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Linking Purpose to Everyday
Behaviors
How do you know what's
the best use of your time right now?
Link your daily behavior to your purpose.
You'll make better choices and see the value in seemingly
insignificant or trivial tasks. It keeps you focused on
doing what needs to be done to get what you say you
want.
It's one thing to say what you want, to choose projects that
will get you what you want, and set goals that will achieve
those projects. But, you still have to do the work. You
still have to pay the price by just doing it.
Linking your purpose to your daily behaviors underlines the
responsibility and the discipline you need to complete your
projects.
Having an overall objective and doing what needs to be done
gets priority. You can make your choices about what you are
doing consciously, knowing that every little bit helps.
For example, one of your projects in support of your purpose
of an independent self-sustaining life may be getting a
newer, more reliable car.
Choosing to bring your lunch rather than spending eight
dollars at the café every day is obviously the right
choice. By doing the math, you quickly see you'll save about
$150 a month on lunch. Putting that money aside will get you
your new car that much faster.
It's the little things done consistently and persistently
that make the huge difference in achieving our projects,
whatever our projects are.
Even with exercise and fitness. New medical research has
shown shorter periods of exercise done more often are more
effective than longer periods of exercise done less
frequently. Even if the longer exercise sessions add up to
more overall time, they still aren't as effective.
Build in momentum sustainers. If you're like most people you
start out a new project enthusiastically, and then lose
track of it in the bustle of all your other obligations.
By building in appointments with people to check in with,
and appointments with yourself for review, you force
yourself to be accountable. You might want to set up weekly
goals for yourself, or make an agreement to accomplish
specific tasks by your next check in date.
Additional techniques for linking daily behaviors and long
term projects include:
- Remind yourself what
to do to support your purpose. Put up reminder notes
around your house to keep your purpose front and
center.
- Figure out how long
specific tasks take so you won't skip out by telling
yourself it takes too long, or you don't have the energy.
At one point I decided I would get more serious about
housework, especially doing the dishes. I had told myself
it was too big a hassle to fiddle with before I went to
bed. I was embarrassed to discover cleaning up the dishes
actually took five to seven minutes.
- Use lost, or fiddle
time, to punch a hole in a bigger project. I no longer
leave dishes in the living room, at my desk or next to
the bed. I take them into the kitchen when I am going,
rather than waiting to make it a task to be done.
- Build in an artificial
deadline and put yourself on a schedule. Play a game with
yourself, and even reward yourself, for being a good kid
when you've done one of those necessary but not fun
little jobs.
- Give yourself credit
for what you have done and the hassles and work it was to
accomplish it. I live in a wonderful town. When I tell
people where I live, their reaction is usually "You're so
lucky to get to live there." Luck had nothing to do with
it. It's part of a project I have in giving myself the
life style I want.
________
630 words
Patricia Wiklund Ph.D., author, consultant, and coach works with 1Person Business owners who want to grow their businesses by getting and staying focused, maximizing their sales and marketing efforts, and delivering premier services to their target markets. Information on her coaching services and on-line product catalogue can be found at www.1PersonBusiness.com.
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