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It seems like we’ve been talking about Trump’s first hundred days for about ten times a hundred days. Are you as weary of it as I am? So, here’s a shift. How have your first 100 days in office been?
I decided to review the 2017 goals I wrote in January. It’s not something I’d ordinarily do, but I thought this obsession with Trump is a constant reminder for us Everyday Leaders to get better at leading. Trump made promises. On that, we could all follow his lead. It takes courage to put your goals out there. If you didn’t do them in January, now might be a good time, to set aside some good time. If you have goals to review, I’d offer some healthy practices:
- Share your review with a spouse, close co-worker, sibling, or chief of staff (oh, how I miss my COS!). This practice will not only focus you, but it is in itself an act of leadership, for it may well inspire a partner to do the same, helping them to gain focus, learn and get re-motivated!
- Don’t blame others if you fell short. It’s not Obama’s fault or Trump’s or your manager’s fault for that matter. If others did get in your way, then what can you do about that?
- Don’t blame yourself either. Nobody gets it right all the time. Goals create an incentive for action. Missed goals create an incentive for learning. So learn.
- Focus and focus: Do the goals themselves need adjustment? I’ve had some big changes, so my goals needed May 1 changing. And does your pursuit of them need adjustment? Have you been placing your focus and therefore energy on the right ends and the right strategies?
What do you want to have secured by 12/31/17?
You’ve got to be clear about where you are leading, in order to lead others and yourself,
with your best self!
In the beginning of the year, I made a list of 10 SMART goals with an overarching theme of being extremely grateful for what I have, yet not complacent. In the past I have been very hard on myself, always striving to do better and forgetting how fortunate I am to be where I am at Cal. Fulfilling both ends of the bargain has been difficult in certain situations, and I found myself struggling to be grateful specifically in times of failure. As mentioned above, I am going to focus in on the portion of the 10 that I have “failed” to make progress in, realign them, and create a plan of action.
Ryan,
Speaking of gratitude, I’m grateful for you for sharing your thoughts.
This is a great example of how our “inner critic,” is always trying to push and help us. AND it can go overboard and generate more stress or negativity than is needed or helpful. The more we can learn to “hear” that Inner Critic’s voice and BOTH use it to help us learn, but also take the steam and sting out of it, the better off we would be.
I think your approach is great. Go back to your list and see if you can dispassionately reassess at this point. It’s what a friend of ours refers to as Accept, Acknowledge and Adjust, then Advance.
Dan
Thanks, Dan, for the refocus OFF President Trump’s 100 days and onto my own.
The article is a good explanation /example of being the change you want in the world. You have far more control over the decisions you make than those of others. You had another article in this vein, and I cannot recall how long ago, but it was more mechanistic. This one is more self searching.
One god point a person may come away with using the above process, is how arbitrary 100 days or any time frame may be in which to judge anyone’s progress. There needs to be a relation between time and goals, before a judgment can be made.
Mark,
Thanks for you continuing feedback. I like your second point a lot. I think there is a relationship to reviewing goals and the point you make about time frames. I do 3 top weekly goals. The next week I report out (to an “accountabillibuddy” I’ve been sharing with for three of four years) on how I did and my new goals. That process helps me fine-tune what is realistic to get done. I don’t beat myself up as much about goals that really can’t be done in one week. I get more realistic. It’s great to have “stretch” but if it’s too much — if you’re trying to accomplish too much in too short a time-frame — it only leads to discouragement.
By the way, I think the “100 Days” is a pretty good interval to check annual goals!
d.
Dan, I’m sorry, I’ve been neglecting RFL. One 2016 goal was not to but I failed. I need to have goals for 2017, and be like you and not fail.
Can you be more specific about the content of your article? After reading it, I still have some doubts. Hope you can help me.
Thank you for your sharing. I am worried that I lack creative ideas. It is your article that makes me full of hope. Thank you. But, I have a question, can you help me?