One of the key concepts for living a life of Up or Getting Up (But Never Down) is "Manage Yourself," and one of the key elements of managing yourself is to get a handle on everything you are wanting/needing to finish. This would include the little things, like "Get new tires put on the car" to the big things, like "Retire financially secure by the time I am 50." In other words, a full list of ALL your goals and dreams - big and small. When I am talking to my audience about their goals and dreams, I share this with them: The more extraordinary your goals and dreams the more inherently impossible it is to figure out everything that needs to happen in order to achieve those goals and dreams. Sadly, for many people, that is the reason that they don't pursue those goals and dreams. Achieving the extraordinary, though, does not require one to have everything figured out from start to finish before launching their journey towards the extraordinary. In fact, only two things are required to achieve any goal or dream, regardless of how lofty. Those two things are simply 1) A clear vision of what you want to achieve (I call these “Finish Lines”), and 2) clarity of the very next thing you need to do that will push you closer to that vision.
A few years back, I had the privilege of working with 40 of our nations top rocket scientists at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California. This particular group was working on designing, building, and sending an explorer to one of Jupiter's moons to, hopefully, confirm their belief that there is water below the surface of that moon. This project would definitely qualify as an "extraordinary" dream. It was a honor to be working with such an amazing and intelligent group of people. I have to say it was also a little intimidating being around so many PhD's.
The seminar had been going well and, when we broke for lunch, the Mission Commander and the Chief Engineer offered to give me a tour of JPL. As they showed me around, I was trying hard not to ask or say something stupid. I failed miserably at that! I asked the following question: "How long does it take to get an explorer to that moon around Jupiter?" His response was "It depends on which way you go." I laughed...hysterically. He didn't. When I realized he wasn't joking, I said "Oh, you're serious!" He responded with "You do realize that this is a moving object, right?" Queue the feeling of stupidity. My thoughts had gone to my 6th grade Science book where you could draw a straight line from Earth to Jupiter right through Mars.
The Mission Commander told me the biggest reason he had asked for me to come work with his team is because of the basic principles I teach for achieving the extraordinary while simultaneously getting and keeping control of everything going on in your life. These principles are just like the principles used by NASA for keeping a mission on target. He said "Take for example our mission
Photo compliments of NASA and JPL
to Jupiter's moon. It is a very dynamic environment because EVERYTHING is moving. The Earth, our Explorer, Jupiter, and the moon itself are all in constant motion. It is impossible to plan for everything, but there are always two things we have to stay clear on: 1) The goal of the mission (Explore Jupiter's Moon), and 2) The very next thing we need to do to get us closer to our goal. We then do that action and then we start the process over again. We stay very clear on our ultimate goal and the very next thing that needs to happen to get us closer to that goal."
What is true for NASA is true for us in our everyday life. Each of us has a lot of moving parts...meetings to attend, emails to read and act upon (or not), calls to make, people to see, reports to write, groceries to buy, feed the dog, get the oil changed in the car, pay the bills, and the list just keeps going. Trying to keep up with all the things that need to happen to get from here to done on everything going on in your life is just short of impossible. At a minimum it is hugely overwhelming. The good news is that, in reality, there are only two things that you need to keep up with in order to stay in control, reduce the stress and overwhelm, and keep the feeling of being Up, positive, and productive. Those two things are: 1) What are you wanting to finish (i.e. What is your goal), and 2) What do you need to do next to get closer to your finish line. When you want to move closer to your finish line, simply do that next step. When you have done that step, the next next thing that needs to happen will be clearer. Do that next step and just keep going. Periodically, you need to step back away from it all and review your finish line to make sure you are still on the best path to your accomplishment. Accomplishing the extraordinary is something you are designed to do. Dream big and take things one step at a time. You will be amazed at what you can accomplish.
Up or Getting Up Actions for you to take:
- Create a list of everything you are wanting/needing to finish…big, small, personal, professional…everything (you got a lot on your plate, so it is going to be a big list). Call this list “Things to Finish”
- For each item on your “Things to Finish” list, decide on at least one thing you could do that would push you closer towards your Finish Line. Call this list “Things to Do”.
What is one of your "extraordinary goals?" Take a moment and share it in the comments below or just let me know your thoughts on this subject. I love hearing from you!