Do you hate following daily routines? Are you prone to resenting structure and rebelling against the idea of “having to do something”? Do you get energized and distracted by the biggest and shiniest marble in front of you? Are you likely to race after the biggest bear in the woods before you have gathered all the tools you will need to catch the big fella? Are you likely to cut corners and rationalize your willingness to do so?
Are you as successful as you try to be, as you would like to be?
I have worked with many professionals who claim to have traits of ADD and who have answered yes to all of the questions above except the last one.
What we have discovered through our work together is that the development and adherence to a “system” is critical to their success. What we have also learned is that following a system can be a painstakingly slow process for a good number of them.
It seems that the one critical factor in building a workable and valuable routine is the need for each person to claim it as their own. Folks who typically resent being directed or told what to do will instinctively react by doing the opposite, finding a distraction or do nothing at all, which severely impedes their effectiveness and productivity.
Successful activity often requires persistent repetition of mundane steps that may not be fun, may require focus and concentration and may not be easy. While these steps may not immediately lead to the shiniest marble or biggest bear in the woods they will, if adhered to consistently, lead to successful outcomes. I often hear one of my thriving business clients offer this refrain “when I follow my system everyday I do the things that grow my business and when I am distracted by that potentially huge sale (bear in the woods) my routine and business suffers”. This successful business person fought against many ideas/systems that various professionals offered to him for years. He eventually learned to embrace a routine that he identified as one that made sense to him and one that he could own as his alone.
If you want to be more successful make the challenge personal by developing your own routine and following a system that fits the way you work. Remember to be honest when identifying steps that lead to your success rather than looking for the quickest or easiest fix.
Are you as successful as you try to be, as you would like to be?
I have worked with many professionals who claim to have traits of ADD and who have answered yes to all of the questions above except the last one.
What we have discovered through our work together is that the development and adherence to a “system” is critical to their success. What we have also learned is that following a system can be a painstakingly slow process for a good number of them.
It seems that the one critical factor in building a workable and valuable routine is the need for each person to claim it as their own. Folks who typically resent being directed or told what to do will instinctively react by doing the opposite, finding a distraction or do nothing at all, which severely impedes their effectiveness and productivity.
Successful activity often requires persistent repetition of mundane steps that may not be fun, may require focus and concentration and may not be easy. While these steps may not immediately lead to the shiniest marble or biggest bear in the woods they will, if adhered to consistently, lead to successful outcomes. I often hear one of my thriving business clients offer this refrain “when I follow my system everyday I do the things that grow my business and when I am distracted by that potentially huge sale (bear in the woods) my routine and business suffers”. This successful business person fought against many ideas/systems that various professionals offered to him for years. He eventually learned to embrace a routine that he identified as one that made sense to him and one that he could own as his alone.
If you want to be more successful make the challenge personal by developing your own routine and following a system that fits the way you work. Remember to be honest when identifying steps that lead to your success rather than looking for the quickest or easiest fix.
- Identify your desired outcomes.
- List all of the steps you will need to take to reach this outcome
- Prioritize these steps. What is the order they will need to follow? Which steps will need to be performed most often? How often? Which steps will offer the greatest discomfort and thus lead to the greatest resistance? When would be the best time to attend to these tasks?
- What time of the day are you most productive? Which steps should be performed during those times?
- What type of support/assistance will you need? Who will you turn to for that assistance?
- What rewards will you gain from following this routine?
- Identify all of the reasons why you would not want to follow your routine?
- What outcome should you expect if you stop?
- Are you satisfied with that outcome?
- How will you know when you have stopped following the routine you have developed?
- Who do you want to share your activity with?
- Who will hold you accountable when you are getting off track?
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