Theme Planning for 2008

Guest Contributor: Doug Emerson
Doug's Posts - Doug's Blog


It may seem a bit early to be planning 2008, but not if it arrives as quickly as 2007 seems to be disappearing!

My Friday afternoon mastermind group was discussing this subject and how themes for the year are helpful in staying focused on annual goals. A theme, in the sense of a recurring unifying idea, is a terrific reminder of your objectives.

"What's your theme for next year, Doug?", came the question from a mastermind group member.

"Gulp."

"Theme? I dunno", I answered, feeling like I'd forgotten to do my seventh grade social studies homework. The group discussion got me thinking over a few days and I know now my theme for 2008.

My theme is: Visualize, Materialize, Capitalize.

Not exactly quotable like, "Veni, Vidi, Vici", but it helps me.

Visualize- If you can see the idea in your mind,

Materialize- then make it appear in reality and

Capitalize- take advantage of the opportunity it creates, you'll make great progress.

My theme felt lonely without goals to back it up...

Goals for 2008

1. Maintain the best Attitude-Rephrase the negative to positive (work that law of attraction, you never know)

2. Eliminate Delay- stop shuffling paper, seeking perfection and get on with it

3. Accelerate Decision Process- Trust the facts and trust intuition and decide now

4. Radiate Self Confidence- posture, thoughts, words, dress. First impressions count.

5. Focus over Distraction-resist the siren call of distraction and maintain focus

6. Prioritize everything

7. Identify Truth from perceived reality

8. Draw Inspiration and Guidance-spiritually, from associates, from thinkers and self

9. Make time for rest and play

Write your goals today; number them later. If you have no written goals, start with this one:

1. My goal is to write my goals for 2008 in the next 7 days.

Create accountability for yourself and share them with your mastermind group.

Learning How to Shift - Again

Guest Contributor: Doug Emerson
Doug's Posts - Doug's Blog

I learned to drive a farm tractor at an early age. I was ten years old when Dad allowed me to drive the "Cub" to mow the grass. The Cub had a manual transmission and selecting the right gear and operating a clutch smoothly were the challenges of the job.

I got very good at it and was a smooth operator knowing when to change gears and how to avoid jerky starts and changes.

When I was old enough to drive a car, manual transmissions were still common, but on their way out as the preferred transmission. Eventually, most transmissions in vehicles became automatic.

The automatic transmission makes life easy and comfortable while driving a vehicle.

As a parallel, we often get our personal and business lives set in automatic for ease and comfort. The problem with running in automatic is that we lose the feel of what the process of change involves. There is no thought about the need for shifting gears because all of the decision making is predetermined.

The benefit of meeting with my mastermind group is that I can get out of automatic and go back to "manual" thinking. As the group discussion involves reasons for shifting thinking, either up or down, I mentally smooth out my business ride. From first gear to overdrive and occasionally to reverse, the shifting process makes the difference and breaks the limitations of running in automatic.

Get the feel of driving your business back by relearning how to shift mental gears.