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Perspective
Take a deep breath. Just Breathe. Let’s take a second amidst the whirlwind of life to refocus on what’s most important. The blessing of trying times is that it helps clarify what is essential and what isn’t. The danger of “good” times is just the opposite. So when the storm comes, as we’ve seen both physically in Ike and financially on Wall Street, those who are anchored have a much better chance of making it through. Those who are not anchored don’t make it. I believe we can all be anchored and survive. No, better than that – we can thrive but there’s work to be done. Not frantic running from thing to thing, but focused, disciplined work that if done will make all the difference. But the desire to be anchored is not enough. You have to take the right first step.
The Right First Step
- In preparing for battle I have always found that plans are useless, but planning is indispensable.
- Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890 – 1969)
Why would this be true? If plans are thrown out as the first bullet flies by so why do it? Many don’t and if you turn on the news (not advisable) you’ll see ample evidence of the results of not thinking ahead. However the contradiction remains true. So why would this great general and president say planning is so important? Here’s why: Without a clear destination your journey is going to end badly. You’ll run after shadows. You’ll waste time and resources. So stop it! The right first step is to get clear on where you really want to go. What does it look like, feel like, how is your time spent when you get there? Give me some measurables here. I need to see that postcard…so I can be motivated and believe. Without belief, there’s nothing. What are you believing in? It better be more than just temporary pain relief. You have to take some time and get brutally honest about what you are believing in and whether that is serving you well. But belief alone is not nearly enough.
Plans that Drive Process Win
The secret inside of the planning conundrum is this: planning isn’t about control. It’s about a process. A process is a path of educated, aware, discovery and course correction – always driving towards what you believe in, your post card picture of your destination. The planning myth is that by planning you eliminate risk and increase control. This fallacy must be dropped from our thinking fast. Planning is the process of taking a clear picture of your destination and creating all the steps you think it will take to get you from where you are now to where you want to be. It’s not running from risk, it’s seeing what risk is really there. Absence of risk is impossible. Mastery of risk is where you must go.
The incredible usefulness of this process is that you can take those plans and action steps and they turn into something incredible: Radar.
For Example…
The plan to go from Atlanta to NYC is based on knowing several things.
1. That you’re in Atlanta (know where you are – really take stock) Not sure, use our Flagship Assessment
2. Where NYC is located, how to tell when you’re there .We call this your Strategic Vision. Got Vision?
4. What to do, in what order, and how those actions clearly connect to the plan. These are called Anchor Activities
Make sense? Anchor Activities are the key. Without the specific action steps that anchor you to your vision, your destination, when the storm comes things start falling down. “But what do I do if things ARE falling down and I’m not sure what my AA’s should be????” “Can you throw me a life line?” Yep. Check this out: Our tools are proven and valuable. So I’m happy to do what’s called a risk reversal: If you purchase a tool and don’t find it to be valuable, you get all your money back. Period. My goal is to provide valuable tools and information to you so that you can do the same for others.
What Do I Do Now?
Well you have the usual options:
1. Do the same thing and expect a different result.
2. Do something based on sound strategy that resonates inside you as the right thing. Something that is based on a clear vision of where you are and where you want to be and which gives you the right Anchor Activities to survive the storm. We have great tools to help you do this. But no matter what tools you use, take action now.
There’s risk either way. But like hitting a put in golf too softly, option one never have a chance to succeed. Not enough leverage, not enough power. No anchors. Option two may go past the hole but if you’re line is right, your in!
Get started. Let’s get started. You can do this. Take the first step!
You can do it.
Here’s to your success!
Eric J. Beck, Founder
Total Integration, LLC
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