The power of intentional words – they focus the mind!
The first quarter of the year has passed – can you believe it! How focused have you been so far?
Each year at Opening Gates, we recommend our clients choose a word, words, or a phrase which will be their theme or focus for the year – it is a mindset which we identify will take our client’s business’ to the next level. These words act as triggers to remind them to focus and be alert.
We loved one client’s theme so much that we just had to share it with you – for the sake of anonymity, we’ll call them ABC Pty Ltd.
Their theme came as a consequence of reflection and answering The 10 Questions (see our blog) and considering what might block their ability to grow in line with their audacious goals.
ABC Pty Ltd believe in leveraging on strengths and contracting others to fill the weaknesses – and that is how they build their team.
So their theme for 2015 is leverage and follow through.
ABC Pty Ltd have realised that now is the time to truly leverage off their innovations, their systems, their IP, their people, their alliances, their media, branding and marketing. They will always ask the questions:
- “How can we leverage off that?
- What must we do to increase our return on investment?
- How else can we use this, what other application is there?“
As an example, ABC Pty Ltd have identified something as simple as a blog – they can publish it on their website, broadcast through their social media, send it to their media partners, promote it as a guest blog, use it as the next chapter in an e-book, re-design it as a handout and so on.
Any innovation, any strength, any investment has the potential to be worth so much more than it’s primary purpose.
ABC Pty Ltd have identified that hand in hand with leverage is follow through. How do they ensure that no opportunity falls through the gaps of complacency? How do they ensure that they do more than they say they will do before they say they will do it? (Yes, ABC Pty Ltd have upgraded from “How do we ensure that we always do what we say we are going to do when we say we will do it”)
How about you? What would your theme be? What words would help you focus on those activities or values which will be integral to the advancement of your business in 2015?
So you know what you want to achieve this year? You are clear on what your goals are and why it is important to you that they are reached. This knowing is so powerful – clarity around goals means that you are more likely to make decisions and take actions everyday with these desired outcomes as your point of reference. If I take this action… will it take me closer to my goals? You are FOCUSED on the main aim of your game.
You have EFFECTIVE STRATEGIES. You know what and how to do what needs to be done. There is a purposeful series of actions needed to be taken to achieve your objectives.
It is just as important to consider what might “do you in” – what disempowering beliefs or thoughts could block your progress? Be honest and write them down. Now you are better prepared to take them out of the equation – to recognise these disempowering beliefs when they show up as inhibitors to your success.
Will any of these “do you in” – laziness, fear of failure, lack of focus, procrastination, when-then??
Engage someone to keep you on purpose and to remind and support you to stay FOCUSED, to hold only EMPOWERING BELIEFS and build EFFECTIVE STRATEGIES which will accelerate your success.
FOCUS, EFFECTIVE STRATEGIES & EMPOWERING BELIEFS equals the “A” ZONE – combined these 3 factors compound the power – accelerating your success!
Is not turning up valid feedback?
Those who didn’t turn up are not nearly as important as those who did, who are here. Yet why do we invest so much emotional energy on those who weren’t there – second guessing why they chose not to come, creating disempowering stories which erode our confidence and question our value.
We should be grateful for those who came, who turned up and got to experience our art – what did they think, what value did they take home. They are more qualified to give feedback – they came, they connected. Embrace them.