Your 2010 "Personal Blueprint"

People are creatures of habit. And habits are a good thing—we form them in order to do certain things without really thinking (like brushing our teeth) so our brainpower can be freed up for other, more important things (like choosing what kind of work to do). Our habits become our “Personal Blueprint.”

Your Personal Blueprint is a diagram of the habitual “you.” Again, a good thing—as long as you like your blueprint. If you don’t like your blueprint- if you look at the habitual “you” and aren’t happy with what you see- then it’s time to make a change! And while you can choose to change at any time, there’s something about the beginning of a new year that sparks extra inspiration and can help drum up the motivation you need to make it happen. The sense of newness on the calendar can translate into a readiness (and capacity) for newness in your life.

Now, this business of changing your blueprint is serious stuff. As Charles C. Noble notes, "First we make our habits, then our habits make us." Your habits have the power to make you or break you. And not only do they have a lot of power over you, they can also be tricky to change. We all know the clichés about New Year’s resolutions- how they tend to last for, say, about 10 minutes—and then we break them! So read on, and we’ll look at four steps to positive change in 2010: 1) Know the 5 areas of your Personal Blueprint, 2) Identify which areas need a change by taking the Personal Blueprint Satisfaction Test, 3) Choose the changes you want for 2010 4) Make the new Personal Blueprint stick!

Step #1: Know The 5 Areas of Your Personal Blueprint:

Mental Outlook 

It all starts with what goes on in our mind. Being able to operate at optimum capacity relies on the foundation of a strong, healthy outlook on life.

Wellness            

Our bodies function in direct correlation to how we care for them. What we put in them, how (and how much) we move them, and the extent to which we rest them are critical.

Self-Management 

Are we managing plans, schedules, and our environment (our belongings and our office, home etc.) so that we are able to accomplish things? Examples include our levels of organization and timeliness.

Career            

Success at work depends on strong habits of professionalism and a proactive approach to developing ourselves.

Community            

How we operate in the world of people is critical to our success, as well as the success of our family, our organization, our community, and our society. Do our actions communicate our awareness of others around us and affirm that we know we are a member of a larger community, or that our sole focus is on self?

These five areas, when woven together, determine the fabric of your Personal Blueprint. They speak to how well you operate as a person—in your “self” life as well as in your life with other people. When your habits in these five areas are on target, you have a strong foundation and are freed up to focus on the really important things in your life (rather than spending time looking for your keys, you can spend time working on your goals). They have everything to do with your effectiveness, success, and, ultimately, happiness.

Step #2: Take the Personal Blueprint Satisfaction Test!

Directions:

Consider the five areas of your Personal Blueprint and circle the number that corresponds to your satisfaction level for each (1 = Low, 5 = High)

Mental Outlook- 1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5

Wellness - 1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5

Self-Management - 1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5

Career - 1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5

Community - 1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5

Step #3: Choose Changes to Your Personal Blueprint in 2010!

Directions:

For any area you rated 4 or below, choose one action to take to improve your habits. Feel free to choose actions from the list below, or if the actions here don’t resonate with you, create your own! If you do create your own actions, be sure to make them small—something you can accomplish without super-human effort. This will help you be successful and encourage you to make even more good choices.

Mental Outlook

• Write down three things you’re thankful for before you turn out the light (training your mind to focus on what worked well that day, rather than on what didn’t work well, making it more likely that in the future you’ll create more of what works)
  
• Write down three things you’re looking forward to tomorrow before you turn out the light (creating positive momentum for the next day)
  
• Read a piece of inspirational literature at least 5 minutes a day
  
• Do at least 1 short activity each week that refreshes your mind, whether a bike ride, a stop at the park or the museum, or just 30 minutes in a favorite book
  
• The moment you’re hit with negativity or discouragement, change what you’re doing- a change in physicality (get up and walk around the block, water the plants, get a cup of tea) can shift the direction of your thoughts
  

Wellness

• Take the stairs (or walk on the escalator, don’t stand!) or park at the end of the parking lot two days a week at minimum
  
• Go to bed 15 minutes earlier and get more rest, or…
  
• Get up 15 minutes earlier so the morning is relaxed and not a mad rush
  
• Eat one more piece of fruit a day (if you’re eating none, eat at least one!). Go to www.smartlivingisjuiceplus.com for more on raising and simplifying your fruit and vegetable intake
• Drink water regularly (64 oz. per day)
  

Self-Management

• Wash each dish as it’s used
  
• Open mail over your shredder, files, and recycling bin, being sure to handle each piece only once before filing or tossing
  
• Plan to arrive 5 minutes early
  
• “Everything has a home”- if you have items in your home or office that have no place, get rid of them. And important items like car keys and passports have a home that never changes
  
• Batch tasks in blocks of time during the day: make all phone calls in one block, dedicate another block to emails, etc.
  

Career

• Don’t go home on Friday until you’ve mapped out next week’s projects and schedule
  
• Always be looking for ways to support your manager. One of your most important roles is to help your manager be successful
  
• Reach out to one person on your contact/networking list per week
  
• Seek out a mentor and meet with him or her on a monthly basis
  
• Do one activity each month to develop yourself professionally (take a course, read a book or article, attend an association meeting)
  

Community

• Leave every situation/place better than you found it (just because others have littered before you doesn’t mean you should add to it)
  
• Say “please” and “thank you.” Sound basic? Pay attention- you hear these very little at the grocery store and the post office. Entitlement is rampant
  
• Resist the need to be understood. First, seek to understand
  
• The left lane is the passing lane- whether you’re driving on the freeway or standing on an escalator (stand on the right!)- this is a fundamental rule of the road that’s constantly violated, causing frustration and a basic breakdown in community
  
• Do one good turn for someone each week, expecting nothing in return 
  

Next week we'll look at Step 4: Making the changes stick!

Two Lists are Better Than One

De-Stress the Holidays: Three Gifts to Give Yourself

The holidays bring an increase in activities- and an increase in the length of your to-do list! It’s easy to get agitated and feel robbed of the enjoyment of the season.  To sidestep the stress and restore your equilibrium, here are three gifts to give yourself:

Not Now, I’m Busy Breathing

A study by the American Psychological Association indicates that for 46% of women and 35% of men, financially-driven stress goes up during the holidays. When stressors present themselves, our breath becomes shallow (or we actually hold it), and stress increases! At any given moment, do a quick breathing exercise: Inhale through your nose on the count of 4, hold your breath for the count of 7, and exhale through your mouth on the count of 8. Do two times in succession, and as often as you think of it. Your breath will become deep, your perspective altered. Dr. Andrew Weill states the 4:7:8 technique acts as a natural tranquilizer for the nervous system.

Close the Drawer 

Don’t take your to-do list to bed. Write it down before bed and put it in a drawer and close it. Dr. Ralph Downey, Chief of Sleep Medicine at the Sleep Disorders Center at Loma Linda University Medical Center says that in doing so, you give your mind a sense of closure- the “to-do” list is done - your sleep will be better, and you’ll be more resilient tomorrow.

Thanks for “Fill in the Blank” 

You’re waiting in a long line to buy gifts. Whether people in line are rude, or you are simply thinking about all you need to get done, this is a recipe for serious agitation! Purposefully shift your focus from those things to the one thing - anything - you can be thankful for IN THE SITUATION YOU’RE CURRENTLY IN.  Focus on that one thing and keep thinking about every aspect of it, and how thankful you are. You will emerge from the store calm, resilient, and ready to tackle other things.

In a season that's about so many wonderful things, giving being one of the primary ones, be sure to take a little time (a very little- this doesn't take much!) and give at least one of these gifts to yourself. It will make a difference. 

Be Clear About What You Want

Three Keys to a Better Thanksgiving

The Thanksgiving holiday is upon us, and with it, the possibility of challenging interactions with relatives! Here are three principles for dealing with challenging situations involving others:

Don’t Get Dragged In

According to the American Psychological Association, general stress increases during holidays- 44% for women and 31% for men. One of the greatest stressors can be people—including family. When an irritating family member tries to drag you into a pointless argument, smile genuinely, say, “That may be” (neither agreeing nor disagreeing), and decisively change the subject. Their need for acknowledgment will be met, you won’t have sacrificed your integrity, and as long as you move on firmly, they will go with you.

Good Fences Make Good Neighbors, and Better Families

If you’re the one who’s hosting, clearly let relatives know the block of time your house is “open for business.” We can take almost anything if we know the time is limited. Also, set up the “rules of the game” regarding keeping kitchen traffic to a minimum, keeping outdoor voices outdoors, etc.

Head it off at the pass

If you know that a close family member habitually turns holiday meals into a time to debate something sensitive, like politics, consider addressing it ahead of time. Rather than waiting for it to happen and trying to deal with another awkward situation, sit down and talk honestly about it now. Be courteous, describe your concern, listen to and acknowledge their perspective, then make your request along with a good reason for it.

To Get Agreement, Timing is Everything

80/20 For Your Health

Several people have mentioned my blog entry, “Put More Into Your 20%,” and how important this concept is in their own lives. The concept is the 80/20 Rule, or the Pareto Principle, which advises us to identify those few things we do that lead to great results, and to do more of those, and to minimize the efforts we make that don’t yield much (for more of a definition, see my August 3, 2009 entry).

As we begin to look toward 2010, one of the most important areas to apply this principle to is our health. Here are three actions we can take to help our bodies (sounds obvious, but think about it- how many things do we do that actually hinder our bodies- whether it’s what we eat, inactivity, etc.) that fit the 80/20 Rule to the “T.” All three give you a much greater outcome than you would expect for the effort you put in:

Drink Water

Our bodies are 60% water and, not surprisingly, every system in our bodies depends on it. Water flushes toxins out. Achy? Tired? Drink water. The Mayo Clinic recommends a few different approaches to deciding how much: one approach is the common wisdom of 8, 8 oz. glasses per day. Another approach says 13 cups for men and 9 for women. What makes this an 80/20 suggestion is the simplicity and ease of the action (drink water) and the substantial payoff you get in strength, alertness, and energy.

Eat Fruits & Vegetables

The research on what happens to our bodies if we don’t do so is undeniable, stunning, and sobering (think all sorts of sickness and disease). Equally, the research on what happens to our bodies if we do, is fantastic news- for strength and vitality today, as well as for the long-term. The only hitch is that the experts agree that several (the USDA recommends 7-13) daily servings of a variety of fruits and vegetables are what our bodies need. This can be challenging—one option I can recommend from experience is to get your fruits and veggies in capsule form with no additives or harmful engineering- go to www.smartlivingisjuiceplus.com for more information. The only real change to the fruits and vegetables, besides the removal of the bulk, is the essential removal of the sugars- a very good thing. This one is an 80/20 no-brainer.

Exercise the “SuperSlow” Way

Don’t let the name fool you. The only slow part about this workout is the pace of the repetitions. What’s not slow is the length and frequency of the workout—30 minutes once a week, and the results—comparable to what you achieve doing your regular workout several times a week. In LA, talk to McKerrin Kelly at SuperSlow Brentwood (310-979-0123).

 

Decide on Your Goal

Are You Ready?

One of the best ways to arm yourself in uncertain times is to be ready to tell people your elevator pitch-- what value you provide. Whether you're looking for a job, looking to keep a job, or just smart (by staying current with people and always being alert for ways to contribute), your elevator pitch is one of your best tools.

Your elevator pitch should start with your profession or role, specific expertise you have, and a mention of your general experience so that the other person can put it all in context. At this point, the person is getting a sense of you, so now it’s time to illustrate what you’ve been saying in a way that brings it all to life and differentiates you from others. This might be in the form of key accomplishments, an example of a recent project and the value it created, or particularly unique characteristics that set you apart. Finally, make it clear that this elevator pitch isn’t an example of how arrogant you are, but simply a lead-in for how it relates to them:

• If this is a job interview, be direct. Tell them that you’re interested in seeing how your capabilities can benefit them
  
• If talking with someone at a party, be less direct. Tell them what you like most about what you do, and make sure that what you like is something they would value!
  
• If you currently have a job and are having a chance conversation with your CEO (in the elevator!), tell them what you enjoy about your work and how it impacts the company (in other words- make sure they see your value!)
  

Here’s how this might sound, if you’re, say, a marketing consultant:

• Profession: I’m a marketing consultant…
  
• Expertise: … specializing in brand creation and development…
  
• General Experience: …For the past 10 years I’ve worked extensively with clients in the consumer electronics industry…
  
• Information that differentiates you: …I recently completed a project with a client that resulted in the company moving from the number 3 spot in industry market share to the number one spot, within one month of the new brand launch…
  
• How this information could relate to the other person: …What I like most about what I do is the combination of insight and innovation, meaning I get to have very deep insight into what my clients’ products and services bring to the world as well as what their goals are, and then, in partnership with my clients, I get to develop innovative ways to position their company to the world. That is seriously my idea of fun. And then when I see the results in the company bottom line—that’s not bad either!
  

What Are You Listening To?

One of our greatest assets is the wisdom we have inside. And yet, with all of the messaging we get from the many inputs in our world, it's one of the things we can wind up ignoring the most! Most people I know say they feel inundated by the amount of information and advice coming at them each day, which easily drowns out the messaging from within. The answer, in my experience, is about choice: the choice to listen. I was interviewed on Hallmark Channel's "New Morning," talking about how to wade through all of the noise and truly listen to your inner voice. Here are some clips from that interview.

Put More Into Your 20%

The events unfolding on the world stage are like nothing any of us have seen in our lifetime. And for many of us, these events are having a direct, personal impact. Now, more than ever, it’s time to find ways to do more with less and maximize our resources. And yet I have found that this idea of “doing more with less” tends to be a vague sentiment that people agree with and don't necessarily know how to apply.

80/20
Years ago, in my work with engineers, I learned a piece of economic theory that can give us some answers. In the early 19th century, Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto, in studying the economies of European nations, uncovered a consistent economic distribution trend: 20% of the population had 80% of the wealth. Since that discovery, this 80/20 ratio has moved beyond the realm of economics and can accurately describe many elements of common human experience:

• 20% of the clothes in your closet get 80% of the wear
  
• 20% of your waking time produces 80% of your achievements
  
• 20% of your customers bring you 80% of your revenue
  
• 20% of your marketing efforts generate 80% of your new business

When we really get our minds around this, the implications are staggering:

• What am I doing wasting all of that closet space on clothes I never wear? 
  
• Why aren’t I noticing the times of day and the conditions and the activities I’m engaged in when I’m achieving the most, and replicating those? 
  
• Why don’t I stop beating myself up over customers that don’t really like us and don’t do much business, and focus on the ones that do?
  
• Why don’t I stop putting marketing efforts into plans that don’t yield much, and put more effort into the ones that do?

Focus on the 20%
Smart living starts with smart thinking- a truly strategic approach that applies 80/20 thinking to every area of life, identifies the very effective 20% in those areas and capitalizes on it, giving it more focus, more resources, more effort.

Try This
Hold the 80/20 lens to your life, and see what you find out. You may decide to:

• Give away clothes you rarely wear, gaining space
  
• Stop buying groceries that often don’t get eaten, saving money
  
• Stop spending time with people who drag you down and make you angry, and more with people you like and respect who help you feel, think, and live better
• Stop funding marketing activities that don't yield much, and put resources into the ones that do, generating new business
• Shift focus off of your products that yield little revenue, and onto your high-revenue products, which can generate yet more products of this type, and more customers, and more revenue 

Enjoy your analysis, and let me know how it goes!

The Three-Letter Word that Gets Us Into Trouble

Smart Living Is...

When one of my clients asked me, “Where is all of this written down?” and I realized that the answer was, “Nowhere,” “Smart Living Is…” was born. “This” is a reference to the concepts and tools I’ve shared with clients over the years which they tell me have helped them. And very often these are not the concepts and tools that have been the central piece of our work together, but the “in-between” concepts and tools; the pieces that I don’t typically write down, put in print, put in visual materials; the “oh, yes, and you may want to try this.” These are the small pieces that wind up leading to large results. As I write this, I am sitting on a plane. The woman next to me just commented, “It’s the little things”— something we’ve all heard, perhaps said, many times. As I look at my work with clients all over the world, I have found this to be consistently true: that very often, the difference between success and failure in an endeavor is not a great change. It is a small change—the right change—that turns the key and transforms a situation, a person, a relationship, a career, a life. I have seen examples of all of these.

When my client asked where these things were written down, it was not a new question for me; it simply came on a day when I realized I needed to do something about it. The question itself has come in so many forms (“Can I take you with me to talk to my customer, my boss, my spouse, my boy-scout troop?” “Why don’t they teach these things in schools?” “Where were you last week when I was having that tough conversation with ____?”), and from so many people over the years. I have spent the better part of the last two decades as a consultant for people and organizations that are raising their aim higher than they have before; whose goal it is to become more successful in their particular space by increasing their personal and corporate effectiveness, and improving how they engage with customers, vendors, partners and anyone else, for that matter. My work has taken me around the globe, and allowed me to work with people from CEOs to production line personnel, at organizations as diverse in size and sphere as Microsoft, Tiffany & Co., Sony Pictures Entertainment, JP Morgan Chase and social service agencies. And wherever I have gone, and with whomever I have worked, this “small changes for large results” concept has remained a consistent principle.

“Smart Living Is…” is a curated collection of concepts and tools that I have seen become the keys for so many people’s movement forward, onward, upward. Of course, not every approach works in every situation—hence a “gallery” of approaches. Read/view an entry, think it through, consider its appropriateness to your situation. If it doesn’t seem to be a fit, keep reading. Find another approach. It is my hope that you might find something small that, for you, might yield something quite large.