Write It Down & Make It Real

One of the great things about keeping a Diary or Journal is that nothing gets forgotten – it’s all still staring back at you from the page. Want to know at least some of why you had such a good month in June? How you prepared, what you ate and drank, how you slept, what you thought about, what you believed about yourself, what was going on at work and with the family, who you hung around with – if these things are all recorded they will be there: clues to at least part of your success formula. You could do a lot worse than simply building on this for next time.

Keep It In Your Daily Headlines

It’s the same with GOALS: write them down so they become real – then put ‘em all over the place! Post-it’s in the bathroom, in your diary, by the phone, on your screen saver, on the visor in the car – so that you are reminded about WHAT and WHY you are doing this thing many times during

Here’s the crux at this time of year as I see it: ‘ You can map out a fight plan or a life plan, but when the action starts it may not go the way you planned, and you’re down to your reflexes – which means your training. That’s where your roadwork shows. If you’ve cheated on that in the dark of the morning – well, you’re going to get found out now under the bright lights.’ Joe Frazier, Boxing.

Here then, dear reader, amidst the winter weather is where the action starts and the foundations for the next performance are laid. Maybe it wont hurt to drift into the new year. Maybe it wont hurt to skip reflecting with purpose on the last 12 months. Maybe it wont hurt to ignore setting clear, specific goals for 2007. Maybe…

Here’s what I think: it will matter if you want it to. It matters to make good on a commitment – and making good on a commitment at whatever level is a pretty cool thing to do. I find that people who make good on commitments generally have a little more sparkle about them – ‘cos it feels good to do commitment. And that’s pretty good to be around as well.

‘Most athletes have the will to win, but very few have the will to prepare.’ Source: unknown.

Here’s what Lance has to say on the subject: ‘It’s a mixture of talent and hard work. Am I riding my bike on Christmas and New Years Day? Absolutely. Six weeks before the Tour de France am I 10 kilos overweight? No way. There’s no mystery. It’s a 365 day-a-year programme: complete commitment and hard work.’ Lance Armstrong after Tour de France win number six 2004.

Now I’m not suggesting we all spend 6 hours on the bike in the hills every day: this stuff is all relative. But there are lessons here if we want to learn them, and much more than that as well: there’s a way to make this all come a little easier.

Competing when no one’s watching? Making good on commitment? All pretty Big & Scary! stuff if you ask me. So take a moment here to consider what Big & Scary challenges you have infront of you right now – or you know will be peeking over the horizon at you in the near future. These are the sort which will take you out of your comfort zone if you choose to face them… So here’s the good news: What I have learned about Doing Big & Scary! stuff is this: it all comes down to a Six Step process.

Step One: Set Goals To Really Grab You. That’s right: REALLY grab you and shake you and make you tingle in places you shouldn’t. And you have to want to – really, really want to! But here’s what I hear from many folks when I ask them about GOALS: ‘Erm, something you do at the start of the year or during an appraisal at work – but my boss usually does those for me – and, oh yeah, it’s a good idea to make ‘em S.M.A.R.T?’ Hmm. Not really.

Here’s what I’m really after: when you see them written down – because you have to write them down because when you write stuff down it becomes real – and you contemplate working towards them and achieving them, does it make you smile?

Because it should. If it doesn’t – wrong goal. The feeling should be like waiting to go to a great movie: you can’t wait to go ‘cos it gonna be soooooo good! The voice inside you goes something like this:

Just imagine what I’ll feel like when I get there? The effect on the people closest to me? If I can do this what else could I do? OK, so the journey may be a little scary and challenging, and I’m not sure about some bits – but at the very least I’ll learn some really cool stuff about myself and the world around me. Even if I don’t hit the spot the first time it will set me up better for the next. And hey – it feels damn good to try!

Write It Down & Make It Real

One of the great things about keeping a Diary or Journal is that nothing gets forgotten – it’s all still staring back at you from the page. Want to know at least some of why you had such a good month in June? How you prepared, what you ate and drank, how you slept, what you thought about, what you believed about yourself, what was going on at work and with the family, who you hung around with – if these things are all recorded they will be there: clues to at least part of your success formula. You could do a lot worse than simply building on this for next time.

Keep It In Your Daily Headlines

It’s the same with GOALS: write them down so they become real – then put ‘em all over the place! Post-it’s in the bathroom, in your diary, by the phone, on your screen saver, on the visor in the car – so that you are reminded about WHAT and WHY you are doing this thing many times during

Here’s what I think: it will matter if you want it to. It matters to make good on a commitment – and making good on a commitment at whatever level is a pretty cool thing to do. I find that people who make good on commitments generally have a little more sparkle about them – ‘cos it feels good to do commitment. And that’s pretty good to be around as well.

‘Most athletes have the will to win, but very few have the will to prepare.’ Source: unknown.

Here’s what Lance has to say on the subject: ‘It’s a mixture of talent and hard work. Am I riding my bike on Christmas and New Years Day? Absolutely. Six weeks before the Tour de France am I 10 kilos overweight? No way. There’s no mystery. It’s a 365 day-a-year programme: complete commitment and hard work.’ Lance Armstrong after Tour de France win number six 2004.

Now I’m not suggesting we all spend 6 hours on the bike in the hills every day: this stuff is all relative. But there are lessons here if we want to learn them, and much more than that as well: there’s a way to make this all come a little easier.

Competing when no one’s watching? Making good on commitment? All pretty Big & Scary! stuff if you ask me. So take a moment here to consider what Big & Scary challenges you have infront of you right now – or you know will be peeking over the horizon at you in the near future. These are the sort which will take you out of your comfort zone if you choose to face them… So here’s the good news: What I have learned about Doing Big & Scary! stuff is this: it all comes down to a Six Step process.

Step One: Set Goals To Really Grab You. That’s right: REALLY grab you and shake you and make you tingle in places you shouldn’t. And you have to want to – really, really want to! But here’s what I hear from many folks when I ask them about GOALS: ‘Erm, something you do at the start of the year or during an appraisal at work – but my boss usually does those for me – and, oh yeah, it’s a good idea to make ‘em S.M.A.R.T?’ Hmm. Not really.

Here’s what I’m really after: when you see them written down – because you have to write them down because when you write stuff down it becomes real – and you contemplate working towards them and achieving them, does it make you smile?

Because it should. If it doesn’t – wrong goal. The feeling should be like waiting to go to a great movie: you can’t wait to go ‘cos it gonna be soooooo good! The voice inside you goes something like this:

Just imagine what I’ll feel like when I get there? The effect on the people closest to me? If I can do this what else could I do? OK, so the journey may be a little scary and challenging, and I’m not sure about some bits – but at the very least I’ll learn some really cool stuff about myself and the world around me. Even if I don’t hit the spot the first time it will set me up better for the next. And hey – it feels damn good to try!

Write It Down & Make It Real

One of the great things about keeping a Diary or Journal is that nothing gets forgotten – it’s all still staring back at you from the page. Want to know at least some of why you had such a good month in June? How you prepared, what you ate and drank, how you slept, what you thought about, what you believed about yourself, what was going on at work and with the family, who you hung around with – if these things are all recorded they will be there: clues to at least part of your success formula. You could do a lot worse than simply building on this for next time.

Keep It In Your Daily Headlines

It’s the same with GOALS: write them down so they become real – then put ‘em all over the place! Post-it’s in the bathroom, in your diary, by the phone, on your screen saver, on the visor in the car – so that you are reminded about WHAT and WHY you are doing this thing many times during

Competing when no one’s watching? Making good on commitment? All pretty Big & Scary! stuff if you ask me. So take a moment here to consider what Big & Scary challenges you have infront of you right now – or you know will be peeking over the horizon at you in the near future. These are the sort which will take you out of your comfort zone if you choose to face them… So here’s the good news: What I have learned about Doing Big & Scary! stuff is this: it all comes down to a Six Step process.

Step One: Set Goals To Really Grab You. That’s right: REALLY grab you and shake you and make you tingle in places you shouldn’t. And you have to want to – really, really want to! But here’s what I hear from many folks when I ask them about GOALS: ‘Erm, something you do at the start of the year or during an appraisal at work – but my boss usually does those for me – and, oh yeah, it’s a good idea to make ‘em S.M.A.R.T?’ Hmm. Not really.

Here’s what I’m really after: when you see them written down – because you have to write them down because when you write stuff down it becomes real – and you contemplate working towards them and achieving them, does it make you smile?

Because it should. If it doesn’t – wrong goal. The feeling should be like waiting to go to a great movie: you can’t wait to go ‘cos it gonna be soooooo good! The voice inside you goes something like this:

Just imagine what I’ll feel like when I get there? The effect on the people closest to me? If I can do this what else could I do? OK, so the journey may be a little scary and challenging, and I’m not sure about some bits – but at the very least I’ll learn some really cool stuff about myself and the world around me. Even if I don’t hit the spot the first time it will set me up better for the next. And hey – it feels damn good to try!

Write It Down & Make It Real

One of the great things about keeping a Diary or Journal is that nothing gets forgotten – it’s all still staring back at you from the page. Want to know at least some of why you had such a good month in June? How you prepared, what you ate and drank, how you slept, what you thought about, what you believed about yourself, what was going on at work and with the family, who you hung around with – if these things are all recorded they will be there: clues to at least part of your success formula. You could do a lot worse than simply building on this for next time.

Keep It In Your Daily Headlines

It’s the same with GOALS: write them down so they become real – then put ‘em all over the place! Post-it’s in the bathroom, in your diary, by the phone, on your screen saver, on the visor in the car – so that you are reminded about WHAT and WHY you are doing this thing many times during

Here’s what I’m really after: when you see them written down – because you have to write them down because when you write stuff down it becomes real – and you contemplate working towards them and achieving them, does it make you smile?

Because it should. If it doesn’t – wrong goal. The feeling should be like waiting to go to a great movie: you can’t wait to go ‘cos it gonna be soooooo good! The voice inside you goes something like this:

Just imagine what I’ll feel like when I get there? The effect on the people closest to me? If I can do this what else could I do? OK, so the journey may be a little scary and challenging, and I’m not sure about some bits – but at the very least I’ll learn some really cool stuff about myself and the world around me. Even if I don’t hit the spot the first time it will set me up better for the next. And hey – it feels damn good to try!

Write It Down & Make It Real

One of the great things about keeping a Diary or Journal is that nothing gets forgotten – it’s all still staring back at you from the page. Want to know at least some of why you had such a good month in June? How you prepared, what you ate and drank, how you slept, what you thought about, what you believed about yourself, what was going on at work and with the family, who you hung around with – if these things are all recorded they will be there: clues to at least part of your success formula. You could do a lot worse than simply building on this for next time.

Keep It In Your Daily Headlines

It’s the same with GOALS: write them down so they become real – then put ‘em all over the place! Post-it’s in the bathroom, in your diary, by the phone, on your screen saver, on the visor in the car – so that you are reminded about WHAT and WHY you are doing this thing many times during

Write It Down & Make It Real

One of the great things about keeping a Diary or Journal is that nothing gets forgotten – it’s all still staring back at you from the page. Want to know at least some of why you had such a good month in June? How you prepared, what you ate and drank, how you slept, what you thought about, what you believed about yourself, what was going on at work and with the family, who you hung around with – if these things are all recorded they will be there: clues to at least part of your success formula. You could do a lot worse than simply building on this for next time.

Keep It In Your Daily Headlines

It’s the same with GOALS: write them down so they become real – then put ‘em all over the place! Post-it’s in the bathroom, in your diary, by the phone, on your screen saver, on the visor in the car – so that you are reminded about WHAT and WHY you are doing this thing many times during a typical day. It keeps you on track and focused: it gives your lifestyle choices MEANING & PURPOSE. And it doesn’t just have to be words either: pictures and photos are all good so cut ‘em out and use ‘em! Is what you’re doing RIGHT NOW helpful or unhelpful in terms of your Goal? If not, change the choice!

Journey & Outcome Goals

Hang on a minute. It’s not all about ‘The Finish’ – that’s just part of the equation. You’re in this for keeps, right? So I assume that this is not a get-it-at-all-costs gig? Not all about the Outcome? Will it be the same great movie if you achieve but have walked all over people to get there – or cheated on yourself? ‘Thought not. Having some Goals for the Journey will help with balance and perspective: this is the HOW of it all, and that really means your personal values. So write these down as well: honesty, integrity are two of my favourites but there are plenty of others. I call this Taking The Temperature: If honesty and integrity are part of the HOW, then nailing a target time but reflecting that I did really draft on two occasions will not cut it for me. An Outcome at the cost of the Journey is NO OUTCOME: I want my cake and eat it!

Act As If… This crucial step is often missed. Even if you are relishing the prospect of sometime in the future, it’s important that you START NOW! Act as if you are already there…Prepare as you would prepare, think as you would think, dress as you would dress, believe as you would believe, talk as if you would talk…as if you had already achieved what you had set out to do.

Do Something – But Do it Differently Unless we change our approach periodically we will tend to get the same results we always have. So even taking one different idea from all these above, the odds are you’ll get some different results. And that’s what makes life much more interesting. Enjoy the Journey!

Step Two: Build A Support System – Create Team Me Doing Big & Scary! is real tough on your own…it’s much easier with a Team around you. Getting folks on your team is easy - you just have to share your goals and make sure there’s something in it for them as well! What’s in it for them if you do this thing? What’s in it for them if you don’t? Loved ones particularly can help with balance and perspective and the REALLY important stuff. ‘I’m not living with a basket-case for 4 months while you get yourself ready…’ said my wife Charlotte when we were planning the Enduroman assault. So we planned in quality time for us in advance and how we could support eachother - but we could only do that because I’d shared the Journey & Outcome Goals at the start. Performance Is Emotional A Support System is anything which makes you feel how you need to feel so that you can do what you want to do. Now read that bit again slowly: it’s important!

Preparation is physical. Performance – stepping up when you have to - is Emotional .

All things being equal The Difference Is How You Feel - so choose the folks on your Team accordingly. You will need people who inspire you, make you stretch, believe in you, will catch you when you fall, do stuff which you cannot, make you laugh and see the big picture. Cynics and atmosphere-hoovers are not helpful so ditch ‘em! You’ll also need role models – but more about them later…Make a list of these people right now, ‘cos if you’re serious about Doing Big & Scary! stuff you will need ‘em on your Team.

Then there’s certain types of music, sights, smells, clothes, feelings, beliefs about yourself and the world around you. Places in the house, favourite times of the day, places in this country and abroad, habits which sustain you. If you want to just chill out, (your Goal) you probably dress a certain way, sit in a particular position, be with particular people, (or not) listen to particular sounds, eat and drink certain things, and choose to do or not do par