success no matter what is the perception. I guarantee you those people
persisted and stuck with it -- what "it" was to them. Using my
"millimeter" approach you can persist with diligence through steady
pressure. Each "millimeter" step is really about persisting and staying
with your goals whatever those might be. You keep going. You keep doing
those "small" changes each day. Even if it's as simple as making a phone
call or doing one small task -- it all adds up. And pretty soon you have
"persisted" your way toward the big goal. Persistence one "millimeter"
at a time will pay off. Just stay the course.
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.
Promoting Your Business -- the "Millimeter" Way
Are
you one of those business owners who thinks they have to hire a big PR
firm to promote business? Is it because you don't know where to start?
Public relations can be broken down into smaller or "millimeter"
techniques that won't overwhelm your time.
Help a Reporter Out (HARO) is
a FREE service you can sign up to use. It send thrice daily queries
from major publications. It lists categories of requests (e.g., Travel,
Business and Finance, Lifestyle). Major publications such as Forbes or Success Magazine
editors post what information they want for a story. You can simply
answer their requests. If they like what they read, they will either
interview you or ask you questions. You could have an interview in
national media. Did you have to write and release a press release? No.
It's easy to respond to questions, right?
How To Brighten Anyone’s Day
As a practicing orthodontist, I am passionate about helping people achieve the smile of their dreams. My 30-years experience in the field is what prompted me to write my book, It's All About Millimeters: How Small Changes Can Make a Big Impact in Your Business and Your life. I saw how small, millimeter changes in a patient’s bite and smile, made an enormous difference in their self-esteem and opportunities for their lives.
I am not suggesting that in order to brighten someone’s day
you need to be an orthodontist!
However, in my practice, it is all about smiles. And smiles brighten the
world.
Have you ever noticed that the people who are always smiling
make you smile too when you speak with them? Did you notice that they smile even when confronted with an
irritated customer, client or patient?
I have a staff member like this at our front desk who
handles all the appointments. She
is always smiling, even when a parent or patient is upset about something. Even on the phone speaking with people
she is smiling.
I love her can-do attitude and her ability to make others
smile (me too) just because she is smiling.
This is another example of using millimeters to make a
difference. A simple smile.
Try it today, right now. Smile more, smile often and share your
smile and see how the world around you will smile back. You will brighten other people’s day
and your day too will feel that much better
Staying Organized in Small Steps
Are
you always on the fly? Can't keep your schedule straight. You're moving
at the speed of light, and when you arrive at your destination or your
business meeting only to find you forgot something. Maybe you feel like
you're only partially prepared, but inevitably you always have something
you missed. Want to know a simple "millimeter" strategy to fix the
problem and reduce stress?
Prepare
once! Create a checklist of items. Spend a few hours and organize
"kits". Make about 10-20 kits based on the checklist. Whatever materials
you'll need for the average meeting or presentation, use a kit and have
it on standby. The kit should include:
- Business Cards
- Brochures or information sheets
- Sign-up sheets to create mailing lists (when it applies)
- Background on your business
- Any material you might need to sell or give away (products, books or coupons)
Do You Do This?
I was recently on a very long flight from Dublin to Chicago and had an opportunity to watch a movie starring Keanu Reeves and Charlize Theron. In the movie Keanu plays, Nelson, a workaholic-advertising executive who meets Sara (Theron) while taking a DMV test to renew his license. Without going into much detail (you need to see this movie), Sara is the exact opposite of the hard-driving Nelson.
She convinces Nelson to spend a month with her to “help”
him.
Sara is a remarkable example of a "millimeter approach" to
life.
She looks at the small joys in life, walking and running on
a beach with dogs, home-cooked meals, encouraging a local boy without a dad,
knowing all her local neighbors, and enjoying the simplest yet
extraordinary things in life.
That is what a “millimeter approach” is all about.
Do you stop and see the small, but extraordinary things
around you?
Do you have time for helping others, getting to know your
neighbors, or just taking a walk on a beach around the neighborhood or on a beautiful
trail?
Hey, I am guilty of NOT doing this, and the beauty of this
movie, brought me back to the reality of life. It is the “millimeters” around us, the small moments,
experiences that bring us the most joy. With our plugged-in and tuned-out world, we all need these “millimeter”
moments daily in our lives.
Three Things We Do To Sabotage Our Health
Recently I have been so busy that I told my husband the
other day that it felt like finals week in college, but instead of being a week
of all-nighters and extreme quantities of caffeine, it is more like a college
quarter of late nights, poor sleep, no exercise and bad eating habits.
Sound familiar?
Sometimes your business or your job requires you to spend
serious amounts of time and energy delivering products or services to your
customers, clients or patients.
Since the economy is still in a recovering mode, when business shows up
you take it.
Unfortunately, we sometimes overestimate our ability to get
it all done and still take care of our families and ourselves. Typically the first thing that suffers
is our routines regarding our health and wellness.
The three things I see most entrepreneurs and business owners do
under these circumstances that sabotages their health is to eat and drink foods
that are not particular healthy for them, reduce sleep time, and forget to
exercise.
These three things if prolonged beyond a week or quarter
of “finals” will ultimately hurt
you both physically and mentally.
As a proponent of a “millimeter approach” to health and
wellness here are my three tips to help you stay healthy when you have a “finals”
week, month or quarter.
#1 make sure you have plenty of fresh fruit, veggies and
salad ingredients in your refrigerator so you can easily grab a healthy snack
or throw together a healthy salad quickly without having to get the pots and
pans out. Another idea is to make
a big pot of soup on a Sunday that can be enjoyed several days with some hearty
bread. This type of food will keep
your energy levels high so you can avoid the Red Bull, Coffee and Espresso
overload.
#2 If you are not sleeping well or just a few hours a night,
make sure on the weekends you get a chance to catch up either via a daytime nap
or just getting to bed earlier on a Saturday night. If you are traveling on
airplanes, learn to nap during the flight. This is my preferred method of catching up on my sleep. Studies show how napping can improve
your cardiovascular health and wellness and keep you alert and refreshed.
#3 No time for exercise? Carve out even 10 minutes a day to take a walk, stretch or
just do push-ups, sit-ups and squats.
If you get another 10 minutes later in the day repeat.
Using a “millimeter” approach to maintaining your health and
wellness, you will find it much easier to stay on the program even during times
of stress, excessive workloads and “finals”.
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