30 Days of

Getting Results

By J.D. Meier

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What Others Say

"Getting Results the Agile Way delivers know-what, know-why and know-how for
anyone who understands the value of momentum in making your moments count."
Dr. Rick Kirschner, bestselling author

JD is the go-to-guy for getting results, and Agile Results demonstrates his distinct
purpose he shows how anyone can do anything, better. This book has simple,
effective, powerful tools and ideas that are easy enough for everyone to apply in their
work and lives, so that they get the results theyd like, even the impossible and the
unexpected.
Janine de Nysschen, Changemaker and Purpose Strategist, Whytelligence

NOTE You can read more testimonials at http://gettingresults.com/wiki/Testimonials.

About the 30 Days of Getting Results

Gettingresultsintodayslandscapeistough.Theworldchangesfasterthanwecankeep
up.Worse,wedontalwayshavethebestpracticesforfocus,managingourtime,managing
ourenergy,orevenpersonalproductivity.

Mybook,GettingResultstheAgileWay,isasimplesystemformeaningfulresults.Itcombines
thebestpracticesIvelearnedforthinking,feeling,andtakingaction.ItsthesamesystemIuse
tomentorindividuals,leaders,andteamsforimprovingtheirresults.Itempowersyouwithan
unbeatablesystemformakingthingshappenwithskill.Itsastorydrivenapproach,andby
usingthreestoriestodriveyourday,youweek,yourmonth,andyouryear,youwriteyour
storyforwardandrespondmoreeffectivelytoyoureverchangingworld.

Key Problems Addressed

Hereisashortlistoftheproblemswelltackleduringthe30DaysofGettingResults:
Howtoimproveyourpersonalproductivityandpersonaleffectiveness
Howtoachieveworklifebalance
Howtofocusanddirectyourattentionwithskill
Howtomotivateyourselfwithskillandfindyourdrive
Howtouseasimplesystemtoachievemeaningfulresults
Howtomanageyourtime
Howtospendmoretimeonthethingsthatreallymattertoyou
Howtoplaytoyourstrengthsandspendlesstimeinweaknesses
Howtochangeahabitandmakeitstick
Howtomakethemostofyouryourmoments,days,weeks,months,andyears
Howtobetheauthorofyourlifeandwriteyourstoryforward

The 30 Days of Getting Results at a Glance

Herearethenamesofeachofthelessonsthatarepartofthe30days:
Day1TakeaTourofGettingResultstheAgileWay
Day2MondayVisionUseThreeStoriestoDriveYourWeek
Day3DailyOutcomesUseThreeStoriestoDriveYourDay
Day4LetThingsSloughOff
Day5HotSpotsMapOutWhatsImportant
Day6FridayReflectionIdentifyThreeThingsGoingWellandThreeThingstoImprove
Day7SetupBoundariesandBuffers
Day8DumpYourBraintoFreeYourMind
Day9PrioritizeYourDaywithMUST,SHOULD,andCOULD
Day10FeelStrongAllWeekLong
Day11ReduceFrictionandCreateGlidePathsforYourDay
Day12ProductivityPersonasAreYouareaStarteroraFinisher?
Day13TriageYourActionItemswithSkill
Day14CarveOutTimeforWhatsImportant
Day15AchieveaPeacefulCalmStateofMind
Day16UseMetaphorstoFindYourMotivation
Day17AddPowerHourstoYourWeek
Day18AddCreativeHourstoYourWeek
Day19WhoareYouDoingitFor?
Day20AskBetterQuestions,GetBetterResults
Day21CarrytheGoodForward,LettheRestGo
Day22DesignYourDaywithSkill
Day23DesignYourWeekwithSkill
Day24BounceBackwithSkill
Day25FixTime.FlexScope
Day26SolveProblemswithSkill
Day27DoSomethingGreat
Day28FindYourOneThing
Day29FindYourArenaforYourBestResults
Day30TakeAgileResultstotheNextLevel

Day 1 Take a Tour of Getting Results the Agile Way

Theonlyreasonfortimeissothateverythingdoesnthappenatonce.AlbertEinstein

Welcome to Day 1
Welcometoday1of30DaysofGettingResults.Today,wegoforaquickwalkinthe
park.WelltakeatouroftheAgileResultssystem,asitsdescribedinmybook,GettingResults
theAgileWay.

ThepowerofAgileResultsisthesimplicity.Butdontletthesimplicityfoolyou.Itsthe
simplicitythatmakesitworkforindividuals,teams,andleaders,athome,atwork,andat
play.

AgileResultshasbeenbattledtestedinthetrenchesofconsulting,inthehallsofMicrosoft,and
aroundtheworldinvarioussettingsfrompersonalproductivitytodistributedteam
effectiveness,bothinworkandinlife.Forexampleonenonprofitcompanyusesitwhile
helpingdoctorsandpatientsinextremescenarios.Youtoocangetthesystemonyourside.

ThewayIquicklyteachcolleagueshowtogetupandrunningwithAgileResultsisIshowthem
threesimpleparts,andittakesnomorethanafiveminuteconversation.

The Three Key Parts of Agile Results

HerearethethreekeypartstoAgileResults:
TheRuleof3
MondayVision,DailyWins,FridayReflection
HotSpots

The Rule of Three

TheRuleofThreeisasimpleconcept.Thinkinthrees.TheRuleof3helpsusdealwith
informationoverload.Itsasimplewaytosetlimitsandchunkthingsdown.Itseasyforusto
rememberthingsinthrees.

YoumighthaveheardoftheRuleof3before.Evenifyouhavent,itsbeenallaround
you.Youveseenitintitles:TheThreeLittlePigs,TheThreeStooges,ThreeBlindMice,
etc.Storytellersstructuretheirstorieswithabeginning,middle,andanend.Itsatimetested
approachanditsbeenusedineverythingfrommarketingtothemilitary.Infact,themilitary
teachessurvivalinthrees:3minuteswithoutair,3dayswithoutwater,3weekswithoutfood.

InAgileResults,weuseTheRuleofThreetomapoutwhatwewanttoaccomplishinsetsof
threes:

 3winsfortheday
3winsfortheweek
3winsforthemonth
3winsfortheyear

Thiscreatesasimple33systemthatiseasytouse,easytoremember,andeasytogetbackon
track,ifyoufalloffthehorse!

Monday Vision, Daily Wins, Friday Reflection

ThisistheheartofAgileResults.MondayVision,DailyWins,FridayReflectionisasimple
patternforyourweeklyworkflow.Itsaweeklysystemforgettingresultsthathelpsyougeta
freshstarteachday,andafreshstarteachweek.Eachweekandeachdayisanewchanceat
bat.
MondayVisionOnMondays,identifythreeresultsyouwantbyFriday.Forexample,
maybeitsmypresentationiscomplete,Ihaveawrittenplanformyproject,andIve
spentaminimumoffivehoursdoingwhatIlovethisweek.Focusonoutcomesor
achievementsoveractivities.
DailyOutcomesEachday,identifythreeresultsthatyouwantunderyourbelt.Ifyoure
havingareallybadday,yourthreeoutcomesmightbeassimpleashaveagreatbreakfast,
agreatlunch,andagreatdinner.Somedaysarelikethat.Ideallyyoucanseehowit
connectsbacktothethreeresultsyouwantfortheweek.Itsthissimplecheckbetween
thedayandtheweekthathelpsyouseeforforestfromthetrees.
FridayReflectionFridaysareyouchancetotakeastepbackandreflectonyour
results.OnFridays,askyourself,Whatarethreethingsgoingwell?andaskyourself,
Whatarethreethingstoimprove?Thisishowyoustarttoseewhatsworkingandwhats
not,aswellaslearnyourowncapacity.

Thekeyeachweekandeachdayistocelebrateyourwins,nomatterhowsmall.Areyou
gettingdonewhatyousetouttodo?Thisisaquickcheckonyourpriorities,yourfocus,and
whatsgettingintheway.Thisalsohelpsyoucarryforwardwhatsworkingandwhatsnot,so
ratherthanluckintosuccess,youknowexactlywhatworksforyouyouidentifyyourpersonal
successpatterns.

Icouldgointoalotofdetailsaboutwhythisworks,butsomeofthebigideasarethatyoure
makingmindfulchoices,youreusinglimitsofthreetobetterprioritizeandfocus,andyoure
usingpositivepsychologypracticesbyshiningthespotlightonyourwins.Yourealsousing
someprovenprojectmanagementandsoftwarepracticesinaverysimpleway,tohelpyou
authoryourlifeandwriteyourstoryforward,onedayatatime.

Visual Monday Vision, Daily Outcomes, Friday Reflection

Hereisasimplewaytovisualizewhatyourweekwouldlooklike,whenyouapplyMonday
Vision,DailyWins,FridayReflection:

Itsaweeklysystemforgettingresultsthathelpsyougetafreshstarteachday,andafresh
starteachweek.

Visual Monday Vision, Daily Outcomes, Friday Reflection

Anothermentalmodelistothinkofitasastorydrivenapproachtoyourweek:

Thisisamorestoryorientedviewofyourweek.Youhaveabacklogofbigthingsyouwould
liketoachieve.Eachweekyouchoosethreestoriestomakehappen.Eachday,youchoose
threesmallerstoriestomakehappen.Astoryisasimpleonelinerreminderofwhatyouare
tryingtoaccomplish.Forexample,oneofmystoriesmightbe,Winaravingfan.Another
samplebeDefeatmydesktopclutterorNailmyprojectproposal.Itsastorybecauseyou
aretheherohere,anditsaboutyourspecificchallenges.Usingastorylike,oneliner
reminder,youcanflashforwardtoyourvictoriesfortheday,ortheweek.

Hot Spots
WhenyouthinkofHotSpots,imagineaheatmap.Takeamomenttopauseandimaginea
heatmapinyourmind.Onthisheatmap,thinkofmostimportantthingsinyourliferight
now.Chancesaretheyfallunderoneormoreofthefollowingbuckets:
Mind
Body
Emotions
Career
Financial
Relationships
Fun

HotSpotsaresimplyareasoffocus.Theymightrepresentalotofpain,ortheymight
representalotofopportunity.Eitherway,itsaquickvisualwaytomapoutwhatsimportant
foryou.YoucanalsothinkofHotSpotsforwork.Simplylistoutyourtopprojectsoractivities
thatmattermost.YoucanalsothinkofHotSpotsforyourpersonalprojects.Again,simplylist
outyourtopprojectsoractivitiesoutsideofwork.

HotSpotsarelikeaportfolio.Theyhelpusbalanceourinvestmentoftime,energy,andfocus
acrossourcompetingdemands.Whatyoulltendtofindisthatwhenyouinvestinyourmind,
body,emotions,career,financial,relationships,andfun,youimproveyourabilitytorespondto
whateverworkorlifethrowsyourway.Whenyoudontinvestinoneormoreofthese
buckets,youfindthatitcannegativelyimpacttheothers.

Atthispoint,allthatsimportantisthatyouknowthatHotSpotsareawaytovisualizeamap
ofwhatsimportantinyourlife.

Recap
Letsrecapthekeythingswelearnedfromourtour:
UsetheRuleofThreetodealwithinformationoverloadandsetsimplelimitseachdayand
eachweek.
UseMondayVision,DailyOutcomes,FridayReflectionasapatternforweekly
results.Eachweek,identifythreeresultsfortheweek,thenidentifythreekeyresultsyou
wanteachday,andonFriday,identifythreethingsgoingwell,andthreethingstoimprove.
UseHotSpotstoseetheforestforthetrees.Mapoutthekeyareasinyourlifethat
mattermosttoyou.Mapoutyourkeyprojectsatwork,andmapoutyourkeypersonal
projects.Simplybeingabletolisttheitemsisagreatstart.Itshowsyouataglance,whats
onyourradar.Thisisimportantforchoosingwhattoinvestmorein,andwhattoinvest
lessin.

Day 2 Monday Vision Use Three Stories to Drive Your Week

Mapoutyourfuture,butdoitinpencil.JonBonJovi

Your Outcome

Takecontrolofyourweekandcreateacompellingvisiontoguideyouthroughouttheweek.

Welcome to Day 2
Welcometoday2of30DaysofGettingResults.TodaywetakealookatMonday
VisionfromGettingResultstheAgileWay.

HaveyoueverhadaweekflybyandwhenFridayhitsyoureaskingyourself,Wheredidthe
weekgo?

Notanymore.WithMondayVision,youtakeamomenttojumpaheadtotheendoftheweek,
andyouaskyourself,IfthiswereFriday,whatarethreeresultsIwantundermy
belt?Mondayisyourchancetocreateacompellingvisionforyourweek.

MondayVisionisasimplepatternforhelpingyouachievemoreeffectiveresultseach
week.ItsalsoagreatwaytodealwithacaseoftheMondays.

The Challenges
MondayVisioncanhelpyoudealwiththreecommonchallenges:
Youreoverwhelmed.Youhavewaymoretodo,thanyoucanpossiblygetdoneduring
yourweek.
Youreunderwhelmed.Yourenotinspired.Youmighthaveabunchofthingsyoushould
orcoulddo,butyoudonthavetheenergyforit.
Yougetofftrack.Youspendyourtimeonalotofthings,butattheendoftheweek,you
didntgetdonethethingsyoureallyneededtogetdone.

The Response
OnMondays,yousimplyidentifythreekeyresultsyouwantfortheweek.Thisisyourvisionfor
theweek.Itputsyouinthedriversseatandyougettodecidewhatyouwanttoaccomplish.

Ratherthangetlostamongtheseaofthingstodo,yoububbleupthethreemostimportant
outcomesfortheweek,andthesethreeoutcomeshelpguideyouthroughoutyourweek.

Thissimplepatternhasafewbenefits:
Eachweekisafreshstart.
Itsawaytomakeyourweekmoremeaningful.
Itsawaytohelpyouprioritizeandfocus.
Itsawaytohelpyouimproveyourresults.

Framing Your Results as Compelling Stories

Afteryouidentifyyourthreeresults,youcanturnthemintostories.Youcanturntheminto
simple,onelinerstories,whereyouarethehero.Forexample,letssaythreeresultsyouwant
fortheweekare:
Finishmyprojectplan
Createmyslidesformypresentation
Completekeystakeholderreviews

Thismightnotbeverycompelling.Youcanspruceitupassimplestoriesandconnectittoyour
values.Forexample:
Wintheracetofinishmyprojectplaninrecordtime.
Createapresentationthatsetsanewbarformypersonalbest.
Turnmystakeholdersintoravingfans.

Youhavetoplayaroundtofindwhatconnectswithyourheart.Whatyouendupwithisthree
storiestodriveyourweek.Thesestoriesarehandcraftedandpersonalafterall,youmade
them.Theyareyourstoriestomakehappen.

Your Assignment
1. Identifythethreethingsyoureallywanttoaccomplishfortheweek.
2. Turnyourthreeoutcomesintosimplestoriesthatyoufeelpassionateabout.

Dontworryifyouhavetroublefiguringoutyourthreebestresults,anddontworryifyouhave
ahardtimeturningthemintocompellingstories.Whatsimportantissimplytryingthe
exercise.Youmightsurpriseyourself,andinthebestcase,youllinspireyourselftoanewlevel
youdidntknowwaspossible.

Day 3 Daily Outcomes Use Three Stories to Drive Your Day

Makeeachdayyourmasterpiece.JohnWooden

Your Outcome

Takecontrolofyourdaybyconnectingyouractivitiestowhatyouvalueandwhatinspires
you.Turneventhemostmundaneactivitiesintomeaningfulopportunities.

Welcome to Day 3
Welcometoday3of30DaysofGettingResults.Inday2,welookedatusingthreestoriesto
driveyourweek.Todaywetakealookatusingthreestoriestodriveyourday.Icallthis
practiceDailyWinsanditsfrommybook,GettingResultstheAgileWay.

DailyOutcomesisawaytousethreestoriestodriveyourday.Beforeyoustartyourday,
simplyidentifythethreeresultsoroutcomesyouwanttoaccomplishfortheday,andwork
backwardsfromthat.Anoutcomecanbeanythingfrom,Ihadagreatlunch,toIenjoyed
myday,toIkickedarseinmypresentation.Whatsimportantisthatyourejumpingahead
totheendresult.Iliketothinkofthispracticeastakingafewmindfulminutestoavoidgoing
onamindlessmarch.

3 Steps for Great Daily Outcomes

Herearethreestepsyoucanusetocreateyourthreecompellingstoriestodriveyourday:
Step1.Identifyyourthreekeyoutcomes.Youchoosewhatyourthreekeyresultsare.For
example,maybeyourthreemostimportantoutcomesare:Imowedthelawn,Icompleted
myprojectplan,andIhadagreatlunch.Ifyourefeelingreallyoff,maybeyourthree
outcomesare,Ienjoyedmybreakfast,Ienjoyedmylunch,andIenjoyedmydinner.
Step2.Turnyourthreeoutcomesintoonelinerstories.Storieshelpyouaddanemotional
connectiontoyourtasks.Youcanevenbethehero(Today,Iconqueredthemessinthe
laundryroom.)
Step3.Connectyourstoriestoyourvalues.Youcanconnectyourstoriestothingsyou
value.Forexample,maybeyoudontliketoraketheleaves,butyouliketodoyourpartto
help.Maybeyoudontlikedoingspreadsheets,butyouliketoimprove.Maybeyoulike
adventure.Maybeyoulikeachievement.Tobuildonthepreviousexample,TodayI
conqueredthelaundryroomwithskillwhichisacontrasttosloggingmywaythroughto
victory.OneofthethingsIliketodoeachdayismastermycraft.Getcreative.Findthe
playinyourday.

TherealbeautyofDailyOutcomesisthatyoucanwakeupanydayandsimplyaskyourself,
WhatarethethreethingsIreallywanttoaccomplishtoday?Thatsit.

Make Your To Do List More Meaningful

Butwhatifyouhavewaymorethanthreethingstodofortheday?Simplyaddyourthree
outcomes(yourwins)forthedaytothetop.

Thethreeoutcomeswillguidealltherestofyourtasks.

Thesethreeoutcomesareyourtestsforsuccessfortheday.Itsyourpersonalwayofsetting
yourselfupforsuccesseachday.

Visual Identify Three Wins at the Top of Your To Do List

HereisanexampleofaddingthreewinsoroutcomestothetopofyourToDolist:

Be the Architect, the Author, or the Director of Your Life

Designingeachdayempowersyoutomakethingshappenwithskill.Youcanbethearchitect
ofyourdayortheauthorofyourlife,astoryatatime,andadayatatime:
Yougettobethearchitectofyourlife.Designstoriesthatempowerandinspireyoufor
action.
Yougettobetheauthorofyourlife.Writeyourstoryforwardandconnecttoyour
emotions.
Yougettobethedirectorofyourlife.Youchoosewheretopointyourcameraandwhatto
focuson.

Alwaysrememberthatyouarethemostimportantmeaningmakerinyourlife.

Your Assignment
1. Identifythethreeresultsyouwantfortoday.
2. Turneachresultintoasimplestorythatconnectstoyourpassionandvalues.

Day 4 Let Things Slough Off

Sometimesyouhavetoletgotoseeiftherewasanythingworthholdingonto.Anonymous

Your Outcome

Learnhowtoletthingsgowithskill.Bylettingthingssloughoff,youimproveyourability
tofocusonwhatcountsandyoumakeroomforYOURbestresults.

Welcome to Day 4
Welcometoday4of30DaysofGettingResults.Inday3,welookedatusingthreestoriesto
driveyourday.Todaywelookatlettingthingssloughoff.Lettingthingssloughoffsimply
meanseitherlettingthingsgofromyourplateeitherbydesignorasanaturalprocessof
focusingonhigherpriorities.Thisisthekeytostartingeachdaywithafreshstart.

Ifyoudontletthingssloughoff,theproblemisyouweightyourselfdown.Thisistheproblem
ofbigToDolists,whicheitherturnintolistsofthingsthatnevergetdone,oryouspendall
yourtimemanagingyourlistofthingstodo,butnevergettinganythingdone.Ifyoureaslave
toyourToDolist,orifyoufearthesheermagnitudeofitssize,itsnotworkingforyou!

Evenifyoucoulddoitall,youcantdoitallatonce.Youonlyhavesomuchtimeandenergyin
theday.Iftheresonetakeawayfromallthisrememberthatitstheachievementsunderyour
beltANDthejourneythatyoulookbackon.

Three Keys to Letting Things Slough Off

Therearethreekeystolettingthingssloughoffwithskill:
1. Eachday,createanewToDolist.StartwithafreshToDolisteachday.Theseare
yourDailyOutcomes.Asimplewaytodothisisuseanewpieceofpaperandwriteyour
threeoutcomesatthetop.Ifyoureusinganelectronicsystem,thensimplycreateanew
fileandnameitwithtodaysdate.Forexample,forWednesday,August4th,2010,Iwould
simplynameit:20100804.IusethisapproachsothatIcansortiteasilyandflipback
throughmypreviousdayswheneverIwant.Ratherthanautomaticallyaddeverythingfrom
thedaybefore,onlycarryoverwhatyouthinkisanabsolutepriorityfortodayandletthe
restgo.Thekeyhereistofocusonwhatsvaluablenowfromtodaysvantagepoint,
checkingagainstwhatyouwanttoaccomplishfortheoverallweek.
2. Eachweek,createanewToDolist.StartwithafreshToDolisteachweek.Theseare
yourweeklyoutcomes.Identifythethreeresultsthatyoureallywantforyourweekand
writethosedown.Simplygrabanewpieceofpapereachweekandwritedownyourthree
mainoutcomes.Ifyouredoingitelectronically,theneachMonday,createanewfileand

nameitthecurrentdate.Forexample,Monday,August9th,2010wouldbe:201008
09.Thisletsyouscrollbackthroughyourweeklylistsofoutcomes.Thisishowyou
implementtheMondayVisionpracticefromGettingResultstheAgileWay.
3. Focusonflowingvalue.Therealkeytolettingthingssloughoffisfocusingonflowing
value.Insteadoffocusingonyourlistofthingstodoorjustgettingthingsdone,focuson
flowingvalue.Focusonyourmostextremevalueandlettherestgo.Valueisintheeyeof
thebeholder.Itcouldbevaluetoyou,ortoyourfamily,ortoyourteam,ortoyour
company.Simplybythinkingintermsofyourwinseachday,eachweek,etc.youshine
thelightonyourmostimportantvictories.Onewaytoalwaysgetbackontrackistoask,
Whatyournextbestthingtodo?Anotherquestiontoaskis,Whatdoyouwantto
accomplish?
Thepatternhereistoshiftyourfocustowhatsimportantnowbasedonwhatyouwantto
accomplish.Theotherthingtorememberisthatifyouletsomethinggo,andittrulyisvital,it
willcontinuetoresurface.Youcanthendealwithitwhenitmakesthemostsense.

Set Up Boundaries in Time and Quantity

Settingupboundariesisanotherkeytolettingthingssloughoffwithskill:
1. Setalimitintermsofquantity.Forexample,canyouprioritizeyourtopthreethings?
yourtop5?,etc.Insteadofmakingalaundrylist,canyoumakeyourshortlist.TheRule
of3isyourfriendforsettinglimitswheneveryouareoverwhelmedbyquantityandyou
havetoletthingsgo.Ifyoureablogger,youmightdecidethatyourpostwillbenolonger
thantwoparagraphsoralistof10items.
2. Setalimitintermsoftime.Youcansetlimitsintermsoftime.Forexample,youcan
decideupfrontthatyoullspendnomorethan20minutesonthat.Oryoumightdecide
thatafteraweek,itsjustdiminishingreturns.Youmightgiveyourselfamaximumof
spending30minutesadaydoingemail.InXPdevelopment,thereisapracticeofa40
HourWorkWeek.ifyoureablogger,youmightdecidethatyoullspendnolongerthan
20minuteswritingyourbestmaterialandsharingyourbestinsightsanythingafterthat
sloughsoff!

Thismeansbrutallyfocusingonspendingmoretimeonwhatyouvalue,andlettingtherest
go.Youmightthingofitaseitherfiercefocusordrivingwithclarity.Rememberthatyou
getwhatyoufocusonsospendmoretimeonwhatyouwant,notwhatyoudont.

Examples of Boundaries in Time and Quantity

Boundariesintermsoftimeandquantitywillhelpkeepyoursanityandhelpyousurfyourway
throughproducinggreatresults.Herearesomeexamples:
WhenIfirstjoinedMicrosoft,oneofmycolleaguessaidthattheirboundaryisdinneron
thetableat5:30andthatshowtheyachievedworklifebalance.

WhenIlaterjoinedanothergroupinMicrosoft,acolleaguetoldmethattheirboundaryis
theytakeweekendsoff.Theyllworktheirfingerstotheboneallweek,butwhenthe
weekendcomesitstheirtimetorecharge.
WhenIworkedatTiffany&Company,oneofourdirectorshadaninterestingboundary
Tuesdaynightsisdatenightwithhiswife.AnotheroneofthemanagersatTiffany&
CompanyhadaninterestingbufferheusedDontspend$20ona$5problem.Inother
words,iftheproblemisonlyworth10minutesofyourtime,dontspendmorethanthat.
Forme,usingTheRuleof3totakeawaythreeactionableinsightsfromallthebooksIgo
throughhasbothsavedmealotoftime,andgeneratedalotofvalue.

Additional Considerations for Letting Go with Skill

Herearesomeadditionalpointstoponderthatwillhelpyouletthingsgowithskill:
1. TimeChangesWhatsImportant.ToDolistsgetstale.Backlogsgetstale.Laundrylists
getstale.Everythinggetsstale.Youcanspendallyourtimerearrangingstalethings,or
youcanspendjustenoughtimebubblingupwhatsimportantandtakingactiononit.
2. FreshStarts.BycreatingnewToDolistseachdayandeachweekinsteadofonemassive
one,yougiveyourselfafreshstart.Youcarrythemostimportantthingsforward.
3. Travellight.Dontbeabeastofburden.Ifyoubiteoffwhatyoucanchew,youcanactually
getitdone.Thishelpsyoutravellighteachdayandeachweek.Ratherthanstartoffwith
anoverloadedpackofthingsyoumayneverneed,youstartoffwithasimplevisionand
storiesofyourmostimportantresults.
4. SpendmoretimedoingoverpapershufflingOneoftheworstthingsyoucandois
continuouslyreshufflethethingsyouhavetodoinsteadofjustdothem.Forallthethings
thatyoukeepreshufflingbutnotactuallydoing,admitit.Putthemintoaparkinglotor
shelvethemforalaterpointwhenyouwillactuallyworkonthem.Dontkeepthemin
yourface,anddontletthemgetinthewayofyourresults.Mostofall,dontdiethe
deathofathousandpapercuts.(Ifyouveneverheardthistermbefore,papershufflingis
onewaytodiethedeathofathousandpapercuts.)
5. ValueDeliveredOverBacklogBurndown.Ratherthansimplyburnthroughyourlaundry
listsoftasks,dothequickrealitycheckandaskwhetherthetaskisstillimportant.More
importantly,stepbackandaskthesimplequestion,ifyoucompletedit,Doesit
matter?Doesitconnectbacktotheoutcomesthatyoucareaboutnoworinthefuture,
orwasitsimplyagoodideathatsnowpastitsprimeorpastitstime?Inotherwords,
dontlookatyourbigtasklistsorbacklogsaswhatdrivesyou.Theyaresimplyinput.Draw
fromthem,butfocusondeliveringvalue,notsimplyblindexecutionofthingsthatwere
importantatsomepoint,butnowarenolonger,yournextbestthingtodo.
6. Itsamindsetthing.Alargepartoflettingthingsgowithskillisaboutshiftingyour
mindset.Itsaboutthinkingintermsofvaluedeliveredoverbacklogburndown.itsabout
askingquestionslike,Whatsthenextbestthingformetodo?orWhatdoIwantto
accomplish>?Itsaboutfocusingonvalueandyourwinsandwhatyougotdone,over
focusingonwhatyoudidntgetdone.

Your Assignment
1. Writedownthreeoutcomesfortoday.ThisisreenforcingourdailyoutcomesAND
practicinglettingthingssloughoffwithskill.
2. Writedownyourthreeoutcomesfortheweek.Considertheremainingtimeandenergy
youhavefortherestoftheweek,wherecanyougetthemostbangforthebuck?What
wouldthreewinsfortheweeklooklike?
3. Setonesimplelimitonsomethingthatsbeenwearingyoudown.Seteitheratimelimitor
aquantitylimit.

Day 5 Hot Spots Map Out Whats Important

Onereasonsofewofusachieveswhatwetrulywantisthatweneverdirectourfocus;we
neverconcentrateourpower.TonyRobbins

Your Outcome

LearnhowtouseHotSpotstocreateasimplemapofwhatsgoingoninyourlife.Useyour
HotSpotsmapasawaytoinvestyourtimeandenergywhereitreallycounts,andtoknow
thatyoureonyourpath.

Welcome to Day 5
Welcometoday5of30DaysofGettingResults.Inday4,welookatlettingthingsgowith
skill.Today,welookatmappingoutwhatsimportant.IcallthispracticeHotSpotsandits
frommybook,GettingResultstheAgileWay.

HotSpotsareawaytoseetheforestfromthetrees.Thesimplestmetaphoristothinkofyour
lifeasaheatmap.Takeamomenttoactuallyimagineaheatmap.Onthisheatmap,ifIwere
toaskyou,whatsgoingonatwork,whatwouldyousee?IfIweretoaskyou,whatsgoingat
home,whatwouldyousee?IfIweretoaskyoutostepbackandlookacrossyourlife,what
wouldyousee?

Iusedthosethreelevelsforareason:work,home,andlife.Yourabilitytoquicklyseewhats
goingonineachareaofyourlife,willhelpyoumakebettertradeoffsacrosstheboard.

Visual Mental Model for Hot Spots

HereisasimplementalmodelforthinkingaboutyourHotSpotmap:

Three Keys to the Mental Model

Therearethreethingstonoticehere:
1. Therearethreeseparatelists:LifeFrame,Work,andPersonal.Thesearethreesimplelists
thathelpyoufigureoutwhatsgoingoninyourlife.
2. NotetheBacklogcategoryunderWorkandPersonal.Thisisawaytoputeverything
thatsnotactive,offyourplate.Youcanacknowledgethatyouhavealotofprojectsat
workorpersonalprojects,butiftheyarentactiveinyourlife,thentheyarepartofyour
backlog.Dontmixthemupwithwhatsreallyonyourplaterightnow.
3. TheLifeFrameisadurablesetofcategoriesthatisrelativelystableovertime:Mind,Body,
Emotions,Career,Finance,Relationships,andFun.Ifyouinvestintheseareas,theysupport
eachother.Ifyoudontinvestintheseareas,theyworkagainstyou.Forexample,try
beingyourbestwhenyouletyourbodygo,ortrydoingwellatwork,ifyoudontbuildyour
relationships,ortryhavingfunifyouletyouremotionsrunyourlife.

Three Steps to Map Out Your Hot Spots

Forthepurposeofthisexercise,justthinkofyourHotSpotsassimplelists.Wellcreatethree
simpleliststoanswerthequestion,Whatsonyourradar?.
Herearethestepstofollow:
Step1.MapoutyourWorkHotSpots.Writedownalistofyourkeyroles,youractivities,
andyourprojects.Keepitatthemacrolevel.Thisisntadumpofallyourtasks.Itsthe
buckets,notalltheitemsinsidethebuckets.Forexample,forwork,Iwouldlistmymain
projects:CommonCatalog,SimpleIA,AzureSecurityNotes,CustomerConnected
Engineering,,etc.Iturnthemesofworkintoprojects,andIgivethemaname.Making
themprojectsgivesthemastartandfinish,andhelpsmeidentifyoutcomesfortheproject,
andmeasuretheimpact.

Step2.MapoutyourPersonalHotSpots.Writedownalistofyourkeyroles,your
activities,andyourprojectsathome.Forexample,forpersona,Iwouldlistsomeofmy
mainprojects:GettingResults,RV,Backyard,.etc.Dontworryaboutgettingthe
orderrightjustdumpwhatsonyourmind.
Step3.MapoutyourLifeHotSpots.Writedownthekeyareasorbigrocksinyourlife
thatareimportant.Makethisaquickexerciseandsimplylistoutyourtoplistofareasthat
areimportantinyourlife.Forexample,Itendtolist:mind,body,emotions,career,
financial,relationships,andfun(IrefertothislistasmyLifeFrame,becauseitactslikea
lenstohelpsmeframeoutorlookatthebigareasinmylifeinasimpleway.Feelfreeto
usemylistasastartingpoint.Itseasytoswapthingsoutoradd,suchasaddingaSpirit
categoryoraCommunitybucket.IlumpCommunityundermyrelationshipsbucket,
butwhatsimportantisthatthecategoriesmakesenseforyou.

Congratulationsyoujustcreatedmoreclarityinyourlifethanmanybusinessesorpeopledo
inalifetime!

Three Keys to a Great Hot Spots Map

HerearethreekeystocreatingagreatmapofyourHotSpots:
1. Donttrytoputyourlistsinanycleverorder.Itactuallybreaksthem.
Whatsimportantisthateachlistactuallyresonateswithyouwhenyoulookatit.
Theorderthingsarelistedshouldsimplybetheorderyouwouldrattlethemoffthe
topofyourmind.
Donttrytoalphabetizethemorputtheminanylogicalorder.Theyshouldsimply
reflectyourmind.Icantemphasizethatenough.
2. Stickthethingsyouarentreallyspendinganytimeorenergyonunderyourbacklog.You
mightfindthatyouhavereallylonglists.ThatsOK.Itsaprocess.Whatsimportantis
nowyouhaveamapofwhatsgoingoninyourlife,fromthreeviewswork,personal,and
life.Ifthingsonyourlist,reallyarentactive,thenmovethemdownyourlistundera
headingyoucallBacklog.
3. Keepyourmapsoutintheopenwheretheyareeasytosee.

Using Your Hot Spots to Invest Your Time and Energy

YoucanuseyourHotSpotsmaptoeasilylookorscanacrosswhatsonyourradar.Insteadof
tryingtorememberwhatyouweretryingtodo,youcanstepbackandsay,whatsworthdoing
orwheredoIneedtospendmoretimeorenergy?Inotherwords,nowwithyourlifeportfolio
atyourfingertips,youcanchoosewheretoinvestandwheretodeinvestataglance.

Byaskingyourselfsomeverysimplequestions,youcantestyourinvestments.Forexample,are
youspendingenoughtimeorenergyinrelationships?Areyougivingyourbodyenoughrest
andrelaxation?Areyouchallengingyourbodyenough?Areyoumakingtimeforfunorfor
play?,etc.


Thekeytoinvestingwisely,issimplytoanswerthequestion,Why?andthencross
checkingbyaskingthequestion,Whatdoyouwanttoaccomplish?Yourmindcanfindthe
answerswhenyouasktherightquestions.Ifyourmindcantfindtherightanswers,thenpair
uporfindsomebodyyoutrusthowcan.

Your Assignment
1. ReviewyourHotSpotmapsforwork,personal,andlifeandimprovethemuntilyoufeel
theytrulyrepresentwhatsgoingoninyourlife.Theyshouldbesimpleand
scannable.Theyarenotyouroutcomes,theyarenotyourtasks,theyaresimplyalistofthe
activitiesorprojectsorbigrocksinyourlife.
2. ExploresomeoftheexamplesofHotSpotsinChapter4HotSpots,fromGettingResults
theAgileWay.
3. Pickoneareathatyoucouldinvestlessintoinvestmoreinanotherarea.Identifywhyyou
wouldwanttomakethisshift.Thisisyourchancetodeliberatelyimproveanareaofyour
lifethroughaconsciousinvestmentandmanagingyourlifeportfolioinasmartwayby
takingalookfromthebalcony.

Day 6 Friday Reflection Identify Three Things Going Well

and Three Things to Improve

Ivefoundthatsmallwins,smallprojects,smalldifferencesoftenmakehugedifferences.
RosabethMossKanter

YourOutcome

Celebrateyourwinsandfindyourpersonalsuccesspatterns.Learnasimplewaytopractice
yourattitudeofgratitudewhilegrowingyourabilitytogetmeaningfulresults.

Welcome to Day 6

Welcometoday6of30DaysofGettingResults.Inday5,wecreatedasimplemapof
whatsgoingoninourlifesothatwecouldimproveourfocusandinvestourtimeand
energymoreeffectively.Today,wereflectonourpastweek.IcallthispracticeFriday
Reflection.ItspartoftheMondayvision,DailyWins,FridayReflectionpatternfrommy
book,GettingResultstheAgileWay.
FridayReflectionisasimplebutpowerfulpractice.ForFridayReflection,simplythinkabout
yourpastweekandidentifythreethingsgoingwellandthreethingstoimprove.Itsa
chancetocelebrateyourwins,nomatterhowsmall.Itsalsoachancetofigureoutwhats
notworkingforyou.Whateveryoulearn,youcancarryforwardintothenextweek,and
usethistocontinuouslyimproveyourresultseachweek.Itsasnowballofsuccess.

Three Steps for Friday Reflection

HerearethreesimplestepstoperformyourFridayReflection:
Step1.Askyourself,whatarethreethingsgoingwell?Thekeyhereistolookatyour
approach.Youcantalwayscontrolyourresults.Instead,focusonwhetheryoumade
smartplaysbasedonwhatyouwantedtoaccomplish.Patyourselfonthebackformaking
yourbestmoves,independentoftheresults.Nomatterhowgoodabaseballteamis,you
winsome,youlosesome.Thebestyoucandoisplayyourbest.Whereyoumadesmart
moves,payattentiontowhyitworkedandhowyoucanuseitinthefuture.
Step2.Askyourself,whatarethreethingstoimprove?Thisisthetoughquestion,butits
importanttoownit,andlookatitobjectively.Onceyouputitdownonpaper,youdont
needtooveranalyzeit.Yousimplyneedtoseeifyoucanidentifytherootcause,butthen
moreimportantly,identifysomespecificwaystoimprove.Brainstormhereandletyour
imaginationrunwild.Thekeyistoquicklyshifttohowquestions,dontkeepasking
why?Forexample,HowcanIbemoreeffectiveinthatsituation?orHowcanIbe
moreresourcefulwhenthathappensagain?orHowcanIpreventthatfromhappening
inthefirstplace?

Step3.Identifywhatyoullchangenextweek.Youlllikelycomeupwithalaundrylistof
simplethingsyoucantesttoimproveyourresults.Justpickafewyoureallycareaboutand
addthemtoyourbagoftricks.Ratherthanoveranalyzeyourideas,justwritedownafew
thingsthatyoucantestnextweekandgetfeedbackon.Theideaistolearnandimprove,
notbeatyourselfup,orwallowinpity.

Irecommendaddingaremindertoyourcalendarandblockingofftimeforit.Ifyoudont,its
easytoforgettodoit.Ifyouscheduleit,itwillhappen,anditsoneofthesimplestwaysto
improveyourresultseveryweek.

Example of Friday Reflection

HereisaquickexampleofmyFridayReflection:

3ThingsGoingWell
IgotgreatfeedbackfromalotofpeopleinsideandoutsideofMicrosofthow30Daysof
GettingResultsishelpingthemachievemoremeaningfulresults.
IaddedkeypeopletomynetworkatMicrosoftthathaveveryeffectivewaysofgetting
results.
Ieffectivelyanticipatedjustabouteverypossiblesurprisethisweekandhadafallbackplan.

3ThingstoImprove
Ihadthewronglens,model,andmapforlookingatafewscenarios,whichlimitedmy
effectiveness.
IdidntcheckpointafewofmykeyassumptionswiththerightpeopleasearlyasIcould
have.
Ididntresetexpectationsappropriatelyinafewcases,whichwouldhavesavedmesome
extraworkandbacktracking.

AsfarasafewthingsIllchangenextweek,Illbeaskingalotmorepointedquestionsnext
weekregardingpeoplestheirmodelandtheirmap.Ivebeenquicktoexposemythinking
andvision,butnowIllbetestingotherpeoplesassumptions,theiroperatingmodels,their
vision,theirtimeframes,andgainingclarityonunderstandinghowtheytesttheirsuccessor
whattheirrulesareforwhatgoodlookslike.Itshouldbeinteresting.Illalsobestudyingup
againstoneffectiveargumentationaswellasrhetoric(theartofarguingwithoutanger.)

Why Friday Reflection

Thisistheperfectopportunitytotakealookatthepatternsinyourweek:
Ifyourenotachievingwhatyousetouttodofortheweek,whynot?
Areyoubitingoffmorethanyoucanchew?
Areyoulettingotherthingsgetintheway?
Areyoufiguringouttherightthingstogetdone?

 Areyoumakingtherighttradeoffs?

Asyoupayattentiontothesepatterns,youllfindyouwillimproveyourabilitytoanticipate,
youllgetabetterhandleonyourcapacity,andyoullimproveyourabilitytofocus,prioritize,
andachievetheresultsyouwant,whilerespondingtothingswithskill,insteadofreacting.

Asidefromnaturallyimprovingyourabilitytogetresults,youllalsoimproveyouroutlook.
Toomanypeoplelookatonlytheupsideorthedownsideoftheirweek.
Lookingatthreethingsgoingwellandthreethingstoimprovegivesyouamorebalanced
view,andyourwinswillbuildmomentum,whileyourlessonslearnedwillsupportyouinall
areasofyourlife.

Your Assignment
1. Schedulearecurring20minuteappointmentwithyourselfforFridaysforreflectiononyour
results.IrecommendmakingthissomethingyoudoearlierintheAMversuslaterinthe
day.Yourclaritywillserveyoufortherestofthedayandstartyouoffontherightfoot.
2. Identifyyourthreethingsgoingwellandyourthreethingstoimprove.Celebratethose
wins!

Day 7 Setup Boundaries and Buffers

Simplypushingharderwithintheoldboundarieswillnotdo.KarlWeickquotes

Your Outcome

Createspaceinyourlifetorenewandrecharge.Bysettingboundariesandbuffers,youset
yourselfupforsustainableresultsandyoutakeasignificantsteptowardmasteringyour
worklifebalance.

Welcome to Day 7
Welcometoday7of30DaysofGettingResults.Inday6,welearnedhowtouseFriday
Reflectiontoskillfullytakealookatwhatsgoingwellandwhattoimprove.

Today,Ihadtoaskmyself,whatsthemostusefulnuggetIcansharewithyouatthisstage?I
thinktheanswerissettingboundariesandbuffers.Thisishowyoucreatespaceinyour
lifeandmaketimeforwhatsimportant.Itsattheheartoffindingyourpeacefulcalmand
findingyourflow.

A Quick Recap of What Weve Learned so Far

Beforewestartthough,letstakeamomenttorecapsomethingswevelearnedsofar:
1. YoucanuseTheRuleof3toavoidgettingoverwhelmed.
2. Youretheauthorofyourlifeandyoucanwriteyourstoryforward,onemomentorone
dayatatime
3. Youcanusethreestoriestodriveyourdayandandlightupyourdaybyconnectingto
yourvalues(DailyWins).
4. OnMondays,youcanusethreestoriestodriveyourweek(MondayVision).
5. OnFridays,youcanuseFridayReflectiontocelebrateyourwinsandfindyourpersonal
successpatterns.
6. YoucanmapoutwhatsimportantinyourlifeusingHotSpotstocreateameaningful
map.
7. Youcanletthingssloughoffwithskillnomorestrawsbreakingthecamelsback.

AgileResultsisasystemthatcansupportyoutherestofyourlife,nomatterwhatyoudo.Iuse
itforshippingstuffatMicrosoft,leadingteams,writingbooks,learning,etc.Thebeauty
though,isnotjustthatitssimple,orthatitsprovenitsthateachdayyougetanewchance
atbatafreshstart.

Eachdayyouwakeupisanotherchancetoaskthequestion,Whatarethreethingsyouwant
fortoday?andsoyouwriteyourstoryforward.

Buffers and Boundaries are the Key to WorkLife Balance

Nowthen,ontosettingupboundariesandbuffers
Ifyoucanmasterthis,itsTHEkeytoworklifebalance,anditshowyoucangetmore
done,inlesstime,withmoreenergy,anditshowyoucanfindyourflow.
Ifyoufeeloverwhelmedbytoomuchtodo,andnotenoughtime,buffersandboundaries
willsetyoufree.Attheendoftheday,itsaboutknowingwhatyouultimatelywantand
balancingyourcompetingwantsandneedsagainstthat.
KeepthisinmindyouhavetoProtectyourselfandboundariesandbuffersareyour
friend.Nobodywillseteffectiveboundariesforyou,andyouknowthemostabout
yourselfbetterthananyone.
Thisistheultimatecareandfeedingofyourself,whichsetsthestageforeverythingyoudo.

Visual: Mental Model for Boundaries and Buffers

Hereisasimplementalmodelforthinkingaboutbuffersandboundaries:

Notethatyouhavetosetyourownboundariesthatworkforyou.Thisisjustanexampleof
howsomepeoplehavefoundawaytoperformwellatwork,spendmorequalitytimewith
thosetheylove,investintheirbody,andfindawaytospendtimeontheirpassionsagain
andrememberthatonepersonsminimumisanotherpersonsmaximum.

Three Steps for Setting Up Boundaries and Buffers

Herearethreesimplestepsforsettingupyourboundariesandbuffers:
Step1.Setuptimeboundariesforyourweek.Keepthisatthehighlevel.Decidethe
maximumtimetospendonwork.Decidetheminimumamountoftimeyoushouldspend
onyourbody.Forexample,ifyourenotgettingenoughsleep,decidethatyoullgeta
minimumof6hoursor8hoursorwhateveryouneedtoperformyourbest.Ifyouwantto
getyourbestresultsandhaveasustainablelifestyle,dontcompromiseoneating,sleeping,

andworkingout.Tradesomethingelsewhereyoucan.ThesimplestrulesIveheardfor
settinglimitsonworkareDinneronthetableat5:30andweekendsoff.
Step2.Settimelimitsforyourdailyroutines.Forthethingsthatyoudoregularly,figure
outhowmuchtimeyoushouldspendonit.Dontdefaulttohowmuchtimeyoualready
spendonit.Decidehowmuchtimeisreasonablebasedonwhereyouareatandwhatyou
wanttoaccomplish.Balancethatagainstyourothercompetingdemandsandsetsimple
timelimits.Forexample,whenIrun,its30minutes,butperiodicallyanhour.WhenIblog,
Igivemyself20minutesmaximumonaverage,exceptfortheoccasionalheavyhitter
post.
Step3.Buildinspace.Createspaceinyourlife.Thisiskeyifyourealwaysfeeling
harriedorunderthegun,thenyoudonthaveeffectivebuffersorboundaries.Youneedto
buildinsomespace.Forexample,IneedmyalonetimeonSundaysandeitherearlyinthe
daysduringtheweek,orlateratnight.itshowIrecharge.WhenIdrivetowork,Igive
myself30minutestogettothere,thoughitusuallytakescloserto15.Idontwanttorace
againsttheclock.Ieatbreakfastslowly,Itakethebackway,andIplanmyoutcomesfor
theday,whileenjoyingtheride(andofcourse,playingmyfavoritetunes.)Idontblogon
weekends,exceptfortheoccasionalexception(ImmakingexceptionswhileIworkon30
DaysofGettingResults.)CopymachinesandIdontgetalong,soIprintoffstuffformy
meetingswellinadvance.OneofmyfavoriteruleshereisTuesdaynightisdatenightand
everythinghastofitaroundthat.Keepinmindtherearealwayslotsofreasonsandlotsof
excuseswhywecantcreatespace.Thatsnothechallengehere.Thechallengeonthe
tableisfindawaytomakespacehowcanyoucreatespaceinyoulife?

Steppingback,IcantellyouthatthemostimportantpatternIveseenacrosspeoplethatget
moreofwhattheywantfromlife,isthattheyfixtimeforeating,sleeping,andworkingout
andeverythingelsefitsaroundthat.Theyneverrobthemselveshereitstheirfoundation
andplatformforallresultsintheirlife.

Examples of Setting Boundaries in Hot Spots

TryusingHotSpots(Mind,Body,Emotions,Career,Financial,Relationships,andFun)and
settingboundarieslikethis.Setamaxoncareerandaminonrelationships,body,andfun.For
example
Mind
Bodyminimumof3hrs
Careermaximumof50hrs
Financial
Relationshipsminimumof3hrs
Funminimumof3hrs

Youcanonlyspreadyourlifeforceoversomuch.Thecategoriessupporteachother.

KeyInsights

1. Whenyousetaminimumintherightcategories,youavoidgettingunbalancedand
improvingothercategories.Whenyousetamaximumintherightcategories,youlearn
howtobecomemoreeffective.Forexample,ifyouonlyhave8hourstothrowatyourday,
youllusethemwisely.
2. Theworstmistakeittothrowmoretimeatproblems.
3. Thekeyistoreducetimespent,whileincreasingvalueandimproving
effectiveness/efficiency.

Sosteponeisdecidingtospendnomorethan50hourseachweekatwork.Nowitforcesyou
tobiteoffonlywhatyoucanchew.Thisishowyoustartimprovingplatemanagementand
pushingbackeffectively.

Why Use Time to Set Boundaries

Itsthesimplestwaytoavoidspending$20on$5problems.Oneofmymostimportantlessons
isthatthebestwaytosetboundariesistousetime.Treattimeasafirstclasscitizen.Its
prettyreliabletooeachdayyouget24hours.Eachweekyouget7daysor168hours.And
thecyclerepeatsitself,eachday,eachweek.Soifyoucanmasteryourday,youcanmaster
yourweekandlookingatyourtimefromaweeklystandpointhelpsyouestablishaschedule
thatworksforyou.

Iusedtobeveryscopedriven.Iwantedtochangetheworld.Theproblemisthatwhenyou
drivefromscope,youoftenrunoutoftime,thenyouhavetocutcornersyoudontwantto
cut.Worse,youoftenpushpastyourboundaries(Illeatlunchlater,orIllstayuplaterto
finishthisonelastthing,orIcanttakeabreaknow,etc.Worse,whenyoudontrespect
time,notonlydoyouthrowtimeatproblemsandreenforcebadhabitsyoumisswindows
ofopportunity.Ivefoundthatastitchintimeactuallysaveswaymorethannineandthat
itsthekeytoeffectiveresults.

Thisisakeyshiftfromitsdonewhenitsdoneorittakesaslongasittakes,tohowmuchtime
doyouhaveforitandhowmuchtimeisworthspendingonthatandhowmuchistoomuch
timetospendonthat?

Onewaytothinkaboutthisisthattimeisabudget,justlikeyourmoney.Youonlyhaveso
much.Youcanspenditwisely,oryoucanletitruleyou,oryoucanwasteit.Timeisaunique
resourcethatyoudontgetbackandchoosinghowyouspendyourdiscretionarytimeiswhat
ultimatelychangesyourlife.Ifyouwanttospendmoretimeinsomething,thenmakemore
timeforsomething.Thewaytodosoistosetsmartlimitsonthethingsyouknowyouneedto
do.Tradeyourtimebydesignvs.bydefault.

Your Assignment
1. Chooseanareainyourlifethatsnotworkingforyouandtrysettinganewlimit.Thismight
meansettingamaximumamountoftimeinsomething,oraminimumamountoftimein
somethingelse.
2. Findonesimplewaytoaddspaceinyourlifeandtakeitforatestdrivenextweek.

Day 8 Dump Your Brain to Free Your Mind

Youmustweedyourmindasyouwouldweedyourgarden.AstridAlauda

Your Outcome

Turnyourmindfromacarnivalfunhouseorhauntedmansiontoyourownprivateden.Free
yourminduptofocusonbetterthings.Thisispartofachievinga"peacefulcalm"stateof
mind,aswellasgettingridofthe"buzz"inyourmind,orthenaggingremindersthat
interruptyourfocusthroughouttheday.Ratherthanuseyourbrainasadepotforrandom
ideas,"ToDo"lists,reminders,andgeneralmindclutteryoullhaveaplacefordumping
yourbrainandunshacklingyourmind.

Welcome to Day 8
Welcometoday8of30DaysofGettingResults.Inday7welearnedhowtosetupboundaries
andbuffersasawaytorechargeourbatteries,setthestageforworklifebalance,andcreatea
foundationforasustainablelifestyle.

Today,welldeclutterourmindsandgiveourselvesspacetothink,dream,orsimplywonder
aroundwithoutbumpingintosomuchmentalclutter,mentalchatter,andnoise.

The Mental Chatter is There for a Reason

Beforewestartdoinganybraindumping,weneedtoknowwhythisworksandwhyitsso
important.Allthosethingsonyourmind,areprobablythereforareason.Theyrereminding
youthatyouvegotstuffonyourplatethatneedsattention.Therearethingsthatcould
threatenyourqualityoflife,orthatareblockingyoufromthequalityoflifeyoudliketo
enjoy.Manyofthethingsbuggingyou,areactuallyuseful,whetheritsformotivationor
simplyforreminders.

Thinking on Paper to Dump Your State

Yourmindisnotwhereallthethingsbuggingyoubelong.Streamofconsciousthinkingisway
lesseffectivethanthinkingonpaper.Whenyoudumpyourstateonpaper,youcanstoptrying
torememberwhatyouwerethinkingabout,andinsteadfocusonwhatyouwanttodoabout
it,orwhetheryoucanjustletitgo,orprioritizesomethingelse.Whenitsonpaper,youfree
yourmind.Whenitsonpaperyoucansliceitanddiceitinamoreeffectiveway,orsortitina
waythatworksforyou,insteadofagainstyou.

Thinkingonpaperishowyougofromsouptosanity.


Theoppositeapproachistoletthingslurkinyourmind,whereeverycorneryouturn,
somethingjumpsoutatyousurprise!oreachthoughtturnsintoaJackintheBox,oreach
ideaislikelookingstraightintoaFunhousemirror.

3 Ways to Dump Your Brain

Therearethreecommonwaystodumpyourbrain:
1. Dailybraindumps.Haveaplacetowritethingsdown.Forme,onmycomputerIkeep
Notepad(aplaintexteditor)openandIdumpthingsdownthroughouttheday.Itsasimply
aticklerlist.Ratherthanletitbouncearound,Iwriteitdown.Thishelpsmestayfocused
throughouttheday,withoutworryingaboutwhatImforgetting.Attheendoftheday,
beforeIgohome,IdumpdownwhateverstateIvebuiltupinmymind,suchasthingsI
stillwanttoaccomplish.IfIhaveabunchofbrowserwindowsopen,Isimplypastethe
URLsintomyopenNotepadincaseIwanttorehydratemystateatanothertime.Isimply
savethesebraindumpswiththecurrentdate:200100806,20100807,20100808,
etc.ThiswayIcanflipbackthroughthemifIwant,orjustletthemgo.Itsmydumping
ground.
2. Periodicbraindumps.Thisiswhereyouperiodicallydumpeverythingdownthatstopof
mindortuggingatyou.Itsjustalong,flatbulletedlistofanythingthatkeepspoppinginto
yourmind.Youtakeafewminutesandyoujustkeepdumpinguntilyourbrainsays,OK,I
thinkitlookslikeyougoteverythingIvebeentryingtotellyou.Thismightbemanypages,
oryoumightfindyourmindwassimplyabrokenrecordanditsbeentellingyouthesame
fivethingsagainandagain.Onceyourmindfeelsheard,andyouveechoeditbackby
writingitdown,yourmindcannowshiftintowhatitdoesbestproblemsolving.Inmy
case,againIuseNotepadandIsimplytitlethefiletodaysdate(20100808Master
List)ItendtoaddadistinctionincaseIhavemydailybraindumpandmymotherload.
3. Penandpaperonthego.Simplycarryanotepad,astickypad,orindexfileswithyou.Its
nothingfancy,butitiseffective.Ratherthanletthingsfloataroundinyourmind,jotthem
down.Youllgetveryeffective,veryquicklyatkeepingtightticklerliststoremembergobs
ofinformation.Asinglewordmightbejustenoughtohelpyoujumpbacktothatideayou
hadtochangetheworld.Asakeytip,useTheRuleof3tokeepthingssimpler.For
example,whenIminameetingortakingtraining,Illshootforwalkingawaywiththree
takeawaysoveralaundrylistofthings.

Inallofthesecases,yourefactoringyourthinkingfromyourchatterandyourreminders.This
islikefactoringeditingfromyourwritingwriteitdown,thenedit.(Asanaside,Hemmingway
editedforanhourandwroteforanhour.)Onceyouhaveyourlists,youareempoweredto
turnthemintoaction,andyoucansimplydosobychunkingthemintostories,andfittingthem
intoyourthreestoriesfortheweek,orthreestoriesfortheday.

Example of a Periodic Brain Dump

Heresaquickexampleofaperiodicbraindump.AllIdidwasdumpthethingsthatarebugging
mearoundthehouse:
Clearthegrowthalongthepath
Clearthegrowtharoundthedeck
Clearthegrowthonthebackdriveway
Getridofstuffthatsnolongeruseful
Downsizebookcollection
Fixtheguttersonthehouse
Fixtheguttersonthegarage
Fixthefrontdeck
Fixthebackdeck
Retilebathroom1
Fixtheshowerinbathroom1
Addabordertothebacklawn
Retilebathroom2
Takedownthetree
Getanewfence
Fixthefloorinden2
Fixthewindowinden2
Fixthefloorinthekitchen
Shredthepapers

Thatwasstepone.Itsrandomanditsjustaquickdumpofmytopofmindthings.Steptwo
wouldbesortingitandanalyzingitagainstwhatIwanttoaccomplish.Thatswheremymapof
HotSpotsreallycomesintoplay,becauseIcanseeataglancewhatsonmyradarandwhats
important.

Your Assignment
1. Dumpyourbrain.Simplymakealistanddumpouteverythingthatstopofmindortugging
atyourthoughts.
2. Takeamomenttoenjoythefactthatyouunclutteredyourmindandgaveitsome
breathingroom.Letyourselfplaywiththepossibilities.
3. Ifyourereallyfeelinggungho,thenreviewyourlistandfindsomelowhangingfruit.For
example,thesimplestthingonmylistisshreddingpapers,andIenjoyit,soImgoingto
tacklethat.Fortheotherthings,Illhavetostepback,prioritizeagainstwhatIwantto
accomplish,thenmakeasimpleplan.

Day 9 Prioritize Your Day with MUST, SHOULD, COULD

Goodthingshappenwhenyougetyourprioritiesstraight.ScottCaan

Your Outcome

Getahandleontheminimumyouneedtodo.Gettheminimumoutofthewayandtherest
ofthedayorweekisyours.ByhavingclarityonwhatyouMUSTdo,youcanavoidgetting
overwhelmedbyallthetasksandactivitiescompetingforyourtimeandenergy.With
claritycomesconvictionandyousetthestageforfierceresults.Orsimplyclearyourplate,
thendoenjoytherestoftheday,CoolHandLukestyle.

Welcome to Day 9
Welcometoday9of30DaysofGettingResults.Inday8,welearnedhowtodumpyourbrain
tofreeyourmind.Today,welearnhowtousesomesimplelanguagetohelpusprioritize
moreeffectively.

Prioritizingeffectivelyisoneofthemostimportantkeystoyoursuccess.Whenyoufeellike
youreworkingontherightthingattherighttime,itseasiertofocusandstay
engaged.Prioritizingisacontinuousactivity.Itsabouttakingthingsonwhilelettingother
thingsgo.Itsaboutmakingtradeoffs.Itsalsoaboutfindingsynergies.Toprioritize
effectivelyyouneedtobeabletoseetheforestfromthetrees,andyouneedtobeableto
identifytheminimumforsuccess.ThatswhereMUST,SHOULD,andCOULDcomeintoplay.

Must, Should, Could

Ratherthanprioritizewithpriority1,priority2,andpriority3(orp1,p2,p3),Ivefounditway
morehelpfultothinkintermsofMUST,SHOULD,andCOULD.Ifyouneedtousea
prioritizationsystemthatisnumbercentric,thenyoucanstillthinkofitintermsofMUST,
SHOULD,andCOULD.IfyougetreallygoodatfocusingonyourMUSTs,youllseeimmediate
improvement.

WherepeoplefalldownistheymixtoomanySHOULDsandCOULDsintheirworkeachdayand
theydontactuallyevergetanythingdone.IfMUSTSreallyareaproblemforyou,TheRuleof3
shouldhelpyoucapandavoidoverwhelmingyourself.GettingthreeMUSTSdoneeachday
quicklybuildsmomentum.Itsasenseofaccomplishment.Youmayfindasyougetmore
effective,youstarttobiteoffmore.

Getting a Quick Handle on Your Day

Askyourself

 WhatMUSTIdotoday?
WhatSHOULDIdo?
WhatCOULDIdo?

WhittleyourlistdowntothreeMUSTsfortheday.Ifyouhavemorethanthree,thenlimitto
threemax.Youcanalwaysuplevelthemorbubblethemupintoahigherlevel
outcome.Cappingitatthreewillhelpyoufocusandrememberthemeasily.

Getting a Quick Handle on Your Week

Askyourself
WhatMUSTIdothisweek?
WhatSHOULDIdothisweek?
WhatCOULDIdothisweek?

CarveoutyourMUSTsbyweightingyourwindowofopportunity,painpoints,andbestvalue.

Identify Your Minimum MUSTs for the Day

HerearesomewayshowhavingyourMUSTslistforthedayservesyou:
1. IfyoustaymindfulofyourminimumMUSTsfortheday,thenyoureinthedrivers
seat.HavingyourthreeMUSTresultsonthemind,givesyoualasersharppath.
2. Ataninstant,youknowhowsignificantlyanyquicktradeoffsare,suchasdoingthisover
that,hittingormissingawindowofopportunity,andtradingpainforpleasure.
3. Ifyourbosscomesbyandhassomethingmoreforyoutodo,youcaneitherpushbackor
negotiateyoursuccess,Icandothat,ifyouwanttoprioritizeitoverXYZ

What if You Have fewer than Three MUSTs?

Goodforyou!

DontupgradeSHOULDstoMUSTs,acknowledgethatyougotyourMUSTsdone,andmoveon
toyourSHOULDsorCOULDs.RememberthewholepointofMUSTsisnotjusttohelpremind
youofwhatsmostimportantforyou,itsaboutsurvival

Choose Tos
OnethingtonoteisthatifthewordMUSTforyoucreatesasenseofheavinessoryoufindyou
nolongerlookforwardtogettingyourresults,thenchangeyourlanguage.Ratherthanyour
MUSTdos,thinkofyourCHOOSETOs.Thisputsyoubackinpowerandthissimplereframing
canhelpyougetyourenergyback.

Why Priorities Matter

Herearesomekeyreasonswhyprioritiesmatter:
1. AlaundrylistofToDoswhereeverythingisequallyimportantisarecipeforfailure.
2. TimespentidentifyingyourthreeMUSTsforthedayismorethanworthitbecauseitgives
youflexibility.
3. WithoutknowingyourthreeMUSTs,everythingismushyandyouhavenothingtosteerby.
4. Attheendoftheday,youwilllikelywonderhowyouworkedonwhatyouthoughtwereso
manyimportantthingsyetwithoutanythingimportantgettingdone.
5. MUSTbecomesincreasinglyclearunderhighpressure.
6. PeoplewhodotheirminimumMUSTseachdaytendtodowell.
7. Whenpushcomestoshove,thesepeoplepickoneMUSTeachdayforthemselves,their
job,andtheirfamilytokeepthingsincheck,whenchaos,pressure,andoverloadabound.

Why MUSTs?
TherearemanyreasonsforusingMUSTs,buthereareafewtoconsider:
MUSTmeanssomething.ContrastthiswithaskingWhatisPriority1thisweek?Your
mindhastotranslatewhatPriority1reallymeans.WithMUST,SHOULD,COULDyourmind
cancategorizethetasksmucheasierinsteadoftranslatingintosomeothersystems.
NailingyourMUSTsbuildsarhythmofresults.WithoutyourthreeMUSTstoprioritize
with,everythinglooksimportant.Thisisthesourceofoverwhelm,shutdown,burnout,and
lackoffocus.WhenyoustartwithafirmfoundationofMUSTs,thenyoucandriveyour
day.Youcanprioritizeincomingrequestsagainstyourthree.Asyoufinishsomething,you
cantakemoreon.Thisishowyoufindyourrhythmforresults.
MUSTshelpyouputyourmostimportantissuesoutonthetable.Itstheheartoffocus
andprioritizationandoutcomes.Ifyoudontknowyoureonyourbestpath,youcant
commitalltheway.Whenyouknowyoureworkingonthemostimportantthingsright
nowinthemomentforyourmostimportantoutcomes,thenyoucanfullyengageand
yourenolongerworriedaboutalltheothernoise.
MUSTshelpyouquicklyidentifyyourminimumfortheday.TheMUSTisforbrutalclarity
aroundtheminimumIveneverfoundamorecuttingwordtogetsomebodyto
absolutelyfocusonjustthat(andevenwith*MUST*folksstillbiteofftoomuchordont
prioritizetheirbest.)ThecommitmentofMUSTforcesyoutochoosedefinitelydoablein
theavailabletimeandnotoverstep.Takingontoomuchiswherefolksfalldown.
MUSTshelpyoucreateaglidepathfortherestofyourday.Takecareofyourbasicneeds
andMUSTsfirstinthedaysoitsaglidepathfortherest.Asimplewaytothinkaboutyour
dayisMUSTs,thenSHOULDs,thenCOULDs.
MUSTsenableincredibleflexibility.IfyouknowyourthreeMUSTsfortheday,youthen
canprioritizeagainstthem.Ifsomethingmoreimportantcomesin,youcanbump
somethingoutasadeliberatetrade,yetstillremainagile.

Balance Against What You Want

AsyoudealwithyourMUSTs,onethingtokeepinmindisthatyoushouldbalancethem
againstwhatyouultimatelywant.

Youcanusethreesimplequestionstohelpyoucheckpoint:
Whatdoyouwant?
Whatdoyouwanttoaccomplish?
Whodoyouwanttobeandwhatexperiencesdoyouwanttocreate?

Your Assignment
1. IdentifyyourMUSTsfortheday.
2. IdentifyyourMUSTsfortheweek.

Day 10 Feel Strong All Week Long

Lifeisnotmeasuredbythenumberofbreathswetake,butbythemomentsthattakeour
breathaway.HilaryCooper

Your Outcome

Getready.YOURworldsabouttorock.Youreabouttobecomeapowerfulforceof
one.Weallhavestrengthsandweaknesses.Itstimetoshiftfromspendingmoretimein
yourweaknessestospendingmoretimeinyourstrengths.Byspendingmoretimeinyour
strengths,andlesstimeinyourweaknesses,itslikeacombinationofsimultaneously
uncorkingyourabilitiesanddrinkingfromthefountainofyouth.Findingyourvitalfewset
ofstrengthsandspendingmoretimeinthemisthesinglemostdirectwaytocrankupyour
energyandyourpassion,enjoywhatyoudo,andcreateuniquevaluetoyourworld.

Welcome to Day 10
Welcometoday10of30DaysofGettingResults.Inday9,welearnedhowtofocusand
prioritizeusingMUST,SHOULD,andCOULD.Todaywelearnhowtorefocusthetimeand
energywealreadyspendawayfromtheactivitiesthatmakeusweaktotheactivitiesthat
makeusstrong.Itstimetounleashourpossibilities.Forsomeofyou,thispostwillsing
directlytoyourheart,asifitsexactlywhatyouneed,righthere,rightnow.Youregoingto
changeyourworldinyourmostpowerfulway,,.,youregoingtochangehowyouspendyour
timeandyoullhaveanewlensforunleashingyourbest.

Ifthereisonethingtorememberasyoureadthis,itsthisGiveyourbestwhereyouhave
yourbesttogive.

Get on Your Strengths Path

Whatiftherewasonethingyoucouldfocusonthatwouldhelpyougetexponentialresultsin
allareasofyourlife?Wellthereis.Itsgettingonyourstrengthspath.Whenyouare
spendingmoretimeintheactivitiesthatmakeyoustrong,youautomaticallydogreatwork,
yourenewandrebuildyourmind,body,emotions,andspirit,andyoudramaticallyaccelerate
yourlearningandgrowth.FightingtogetonyourstrengthspathisoneofthehighestROI
(ReturnonInvestment)battlesyouwilleverwin.Itpaysyoubackdaily.

Iftherearesomanybenefitstobeingonyourstrengthspath,andspendingmoretimeinyour
strengths,thenwhydoesnteverybodyjustdoit?Becauseitrequiresselfawarenessandyou
havetoownit.Nobodycomesalongandputsyouonyourstrengthspath.YOUhavetoown
it.YOUhavetocontinuouslyfindwaystospendmoretimeinyourstrengths.Onlyyouknow
trulywhatmakesyoustrongandwhatmakesyouweak.Youhavetodecideyouwantto

spendmoretimeinyourstrengthsandyouhavetobedeliberateaboutspendinglesstimein
yourstrengths.

Yourethearchitectofyourlife.Buildafirmfoundation.Designhowyouspendyourtime
effectively.Spendyourtimeonyourstrengths.Limityourtimeonyourweaknesses.Ifyouget
knockeddown,getupagain.Staythepath.Focusonfindingyourstrengthsandfindingways
toleveragethem.Expectalearningcurve,butknowthatthisisthehighROIpath.

Wheneveryougetrundownorfeeloverwhelmedanddrained,thereisagreatchancethatyou
arenotspendingenoughtimeinyourstrengthsandyourenotonyourstrengthspath.

Grow More in Your Strengths

Tolookatitwithanotherlens,manypeoplemistakethepathofweaknessesasthegrowthor
opportunitypath.Whattheydontrealizeisnotonlyaretheyrobbingfromtheirenergy,their
bestcontribution,andtheirsenseoffulfillment,buttheyaretakingawayfromtheirgreatest
sourceofgrowth.

Youllgrowfasterinyourstrengths.Intodaysworld,youhavetooutpaceyour
problemsandgiveyourbestwhereyouhaveyourbesttogive,tosucceedinanysituation,flow
amazingvaluetoyourselfandothers,andfindasustainablewayforgettingresultsin
everythingyoudo.

Ifyouspendthebulkofyourtimeinyourweaknesses,thenyouarestackingthedeckagainst
you,andevenifyouimproveyourweaknesses,youwillneverachievethepowerfulforceof
growingyourstrengths.

What Are Your Strengths

Tokeepthisverysimple,herearethekeys:
Yourstrengthsareyournaturaltalents.Yourstrengthsarewhatyournaturalpatternsfor
howyourthinking,feeling,andbehavior.
YourstrengthsareNOTwhatyouaresimplygoodat.Unfortunately,manyofusaregood
atthingsthatmakeusweakordrainus,sowespendmoretimeinthose.Soyes,weare
goodatthem,butnotheyarenotstrengthsthatgiveusenergyorthatweexponentially
improveat.Truestrengthsareyournaturaltalentforthinking,feeling,andbehavior,
appliedtoacontext..
Yourstrengthsarewhatyoufindeasytodo.Thethingsthatotherpeoplestrugglewith
thatyoufindveryeasytodoareyournaturalstrengths.
Yourstrengthsgiveyouenergy.Youcanspendtimeinyourstrengthsalldayandactually
havemoreenergyattheendofthedaythanwhenyoustarted.Yourstrengthscatalyze
you.Theymakeyoustrong.

Yourstrengthsarewhereyougetbetterfaster.Yourstrengthsareaplacewhereyoucan
accelerate.Yougrowfasterinyournaturalstrengthsthaninanyeffortthatworksagainst
yourstrengths.

Give Your Best Where You Have Your Best to Give

Youreanindividualwithauniquesetofstrengths,weaknesses.Ithinkthekeyistofinda
purposethatlightsupthefollowingstatement:

Giveyourbestwhereyouhaveyourbesttogive.

Whenyoufindthat,itsyouruniquecontributiontotheworld,andwhenyouspendtimein
yourstrengthsitsyourgrowth,renewalandpassioninaction.Ofcourse,thetrickistofind
somethingwhereyoucanbethebestintheworldat,andthetrickthereisitsYOURworld,
sinceitsallrelative.

Herearesomekeypoints:
Lightthingsupyourway.Imafanofbemoreofyourselfwithskillandgiveyourbest
whereyouhaveyourbesttogive.Itsallaboutbringingyourselftothepictureandlighting
thingsupthebestwayyoucan.
Amplifyyourresults.ItlinesupnicelywithwhatIvelearnedtobetruedrivebyyour
why,liveyourvalues,andplaytoyourstrengthsandgiveyourbestwhereyouhaveyour
besttogive.
Renewyourselfandliftothersup.Ithinkitsimportantthatyougiveyourbestwhereyou
haveyourbesttogive,otherwise,youcandrainyourself.Ithinkrenewalanddowntime
andtakingcareofyourownbasicsbuildsafirmfoundationforliftingothersup.
Focusonthevitalfewactivitieswhereyoucanreallygiveyourbest.Focusonstrengths
overweaknesses.Youllgetmoreresultsbyimprovingyourstrengthsthanimprovingyour
weaknesses.
Spendlesstimeinyourweaknesses.Limitthetimeyouspendinyourweaknesses.Find
waystooffloadmoreofyourweaknessessoyoucanspendmoretimeinyourstrengths.
Fighttospendmoretimeinyourstrengths.Dontletthechangesaroundyou,causeyou
tolosesightoftheactivitiesthatmakeyoustrong.Dontletyourselfgetcaughtupin
activitiesthatweakenyou.
Getbackonyourhorse.Sometimeswegetknockedoffourhorse.Wemaynothave
realizedhowbeautifultheridewasorhowwellwewereriding.Wewerecaughtupinthe
rideanditwasgreat.Butsomethingchanges.Theridenolongerfeelsrightandweno
longerfeelstrong.

Find Your Sweet Spot

Thesecretofamplifyingyourimpactandgettingexponentialresultsisfindingthesweetspot
whichistheoverlapofyourtalent,yourpassion,andvalue.Valueisintheeyeofthe

beholder.Youcanflowvalueforyourselforforothersorforyourcompany.Thekeything
hereisthatyoufindthestrengthsthatgiveyoujuiceandthatflowvalue.

Visual The Sweet Spot

Hereisavisualtoholdinyourmindofwhatitmeanstofindyoursweetspot:

Finding Your Strengths

Therearemanywaystofindyourstrengths.Thekeyistofindtheactivitiesthatyoulook
forwardto,giveyouenergy,andliftyouup.Anotherkeyistogetspecific.Forexample,maybe
youcanwritesongsallday.Maybeyoucanwritecontentallday.Maybeyoulovetointeract
withcustomers.Maybeyouliketobrainstorm.Maybeyouliketosolvebighairy
challenges.Forme,IliketomakesenseofmeaningfulproblemswhereIcanturnitintoaform
factorthatseasytoshareandscaleexpertise.Ifindthathavingalanguagetothinkaboutyour
strengthscanhelpyoubetter.

Find What Gives and Takes Your Energy

Attheendoftheday,themostimportantthingistofindwhereyougetenergyfrom,andfind
whattakesitaway.Thisleadsyoutoapersonalizedlistofstrengthsthatyoucanuseasalens
forinvestinginyourportfolioofstrengthsandthisisthekeytoexponentialresults.

Three Steps to Designing a Strong Week

Therearemanywaystospendmoretimeinyourstrengths,buthereisthemosteffectiveway
thatImentorindividuals,teams,andleaders:

Steps
Checks
Step1Map
OutYour
Weaknesses.

Canyouidentifythetop3activitiesthatmakeyoutheweakest?
Canyouidentifythetypesofworkthatmakeyouweak?
Canyouidentifywhodrainsyouandwhocatalyzesyou?Whatsthepattern?

Step2Map
outYour
Strengths.

Canyouidentifythetop3activitiesthatmakeyoustrong?
Canyouidentifythetypesofworkthatmakeyoustrong?
Canyouidentifythepatternsofpeoplethatcatalyzeyou?

Step3Design
aStrongWeek.

Haveyoueliminatedasmanyoftheactivitiesthatmakeyouweakasyou
can?
Haveyoufoundawaytoaddafewactivitiesthatmakeyoustronger?
Haveyouconsolidatedyourweaknessesasbestasyoucan?

Reviewing the Map of Your Week from a Strengths Standpoint

Usuallywhathappensisyoufindoutthatyouhaveascatterchartallovertheweekofspending
timeinyourweaknessesandspendingtimeinyourstrengths.Thekeyistoconsolidateyour
weaknessessothatyoucaneitherspendlesstimeinthem,getthemoffyourplate,orpairup
withotherpeople,orfindawaytoenjoythem.Theotherkeyistoaddmoreactivitiesthat
giveyoustrengthtoeachandeveryday.Thisisthesecretofrenewalandboundlessenergy
formakingthingshappeninyourlife.

Example of Mapping Out Your Weaknesses

Hereisanexampleofwhataweekmightlooklike,whereWrepresentsanactivityortask
thatdrainsyou:

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

7:00

8:00

9:00

10:00

11:00

12:00

1:00

2:00

3:00

4:00

5:00

6:00

7:00

8:00

9:00

10:00

Example of Mapping Out Your Strengths

HereisanexampleofmappingoutyourstrengthswhereSrepresentssomethingthatgives
youenergyandthatyoucoulddoallday:

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

7:00

8:00

9:00

10:00

11:00

12:00

1:00

2:00

3:00

4:00

5:00

6:00

7:00

8:00

9:00

10:00

Example of a Strong Week
Hereisanexampleofdesigningyourweektoconsolidatethatthingsthatmakeyouweak,
whiledoingmoreofwhatmakesyoustrong:

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

7:00

8:00

9:00

10:00

11:00

12:00

1:00

2:00

3:00

4:00

5:00

6:00

7:00

8:00

9:00

10:00

Cornerstone Concepts for a StrengthsBased Approach

Herearetwelvecornerstoneconceptstohelpyoureallyadoptastrengthsbasedapproachto
yourlife:
1. Everybodyhasstrengthsandweaknesses.
2. Strengthsarenotsimplywhatyouregoodat.
3. Strengthsarewhatyounaturallythink,feel,ordo.
4. Spendmoretimeinyourstrengths.Scheduleit.Ifyouscheduleit,ithappens.Ifyoudont,
itwont.
5. Ownit.Onlyyoucandothis.Onlyyouknowwhatyourstrengthsare.
6. Dolessofwhatmakesyouweak.
7. Energycancomefromyourmind,body,emotions,orspirit.
8. Byspendinglesstimeinyourweaknessesandmoretimeinyourstrengths,yourenew,
rebuild,andrejuvenateyourmind,body,emotions,andspirititsyourmultiplier.
9. Youhavetoowngettingonyourstrengthspath.
10. Findthespecificthingsyouwanttospendmoretimedoingeachdaythethingsthatmake
youSTRONG.
11. Findthejobs,tasks,andactivitiesthataredirectlyrelatedtoyourstrengths.
12. Findcreativewaystochangehowyoudowhatyoualreadydotograduallyintegratemore
ofyourstrengths.Yourlittlewinswilladdup.

Your Assignment
1. Findyourstrengthsandwritethemdowninwaysthatsingtoyourheartandputprecision
onwhattrulymakesyoustrong.Yourdonewhenyourlistfeelslikeashortlistofyour
superskills.
2. Mapoutyourstrengthsandweaknesses.
3. Findcreativewaystoeliminate,consolidate,orreducetheactivitiesthatmakeyouweak,
andfindawaytospendatleastonemorehourperweekinsomethingthatmakesyou
strong.Tradeupspendingtimeinyourweaknessesinfavorofspendingmoretimeinyour
strengths.

Day 11 Reduce Friction and Create GlidePaths for Your Day

Simplicityistheultimatesophistication.LeonardodaVinci

Your Outcome

Simplifyyourdaybygettingridofthehurdlesandpersonalobstaclecoursesthatareinyour
waythroughouttheday.Doingyourdailychoresorcommontasksshouldntbeajungle
gym.Itshouldbeaglidepath.

Makeyourdayawholeloteasierbyeliminatingorreducingthefrictioninyourday.Establish
frictionfreeglidepathsthatsupportyouthroughoutyourentireday.Byreducingthefriction
andsimplifyingyourdailyroutinesandcommontasks,youmakeiteasiertoglidethroughyour
results.

Welcome to Day 11
Welcometoday11of30DaysofGettingResults.Inday10,welearnedhowtofeelstrongall
weeklong.Today,welearnhowtoreducethefrictioninourday,andmakeiteasiertodothe
commonthingswedo.Thiswaywespendlessenergyonlittlethingsgettinginourway,sowe
havemoreenergyandfocustotacklethebigthings.

Dontdiethedeathofa1000papercutsthroughoutyourday!

Allthelittlefrictioninourdaycanwearusdown.Dontcomplainaboutthestuffinyourway
dosomethingaboutit.Yourglidepathswillreallyhelpyouondayswhenyourerundown,or
yourerunninglate,andyoureallyneeditmost.

3 Steps to Creating FrictionFree Glide Paths

Herearethreestepstocreatingfrictionfreeglidepaths.
Step1.Walkyourpaths.Simplywritedownyourcommonroutinesandcommontasksyou
throughoutyourday.Ifyoudontknowwheretostart,writedownbreakfast,lunch,and
dinner.Chancesareyouhavealotofrecurringactivitieseachdaythatyoucanchooseto
tune.
Step2.Identifythefriction.Identifythethingsthatcreatefrictionthroughoutyourday:
Whatslowsyoudown?Whathoopsdoyouhavetojumpthrough?Whatsalwaysin
yourwayorwhatareyouconstantlymovingoutofyourwaytogettosomethingelse?
Step3.Simplifyyourpaths.Declutterandreducethefrictionforyourcommonscenarios,
routines,andtasks.Mostofthewaystodothiswillbeobvioustoyounowthatyouve

listedyourcommontasksandpointsoffriction.Brainstormideasformakingtheseroutines
lesscomplicatedandlessfriction.

10 Examples of FrictionFree Glide Paths

Herearesomeexamplesoffrictionfreeglidepaths:
1. Getridoftheclothesonthetopofthehamper.TipIfyouwantclothestogointhe
hamper,thendonthaveclothesontopofit.Nobodyshouldhavetoliftthehamperlid
withabunchofclothesontop.Ifthelidkeepsturningintoonemoreshelf,thenremove
thelid.
2. Clearyourworkspace.Keepyourworkspaceclearandreadytogo.Youcanclearitthe
nightbeforeoryoucandoaquicksweeprightbeforeyouuseit.
3. Putyoursneakersbythebed.Ifyouexerciseinthemorning,haveyoursneakersandgym
clothesreadytogo.Thisisonelessexcusefornotworkingoutonadaywhenyoudont
feellikeit.
4. Putgarbagecanswhereyouneedthem.
5. Createchecklistsforcommonroutines.Youwonthavetotryandrememberwhattodo
nextandyoucanmakeiteasiertofollowyourroutine.
6. Putthingswhereyoulookforthem.Ifyouarealwayslookingforsomethinginthewrong
place,thenmakethewrongplace,therightplaceandputitthere.
7. Makespaceonyourbookshelfsoyoudonthavetostackorbalancethingsorsqueezewith
allyourmighttogetthatverylastbooktofitjustright.Pullingbooksoffyourshelf
shouldntbeachore,andneithershouldputtingthemback.
8. Putyourcalendarwhereyoucanseeitataglance.Makeiteasytoquicklyseewhatyour
schedulelookslike.
9. Makeiteasytolookthingsup.Ifyouregularlylookcertainthingsup,consolidatethemand
putthemineasyreach.
10. Removeanythingthatyouhavetostepoverorwalkaround.Paveasimplerpathandmake
iteasytogowhereveryouneedtogettoonaregularbasis.

Therearemany,manywaystocreateglidepathsinyourday.Thesearejustsomerandom
ideastogetyourstarted.Getcreative.Youprobablyalreadyknowwhatyouneedtodo,you
justhavetodecidetodoit.Thisisworthmakingtimeforsinceitpaysyoubackthroughout
yourday,anditpaysyoubackeverydaywithinterest.

Your Assignment
1. Identifyyourworstfrictionpointsinyourday.
2. Createthreeglidepathstosimplifyyourday.Pickanyroutinesorcommontasksthatyou
wanttomakeeasierforyourself.

Day 12 Productivity Personas Are You a Starter or a

Finisher?

Ourchiefwantissomeonewhowillinspireustobewhatweknowwecouldbe.Ralph
WaldoEmerson

Your Outcome

Becomeaproductiveartist.Findwhetheryouareastarterorafinisherandimprove
yoursuccessineverythingyoudo.

Somepeoplearenaturalstarters.Theyliveforthecreativebeginningofprojects,butnotthe
daytodayexecutionorthedetailedfollowupandfollowthrough.Somepeoplearenatural
finishers.Theylikethedaytodayworkandtheroutineexecution.Whenstartersand
finisherspairup,everybodywins.

Welcome to Day 12
Welcometoday12of30DaysofGettingResults.Inday11,welearnedhowtoreducefriction
andcreateglidepathsforyourday.

Today,welearnhowtofigureoutourstrengthsandweaknesseswhenitcomestoproductivity
usingProductivitypersonas.ThebeautyisthatyoucanProductivitypersonastogetabetter
lensonyourself,yoursituation,orpeopleyouworkwith.Withthislens,youcanbemore
effectiveandgetbetterresultsinanysituation,whetheritsaonemanbandorpartofateam.

Starters and Finishers

Oneofmyfriendsisgreatatstartingthings.Justdontexpecthimtofinish.Hewouldlighta
lotoffiresinalotofplacesandthenhedbeontohisnextbigidea.Trustme,unlessyouwant
tojustfadeaway,youwantfirestartersaround.Theylightthingsupandcreatevalueand
possibilitiesoutofthinair.Hesanaturalstarter.

Anotheroneofmyfriendsisgreatatfinishingthings.Heisamasteratknowingthedetailsand
beingcomplete.Wordsthatcometomindarethorough,attentiontodetail,responsible,
seesthingsthrough,yougettheidea.Whathelacksingettingthingsstarted,hemakesup
forinbringingthingstocloseandgoingthelastmile.Heisafinisheratheart.

Whenastarterandfinisherpairuplookout.Greatthingshappen.Thefastestwaytosuck
yourlifeforceoutofanyoneistoalwaysplaythefinisherrolewhenyoureastarter,or
alwaysplayastarterrolewhenyoureafinisher.

Why Productivity Personas

Yourpersonalsuccessatgettingresultsisclearlyaplacewherealittleknowledgegoesalong
way.ByaddingthelensofProductivityPersonastoyourtoolbelt,youwillbebetterequipped
todealwithanyproductivityissue,whetheritsforyourself,helpingafriend,orleadingateam.

Ifyourefeelingdrainedorlikeyourespinningyourwheelsorsimplynotmakingtheimpact
youknowyoucanmake,thismightjustbeyourtickettofaster,simpler,andbetterresults.

3 Ways to Use Productivity Personas

HerearethreewaysyoucanusetheProductivityPersonastoyouradvantage:
1. KnowYourself.UsetheProductivityPersonastoknowyourself.Ifyoureawareofthe
personas,youcanusethemtoyouradvantage.Forexample,dontletyour
innerCriticorPerfectionistgetinthewayofyourDoer.Askyourself,WhenamIatmy
best?AmImoreofaStarteroraFinisher?AmImoreofaMaximizeroraSimplifier?AmI
moreofaThinkeroraDoer?
2. TeamUp.UsetheProductivityPersonastopairupwithotherpeopleandimproveyour
owneffectiveness.YoucanalsousetheProductivityPersonastocreatemoreeffective
teamsortooptimizeteamwork.Askyourself,WhocanIteamupwithtogetresults?How
canIbuildmoreeffectiveteams?Whoshouldbepairedupontheteamforbestresults?
3. ImprovetheSituation.Youcanimaginehowsomebehaviorsworkbetterwithothersand
howsomecancreateconflict.Swapoutformoreeffectivepersonasbasedonthescenario.
Forexample,ifyoureallyneedaStarterforthesituation,butyoucantbreakout
ofFinishermode,thenseeifyoucanfindsomebodywhocanplaytherole.Ask
yourself,Whatarethebestbehaviorsforthesituation?

RemembertousetheProductivityPersonasasalens.Thelabelsareforbehaviors,notfor
limitingorboxinginpersonalities.Anybodycandemonstrateanyofthebehaviorsatanytime.

Productivity Personas at a Glance

Persona
Achiever

Notes
Likestoaccomplishthings.

BigPicture

Seestheforestfromthetrees.Likesthebigideasanddoesntwanttogetlostintheminut

CanDo

Findsaway.Wheretheresawill,theresaway,andtheyllfindit.Itmaynotbetheoptim
solution,buttheyllfindaworkaround.

Controller

Likestocontrolthings.ThiscouldbetheDoers,theproject,ortheirworld.

Critic

Findsthefaults.Theyllfindwayswhyyoucantorwhyitswrong.Theyllcritiquethemselv
theirwork,ortheirideas.Anythingisfairgame.

Daydreamer

Likestodreamupbetterwaysforbetterdays.Theydratherdreamthando.Theydontha
toactontheirdreamstoenjoythem.

Details

Lovesthedetailsandwillwanttoseethingsthrough.Dotstheisandcrossesthets.They
passionateaboutspreadsheets.

Doer

Doestheirjob.Theytendtogettheirjobdone.Theymaynotcomeupwithnewideas,but
theyhaveapreferencefortakingaction.

FactsandFigures Isanumbersperson.Theywantquantifiablemeasurements.LikeDetails,theytoolike
spreadsheets.
Finisher

Bringsthingstoclosure.Effectivefinishers,completethingsandmoveon.Isafitandfinish
typeofperson.Itsfinishedwhentheysayitsfinished.

Marketer

Communicatesthevalue.Knowshowtosellideas.

Maximizer

Findsthemaximumimpact.

Opportunist

Findstheopportunityinanysituation.

Perfectionist

Treatseverythinglikeaworkofart.Qualityistheirname,finishingisnttheirgame.Theyll
donewhenitsdone.Itwillbedonejustassoonasitsperfect.Wheneverthatis.

Procrastinator

Findswaytoputofftotomorrow,whattheyreallyshoulddotoday.Theyonlysendbelated
birthdaycardssincetheyknowtheyllneversendthemoutontime.

Randomizer

Turnstheirlatestpriorityintootherpeoplesproblems.

Simplifier

Findsthesimplestpath.Stripsthingsdowntotheminimum.GoodenoughfornowisOKin
theirbook.

Starter

Startsthingsbutdoesntalwaysfinish.Theirenergycomesfromthinkingupnewideasand
kickingthingsoff.Loveprototypinganidea,butoncetheyvefigureditout,theyrereadyt
moveontosomethingelse.
Isanideasperson.Thinkingiswhattheydobest.Analysisistheirgame,butdoingis
somebodyelsesgame.Theydonthavetoactontheirthoughtstoenjoythem.

Thinker
Tinkerer

Likestotinker.Theworldistheirsandbox.Dabbleshere,dabblesthere.

Using the Productivity Personas

SimplyfamiliarizeyourselfwithsomeofthevariousProductivityPersonas.Theycanhelpyou
whenyouneedtomakesenseofaproductivitychallengeorscenario,aswellastolearnmore
aboutyourself.Thekeyistobeawareofthepreferences,foryourselfandothers,andto
choosemoreeffectivebehaviorsaswellastooptimizeyourselfandothersinanysituation.

Your Assignment
1. Identifyyournaturalpreferencesintermsofastarterorfinisher.
2. IdentifythemostcommonProductivityPersonasorrolesthatyouplayinyourdaytoday.
3. Findonesimplethingyoucandotocomplementyournaturalproductivitypattern.

Day 13 Triage Your Action Items with Skill

Dowhatyoucan,withwhatyouhave,whereyouare.TheodoreRoosevelt

Your Outcome

Learnhowtodealwithabarrageofincomingactionitemsanddemandsonyourtime.

Welcome to Day 13
Welcometoday13of30DaysofGettingResults.Inday12,welearnedhowto
useProductivityPersonastoanalyzeandimproveourresultsinanysituation.

Today,welearnhowtotriageanoverflowingplateofactionitemsandtasks.Triageisa
HealthyProcessofSorting,Sifting,andSelecting

What is Triage
Triageisaprocessofsorting,siftingandselectingwhattoworkon.Youmighthaveheard
aboutdoctorstriagingtheirincomingpatientsinemergencysettings.

WhenIfirstjoinedMicrosoft,Triagewasacommonpracticeourteamusedtodealwithour
incomingissues.Triagehelpedussortourbacklogsandqueuesofissuesintomoremeaningful
buckets.Wecouldntjustdoeverythingatonceandwecouldntkeepupwithourflowof
incomingrequests.Triaginghelpedusmoreeffectivelymakethemostofourtime,energy,and
resourceswehadonhandatthemomentagainstourincomingactions.

Triage in Practice
Iveusedtriagesuccessfullytodealwitheverythingfromdealingwithemail,todealingwitha
floodofincomingtasks,todealingwithagingbacklogsofactionitems,bothatthepersonal,
andtheteamlevel.

WhenIleadadistributedteam,Iuseemailtriageasanadhocandlightweightwaytogetthe
teamseyeballsquicklyfocusedonanissue.Isimplyaddemailtriagetothesubjectline,and
sendthemailoutwiththespecificissueorquestiontosortthrough.Ivealsousedtriageto
clearmyemailinboxandtokeepmyemailatzeroinboxforyears,andIveshownmanyothers,
includingteamsaroundMicrosoft,todothesame(andwehavealotofemailatMicrosoft.)I
affectionatelycallthisapproach,TheZenofZeroMail.Forthingsthatyouneedtoacton,
prioritize,orgetoffyourplate,triageisahealthyprocessofsortingandselectinginamore
mindfulway.

Do It, Queue It, Schedule It, or Delegate It

Youcantriageanincomingactionitemtoeitherdoit,queueit,scheduleit,ordelegateit:
DoItDoitifnowisthetime:itsthenextbestthingforyoutodo;nowisthemost
opportunistictime;oritwillcostyoumorepain,timeorefforttodoitlater.
QueueItQueueit,byaddingittoyourqueueifitssomethingyouneedtogetdone,but
nowisnottherighttime.Aqueueissimplyalistofactionitems.
ScheduleItScheduleitbyaddingittoyourcalendarifyouneedablockoftimetogetthe
workdone.Onlyaddthingstoyourcalendarifyoutrulyneedareminderorifyoureally
needtoblockoffachunkoftimetoworkonit.Rememberthatifyouscheduleit,itwill
happen,butifyoudont,itwont.Ifitsreallyimportant,thenmaketimeforit.Ifitsjust
somethingtodolater,anditwontreallyhappen,thenjustletitgowithskill.
DelegateItDelegateitifitssomethingthatshouldbedonebysomebodyelseandit
makessensetodoso,andyouhavethatoption.Whenyoudelegate,trytomatchitto
anotherpersonslearningopportunityorpassion.(Theresadifferencebetweendelegating
anddumping.)

3 Steps to Triaging Your Action Items

Herearethreestepsfortriagingyourstackofactionitems:
1. Consolidateyouractionitems.Dealingwiththeminabatchreallyshowsthebenefitofthis
approach,becauseyoucanquicklywhackyourstackdowntosize.
2. Triageeachitem.Foreachitem,determinewhatthebestplanofattackis:DoIt,QueueIt,
ScheduleIt,orDelegateIt.
3. Repeattheprocess.Repeattheprocessuntilyouhaveamanageablesetofactionsandyou
feelthatthingsareappropriatelyintherightplaces,eitherinyourlistofactions,your
queue,oryourschedule,oroffyourplate.Ifyouendupspendingtoomuchtimetriaging,
andnotenoughtimedoing,thenestablishatimeboxortimelimittopaceyourselfandto
knowwhentostop.

Reallywhatyouredoingissettingthestageforyoursuccess.Byhavingatimeforthings,and
havingthemonyourcalendarorinyourqueue,youcanfocusonwhatyouhaveinfrontofyou
withmoreconfidence,clarity,andconviction,knowingthatyouremakingthemostofwhat
youvegot.YoucanalsomoreeffectivelyprioritizewithMUST,SHOULD,andCOULD.

Questions to Help Guide You

HerearesomequestionsIfindusefulasacheckpoint:
Whatdoyouwanttoaccomplish?
Doesitmatter?
Howimportantisit?
Whatstheimpact?

 Whatsthenextbestthingtodo?

Youcanalwayscheckyouractionsagainstthebiggerpictureandwhatyouwantto
accomplish:Thisisjustastartingpointandyoullwanttocreateandtestyourownquestions
toseewhatworksforyou.

Putting It All Together

Letstakeaquickstepbackanddoarundownofwhatyouvelearnedsofarduring30Daysof
GettingResultsandhowthisfitsin:
1. YoucanuseTheRuleof3toavoidgettingoverwhelmed.
2. Youretheauthorofyourlifeandyoucanwriteyourstoryforward,onemomentoroneday
atatime
3. Youcanusethreestoriestodriveyourdayandandlightupyourdaybyconnectingtoyour
values(DailyWins).
4. OnMondays,youcanusethreestoriestodriveyourweek(MondayVision).
5. OnFridays,youcanuseFridayReflectiontocelebrateyourwinsandfindyourpersonal
successpatterns.
6. YoucanmapoutwhatsimportantinyourlifeusingHotSpotstocreateameaningfulmap.
7. Youcanletthingssloughoffwithskillnomorestrawsbreakingthecamelsback.
8. Youcancreatespaceinyourlifetorenewandrechargebysettingupboundariesand
buffers.
9. Youcandumpyourbraintofreeupyourmind.
10. YoucanprioritizemoreeffectivelybyusingMUST,SHOULD,andCOULD.
11. Youcanfeelstrongallweeklongbyspendingmoretimeinyourstrengthsandlesstimein
yourweaknesses.
12. Youcanestablishglidepathstosimplifyyourdayandmakeyourroutinesfrictionfree.
13. Youcananalyzeandbemoreproductiveinanyscenariousingproductivitypersonas.

Byaddingtriagingtoyourbelt,younowhaveasimplementalmodelfordealingwithincoming
actionitemsmoreeffectively.

Using Agile Results to Write Your Story Forward

AgileResultsisasimplesystemformeaningfulresultsthatyoucanusetosupportyouforthe
restofyourlife,nomatterwhatyoudo.

Thebeautyisnotjustthatitssimpleorthatitsprovenitsthateachdayyougetanew
chanceatbatafreshstart.

Eachdayyouwakeupisanotherchancetoaskthequestion,Whatarethreethingsyouwant
fortoday?andsoyouwriteyourstoryforward,onedayatatime.

Your Assignment
1. Whenanincomingactionitemcomesyourway,triageitanddecidewhethertoDo
It,QueueIt,ScheduleIt,orDelegateIt.
2. Triageoneofyourstacksofthingstodotowhackitdowntosize.

Day 14 Carve Out Time for Whats Important

Thingswhichmattermost,shouldneverbeatthemercyofthingswhichmatterleast.
Goethe

Your Outcome

Maketimeforwhatsimportant.SpendmoretimeinwhatreallymattersinYOURlife,and
spendlesstimeinwhatdoesnot.Asoneofmyfriendsputsit,timeisallwehave.

Welcome to Day 14
Welcometoday14of30DaysofGettingResults,aseriesofpostswhereIsharewithyouthe
artandscienceofgettingmoreeffectiveresultsfrommybook,GettingResultstheAgile
Way.Inday13,welearnedhowtotriageouractionitemswithskilltochopourbacklogsor
overflowingplatesdowntosize.

Today,welearnavitalkeytosuccessfulandeffectivetimemanagement.Welearnhowto
maketimeforwhatreallymattersinourlife,adayatatimeandamomentatatime.

A Lesson in Life for the Best of Your Life

Oneofthemostcruciallessonsinlifethatmanypeoplelearnthehardwayisthis:

Youdonthavetime,youmaketime.Ifyoudontmaketimeforwhatsimportant,itdoesnt
happen.

Youllnevergetoffthetreadmillorstoptreadingwater,unlessyoudecideto.Thatswhatthis
seriesofmodulesisallabouthelpingyougetresults,enjoythejourney,andmakethemost
ofwhatyouvegotwithskill(versusjusthopingforthebestortryingharderorwishful
thinking.)

Put the Big Rocks First

ThisisastoryIfirstheardfromStephenCoveyalongtimebackthatreallystuckoutforme.As
thestorygoes,ateacherfillsajarwithrocksuntilnomorewouldfit.Hethenaskstheclass,Is
thejarisfull?Theclasssays,Yes.

Theteacherreachesunderthetable,pullsoutsomegravel,andaddsthegraveltothejar.The
gravelfillsthespacesbetweentherocks.Theteacherasksagain,Isthejarfull?Somenod
theirhead.

Theteacherthenaddssandtothejarfillinguptheremainingspaces.Theteacherasks,Isthe
jarfull?Theclassisontohimnowandsays,No.

Good,theteacherreplies,andheproceedstopourwaterintothejaruntilitsfilledtothe
brim.

Theteacherasks,Whatsthepointofthisillustration?Oneofthestudentsrepliesthatno
matterhowfullyourscheduleis,youcanalwaysfitmorethingsin.

No,theteacherresponds.Thepointisthis:

Ifyoudontmakeroomforthebigrocks,youllneverfitthemin.

Make Room for Your Big Rocks Today, Each Day

ThisiswhereTheRuleof3helps.Areyouspendingtherightamountoftimetodayonthose
threeresultsorstoriesthatyouwanttoaccomplish?

Thedefaultpatternistotryandfittheminwithallyourexistingroutines.Amorepowerful
approachistomaketimeforyourthreeresultstodayandoptimizearoundthat.Thismight
meandisruptingotherhabitsandroutinesyouhave,butthisisagoodthing.Themoreyouget
inthehabitofmakingtimeforwhatsimportant,themoreyoullgettheresultsyouwant.If
yourenotgettingtheresultsyouwantyoucanstartaskingbetterquestions.Forexample,are
youinvestingenoughtime?Areyouinvestingtherightenergy?Maybetheapproachisoff.

Justmaybe,adifferentthinghappens.Maybeyoustartaccomplishingtheresultsyou
*thought*youwanted,butyoudontlikewhatyouget.ThegrassisNOTalwaysgreener.Now
youcanstepbackandaskwhetheryourechoosingtherightoutcomesorstoriesforwhatYOU
reallywantorreallyneedinyourliferightnow.

What are You Rushing Through For?

Coveyteachesus,beefficientwiththings,buteffectivewithpeople.WheneverIseesomebody
rushingthroughsomethingoritfeelslikeitsadrivebydumporexchange,Ihavetoask:

Whatareyourushingthroughfor?

Sometimesitsbecausepeoplearelate.Sometimesitsbecausetheyaremorefocusedonthe
goal,thanthejourney.Alotoftimes,itsbecausetheysimplydidntallowthemselvestobe
herenow,wherethismomentistheonethatreallycounts.

Itdoesntmeanbeingslow,unlessslowmakessenseforthesituation.Infact,Icanthelpbut
tothinkofJohnWoodenssaying,Bequickbutdonthurry!Forme,itremindsmetobe
deliberateandmindfulonhowIpacemyself.Icanbequickwithouthasteorrushingthrough
things,asifsomethingelseisalwaysmoreimportant,somewhereelse.

3 Ways to Carve Out Time for Whats Important

Takethetimetostepbackandreflectonwhereyouspendyourtimeonaregularbasis.Here
arethreewaystomaketimeforwhatsimportant:
1. Resetyourday.Youcandoaresetforyourdaybysteppingbackandaskingyourself,
WhatthreeresultsdoIwantfortoday?Forexample,oneofmyoutcomestodayis,
Enjoythenicedayoutside.Imnotgoingtoletsomethingelsegetinthewayofmissing
ourfleetingsunnySummerdays.
2. Resetyourschedule.Youcandoaresetfortheweekbysteppingbackandasking
yourself,WhatthreeresultsdoIwantforthisweek?orWhatthreestoriesdoIwant
tolightupinmylifeormakehappenfortheweek?Youcanthenfiteverythingelse
aroundthat.Youcanalsosimplycheckwhetheryouvemadeenoughtimeinyourschedule
onaweeklybasisforthethingsthatreallycount,foryou,inyourliferightnow.Itsnotall
ornothing,andtheresalwaysawaytospendalittlemoretimehere,andalittlelessthere,
butyoumighthavetogetcreative.Ifyougetstuckhere,pairupwithsomebodyandask
fortheirhelpyoumightbesurprisedhowthissimpleactgivesyouclarityonyour
calendar,andhowanotherpairofeyescanreallyshinethelightonwaystogetmoreof
whatyouwant.
3. InvestinyourHotSpots.HoweveryoudefineyourHotSpots(mind,body,emotions,
career,financial,relationships,andfun),youcanverydeliberatelymapoutwhats
importantinyourlife,andyoucandeliberatelyinvestinyourHotSpots.Ifoundthesingle
mostimportantfactorhereistomaketimeonmyweeklyscheduleformyHotSpots.IfIm
notgettingenoughtimeinabucket,thenIschedulemoretime.IfImputtingtoomuch
timeintoonebucket,andnotanother,thenIadjustit.OnceIhaveenoughtimeintheright
buckets,thenImakesureIminvestingmybestenergyandbestmindset.Ineverwantto
beinascenariowhereImalwaysrushingthrough,becauseIdidntmaketimeforit.

And,ofcourse,youcanalwayssimplyaskyourself,Whatareyourushingthroughfor?anddo
areset,atanymoment,atanytime.

Todays Assignment
1. MaketimeTODAYforsomethingyoureallywanttospendmoretimein,thatsimportant
foryou.Maybeitsassimpleasfeedingtheducks.Maybeitsspendingtimewithanold

friend.MaybeitsspendingmoretimelearningaboutGettingResultstheAgile
WayWhostojudge?Yourethejudge.Justremember,youretheonethatliveswith
theconsequencesofhowyouchoosetospendyourtimeeachmoment,eachday,every
day.Betheauthorofyourlife,andwriteyourstoryforward.Noregrets,justchoosingyour
ownadventurefromhereforward.
2. Stepbackandaskthetoughquestion,Whatareyourushingthroughfor?Iftheansweris
nothing,thenjustkickbackandenjoydoingwhateveryouredoingrighthere,rightnow.

Day 15 Achieve a Peaceful Calm State of Mind

Afterastormcomesacalm.MatthewHenry

Your Outcome

Quietthebuzzinyourmind.Achieveapeacefulcalmstateofmindthatisrelaxed,
responsive,andready.

Welcome to Day 14
Welcometoday15of30DaysofGettingResults,aseriesofpostswhereIsharewithyoua
simplesystemformeaningfulresultsfrommybook,GettingResultstheAgileWay.Inday14,
welearnedakeywaytomastertimemanagementbycarvingouttimeforwhatsimportant.

Today,welearnhowtoquietourmindandachieveapeacefulcalm.Fromthisvantage
point,youllseethingswithmoreclarity,youllfeelcentered,andyoullthinkyourbest
thoughts.Youllalsofinditeasiertoquietyourmentalchatter,andjustbeinthe
moment.Youlldirectyourattentionwithskill.

A Peaceful Calm State of Mind

Ifyouarentsurewhatitsliketofeelapeacefulcalm,thebestwayIcandescribeitisitslike
lookingoutovertheGrandCanyonforthefirsttime.Yourmindjusttakesitallin.Thereareno
worriesaboutthepast,thepresent,orthefuture.Yourmindisfullyabsorbedinthemoment.

Forthatbriefmoment,yourmindiscaptivatedbytheexperience.

Yourmindisempty,butfullyalert,fullyaware,andnotdistractedbyanymentalchatterorany
ofyourheadmovies.Insteadofreplayingscenesinyourmind,youarethemovie.

Relaxed, Ready, and Resourceful

Whiletheworldmightbeajungle,fightorflightmodecanlimitourbestthinking.Tothinkour
bestthoughtsorcreateourbestideas,orsolveourproblemsinthemostresourcefulway,we
needtooperatefromaplacethatscenteredandserene.

WhenIthinkofpeacefulcalm,wordsthatcometomindare:tranquil,centered,serene,
andpeaceful.IalsothinkofaseriesofRwords
including:restful,resourceful,relaxed,responsive,andready.


Anemptymindisapowerfulone.Itsreadyforaction.Itsrelaxed,ready,andresponsive.
Whenyourmindisrelaxed,youcantakeininformationwithlessdistortion.Youre
connectedtoyouremotions,butratherthanbeingoverwhelmedorrandomized,itsmore
likeusingyouremotionsasinput.
Whenyourmindisready,youareresponsive.Youareabletoeasilyseethesituationand
respondwithskillinsteadofreactoutoffearoranxiety.
Whenyourmindisresourceful,youareabletoeasilythinkthethoughtsthatserve
you.Yourcreativemindisreadytosolveproblemswithyouinsteadofworkagainstyou.

Additional Ways to Center Yourself and Achieve a Peaceful Calm

Herearesomeadditionalwaystohelpyouachieveapeacefulstateofcalm:
1. Takeawaythethreat.Iftheresonethingthatcankeepeatingatyou,itsthethreatsin
yourlife.Ifyoutakeawaythethreats,yousolidifyyourfoundation.Youeitherhaveto
decidewhattodoaboutit,orletitgo,ordecideitsnothowyouregoingtolive.Oneof
thebestwaystodealwithathreatistoreframeitasachallengeandtakethebullbythe
horns.Anotherwayistoassumetheworstcasescenarioanddealwithit.Forexample,lets
sayyourthreatislosingyourjob.Thenassumeyoullloseit,andmakethepreparations
getstaffingcompaniesonyourside,buildyournetwork,andcreateawinningresume.
2. Makeamapofwhatsimportant.Thissimplestepwilladdclarityforyourmindanda
placetofocusyourthoughts,whentheymightseemrandomorallovertheboard.Mapout
yourprioritiesandoutcomes.
3. Findyourwhy.Byfindingyourwhy,yousimplifyyourlifedowntoadrivingpurpose.It
givesyouasimplewaytoprioritizeandevaluatewhatyouwillspendyourtimeoryour
energyon.
4. Learntopause.Bytakingabriefpause,youcanrespondoverreact.Itwillhelpyoustay
centeredinmoresituationsandrespondmoreeffectively.
5. Resetyourmentalmodel.Askyourself,Whodoyouwanttobe?andWhatexperiences
doyouwanttocreate?Doyouwanttoberunningaroundlikeachickenwithitsheadcut
offordoyouwanttoshowsomeselfcontrol,confidence,clarity,anddeliberate
action?Simplybydoingareset,whenyoufindyourselfoffkilter,canhelpyoucenter
yourselfwithskill.
6. Focusonyourbreathing.Youdthinkwedothiswell,givenhowmuchwebreatheallthe
time.Well,usuallywedont.Itseasytogetstressedandthenbreathehighandshallow
insteadofdeepandfull.Ifyouwanttocenteryourself,thenfocusonyourbreathing.Key
tipdonttreatitweirdoractlikeitsamagicritual.Simplyfeeltheflowofyourbreathin,
down,andaround,thenbackout.Pausewhenitsfullyin,andsimplynoticewhatafull,
deepbreathfeelslike.Simplyenjoyyourbreath.Thenhaveanother,itsonthehouse.
7. Visualizewithskill.Thisisparticularlyeffectiveifyoutendtobeveryvisual.Youcan
simplyrecallsomeofyourfavoritesceneryorscenesfromyourlife,whereyoufelta

peacefulcalm.Thiswillhelpyourememberthefeeling,anditwillgiveyourmindaquick
waytofocusonsomethingthatitalreadyknows.
8. Remindyourselfthatthingscanalwaysbeworse.Theyreallycan.Ifyouneedexamples,
youcanfindthemeasily.Somebodyisalwaysworseoff.Ifyouadjustyourframeof
reference,thiscanhelpyoukeepthingsinyourownlifeinbetterperspective.Onething
thatsticksoutformehereisalinefromNavySealstryoutsthatgoeslikethis,Theonly
easydaywasyesterday.Andofcourse,yesterday,wasanabsolutenightmarebutby
comparison,itsawalkinthepark.

Todays Assignment
1. Getagoodmentalpicturethatyoucanusetogettoyourpeacefulcalm.Remembera
timewhenyourmindwasatitsmostrelaxed,ready,andresourcefulstate.Reallygeta
goodpictureinyourmindofthisexperience.Noticewhatitfeelslike.Walkyourfive
sensesonebyone(site,hearing,touch,smell,taste):Whatdoyousee?Whatdoyou
hear?Whatdoyoufeel?Whatdoyousmell?Whatdoyoutaste?Forexample,if
yourimageisonthebeach,youmightseathewaveslapagainsttheshore,youmighthear
theseagulls,youmightfeelthesandbetweenyourtoesandthewarmsunonyour
shoulders,youmightsmelltheboardwalk,andyoumighttastethesaltintheair.Simply
walkingyoursenseswilldramaticallyimproveyourabilitytofullyrememberthe
feeling.Themoreyoupracticethebetteryouget.
2. Writedowneverythingthatsbuzzingaroundinyourbrain.Whetheritsthingsthatare
buggingyouorideasthatkeepfloatingaround.Justemptyitandkeepemptyingituntil
youvegotitalldown.Breatheasighofrelief.Yourelookingatyourmindonpaper.
3. Makeatimeandaplaceforthings.Forthethingsthatyoureallyhavetodealwith,create
anappointmentwithyourself,addittoyourschedule,andwhenevertheissuecomesup,
reminderyourselfthatyouhaveanappointmenttodealwithit.

Day 16 Use Metaphors to Find Your Motivation

Todifferentminds,thesameworldisahell,andaheaven.RalphWaldoEmerson

Your Outcome

YourOutcome:Findthemetaphorsthatempoweryourforyourbestresultsinworkand
life.Useinspiringmetaphorstomakemeaningandenjoythejourneyandyour
destination.Thisisyourwaytogetonyourpathorbackonyourhorseorgetupto
batandmakethemostofwhatyouvegot.

Welcome to Day 16
Welcometoday16of30DaysofGettingResults.Inday15,welearnedhowtoachievea
peacefulcalmstateofmind.

Today,welearnhowtousemetaphorstofindourmotivationanddrive.Metaphorsarea
simplewaytoaddjuicetoyourlife.Byusingmetaphors,youcanempoweryourselfmore
effectively,andcreatemoremeaningfulandcompellingsituationsandcircumstances.When
youusemetaphorsthatconnecttoyourvalues,youfindwaystoturnordinarysituationsinto
extraordinarysituations.Forexample,Idontdriveaproject,Ileadanepic
adventure.Adventureisoneofmyvalues,soItryandconnecttoitwhereverIcan.

Inyourlife,itsyourstoryandyouarethedirector.Youchoosewhattopointyourcameraat
andthemeaningyoullmake.Metaphorshelpyoushapeyourstory.

Why Metaphors
Metaphorshelpsusshapealanguageandthepicturesweholdinourminds.Creatingavision
andholdingitinourheadswilltendtosteerustowardstheemotionsandfeelingsthatwe
associatewithsuchapicture.

Whetherornotthepictureisanaccuraterepresentationofwhatwearerelatingitto,wetend
tocreatethatpictureanywayandtheemotionsthatgoalongwithit.Itthereforehasa
tendencytobecomereality,atleastonanemotionallevel.Thebottomlineis,metaphors
shapeyouroverallexperience,filterwhatyouperceive,andinfluencehowyoumakemeaning.

Youarethemostimportantmeaningmaker(andperhapsnotalwaysthebest,especiallyifits
bydefaultandnotbydesign).Chooseyourmetaphorsthoughtfully;hereswhy:
Theyshapeyourexperience.
Theyempoweryoutochangehowyouthinkandfeel(andyourthinkingandfeelingimpact
yourdoing).

Theyhelpyoumakemeaning.

Example Metaphors
Herearesomecommonmetaphors:

PositiveMetaphors

Chippingawayatthestone
Expedition
Eyeofthetiger
Grabthebullbythehorns
Mission
Yourshiphascomein
Yourshipissailingandyoureonit

NegativeMetaphors

Hittingawall
Lifesucksthenyoudie
Swimmingupstream
Thatshiphassailed
Upthestreamwithoutapaddle
Uphillbattle
Youreonyourown

Whetherametaphorispositiveornegativeisuptoyou.Forexample,mostpeoplewould
probablythinkofanuphillbattleasnegative.Thenagain,somepeoplemightlikethe
challenge.Ultimately,itsyourcontextandhowyouthinkaboutaparticularmetaphorthat
decideswhetheritspositiveornegative.
Youcanusemetaphorsforyourselfandforlife.

Metaphors for You

Youcanusemetaphorsforwhoyouareorwhatyoudo,asasimplewaytoshapeyour
experience,ortohelpothersmakesenseofwhatyoudo.Herearesomeexamples:
Imasurvivor
Imalover
Imafighter
Imahealer
Imateddybear
Imalion
Imabull
Imapeacefulwarrior
Imatruthseeker
Imamentor

Contrastthatsomeofsomedisempoweringornegativemetaphors.Youcanusemetaphorsto
morepurposefullyshapetheexperiencesyouwanttocreate.ForexampleAreyouanold
dogoralifelonglearnerorforeveryoungoryoungatheartordoyouagelikeafine
wineandgetbetterwithage?Thechoiceisyours.

Metaphors for Life

Yourmetaphorforlifehasabigimpactonyourdaytodayexperience.Yourmetaphorforlife
shapesyourdaytodayexperienceinsimplebutprofoundways.Considersomeexamples:
Lifesagame
Lifesadance
Lifesmagic
Lifesatragedy
Lifesanadventure
Lifesacomedy

Ifyouseelifeasatragedy,itbecomesone.Ifyouseelifeasagame,youmighttryandfindout
howtowin.Iflifeisacomedy,thenmaybeeverydayislikeyourfavoritesitcom.Iflifeisa
dance,maybeyoufindwaystoseegraceorbeautyinyourselfandothers.Iflifeismagic,then
youfindthewonderintheworldandyouenjoyseekingoutmysteryandpossibility.

Key Take Aways

Herearekeytakeawaystohelpyouusemetaphorstofindyourmotivation:
1. Metaphorsshapeyourexperience.
2. Metaphorscanbeasimplewaytoempoweryourself.
3. Choosethemetaphorsthatworkforyou.
4. Youcanfindametaphorforyourselfandforlife.

Todays Assignment
1. Findanempoweringmetaphorforyoursituationorcircumstance.
2. Findanempoweringmetaphorforyourselforwhatyoudo.
3. Findanempoweringmetaphorforlife.

Rememberthatthekeytoasuccessfulmetaphoristhatitmotivatesyouandhelpsyourespond
toanychallengethatcomesyourwayorsucceedatwhateveryoudo.Itsnotwhetheritmakes
sense,itshowitmakesyoufeelandtheresultsyouget.Measureandtestyourmetaphors
againstpersonaleffectivenessasyourultimateyardstick.

Day 17 Add Power Hours to Your Week

Theenergyofthemindistheessenceoflife.Aristotle

Outcome

AddPowerHourstoyourweekanduseyourbestenergyforyourbestresults.Byguarding
yourpeakhoursthroughouttheday,andapplyingthemwhereyouneeditmost,you
dramaticallyimproveyourabilitytoachievefaster,better,andeasierresults.

Welcome to Day 17
Welcometoday17of30DaysofGettingResultsbasedonmybook,GettingResultstheAgile
Way.Inday16,welearnedhowtousemetaphorstofindourmotivation.

Today,welearnhowtoincreasethenumberofpowerhourswehavethroughouttheweek.By
addingPowerHours,wekeepourenergystrongandweachievemorethanwouldnormallybe
possible.

Power Hours are Your Force Multiplier

Outofyourweek,howmanyhoursarehourswhereyouactuallyfeellikeyouareontopof
yourgameandgettingyourworkdoneormakingyourideashappen?ManypeopleIknowget
thebulkoftheirworkdoneinashortperiodoftime.Theyhaveto.Theyonlyhaveafew
uninterruptedhourswheretheycanfullyfocusandproducetheirresults.Theyvemastered
theirPowerHours.

ThebeautyofthePowerHouristhatItsasmallblockoftime.ItsYOURpeakhourandits
YOURforcemultiplier.Youcandeliberatelyturnmoreofyourhours,intoyourpeakhoursto
multiplyyourresults.

Ifyourealreadyworkingontherightthings,therightway,Icantthinkofanystronger
multipliertoyourdaythanusingyourbestenergytoamplifyyourresults.

Visual The 3 Keys to Amazing Results

Hereisasimplementalmodelforthinkingabouthowyoucanimpactyourresults:

Basically,youcanthrowmoretimeatsomething,oryoucanchangeyourapproachoryour
technique,oryoucanchangetheenergyoreffortyouapply.Thekeyistospendtheright
time,ontherightthings,therightway,withtherightenergy.Thatsthetruesecretoffaster,
simpler,easierresults.

Power Hours are Your Peak Hours

APowerHourissimplyanhourwhereyouareinthezoneandatyourbest.ItsatermI
heardoftenwhilegrowingup,whetheritwassomebodyhavingapowerhourwhenthey
workedout,orhavingapowerhouronthejob.Onthejob,apowerhourmeantthatyou
arefiringonallcylinders,clearinghurdleswithease,andplowingthroughyourworkinan
unstoppableway,withenergyandzest.

Why Power Hours

Notallhoursarethesame.Somehoursarebetterthanothersthroughouttheweek.There
aremanyreasonstoaddmorePowerHourstoyourweek,buthereareafew:
1. PowerHoursarethekeytoexponentialresultsTheyareyourforcemultiplier.Idrather
havefourPowerHours,thanfortynonpeakhours.
2. PowerHoursareexclusivelyyours.Theyareyourpeakhours.Yourbatteriesarecharged
andyouarereadytogo.
3. PowerHoursrefuelyou.Theyhelpyourenew,refuel,andbuildmomentumthroughout
yourdayandthroughoutyourweek.
4. PowerHourshelpyouconqueryourmountains.Theyhelpyoublastthroughyourworkor
betterdealwithyourworsthurdlesorchallengesinworkandlife.
5. PowerHoursarethesecrettoworkingless.Theyarethekeytoworkingless,while
achievingmore.

ThemainreasontoaddPowerHourstoyourweekistogetleveragefromthetimeandenergy
youalreadyspend.Ifyouveeverthrowntimeatyourproblems,orhadyourworkfeellikeit

stretchesonandon,oryouvegonethroughthemotionsbutdidntfeellikeyouweregetting
anywhere,thenyouknowexactlywhyyouneedtoaddmorePowerHourstoyourweek.

3 Steps to Adding Power Hours to Your Week

HerearethreewaysthatyoucanaddPowerHourstoyourweek:
Step1.FindthePowerHoursyoualreadyhave.Weallhavethem.Someofourhours
arewaymoreeffectivethanothersorwefeelwaymorealertandalive.Simplyidentify
throughouttheweek,whichhoursarethehourswhereyoufeelyouareatyourbest,and
youcoulddoyourbestwork.Dontconfusethiswithwhendoyouactuallydoyour
work.Thisislikeknowingwhenyoufeelhungryversuswhendoyouactuallyeat.Inthis
case,simplyidentifyyourbesthoursofenergyintheweek.
Step2.GuardyourPowerHours.FindwaystoblockofyourPowerHoursasifyourlife
dependedonit.Infact,yourlivelihoodmightdependonit.Nowthatyouveactually
identifiedwhenyourPowerHoursare,protectthemsothatyoucanspendthemwhere
youneeditmost.Whatsomepeopledoistheycreateappointmentswith
themselves.Theystopsettingupmeetingswithotherpeopleduringthosetimes.They
pushbackonmeetingrequestsforthosetimes.SimplybyprotectingthePowerHoursthat
youalreadyhaveisthefastestwaytoaddPowerHourstoyourweek(or,toputitanother
way,itshownottoruintheyourpeakhours.)
Step3.SpendMoreTimeinYourStrengths.YoucanaddPowerHoursbyshufflingyour
schedulearoundtospendmoretimeinyourstrengths.Forexample,Ideliberatelyadded
activitieslikebrainstormingorhavinglunchwithmymentorsasweeklyroutinestoadd
morePowerHourstomyday.Forideasonfindingandapplyingyourstrengths,seeDay10
FeelStrongAllWeekLong.

WhenIfirstcountedupmyPowerHoursfortheweekseveralyearsback,IfoundIhadaround
four.IwasprettyupsetuntilIcheckedwithotherpeopleandfoundouttheywereluckyifthey
hadthat.IcanhappilysaythatbydeliberatelyfocusingonaddingPowerHourstomyweek,I
haveaminimumoffourPowerHoursperday.Thishelpsmeachievealotmorewithlesstime,
andspendmybestenergywhereIneeditmost.Thiswasmykeyforexponentialresults.

Todays Assignment
1. IdentifyyourcurrentPowerHoursfortheweek.Findtherecurringrhythmsand
patterns.Itmightbejustbeforebreakfastorrightafter,ormaybeitsafterlunch.Lookto
whereyoufeelyourbestduringtheday.
2. Guardyourpowerhours.FindawaytofreethosePowerHoursbackupsothatyoucanuse
themeitherforgettingyourworkdoneormakingyourideashappenorblastingthrough
barriers.

Day 18 Add Creative Hours to Your Week

Creativityisallowingyourselftomakemistakes.Artisknowingwhichonestokeep.Scott
Adams

Your Outcome

AddmoreCreativeHourstoyourweek.Letyourideasandimaginationcomeouttoplay,
whileyouuncorkyourcreativegeniusandflexyourcreativemind.

Welcome to Day 18
Welcometoday18of30DaysofGettingResults,basedonmybook,GettingResultstheAgile
Way.Inday17,welearnedhowtoaddPowerHourstoyourweek.

Today,welearnhowtoaddcreativehourstoourweek.Withourcreativehours,wecan
innovateorthinkofnewideasorworkonourcreativeart.

Adding Creative Hours to Your Week

JustlikeaddingPowerHours,youmightbenefitfromaddingmoreCreativeHourstoyour
week.CounthowmanyCreativeHoursyouhaveduringtheweek.Ifitsnotenough,schedule
moreandsetyourselfupsothattheytrulyareCreativeHours.

Ifyourethecreativetype,thiswillbeespeciallyimportant.Ifyoudontthinkofyourselfasvery
creative,thensimplythinkoftheseasfreehourstoletyourmindwanderandexploreor
reflect.

Creative Hours are Your FreeForm Thinking

Itsthosetimeswhenyourmindfeelsfreetoexploreideas:creatingnewideasfromscratch,
puttingnewideastogether,orsimplyreflecting.YourCreativeHoursarereallyastateof
mindastateofdaydreaming.Itsthemindsetthatsimportant.WhereasyourPowerHours
maybefocusedonresults,yourCreativeHoursarefocusedonfreeformthinkingand
exploration.

YoumightfindthatCreativeHoursareyourperfectbalancetoPowerHours.Youmightalso
findthatyouthrivebestwhenyouaddmoreCreativeHourstoyourweek.Ultimately,you
mightfindthatyourPowerHoursfreeuptimeforyourCreativeHours,orthatyourCreative
HourschangethegameandimproveyourPowerHours.

YourpowerhoursmightalsobehowyouleverageyourideasfromyourCreativeHours.Test
yourresults.

3 Common Patterns for Your Mind at Work

Forsimplicityssake,letsstartbycallingoutthreecommonpatternsormodesofthinking:
1. Creativeinspiration.Yourcreativejuicesareflowing.Thisiswhereyourimaginationruns
wildandyourideasarefreeflowingandyouarefullofcreativeinspiration.Youreableto
thinkoutoftheboxandideasseemtocometoyou.
2. ThoughtfulTask.Yourbrainisengagedandthisiswhereyouhavetothinkyourway
throughyouractivity.Youareactivelythinkingandprocessinginformationandusingyour
memory.
3. RoutineActivity.Yourbraindoesnothavetobeengaged.Itsafamiliarorrepetitivetask
thatyoucandowithoutthinking.Youjustknowwhattodoandyoucanjustdoit,without
muchmentalintervention.

Youcanusethesepatternsasalenstohelpyoubetteridentifywhenyouareinyourmost
creativestate.Keepinmindthatthenatureofyourworkwillinfluenceyourpattern.

3 Steps to Adding More Creative Hours to Your Week

HerearethreewaystoaddmoreCreativeHourstoyourweek:
Step1.ProtecttheCreativeHoursyoualreadyhave.Firstidentifythewhenyoureatyour
creativebestthroughouttheweek.Youmightfindthatyourbesthoursforcreativity
followcertainroutinesoroccuratrepeatabletimes.Forexample,maybeyourridehome
fromworkputsyouinacreativestate.
Step2.CreateSpace.Youmightneedtoaddspaceinyourscheduletogiveyourselfroom
forimaginationandcreativity.Forexample,ifyourealwaysrushingtomakeadeadlineor
alwaysworriedaboutwhatyouhavetodonext,youmightnotbemakingenoughspaceor
downtimetoexperienceyourbestcreativity.Youmightneedtocreatespaceintermsof
timeorcreatespaceintermsoflocation.SeeDay7SetupBoundariesandBuffers.
Step3.Changeupyourroutines.Youmightneedtochangeyourroutinestofindpatterns
thathelpyougetintoyourcreativemodemoreeasily.Forexample,maybebysimply
movingaroundsomeofyourroutines,youfindthatyousuddenlyexperiencemorecreative
energyandyourideasflowonamoreregularbasis.

Thekeyinallthisissimplybeingmoremindfulofwhenyouareatyourcreativebest,and
findingwaystoexperiencemoreofyourcreativemindsetbydesigninsteadofjustluckinginto
it.Experimentandtesttofindwhatworksforyou.

Experiment Between Morning Person and Night Owl

Somepeoplefindthattheyaremorecreativeatnightbutaremoreproductiveduringtheday.
Otherpeoplefindtheysimplycantbecreativeincertainsituationsorthattheycantbe
productiveinothers.Experimentbetweenbeinganightowlandamorningpersontoseewhich
patternsworkbestforyou.Youmightevenfindthatthesepatternsswitch,dependingonthe
season.Forexample,youmightprefertobeanightowlinthewinterandamorningpersonin
thesummer.

Todays Assignment
1. IdentifyyourCreativeHours.
2. CreatemorespaceforyourCreativeHours

Day 19 Who are You Doing it For?

Beautyisaltogetherintheeyeofthebeholder.?LewWallace

Your Outcome

Figureoutwhothethingsyoudoarereallyfor.Seehowwhethertheworkyoudoisactually
abovethelineorbelowthelineintermsofwhetheryouregettingahead,orjust
treadingwater.

Welcome to Day 19
Welcometoday19of30DaysofGettingResults.Inday18,welearnedhowtoaddmore
creativehourstoyourweek.

Today,welearnhowtogetclarityonwhotheworkwedoisreallyfor.Withgreatclarity,
comesgreatconviction.Whenyouknowwhoyouareactuallydoingthingsfor,youcancheck
whetherwhatyouredoingisreallyvalued,orifthereissomethinghigherpriority.Youcan
theninvestmoreofyourtimeandenergyinthingsthathavemorevalue.More
importantly,youcanbettermapthevalueyoucreatetowhatpeopleactuallycareabout,
includingyourself.Whensomethingyoudoisactuallyforyou,makesureitswhatyoureally
value.Whensomethingyoudoisforsomethingelse,makesureitswhattheyreallywantor
careabout.

Thisonesimplepracticewillhelpyouavoidcrossedexpectationswithyourselfandothers.

Itwillalsohelpyouavoidfeelingunderappreciated,anditwillalsohelpyouactuallyflowmore
valueforyourselfandothersonaregularbasis.Alittleclaritygoesalongway.

What Value Are You Delivering?

Whenyouthrowtimeandenergyatthings,lookatitintermsofvaluedeliveredversus
activityperformed.Rememberthatvalueisintheeyeofthebeholderwhetheritsvalue
toyourself,toyourmanager,forthecompany,orfortheworld.

Value is in the Eye of the Beholder

Onecommonpitfallisthrowingalotoftimeandeffortatthings,onlytofindthatwhenyoure
done,nobodycares.
Youneedtofigureoutwhoyouarereallydoingitfor,andhowvalueditreallyis.
Ifitsforyou,dontexpectappreciation.Ifitsactuallyforyou,thatsperfectlyfine.You
havetotakecareofyourneedsandwants,too.Justdontexpectotherstoappreciateit,

sinceitsnotactuallyforthem.Ifyoukeepfeelingalackofappreciation,thenaskyourself,
WhowasIreallydoingitfor?Ifitwasactuallyforyourself,thenfigureoutwhetheritwas
whatyoumostcaredabout,orwhetheryoucouldhaveinvestedthesametimein
somethingelseandmademoreimpact.
Ifitsforsomebodyelse,findouthowmuchtheyreallycare.Ifyouweredoingitfor
somebodyelse,askthemwhetherwhatyoureworkingonisreallythemostimportant
thingtothem,rightnow.Checkwiththem!Whetheritsyourcustomeroryourpartneror
whoever,itseasytoassumetheyshouldvalueit,justbecauseyoudo,orbecauseyouthink
theyshould.Itsalsoverypossiblethatwhatwasimportanttothematonepoint,isno
longerasimportant(timechangeswhatsimportant.)Ifyoureworkingonalotoflow
priorityitems,dontexpecttogettherewards.Yoursuccessdependsonfiguringouttheir
trueprioritiesandmappingthevalueyoudelivertothat.Atwork,Ifindthatpeopledont
alwaysknowwhattheyreallyvalue,soItendtosimplyask,Whataresomeofyourworst
problemsonyourplate?Thishelpsquicklyseparateallthethingsamanagermighttell
youtodoversuswhatsreallyontheirradarandwhattheyreallycareabout.
Dontbecomeadumpingground.Themoreyouworkonlowpriorityitems,themoreyou
becomeadumpingground.Themoreyoubecomeadumpingground,thebusieryouget;
andthebusieryouget,themoreoverloadedyouwillfeel.Nowtheworsthappensyoure
overworked,underappreciated,andnofuntobearound.
Getoffthetreadmill.Byfailingtoworkonwhatsvaluableandbyfailingtounderstand
andresetexpectations,youveworkedyourselfintoanunrewarding,highstressscenario.

Acommonscenarioonateamiswheresomebodyspendsalotoftimerampingupand
learning.Theyarentactuallydeliveringvaluefortheteamyet.Theygetfrustratedthatthey
dontfeelappreciatedandtheysayhowmuchtimetheyvespentlearningorfiguringthingsout
orworkinghard.Thelenstheyaremissingisthattheyarejustdoingwhatsexpectedwhichis
belowtheline,andtheyhaventrisenabovethelineyet.Theyneedtoseethat,atthat
stageoratthispointintime,thevalueisactuallyforthemandthatitstheirowngrowth.

Points to Ponder to Deliver More Value

Herearesomepointsforyoutopondertohelpyoudelivermorevaluetoyourselfandothers:
Areyouworkingonstuffthatsvalued?
Whoisthevaluefor:youorsomebodyelse?

Theimportantthingisforyoutohaveanappropriateframeofreferenceforthevalueofwhat
youredoing.Ifyoudontfeelappreciatedforwhatyouredoing,itjustmightnotbethat
valuabletosomebodyelse,oritmightjustbeexpected.Youalsomightfindthatyouresobusy
takingcareofeverythingthatyoucantgetyourheadabovewater.

Thefixisusuallyreprioritizingwhatsonyourplate,figuringoutwhattherealvaluesand
expectationsare,andresettingexpectationswithyourselfandothers.Thelastplaceyou

wanttobeisgrindingawayonsomethingthatneitheryounoranyoneelsewillvalue,orworse,
missingbasicexpectationsthatminimizesyouroveralleffectiveness.

Todays Assignment
1. Forthethingsthatareonyourplate,getclarityonwhotheyarereallyfor.Itsfinefor
thingstobebothforyouandotherpeople,butifitsforotherpeople,youmightwantto
checkwhethertheyactuallyvalueitorwouldprefersomethingelse.Dontbesurprisedif
whattheyvalueisnotthesameaswhatyouvalue.However,youcanoftenfindorcreatea
bridge.
2. Figureoutthethingsthatyoureallyneedtodoforyourself.Dothemguiltfree.Remember
thatthebetteryoucantakecareofyourself,thebetteryoucantakecareofothers.Builda
firmfoundationandaplatformforyourself,soyoucandogreatthingsandflowvaluefor
yourselfandothers.Onewaytoremindyourselfofsomeofyourbasicneedsisto
exploreMaslowsHierarchyofNeeds.

Day 20 Ask Better Questions, Get Better Results

Therearenorightanswerstowrongquestions.UrsulaK.LeGuin

Your Outcome

Learnhowtoaskcuttingquestionstoinstantlystarthelpingyouimproveyourresults.By
askingkeyquestions,youcancutthroughthefogorcuttothechaseandfigureoutwhat
reallycounts.

Welcome to Day 20
Welcometoday20of30DaysofGettingResults,basedonmybook,GettingResultstheAgile
Way.Inday19,welearnedtoaskthequestion,Whoareyoudoingitfor?tohelpusget
clarityonwhywearedoingwhatweredoingandwhetheritisreallyvaluedandwhoactually
valuesit.Thisalsohelpsusmapthevaluebetter,whetheritsforourselvesorforsomebody
else.

Today,webuildonthisapproachofaskingquestions,toimproveourresults.

Askingcuttingquestionshelpsyouimproveyourabilitytoworkontherightthings,withthe
rightenergy,attherighttime,therightwayforYOURBESTRESULTS.

Askingbetterquestionsisanongoingprocess.Theonewhogainsthemostisyou.Yourability
toimprovethequestionsyouaskyourselfwillimprovethequalityofyourlifeinallareas.

Why Ask Questions

Askingtherightquestionscanhelpyoubalance,focus,makebetterdecisions,andprioritize
moreeffectively.Letselaborateonthat:
Askingtherightquestionsleadsustobetteranswers.Ifwethinkofthinkingasaprocess
ofaskingandansweringquestions,thentogetbetteranswers,wehavetoaskbetter
questions.Thinkaboutthat.Whetheritsyourownselftalkorinameeting,howpowerful
isittoasktherightquestion?
Askingquestionschangesyourfocus.Youcanchangeyourfocusbychangingyour
question,andthisallowsyoutoquicklyswitchperspectivesorgetanewlensonthings.For
example,byaskingyourselfWhatsrightinyourlife?yougetaverydifferentresultthan
asking,Whatswrongwithyourlife?Somepeopleneveraskthemselveswhatsrightin
theirlife,andtheyloseappreciationforwhattheyvegot,andtheyblowthebadthingsout
ofproportion.

Directyourselftalkmoreeffectively.Changeyourquestionsandyouchangeyour
game.Ratherthantellyourselftodothings,youcanaskmoreeffectivequestionstoget
moreresourceful.Forexample,HowmightIsolvethisorWhatsagoodapproach?or
WhoelsesharesthisproblemthatIcanlearnfrom?Youcanalsogetunstuckby
switchinggearsfromWhytoHowquestions.Forexample,ratherthanask,Whydoes
thisalwayshappentome?,askyourselfeither,Whatareyougoingtodoaboutit?or
Howwillyouavoidthisinthefuture?
Askingquestionscreatesopportunity.Ifyouwantmoreconflictinyourlife,simplymake
morestatements.Statementscreateconflict.Somebodycanalwaysarguewitha
statement.Youcanevenarguewithyourself.Switchingtoquestions,opensup
exploration.
Questionscreateahhas.Whenyouaskquestions,youcanactuallycreateemotional
connectionsasyouhaveyourinsightandahhamoments.Theseemotionallinksare
morepowerfulthanjustrawinformation.

Asyoucansee,therearelotsofreasonswhyimprovingyourquestionscanimproveyour
everydayexperienceinaverypracticalway.

Quotes About Questions

Herearesomeofmyfavoritequotesaboutthevalueofaskinggoodquestions:
1. Achildcanaskquestionsthatawisemancannotanswer.Unknown
2. Aprudentquestionisonehalfofwisdom.FrancisBacon
3. Ananswerisalwaysaformofdeath.JohnFowles
4. Itisnoteveryquestionthatdeservesananswer.PubliliusSyrus
5. Noquestionissodifficulttoanswerasthattowhichtheanswerisobvious.KarlOtto
vonSchonhausenBismarck
6. Qualityquestionscreateaqualitylife.Successfulpeopleaskbetterquestions,andasa
result,theygetbetteranswers.AnthonyRobbins
7. Questionsareneverindiscreet.Answerssometimesare.PubliliusSyrus
8. Themanwhoquestionsopinioniswise;themanwhoquarrelswithfactisafool.FrankA
Garbutt
9. Theonlyquestionsthatreallymatteraretheonesyouaskyourself.UrsulaK.LeGuin
10. Theuncreativemindcanspotwronganswers,butittakesaverycreativemindtospot
wrongquestions.AntonyJay
11. Welearnmorebylookingfortheanswertoaquestionandnotfindingitthanwedofrom
learningtheansweritself.LloydAlexander
12. Whenwehavearrivedatthequestion,theanswerisalreadynear.RalphWaldoEmerson
13. Youcantellwhetheramaniscleverbyhisanswers.Youcantellwhetheramaniswiseby
hisquestions.NaguibMahfouz

Questions for Improving Your Results

Hereisatableofquestionsyoucandrawfromtohelpyouimproveyourresults:

Category

Questions

General

Aretherightpeopleworkingontherightthings?
Whatstherightthingtodo?
Whatsthebestplayforthisscenario?
Doesyourcontainerlimitorsupportyou?

Action

Whatsthenextbestthingtodo?
Nextsteps?
Whataretheactions?
Whatsthesimplestthingyoucandonow?
Isyourcurrentactionmovingyourforwardsorbackwards?

Efficiency
andEffectiveness

Whatareyouoptimizing?
Isiteffective?
AreyougoingfasterANDintherightdirection?

GoalsandObjectives

Whatdoyouwanttoaccomplish?
Whatarethetestsforsuccess?
Arethesereallyyourgoalsorsomeoneelses?

Learning

Whocanyoulearnfrom?
Whatare3examplestomodelfrom?
Whatare3thingsgoingwell?
Whatare3thingstoimprove?

Motivation

Doyouwanttodoit?
Doyouliketodoit?
Howcanyouenjoytheprocess?
Whatthoughtsaregettinginthewayofyourmotivation?
Canyoumakeadifferentchoicethatismoremotivating?

TimeManagement

Howmuchtimedidyouspendonit?
Howmuchtimeshouldyouspendonit?
Isnowtherighttime?
Whatsgoodenoughfornow?
Areyouspending$20ona$5problem?
Howcanyoumanageyourenergytouseyourtimemoreeffectively?

Value

Doesitmatter?
Isitsignificant?
Whofeelsithasvalue?You?Others?
Ifothersvalueit,doesitconflictoralignwithwhatyouvalue?

Using the Table of Questions

Usethetableasastartingpoint,butthekeyistofindthequestionsthatworkforyouand
continuetoaddtoyourquestiontoolboxovertime.Youllfindthatsomequestionswill
reallyempoweryoufromgettingunstuck,tofindingsolutions,togettinginspired,tofiguring
outyournextbestthingtodo.

Your Assignment
1. Identifyonequestionyoucanaskyourselfthatcanhelpyougetbetterresults.
2. Identifyonequestionyouneedtostopaskingyourself,soyoucangetbetterresults.Finda
moreeffectivequestionyoucanreplacetheineffectivequestionwith.

Day 21 Carry the Good Forward and Let the Rest Go

WhenIletgoofwhatIam,IbecomewhatImightbe.LaoTzu

Your Outcome

Makethemostofyoursetbacks,failures,andlessons.Takethelessonsyoulearneach
week,carrythegoodforward,andusethemtorefineyourapproach.Lettherestgo.

Welcome to Day 21
Welcometoday21of30DaysofGettingResults,basedonmybook,GettingResultstheAgile
Way.Inday20,welearnedhowtoaskbetterquestionstogetbetterresults.Byaskingbetter
questions,wegetclarityonwhatcountsforourselvesandothers,andwefigureoutwhats
reallyvalued.

Today,welearnhowtofindthelessons,failfast,andfailforward.Thekeystorapidlearning
areturningfailuresintofeedback,carryingthegoodforward,andstayingcurious.Theworst
pitfalltofallintoisastateoflearnedhelplessness,whereyoushutdownorstartthinking
thatnomatterwhatyoutry,itjustwontwork.

Dontdwellonwhatyoudidwrongfigureoutwhatyoucandoright.

Justbecauseyoudontgettheresultsyouexpected,dontloseyourway.Oneofmyfavorite
remindersinPeacefulWarrioristhatawarriordoeswhattheylove,despitethesetbacksand
thechallenges.Theyfindaway.

Why Carry the Good Forward

Whenyoucarrythegoodforward,andlettherestgo,yourlessonsbecomeaspringboardthat
supportyouinallareasofyourlife.Ratherthangetboggeddown,orbeatyourselfupfromall
thethingsthatdontgoasplanned,youfindsmarterstrategiesandtacticsforimprovingyour
success.Thisbuildsmomentumandapersonaltoolboxyoucandrawfromwheneveryou
needit.

Find the Lessons

Nomatterwhatgoeswrongyoucanalwaysfindthelessons.Mistakeshappen.Were
human.Thingsdontalwaysgoasplanned.Itseasytolookbackandsecondguessyourself
afterthefact,withperfect2020hindsight.

Thatswhatmakesjudgingandcritiquingsoeasy,sinceyouhaveanewvantagepointandmore
information.Ratherthanusethevantagepointasacritic,turnyourinnercriticintoyour
personalcoachanduseyourfeedbackasawaytopaveapathforward.Youcanusequestions
tofindthelessons:
WhatdidIlearn?
HowcanImakethemostofthis?
HowcanIusethis?

Testyourresultsandfindthequestionsthatworkforyou.Ifyoureinasituationthatdoesnt
seemlikeitwillchange,thenchangeyourselffirstbyaskingthequestion,Ifthissituation
neverweretochange,whatstheonequalityIneedtomakethemostofthis?

Fail Forward
Turnfailuresintolessons.Dontjustask,WhydidIfail?Itsimportanttoalsoask,WhatdidI
learn?Carrythegoodforward.Asyougetintothehabitoffailingforward,youllfinditeasier
andeasiertoturnfailureintofeedback,whilelearningthekeylessonsandinsightthathelpyou
spreadyourwingsorbouncebackfastereachtime.

Catch the Next Train

Dontbelatefortoday.Beearlyfortomorrow.Allthetimeyouspenddwellingonwhatyou
missedoropportunitylost,takesawayfromyougettingreadytocatchthenexttrain.While
yourrearviewmirrorishelpfulforlearninglessons,findawayforwardandleadyourselfwith
skillbystayingforwardlookinginyourapproach.Wheneveryoufindyourselfdwelling,ask
yourself,Whatsnext?

Get Up to Bat
Thisisoneofmyfavoritemetaphors.Yougetanewchanceatbateachday,eachweek,each
month,eachyear.Aslongasyoukeepgettinguptobat,youhaveanotherchance.

Ifyouregoingthroughchange,thenrememberthatchangeisaprocessandthatitmighttake
multipletimesormultiplechancestogetitright.Allowforthefactthatchangeishard.You
mightfailmultipletimes;justkeepgettingbackonyourhorse,learnfromeachsetback,and
carrythegoodforward.Dontbreakyourselfagainstyourowngoalsbybitingofftoomuchor
beatingyourselfovertheheadwiththem;instead,usethemtoliftyouandguideyourchoices.

Cut the Chains that Bind You

IfyousawDisneysmovieUp,thenyouknowwhatitsliketocutthetiesthatbindyou.Cut
thedeadwoodorwhateverisholdingyouback.InPeacefulWarrior,thereminderwastoput
yourbagsdown.Inthemovie,UpintheAir,themainactor,playedbyGeorgeClooney,asks

thequestion,Whatsinyourbackpack?Thisforcesyoutotakealookatallthepossessions,
relationships,commitments,andresponsibilitiesthatyoucarryaroundinyourmetaphorical
backpack,andwhethertheyrehelpingorhurtingyou,orjusthowmuchtheyareweightingyou
down.ThewaythatIturnalloftheseinsightsintoactionandkeepitsimpleiswithaoneliner
reminder

Carrythegoodforward,andlettherestgo.

Your Assignment
1. Addthequestion,HowcanIusethis?toyourmentaltoolboxfordealingwithyour
setbacks,mistakes,andfailures.
2. Addthequestion,Ifthissituationneverweretochange,whatstheonequalityIneedto
makethemostofthis?toyourmentaltoolboxfordealingwiththeworstinyourlife.
3. Reframeyourfailuresasfeedback.Treatyourfeedbackasanendlesssupplyof
learningsandlessonsyoucanchoosetoacton,ignore,ormakethemostof.
4. EachFriday,findthethreelessonsyoucancarryforwardfromtheweek,intoyournext
week,tocreateyourmomentumandaspringboardforyoursuccess.

Day 22 Design Your Day with Skill

Letyourimaginationreleaseyourimprisonedpossibilities.RobertH.Schuller

Your Outcome

Designyourdaytosupportyouforsuccess.Learnhowtostructureyourdaytomakethe
mostofwhatyouvegot.Chunkupyourdayandavoidbeingoverwhelmed.

Welcome to Day 22
Welcometoday22of30DaysofGettingResults,basedonmybook,GettingResultstheAgile
Way.Inday21,welearnedhowtocarrythegoodforwardandlettherestgotofailforward,
failfast,andimproveaswego.

Today,welearnhowtodesignourdaywithskill.Bydesigningourdayinamindfulway,we
createjustenoughroutinestogiveusafirmfoundationandplatformforsuccess.Whenwere
havingagreatday,thesehabitsamplifyandcatapultoursuccess.Whenwerehavinganoff
day,thisfoundationwillhelpusdealwithwhateverlifethrowsourway,aswellasvaultour
keychallengesorhurdles.Itsallaboutgettingthesystemonourside,bydesign.

You Drive Your Day or Your Day Drives You

Whenyoudriveyourday,yougettodefinewhatgoodlookslike,andwhenyousettherules,
youwinthegame.Itonlytakesamomenttotakealookfromthebalconybeforeyougeton
thestage.Beforeyouaremiredinyourday,takethisbrieflooktoseethescenesyoullbe
steppinginto.

Ifeachdayislikeaplay,thenyouhaveabeginning,amiddleandanend,orthreeacts.What
rolesdoyouwanttoplay,andwhatdoyouwantyourdaytobeabout.Whetheritsfromthe
balconyorthedirectorschair,youneedtosetthestageforyoursuccess,onescene,oneact,
oroneplayatatime.

Youdriveyourdayoryourdaydrivesyou.

Each Day is a Fresh Start

Eachdayisafreshstart.Rememberasakidwakingupeachmorningtoanewandexcitingday?
Thatsthepointyouneedtostartfrom.Thedifferenceisnowyouhaveskills.Youalsopicked

upsomegoodhabitsandsomebadhabitsalongtheway.Youlookedforwardtogrowingupso
youcoulddowhateveryouwant.

Unfortunatelyovertime,maybeyoustartedtothinkthatlifeisntasfullofpossibilitiesoras
limitlessasyouoncethought.Butwhatsreallylimitingyou?Youare,andallthelimitsyou
bringtoeachnewday.Baggagebringsyoudown.Dontpickupyourbagstoday.Travellight.

Testyourself.Testyourlimits.Chancesareyoullsurpriseyourselftimeandagain;justgive
yourselfachance.Ifthingsdontworkouttoday,thenyoucanstillwalkawaywithlessonsthat
willhelpyoushapeabettertomorrow.

3 Ways to Design Your Day with Skill

Herearethreewaystodesignyourdaywithskill:
1. CreateaneffectiveStartupRoutineThisishowyoubootstrapyourday.Youalready
haveastartuproutine.Itstheactivitiesyoudotostartyourdayandfeelgrounded.For
example,onweekdays,mystartuproutineistowakeup,throwmyshoeson,workoutfor
30minutes,shower,eatbreakfastslowly,andtakethebackwaytowork.Onmydriveto
work,Ilistentomyfavoritemusic,andIthinkofmythreemostcompellingoutcomesfor
theday.WhenIgettowork,Iscanmyinbox,myqueues,andmycalendartoseeifIneedto
adjustmythreeoutcomes.
2. CreateaneffectiveShutDownRoutineThisishowyouendyourday.Justlikehavingan
effectivestartuproutinehelpsbootstrapyourday,aneffectiveshutdownroutinehelpsyou
winddown.Thekeytoaneffectiveshutdownroutineistestingdifferentpatternsuntilyou
findonethathelpsputyouintherightframeofmindforamorerestfulsleep.Sleepingwell
isthemeanstostartingthenextdayrefreshed.
3. DriveyourdaywiththeRuleof3Ifyouremembernothingelse,startyourdaywithThe
Ruleof3.Knowtheminimumthreeoutcomesthatyouwantforthedaysimplyidentify
threeresults.Theseareyourtestsforsuccess.Itsyourchancetodefineyoursuccess,and
yougetacleanslateeachday.

Designing a Great Startup Routine

Thewayyoustartyoudaycanhaveadramaticimpactonwhetheryoustartthedayfresh,
centered,andfromafirmfoundation,oryoustartthedaylikeachickenwithitsheadcut
off.IveseenthedifferenceinmyselfandIveseenthedifferenceinmanyothers,upanddown
theranks.

AsIvebuiltteamsovertheyears,Iveaskedvariousteammembershowtheystarttheir
day.Normally,theywouldtellmewhattheydoatwork.Idsaybackup,startfromwhenyou
wakeupoutofbed.Iwassurprisedtofindhowvariedmanystartedtheirdaywiththenews
andtheiremail,evenbeforetheygottowork.Theywouldalsotellmehowthenewswould

eithermakethemfeelanxiousordepressed.Theywouldalsoberunningthroughtheiremails
intheirmindallthewaytowork.

Thatsthekeyrightthere.Bythetimeyoureatwork,itstoolate.Youreinthelineof
fire.Yourereacting.

ThekeyistouseyourStartupRoutinetocreateafirmfoundationforyourdaybeforeyoueven
gettowork.Itsnotaboutwatchingthenewsorcheckingyouremail.Itsaboutfirstdeciding
whatyouwantyourdaytobeaboutandwhatyouwanttoaccomplish.Nowyouarereadyto
respondinsteadofreacttothebarrageofinputsthroughouttherestofyourday,from
emails,tonews,topeoplestoppingbyandwhateverchangesyourcoursethroughoutthe
day.Becauseyoucreatedaquickminiplanforyourday,youcaneffectivelychoosehowto
respondandmakemoreeffectivetradeoffs,ratherthangetknockedaroundbywhatever
comesyourway.

Designing a Great Shutdown Routine

Youmightthinkitwouldbeeasyenoughtothinkofagreatshutdownroutine,buttherearea
lotofvariables.Itsactuallybettertotestavarietyofpatternstoseewhathelpsyouthemost,
whetheritswatchingTV,readingabook,meditating,etc.Forexample,ifyoutendtowatchthe
newsbeforeyousleep,testwatchingacomedy;differentshowswillproducedifferentresults.
Ifyouliketoreadabookbeforebed,areyoureadingabookthathelpsyouwinddown,orare
youreadingmaterialthatmakesithardforyoutofallasleep?Simplynoticetheresultsyoure
gettingandtestdifferentapproaches.

Theresalotofresearchandopinions,butthemostimportantthingistofindwhatworksfor
you.Itslessaboutthespecificactivityyoudoanditsmoreabouthowitimpactsyouorhow
youreacttoit.Forexample,ifyouwatchacomedywherethemaincharacteralwaysgetsinto
astressfulsituation,andyouhavealotofempathy,maybethisisnotthebestthingforyou
beforebed.Thenagain,maybethehappyendingisjusttheperfecttensionandreleaseyou
needfortheperfectslumber.Testyourresultsandchangeyourapproachifitsnotworking.
Attheendoftheday,yourethemostimportantjudge.

Lastly,inadditiontohowyoufeelattheendofyourday,itsalsoimportanttonoticehowyou
feelwhenyouwakeup.Ifyourenotwakinguprefreshed,chancesarethatitswhatyoudid
thenightbeforethatmakesallthedifference(barringanymedicalconditions,ofcourse).So
goaheadandfindwhatworksforyou.Testsomenewpatterns.Getcreative.Exploreyour
results.

Why Use the Rule of 3 to Drive Your Day

TheRuleof3isoneofyourmaintoolsfordrivingyourday.Youcanuseitanytime,anywhere
tomakethemostofwhatyouvegot.Herearesomeofthemainreasonstostartyourdaywith
TheRuleof3:
1. Youdefinethethreetestsforsuccess.Ifyousettherules,youwinthegame.
2. Yougettodefinewhatgoodlookslike.Itsyourlife.
3. Yougettochartyourcourse.Ifyoustartbyquicklylookingoverthetimeyoullspendforthe
day,thenyouhaveamaptoguideyouthroughyourdayandtoleadyouifyougetlostin
thethickofthings.
4. Ifyouknowwhatyouretryingtoaccomplish,youcanprioritizemoreeffectively.Therearea
lotoflittleminidecisionsduringyourdaythatyoucaninfluencebyknowingwhereyou
wanttogo.
5. Ifyouknowyoureworkingontherightthings,itseasiertogiveyouralltofindyour
motivation.
6. Whenyoumapyourday,youknowhowtopaceyourself.Youcantrunaheadifyoucant
seewhatsinfrontofyou.

Rememberthatyourthreeoutcomesarenttasks.Youmighthavelotsoftasksthatrollupto
thesethreeoutcomes,butthesearethreeresultsyouwantfortheday.Forexample,fortoday
Iwantseeagoodmovie,haveagreatlunch,andshipapostthathelpspeoplemakethemost
oftheirlife,adayatatime.ThosearethelinesIvedrawninthesandformyday.Theyare
subjecttochange,buttheychartasimplecoursethatIcanchoosetodepartfrom,andtrade
uporscalebackwithskill.EvenifIdecidetodonothing,itstheartofmakingamoremindful
choicethatmatters.

Your Assignment
1. DesignaStartupRoutinethatworksforyou.Ownthewayyoustartyourday.Findthe
simplehabitsorroutinesthatunleashyourinnerTiggeroryourcorporatewarrioror
whateversupportsyouinthemosteffectiveway.
2. DesignaShutdownRoutinethatworksforyou.Ownthewayyouendyourdayandcapthe
night.Thisisoneoflifeslittlemomentsthatyoucanshapeeachdayinawaythatrenews
you.
3. UseTheRuleof3toshapethreestories,outcomes,orresultsforyourday,inaninspiring
way.Ownyourdestiny,astoryatatime.Rememberthatourfavoritecharactersinour
storiesdontalwayschoosetheadventuresorchallengestheyfindthemselvesin,butits
howtheyrespond,especiallywhentheygettested,thatwereallycareabout.

Day 23 Design Your Week with Skill

TimeisbutthestreamIgoafishingin.HenryDavidThoreau

Your Outcome

Designaweekthatsupportsyouinasustainableway.Havemoretimeforthethingsyou
want,spendlesstimeinthethingsthatyoudontwant,andaddmorefreetimetoyour
week.

Welcome to Day 23
Welcometoday23of30DaysofGettingResults,basedonmybook,GettingResultstheAgile
Way.Inday22,youlearnedhowtodesignyourdaywithskill.

Today,wetakeastepbackandlookathowtodesignyourweekwithskill.Yourweekisalarge
chunkoftimetogetahandleon.Bydesigningaweekthatsupportsyou,yousetyourselfup
forweeklyresults.Eachweekisafreshstart.Youcancarrythelessonsforwardfromoneweek
intothenext.Allyoureallyhaveistime,sothekeyistomakethemostofit.

Ifyouhaverecurringactivities,youprobablyaddedthemovertimewithoutrealizingit.Thats
aschedulebydefault,notbydesign.Seizetheopportunitynowtodesignaweekwhich
actuallysupportsyou.

Design Your Week to Enhance Your Life

IfthereisoneplacewhereIveseenbreakthroughafterbreakthrough,itswhenapersontakes
controloftheirweeklyscheduleandmapsouthowtheywanttospendtheirtimebydesign,
notbydefault.Howyouspendyourtimeonaweeklybasiscaneitherhelpliftyouup
andspiralyoursuccessupwardbyleapsandbounds,oryoucanspiraldown,ifhowyoure
spendingyourtimeisworkingagainstyou.

Designingyourweekisoneofthesinglemosteffectivewaystoenhanceyourlife.

Why Design Your Week

Isyourweekbydesignorbydefault?Oneofthekeystoresultsisowningyourschedule.You
candriveyourschedule,oritcandriveyou.

Imagineaweekwhereyouspendeachdayworkingontherightthingswiththerightpeople
andmakingtherightimpact.Imaginelookingforwardtothestartoftheweek,whetherits

becauseitsafreshstart,oritsachancetoexperiencemoreofwhatyouwant.Imagine
spendingmoretimeeachdayonthethingsthatmakeyoustrong,giveyouenergyandmake
youfeelpowerful.ImagineaweekfilledwithPowerHours,CreativeHours,andenoughfree
timethatyoufeelbalancedandeffective.Imagineaweekwhereyougetenoughsleep,get
enoughmovement,andhaveenoughenergytoaccomplishwhateveryouwant.

Thatisaweekbydesign.Itsnotjustaboutweeklyresultsitsaboutsustainableresultsfor
thelonghaul.

3 Ways to Design Your Week with Skill

1. Baselineyourweek.Mapouthowyouspendyourtimefortheweek.Ifyourenot
spendingenoughtimeonthethingsyouwant,thisisyourfirststeptofixingit.Simplyby
makingthemap,ithelpsyoutoseewhereyourtimealreadygoes.Thisisthefirststepto
seeingyourtimeleaks,yourtimewasters,yourtimepainpointsandopportunities.
2. Setboundariesandlimits.Settingtimeboundariesandlimitsisoneofthebestwaysto
designyourweek.Thisisultimatelywhereyouchoosethelifestylethatyouwantto
lead.Thisiswhereyouchoosewhethertobetheworkaholicormorebalanced.For
example,youmightdecidethatweekendsornightsareyourfreetime.Youmightdecide
thatyouwontworkmorethan40hours,andwhateverfallsoff,fallsoff.Whenyoudont
setlimitsforyourself,youputyourselfatrisk.Whenyousetboundaries,youestablish
whatahealthymodelofaweekisforyou.
3. CarveOutTimeforWhatsImportant.Ifyouwanttospendmoretimeinsomething,than
maketimeforit.Itwillmostlikelymeanlettingsomethingelsego.Thekeyistomakeita
mindfulchoiceinsteadofplayingavictimrolewhereyouneverhavetimeforthisorthat.If
youwantmorefreetime,thenmakefreetime,bycuttingsomethingelse.Dontfeelguilty,
bedeliberate.

Thekeytorememberhereisthatnobodywillcomealonganddesignyourtimeforyouinthe
bestwaypossible.Youaretheultimatearchitectanddesignerofhowyouspendyourtimeina
waythatworksforyou.

Baseline Your Schedule

Mapouthowyoualreadyspendyourtime.Oneofthemosteffectivetoolsfortime
managementistobaselineyourschedule.HereisatemplateIusetomapoutaweekly
schedule:

Examples of What to Put on Your Map

Abaselineissimplyacurrentpictureofyourweek.Itsamapofthedaysandthetimesandthe
recurringactivitiesoreventsthatyouhave.Herearesomeexamplesofwhattoputonyour
map:
Sleeping
Eating
Workouts
Meetings
Worktime
RecurringActivities
Freetime

Thishelpsgiveyouabalconyviewofyourweekataglance.

Setting Boundaries and Limits

TryusingHotSpots(mind,body,emotions,career,financial,relationships,andfun)tohelpyou
setboundaries:

Examples of Setting Boundaries

Forexample,trysettingamaximumoncareerandaminimumonrelationships,body,andfun.
Settingboundariesandlimitsishowyouachieveyourbalance.Ifyoudontmaketimefor
things,theywonthappen.Ifyoudontsetlimitsforthings,theywilltakeoverotherimportant
partsofyourlife.Youcanstartwithsimpleboundaries.Herearesomeexamples:
Dinneronthetableat5:30p.m.
Noworkontheweekend.
Tuesdaynightisdatenight.

Monday Vision, Daily Wins, and Friday Reflection

Whetheryoudesignyourweekornot,rememberthattheMondayVision,DailyWins,Friday
Reflectionpatternistheheartofyourweek.Thisisthescaffoldingtosupportyourweekly
results.Itshowyoullgetafreshstarteachweekandeachday.Itsalsohowyoullimprove
overtime.

Itsasimple,yetconsistentpatternyoucancounton:
OnMondays,youenvisionwhatyoudliketoaccomplishfortheweek;yousimply
imagineifthiswasFriday,whatthreeresultswouldyoulikeunderyourbelt?
Eachday,youfigureoutthreeresultsforthedaythathelpyoumovetowardsyourthree
resultsfortheweek.Atthesametime,youstayflexiblesothatyourealwaysworkingon
thenextbestthingforyoutodo.
OnFridays,youreflectonyourresultsandyoucarrythegoodforward.

5 Ways to Improve Your Week

Herearesomeadditionalwaystoimproveyourweek:
1. ScheduleYourFreeTime.Ifyouscheduleit,ithappens.Ifyoudont,itwont.

2. Fixtimeforeating,sleeping,andworkingout.Thisisoneofthemostcommonsuccess
patternsIseetimeandagain.Haveatimewhereyouregularlyeat,sleep,andexercise
andmakeeverythingworkaroundthat.Thisisyourfoundationandcore.Itspartofyour
platformforpersonalsuccess.
3. Consolidateyourrelatedactivities.Oneofthebestwaystofreeupyourtimeorspendless
timeonthingsistodotheminabatch.Lumpthemtogethersoyoucantacklethemwith
efficiencyandeffectiveness.
4. Consolidateactivatesthatmakeyouweak.Ifsomeactivitiesdrainyou,trytolumpthem
togetherandconsolidatetheamountoftimeyouspendinthem.Again,batchingisyour
friend.
5. Addmoreactivitiesthatmakeyoustrong.Ifyouneedtoaddmoreenergytoyourweek,
simplyfindwaystospendmoretimeinthingsthatmakeyoustrong.Itsnotdoingnothing
thathelpsyourenewyourenergy,itsactuallydoingwhatyouloveordoingthethingsthat
makeyoustrongerthathelpyoubouncebackwithskill.Forme,Iregularlymeetwithmy
mentorstogetnewperspectivesonthings.Thisisoneofmyrenewalpatternsthat
supportsmeeachweek.

Thekeytorememberinallthisisitsnotaboutbeingaproductivemachine.Itsabout
spendingmoretimeonthethingsyouwant,drivingfromyourlifestyle,beingwhoyouwantto
be,andcreatingtheexperiencesyouwantinyourlife.

Free Yourself Up
Youcantuneandpruneyourweekfromhere,butsteponeissimplyhavingaweeklyschedule
thathassomesimplebuffersandboundariesandfreetime,tohelpyoutakethepressureoff,
andtobeyourmosteffectiveself.Whenyouspendtherightenergyontherightthingsthe
rightway,yougetthemdoneinwaylesstime.Thisfreesyouupinmultipleways,beyondjust
givingyousomehoursback.Itgivesyoupeaceofmindanditgetstimeonyourside.When
timeisonyourside,youareunstoppable.

Todays Assignment
1. Baselineyourschedule.Takethetimetomapoutyourweeklyscheduleandtakealook
fromthebalcony.
2. Scheduleyourfreetime.Ifyoudonthaveenoughfreetime,thesinglemosteffectiveway
youcanaddfreetimeistoaddmorefreetimetoyourschedule.Rememberthebigrocks
story?Firstmakeroomforyourfreetime,ifthatswhatsimportanttoyou,thenadd
thingsaroundthat.

Day 24 Bounce Back with Skill

Lifeisnotabouthowfastyourun,orhowhighyouclimb,buthowwellyoubounce.
Anonymous

Your Outcome

Bouncebackwithskillandrollwiththepunches.Learntodrawfrommultiplesourcesof
strengthandenergy,includingyourmind,body,emotions,andspirit.

Welcome to Day 24
Welcometoday24of30DaysofGettingResults,basedonmybook,GettingResultstheAgile
Way.Inday23,youlearnedhowtodesignyourweekwithskilltogetafreshstart,establish
routinesthatsupportandrenewyou,andspendmoretimeonthethingsthatcountforyou.

Today,welearnhowtobouncebackwithskill.Bouncingbackwithskillhelpsusrollwiththe
punches,refuelourbodies,andkeepoursparkalive.Itshowwekeepourenginegoingwhen
therestofussayswecantanditshowweshutdownorturnitoffsowecanbounce
backstronger.

Its How High You Bounce

Ifyoucombineafirmfoundationwithyourabilitytobouncebackwithskill,whileleveraging
thecyclesofthings,includingyourownpersonalpatternsofupsanddowns,younotonly
makethemostofwhatyouvegot,butyoutrulywriteyourstoryforward,focusingonthe
thingsyoucontrol,whilelettingtherestgo.

Rememberthatinlife,itsnothowmanytimesyougetknockeddownitshowmanytimes
yougetbackup.

Key Principles for Bouncing Back with Skill

Herearesomecoreprinciplesforbouncingbackwithskill:
1. Drivefromwhatyouwantyourlifetobeabout.Focusonwhoyouwanttobe,what
experiencesyouwanttocreate,andwhatyouwantyourlifetobeabout.Waterseeksits
ownlevel.Youhavetosetthelevelstartingwithyourownmentalmodelorthewayyou
wanttowriteyourstoryforward.Whenlifedoesntplayoutthewayweexpect,itsupto
ustopickourselvesup,dustourselvesoff,andmakethemostofwhatwevegot,fromthat
pointforwardRiseagain.

2. Drawyourstrengthandenergyfrommultiplesources.Yourenergycomesfrommultiple
sourcesmind,body,emotions,andspirit.Youcangetasynergybycombingthese
sources,andthewholeisgreaterthanthesumoftheparts.
3. Spendingtherightenergycreatesmoreenergy.Thinkingthethoughtsthatserveyou,
spendingmoretimeinyourstrengths,andgrowingyourlimitscancomebacktoyou
tenfold.Yougrowfasterinyourstrengthsthanyoudoinyourweaknesses.Akeyto
bouncingbackfurther,ispushingyoubackstronger.AsTonyRobbinsputsis,Resistance
makesyoustronger.
4. Knowthecyclesofthings.Youcanswimupstreamoryoucanridethewave.Respectthe
cyclesandgowiththeflow.Growingandrestingareacycle.Whetheritstheebbandflow
orthecyclesofupanddown,youcangetthecyclesonyourside,ifyouworkwiththem,
insteadofagainstthem.Whenyouknowthecycleofthingsorhowtheprocessworks,you
canallowtimefortheprocess,whetheritsresettingyourexpectationsorsimplyadjusting
oraccountingforwhereyouareinthecycle.
5. Keepyourexpectationsincheck.Dontletcrossedexpectationsbringyoudownorkeep
youdown.Sometimesoneofthebestwaystoleapthehurdlesinyourlifeistoloweryour
expectations.Sometimesitmeansraisingthebar.Akeyhereistestingyourassumptions
andusingthefeedbackasalearninglooptosetyourexpectationsaccordingly.

Attheendoftheday,yourabilitytobouncebackisuptoyou.Evenifyouuseacoach,a
therapistoranybodyelse,youstillhavetopairwiththemforyourbestresults.Knowinghow
todrawfromyourmultiplestrengthsiscrucialtoyoursuccess.

Visual Sources of Strength 44

HereisasimplemodelIputtogethertohelpyoumultiplyyourabilitytobouncebackinany
situation:

The Quantity, the Quality, the Focus, and the Force of Your
Energy
Youcanbetterfocus,shape,andamplifyyourenergywhenyouknowwhereitcomes
from.Youcanthinkofyoursourcesofenergyinasimplebuteffectiveway:bodyisquantity,
emotionsarequality,mindisfocus,andspiritisforce.Youenergyisthecombinationofyour
mind,body,emotions,andspirit.Ratherthandoingnothing,sometimestheanswerisdoing
somethingtoimproveyourenergyandrefuel.Forexample,itmightmeanspendingmoretime
inyourstrengthsordoingmoreofthethingsyouenjoy,orsimplylessofthethingsyou
dont.Sometimesthebestwaytobouncebackistoreallygiveyourselfsome
downtime.Sometimesitsaboutreducingyourexpectationsandgivingyourselfthetimeand
spacetorecover,orplayouttheprocess.

Mind
Yourmindishowyouframeandfocus.Itshowyouchoosewhattofocusonandwhatlensto
lookthrough.Thesameglasscanbehalfempty,orhalffull.Yourmindisyoursourceofself
talkthatcanbeinspiringordeflating.Youmindcanholdthepicturesthatliftyouuporbreak
youdown.Thescenesyousee,thestoriesyoutell,andyourbeliefscanalllimitorenableyou.

Ways to Bounce Back with Your Mind

Herearesomewaystobouncebackwithyourmind:
1. Focusonwhatyoucontrolandlettherestgo.

2. LikearubberballHavingtherightmentalmodelormetaphoriswhereitstarts.Youcan
belikearubberballandbouncebackfromanything.
3. Setlimitsonthings.Ifyouletyourbodygountilitcrashesorrunsoutofsteam,itcanbe
toolate.Youhavetosetlimitseitherintermsofbuffersorboundariesortimeboxes.
4. Askyourself,Whatdoyouwantyourlifetobeabout?
5. Turnresistanceintoyoursparringpartner.Resistanceistheenemy.Respectit,butdontlet
itwearyoudown.
6. Visualizetheprize.IfitworksforOlympicathletes,itmightjustworkforyou.Pictureit,
thenmakeitso.
7. Improveyourselftalk.
8. Changeyourbeliefs.Findamodelorlearnfromotherswhatsomemoreempoweringor
usefulbeliefsmightbe.
9. Changeyourfocus.Youcanchangeyourfocusbychangingthequestion.
10. Focusonwhatyoucontrolandlettherestgo.
11. Changeyourstate.
12. Knowhowtopsycheyourselfup.
13. Dontkeepsolvingthesameproblems.Burnoutisntcausedbyworkinghardorworking
longhours.Itscausedbyworkingonthesameproblemsornotmakingprogress.
14. Mentallyprepareforit.Simplyresettingyourownexpectationscanhelpyoupreparefor
anything.Hopeforthebest,butpreparefortheworst.
15. Choosetoactstrong
16. Turnasetbackintoadefiningmoment.
17. Takebreaks.Evenlittlebreaksinterspersedcanhelpyoumentally,emotionally,or
physically.
18. Useyourrenewalpatterns.Maybethismeanstakinganafternoonsiesta.Findwhatworks
foryou.
19. Shakethingsup.Sometimesthebestwaytobreakoutofarutistoshakethingsup.
20. Shifttothefuture.
21. Askyourself,Whosinyourcorner?
22. Knowthatresistanceistheenemy.
23. Braceyourselfandpaceyourself.Youmighthavetochipawayatthestone.
24. Rememberyourheroes.
25. Rememberyourshiningmoment.
26. Playtherightheadmovies.Ifyoukeepplayingthewrongscenesinyourhead,youwear
yourselfdown.Findanewsceneormovietoplayinyourheadthatinspiresyou.

Body
Whetheryouthinkofyourbodyasyourtempleoryourfortressoryourmachine,youneedto
takecareofit,soitcantakecareofyou.Thereisastrongmindbodyconnectionandyour
bodyisastrongmultiplierwhenitcomestobouncingbackwithskill.Payattentiontoyour
ownpatterns.Forexample,afriendofminetoldmehesleptbetterwhenhecutdownhis
caffeineafter6pm.ItestedthisandfoundIsleptfaster,easier,anddeepertoo.Oneofthe

guidelinesforyourbodyistopushyourselfpastyourlimitstogrow,restandrecoverforyour
bestgrowth,respectyourcyclesofonandofforupanddown,andfeedyourneeds
(whetherthatsnutrition,hydration,rest,etc.)

Ways to Bounce Back with Your Body

Herearesomewaystobouncebackwithyourbody:
1. Allowforrecovery.
2. Takeaction.Sometimesyouhavetotakeactionfirstandthenenergyandmotivation
follow.Youcanthinkofthisasfakeituntilyoumakeit.Thisisespeciallytrueforme
whenIrun.
3. Playlikeakid,sleeplikeababy.IheardDeepakChoprasayinaninterviewthatchildren
sleeplikeababybecauseoftheirdynamicactivitythroughouttheday.Toknowgreatrest,
weneedtoknowgreatactivityandviceversa.IknowformyselfthatifIdontgetmy
downtime,Igointoaslump.ImafanofgivingmyallwhileImdrivingaproject,andthen
takingabreakafterIship.
4. Avoidspikingyourbloodsugar.Spikingyourbloodsugarisoneoftheworstwaystowork
againstyourbody.Itcreateshigherhighs,andlowerlows.Youcanreducetheroller
coastereffectbylimitingyourintakeofthingsthathaveahighglycemicindex.Another
approachistobalanceyourratiosoffat,carbs,andprotein,suchasintheZoneDiet.
5. Swapoutstarchycarbsformorefibrousones.Thisseemstobeapatternthathelpsalotof
peoplefindmoreenergyinaconsistentway.
6. Eatmorefrequentandsmallermeals.Thisisanotherwaytobalanceyourbodysneeds
throughouttheday.Onepatternistoaimforhavingasmallmealorsnackthroughoutthe
day,suchaseverythreehours.
7. Respectyourcycles.Weallhaveouruptimesandourdowntimes,eventhroughoutthe
day.Ifyoufindyouneedmoresleep,testgivingyourselfmoresleep.Knowyourpeak
energycyclesthroughoutthedayandleveragethose.
8. Dontbakebadhabitsin.WhenBruceLeewasofforhecouldntpracticeatechnique
properly,hestopped.Thelastthinghewantedtodowasburninahabitorpracticethat
wasineffective.

Emotions
Emotionalupsanddownscanbetough,especiallyifyouhaveexceptionalemotionallows,or
exceptionalemotionalhighs.Oneofthemostimportantthingstodohereistoavoidlearned
helplessness.MartinSeligmanteachesusthattheworstthingwecandoismakethings
permanent,personal,orpervasive.Thewaytostayoptimisticistomakethebadthingsinlife
notpersonal,notpermanent,andnotpervasive.Thissimplelittlechangetoyourexplanatory
stylecanmakeacrucialdifferenceinyourabilitytobouncebackintheworstsituations.

Ways to Bounce Back with Your Emotions

Herearesomewaystobetterbalanceandbouncebackwithyouremotions:
1. Thinkthethoughtsthatserveyou.Yourthoughtscreateyourenergy.
2. Pullyourselfforwardbywhatyoureallywanttodo.
3. Growyourcompassion.Keepyourheartopen.Oneoftheworstwaystokillyourlustfor
lifeistogrowcallousandcold.
4. Holdyourselfhigh.Yourphysiologyaffectsyouremotionsinastrongway.Sometimesyou
needtosmilebeforeyoufeelhappy.
5. Believeinyourself.Thismightmeanassimpleasdecidingthatyoullgiveitallyouvegot
andwhateverhappenshappens.Youdonthavetoputyourfocusonyourability.You
canputyourfocusonyoureffortoryourdetermination.Whereyouputyourfocuswill
changehowyoufeel.
6. Findyourwhy.Thisishowyoulightyourfirefromtheinsideout.Dontdependon
externalthingstokeepyougoing.Rootyourselffirmlyinyourownfoundation.
7. Leverageyourrelationshipsandnetwork.Thereisstrengthinnumbersorevenjust
somebodywhowantstolisten.

Spirit
Youcanpracticeyourspiritualintelligenceasawaytofullyengageandliftyourspiritwhenyou
needitmost.ThemostusefulwayIfoundtothinkaboutspiritualintelligenceislivingyour
values,findingyouruniquecontribution,andshapingabetterversionofyourself.

Ways to Bounce Back with Your Spirit

Herearesomewaystobouncebackwithyourspirit:
1. Makeitbiggerthanyourself.Findacausewhereyoucanputyourfocusonsomethingyou
thinkisgreat.Havingacauseisagreatwaytogetbackonyourhorseorbackuptobat.
2. Dowhatyouloveordowhatyouwereborntodo.Eitherway,youwin.Ifyoucantfind
yourcalling,thenlookforyouruniquecontribution.
3. Connecttoyourvalues.
4. Immerseyourselfingreatliteratureormusic.
5. Findthesynergy.AccordingtoStephenCovey,weunleashourspiritualintelligencewhen
wecombinemeaning,integrityandcontributionbyservingandliftingallstakeholders:
customers,suppliers,employeesandtheirfamilies,communities,societytomakea
differenceintheworld.

Stories, Metaphors, Sayings, and Songs

Keepacollectionofstories,sayings,andsongsthatyoucanusetoliftyourselfupwhenyou
needitmost.

Example Metaphors and Stories

Hereareafewstoriesandmetaphorsthathelpmebouncebackorstandstrong:

Category

Items

Stories

1.
2.
3.
4.

TheLittleEngineThatCould
TheWizardofOz
Rocky
TheKarateKid

Metaphors

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Backonthesaddleagain.
Likearock
Likearubberball
Rollwiththepunches
You2.0

Example Sayings and Songs

Hereareafewsayingsandsongsthathelpmebouncebackorstandstrong:

Category
Items
Sayings

1. Makelikeaduckandletitrolloffyour
back.
2. Finishstrong.
3. Livestrong.
4. Godownswinging.
5. Dontgodownwithoutafight.
6. Takethebullbythehorns.
7. Whenthegoinggetstough,thetoughget
going.
8. Wheretheresawilltheresaway.
9. Ivenotyetbeguntofight.
10. Whateverdoesntkillyoumakesyou
stronger.
11. Standstrongwhentested.
12. Nopain,nogain.
13. Theresnofailure,onlyfeedback.
14. Itsnotoveruntilyougiveup.
15. Imdown,butnotout.
16. Illbeback.
17. Hopeforthebest,butprepareforthe

worst.

Songs

1. SurvivorsEyeoftheTiger
2. OzzysCrazyTrain
3. LincolnParksFaint
4. SteppenWolfsBorntoBeWild
5. QueensWearetheChampions
6. ChumbawambasTubThumping
7. INXSTheDevilInside
8. VanHalensJump
9. TPainsAppleBottomJeans
10. EltonJohnsImStillStanding
11. WhileLionsLittleFighter

Find What Works for You

Whateverworksforyouiswhatcounts.Thestories,metaphors,sayingsorsongsdonthaveto
makesenseorbetherightchoice.Alltheyhavetodoisgetyougoingwhenyouneedit
most.Theartofbouncingbackwithskillisshiftingfromwhatshouldworktowhatdoes
workforyou,andchangingyourapproachuntilyoufindyourkey.

Todays Assignment
1. Findoneofyourpastvictoriesinlifeandaddthattoyourmentalflipbookofscenesto
drawfromwhenyouneeditmost.
2. Findonemetaphortohelpyoutorepresenthowyoubouncebackinlife.
3. Findonesongoronesayingtohaveinyourmindthatyoucanuseasaonelinerreminder
totaketherightactionswhenitcounts.Forexample,onethatsomepeoplelikeisStand
strongwhentested.

Day 25 Fix Time, Flex Scope

Workexpandssoastofillthetimeavailableforitscompletion.ParkinsonsLaw

Your Outcome

Learnhowtomastertimemanagementandseteffectivetimelimitsforthingsandthenbite
offwhatyoucanchewwithinthattimelimit.Yourabilitytousetimeboxingandtime
budgetswillhelpyoumanageyourenergy,freeupyourtime,getmorethingsdone,and
achieveworklifebalance.

Welcome to Day 25
Welcometoday25of30DaysofGettingResults,basedonmybookGettingResultstheAgile
Way.Inday24,welearnedhowtobouncebackwithskillandtotodrawfromourfoursources
ofstrength(mind,body,emotions,andspirit.)Today,welearnthesinglemosteffectiveway
tomastertimemanagement.Itstheartoftimeboxing.Timeboxingisasimplewaytotreat
timelikeabudgetandchoosehowmuchtimetospendonthings.Thisishowyouavoid
throwinggoodtime,afterbadorworkingpastthepointofdiminishingreturns,orsimply
put,spending$20ona$5problem.

Ifyoureaprocrastinatororifyouhavestuffyouhatetodo,orifyoufallpreytoineffective
thoughtsorgetstuckinanalysisparalysis,orifyoufindyourselfalwaysrunninglateormissing
windowsofopportunity,thenthispostwillhelpyoutransitiontoamoreeffectiveapproach.

Fixing Time, Flexing Scope

OneofthebestpatternsIknowformasteringtimemanagementiscalledFixTime,Flex
Scope.Thisisapracticeweveusedforseveralyearsonourpatterns&practicesteamat
Microsoft,toshipthingsontimeandonbudget.Iveusedthispatternpersonallyandforallmy
projectsforaperfecttrackrecordofontimeandonbudget.Theideaistofixorallocatea
certainamountoftimeforsomethinginadvance,andthenbiteoffwhatyoucanchewwithin
thatamountoftime.

Theoppositepatternistosimplyworkonsomethinguntilyouredone.ThatpatternisFix
Scope,FlexTime.Basically,youkeepthrowingtimeattheproblemuntilyoueventuallydecide
itsdone.Thatpatternhasseveralproblems,includingthefollowing:
1. Younolongerhavethebenefitoftimetohelpyouprioritize
2. Youcannolongercountonhittingyourwindowsofopportunity
3. Youpotentiallyrunoutofsteamorgointoadeathmarchwithnoendinsightbeforeyou
actuallyfinish

4. Youendupthrowingtimeatproblems(timeexpandstofillitscontainer)
5. Youendupwithscopecreepbecauseofyourmovingtimelinethatjustkeepsmovingout
furtherandfurther.

3 Easy Steps for Timeboxing with Skill

Hereare3keystepstocreatingeffectivetimeboxes:
Step1.Identifycandidateareasfortimeboxing.Identifycandidatesfortimeboxing.This
couldbeanythingfromworkprojectstopersonalprojects.Personally,Ivefounditthe
mosteffectivetostartwithsomethingsmall,suchasstartinganewexerciseprogram.Ive
alsofounditeffectivetouseittotacklemyworsttimebandits(anyareawhereIlosea
bunchoftime,witheitherlittleROIorattheexpenseofanotherarea.)
Step2.Identifyyourobjectives.Inthisstep,askyourselfwhatyouneedtoaccomplish
withtimeboxing.Examplesinclude:meetadeadline,showincrementalresults,make
incrementalprogressonatoughproblem,buildmomentum,etc.
Step3.Identifytheappropriatetimebox.Inthisstep,figureoutwhatarightsizedtime
boxwouldbe.Forexample,youmighthaveaprojectdueinthreeweeks.Withinthat
threeweektimebox,youmightdecidethatifyouallocate2hoursaday,youllproduce
effectiveresults.

TherightsizedtimeboxlargelydependsonwhatyoudeterminedinStep1.Youmightneedto
groworshrinkyourtimeboxdependingonwhetheryouretryingtobuildmomentum,show
resultsorjustmakeprogressonaproblem.

10 Ways to Think in Terms of Fixing Time and Flexing Scope

Herearesomewaystothinkintermsoffixingtimeandflexingscope:
1. 33systemusethreestoriesforyourday,foryourweek,foryourmonth,andforyour
year.Thisisasimpleanddirectwaytofixtime,whileflexingscope(youarevaryingyour
storieswithinthetimeboxesofaday,week,month,andyear.)
2. Catchthenexttrain.Keepyourtrainsleavingthestation.Whenyoumissone,donthold
yourtrainback.Instead,catchthenextone.Itsasimplemetaphorbutitkeepsthings
flowing.Forexample,ifyoumissedcompletingoneofyourstoriestoday,thenyoumight
addittotomorrowsmetaphoricaltrain,butonlyifitsthenextbestthingforyoutodo.
3. Askyourself,Howmuchtimeshouldittake?
4. Askyourself,Howmuchtimedoyouactuallyhaveforit?
5. Thinkintermsofcontainersoftimetodoyourworkin.Forexample,youmighthavea30
minutecontainer,ora2hourcontainerora1daycontaineroraweekasacontainer,
etc.Giveyourselfenoughspaceinthiscontainer.
6. Haveatimeandaplaceforthings.Simplyorganizingyourtimethiswaywillhelpyoufind
peaceofmind.Forexample,IhaveasmallwindowsonSundaymorningsthatIusefor
creativework.IfImissit,laterinthedayjustdoesntfeelthesame.Assuch,Iusethistime
forwhatitsreallymeantfor.DonttrytorobPetertopayPaul.

7. Dingyourtimeisup.Whenyourtimeboxexpiresandyourtimeisup,treatitlikeits
reallyupandbedonewithit.
8. Thinkintermsofgoodenoughfornowandtreatperfectionasajourney,nota
destination.
9. Versionyourwork.Yourfirstversionmightnotbeasgoodasyoursecond,third,orfourth,
butgetinthehabitofusingversionsasawaytoshareandimproveyourworkover
time.Forexample,youmightcreateanAlpha,Beta,Version1,Version2,etc.
10. Chunkyourworkdown.Thisiskeybothtoflowingvaluealongtheway,aswellas
havingcuttablescope.OneunitthatIfindworkswellisusingastory,wherethestoryisa
narrativeofataskyoullperformoragoalyoullachieve.Yourstoriescanvaryinsize
whethertheyareoneofyourstoriesfortheday,theweek,themonth,ortheyear.For
example,ameaningfulstoryfortheyearmightbeamuchlargerstorythanastoryyou
wouldtacklewithinasingleday.

A Story Its Done When Its Done

Manymoonsago,oneofmyearlyturningpointsinmycareerasaProgramManagerat
Microsoftwasduringameetingwithmymanageraboutwhenmyprojectwouldship.The
conversationwentroughlylikethisMymanageraskedmewhenmyprojectwouldbedone,
andIsaidIdidntknow.Iaddedthattherewasnowaywecouldaccuratelyestimateoreven
guestimatewhenwecouldfinisheverythingleftontheplate.Iwasbasicallyscopedrivenand
theprojectwouldbedone,whenIfinishedallthescope.

Irememberacolleaguesaying,WhatImhearingyousayisitsdonewhenitsdone.

Atthetime,thatseemedperfectlyreasonabletome.Afterall,somethingisdonewhenits
done,isntit?Theproblemwasthatnobodywassigneduptobetonsomethingthatdidnt
haveanenddate.Nobodywantedtokeepsupportingsomethingwheretheycouldnotseethe
endinsightandtheycouldnotseeanyresultsuntilafterIshipped,sometimeinthefuture.

Tomakealongstoryshort,Iendeduphavingtosetadateandbrutallycutscopetoshipon
time.MybiggestwakeupcallwasthatIdidntactuallyhavemuchcuttablescope(thingsthatI
couldeasilycutwithoutkillingthequality)andthattryingtowhittlesomethingdownwasfar
worsethanbuildingsomethingupwithatimeframeinmind.

ThatwashowIlearnedtogofromscopedriventotimedrivenandactuallytreattimeasa
firstclasscitizen.

Todays Assignment
1. Pickoneofyourdailyactivitiesthateatstoomuchtimeandsetatimelimitforit.For
example,oneofthebestmovesIdidlongagowasdecidethatIwouldnotspendmorethan
30minutesadayonemail(andIgetatonofemailatMicrosoftthatrequiresmyattention

andactions.)Thisonemoveforcedmetobothruthlesslyprioritizeandfindwaybetter
techniquestomanagemyemail.
2. Pickonethingthatyouvebeenspreadingoutovertoomuchtimeandcreateatimeboxfor
it.Maybeitsapetprojectthatyouwouldloveforittoseethelightofday.Maybeits
writeabook.Decidehowmuchmoretimeisworthspendingonit,atleastforastrawman
orwhateverisgoodenoughfornow.Maybeitsworthspendinganotherday,another
week,oranothermonth,etc.Whateverthetimeboxis,putyourstakeintheground.Then
decidethemostimportantthingstocompleteforyourprojectwithinthattime.Cherrypick
themostimportantvalue,andworkonthatfirst,untilyourunoutoftimeinyourtimebox.

Day 26 Solve Problems with Skill

Youdontovercomechallengesbymakingthemsmallerbutbymakingyourselfbigger.John
C.Maxwell

Your Outcome

YourOutcome:Solveyourproblemswithskill.Becomeaskilledproblemsolverandlearna
systematicwayforsolvingyourproblems.Turnevenyourworstlemonsintolemonade.

Welcome to Day 26
Welcometoday26of30DaysofGettingResults,basedonmybookGettingResultstheAgile
Way.Inday25,welearnedhowtofixtime,flexscopetogetthingsdoneontime,sliceour
workdowntosize,achieveworklifebalance,andflowvaluealongthewayversuswaitforabig
bang.

Today,welearnhowtosolveourproblemswithskillandtoframetheminawaythatinspires
action.Itsnotwishingourproblemsawaythatleadstoabetterlife.Itsfindingmoreeffective
waystodealwithwhatevercomesourway.

Ourabilitytosucceedinlifeisdirectlyrelatedtoourabilitytorespondtoourchallenges.

Why Focus on Solving Problems

Wecantavoidthem.Growingup,Iwantedtomakeallmyproblemsgoaway.IthoughtifI
justwonthelotteryormadeittothetoporgottheperfectjobthatallmyproblemswouldgo
away.Iwouldachievesomethingandthenlivehappilyeverafter.Itwasaverystaticviewof
life.

EventuallyIrealized,problemsareapartoflife.Theycomewiththeturf.Yourproblems
change,butyoullneverbefreeofproblems.Andeverybodyhasproblemsinsomeshapeor
form.Insteadoferadicateproblemsfrommylife,Icouldembracethemtakethebullbythe
horns.Atthatpoint,IdecidedthemosteffectivethingIcoulddoisbecomeaskilledproblem
solver.

Byfocusingonsolvingproblems,Ilearnedtotakeonbig,hairychallenges,andtoshapemylife
withmyskillsandabilities.Ialsolearnedhowtohelpothersdrasticallyimprovetheirproblem
solvingability.

5 Steps for Solving Problems

Herearefivestepsyoucanuseforsolvingproblemsinyourlife:
1. Stateyourproblemasahowto.Ivefoundthatthemosteffectivewaytostatea
problemistomakeitagoalbasedproblems,suchashowtowinfriendsandinfluence
peopleorhowtowritefasterorhowtocureproblemXYZorhowtomotivate
yourself,etc.Thismakesyourproblemactionable.Itmakesiteasiertofindexisting
solutions.Itmakesiteasiertoshareyourproblemwithothersinawaytheycanquickly
follow,whichmakesiteasierforotherstohelpyou.Youputyourbrainintoautomatic
resourcefulmode.Ithinkitsalsoincrediblyimportanttowriteyourproblemdownasa
onelinerstatement,usingthishowtophrase.Writingtheproblemdownforcesyouto
clarifytheproblemandthinkingonpaperisaneffectivewaytoreallyseeyourproblem
echoedbackatyou.
2. Findpotentialsolutions.Thisiswherethemagichappens.Itsrarethatyouwouldbethe
onlypersonintheworldwiththeproblemyouhave.Figureoutwhoelsesharesyoursame
problemorwouldhavehadtosolveyourproblemandfindthreepotential
solutions.Lookingforthreesolutionsforcesyoutocastawidernet,itexpandsyour
possibilities,andithelpsyoulookatpotentialsolutionsfrommultipleperspectives.You
canlooktopeopleyouknoworpeopleyoudont.Youcanconsultthewisdomofthe
ages.Youcanlooktopeoplewhospecializeinyourproblem.Youcanfindworking
examplesorpeoplewiththeresultsyouwant,andreverseengineertheirsolutions.You
canalwaysalmostalwaysfindsomeworkingexampleoractualresultstolearnandmodel
from,versusstartfromscratch.
3. Testyourresults.Yourproblemdoesntsolveitself.Takeactionandtestyour
results.Youhavetobounceitagainstrealityandseewhatsticks.Atthispoint,youare
eitherachievingsuccess,oryouaregettingfeedback.Worstcase,yourefindingabunchof
thingsthatdontwork.Bestcase,youremovingtowardsyoursolution.Hereyoureally
needtopayattentiontowhatresultsyouareactuallygetting.Thiswillinformyou,inavery
realway,whetherorhowyouneedtochangeyourapproach.
4. Changeyourapproach.Ifitsnotworking,changeyourapproach.AccordingtoAlbert
Einstein,insanityisdoingthesamethingoverandoveragainandexpectingdifferent
results.Ifyouwantdifferentresults,thenchangewhatyouredoing.Ifyoudontknow
howtochangeyourapproach,startaskingyourselfbetterquestions.Ifthatsnotworking,
startaskingotherpeoplebetterquestions.Youcanalwaysfindsomebodywhowilloffer
advice.Ifyoudogetadvice,makesureyouareaskingtherightpeople,andaskingtheright
questions.Everybodyhasasuperskill,andtheworldisanetworkofcapabilities.
5. Refinetheproblem.Sometimesthebestthingyoucandoiskeeprefiningyourproblem,
basedontakingactionandgettingrealfeedback.Youmightfindthatyouonlyhada
surfacelevelunderstandingoftheproblem,andnowyouhaveamuchdeeper
understanding,byactuallyexploringsolutionsandtestingyourresults.Howyoudefineand
refinetheproblemwillcontinuouslyimproveyourabilitytofindtheansweroratleastget
closertothesolution.

Assimplisticasthisprocessmightappear,itscalesupanddownandyoucanuseitforpretty
extremechallenges.

Change Your Approach, Change Your Results

IlearnedtodramaticallysolveproblemsfasterwhileworkinginMicrosoftDeveloper
Support.IwasconstantlyfacedwithproblemsIhadneverseenbefore.Myabilitytodefine
theproblemandtestsolutionswastestedonadailybasis,inextremescenarios(Iwasona
smallescalationteam.)

InmyfinaldaysofDeveloperSupport,Ilearnedarecipeforsolvingproblemsinabetter
way.Whenacustomerreportedtheirproblem,ratherthanjustsolveithoweverIcould,I
wouldfirstenumeratethepatternsofsolutionsforthegivenproblem(drawingfromour
internalcollectionofsolutions.)Iwouldthenletthecustomerknowhowmanytimesthis
problemwassolved,identifythevarioussuccessratesforthedifferentpaths,andthen,witha
bettersenseofexpectations,letthemchoosewhichpathtofollow,basedontradeoffs.

Thisapproachhelpedmepairwiththecustomerandcocreatethesolution,andgodown
whateverpathmadesenseforthem,basedonwhattheywereoptimizingfor.More
importantly,bylettingthecustomerknowupfront,howmanytimesaproblemhadbeen
solved,itgavethemhopeandconfidenceversusthinkingtheywereoutonalimbandtheonly
oneintheworldwiththeirspecificproblem.Basically,Ilearnedhowtocastawidenetonthe
problem,enumeratesolutions,evaluatethebestpath,andmakebettertradeoffs,while
increasingmysuccessrate,andreducingtimespentonproblems.

7 Telltale Signs that You are Getting Better at Solving Problems

Herearesomethingsyoullnoticeasyougetbetteratsolvingproblems:
1. Yougetbetteratrecognizinganddefiningtheprobleminawaythataddsclarityandfocus
ontheunderlyingproblem.
2. Youfinditeasytoreframeproblemsfasterinawaythatempowersandinspiresyou.
3. Youfinditeasiertoexplorepossiblesolutionpathsversuslockintoonesolution.
4. Youtestyoursolutionssoonerversuslater.
5. Youfigureoutwaystogetmorefeedbackfasterandeasier.
6. Youbuildanetworkofsmartpeopleandcapabilitiestohelpyousolveproblems.
7. Youfinditeasytoswitchyourmindintoamoreobjectivemodewhereyoucanfocuson
effectivenessinsteadofstewingontheproblem.

7 Reasons Why People Fail at Solving Problems

Herearesomecommonreasonswhypeoplefailatsolvingtheirproblems:

1. Theyaskthewrongquestions.Ifyouwanttogonowherefast,thenjustaskthewrong
questions.Ifyouwanttostaystuckinaloop,keepaskingwhyquestions(Whydoesthis
alwaysme?,Whyisthishappeningnow?,Whydidthishappen?etc.).Ifyoudont
startaskinghowquestions,Howtopreventthisfromhappeningagain?"Howtosolve
this?Howtomakethemostofthis?,etc.,thenyoullbeabrokenrecordthatevenyou
wontwanttolistentoanymore.
2. Theyblameotherpeoplefortheirproblems.Ifyoudontstepuptotheplateandown
yourproblems,thenyourproblemsownyou.Onceyoufallintovictimorblamermode,
thenitsgameover.Youtookawayyourpowertodosomethingabouttheproblem.
3. Theyactfromtheirleasteffectivestate.Therearemanywaystoputyourselfinan
ineffectivestate.Acommononeistoblowtheproblemoutofproportionandmakeit
largerthanlife.Anotheristoaskyourselflimitingquestions(whyme?)ortoadopt
limitingbeliefs(Illneversolvethat.)Switchingtohowtoquestionshelpsyouengage
yourbraininamoreresourcefulway.Simplyreframingyourproblemstochallengesis
aneffectivewaytoplaywithyourprobleminamoreinspiringway.
4. Theydontasktherightpeopleforhelp.Dontaskabumformoney.ItsOKtogetinput
fromawidevarietyofsources,butyouhavetoseriouslyaskyourselfwhetheryoureasking
therightpeoplewhoreallyhavetherightperspectiveonyourproblem.Agoodwayto
whittlethisdownistocheckhowmanytimesthispersonhasactuallydealtwiththis
problemsuccessfully,orwhethertheyhavetheresourcesorareinapositiontoactually
helpyou.Dontfallintothetrapoftheblindleadingtheblind.
5. Theydontusetherighttoolforthejob.Ifyouhaveasurgicalproblem,getasurgical
solution.Oneoftheworstwaystotackleyourproblemsiswithasilverbulletoraonesize
fitsallsolutionorabuckshotapproach(whereyousprayabunchofsolutionshoping
somethinghitsitstarget.)Yourabilitytosolveaproblemwellisareflectionofyourability
tochoosetherighttoolforthejob.
6. Allthought,noaction.Therearetwoflavorsofthis.Oneisanalysisparalysisinwhich
youchurnonyourownthoughts,butdontturnyourthoughtsintoaction.Theotherflavor
istoworryandputyourselfintoaworryloop,thatsimplygeneratesanxiety,butdoesnt
generateanyresults,besidesputyouintoanineffectivestate.Actionisyourfriendand
yourescapehatch.
7. Alltalk,noaction.Actionsspeaklouderthanwords.Letyouractionsgetinthewayof
yourwords,nottheotherwayaround.Ifyoufindyourselfstilltalkingaboutthesame
problems,thatsagoodsignyourefallingintothetrap.Forbetterorworse,yougetwhat
youfocuson.

Some Quotes on Problem Solving to Keep in Mind

Herearesomequotestohelpyoureallyhoneyourabilitytosolveproblems:
1. Aproblemwellstatedisaproblemhalfsolved."JohnDewey
2. "Dontdwellonwhatwentwrong.Instead,focusonwhattodonext.Spendyourenergies
onmovingforwardtowardfindingtheanswer."DenisWaitley

3. Focus90%ofyourtimeonsolutionsandonly10%ofyourtimeonproblems.AnthonyJ.
DAngelo
4. Foreveryproblemthereisasolutionwhichissimple,cleanandwrong.HenryLouis
Mencken
5. "Haveyougotaproblem?Dowhatyoucanwhereyouarewithwhatyouvegot."
TheodoreRoosevelt
6. "Howyouthinkaboutaproblemismoreimportantthantheproblemitselfsoalwaysthink
positively."NormanVincentPeale
7. "Intimesliketheseitisgoodtorememberthattherehavealwaysbeentimeslikethese."
PaulHarvey
8. "Itisnotstressthatkillsus.Itiseffectiveadaptationtostressthatallowsustolive."
GeorgeVaillant
9. "ItsnotthatImsosmart,itsjustthatIstaywithproblemslonger."AlbertEinstein
10. Laughatyourproblems;everybodyelsedoes.Anonymous
11. "Leadersareproblemsolversbytalentandtemperament,andbychoice."Harlan
Cleveland
12. Manistheonlyanimalforwhomhisownexistenceisaproblemwhichhehastosolve.
ErichFromm
13. "Mostpeoplespendmoretimeandenergygoingaroundproblemsthanintryingtosolve
them."HenryFord
14. "Nevertrytosolvealltheproblemsatoncemakethemlineupforyouonebyone."
RichardSloma
15. "Noproblemcanstandtheassaultofsustainedthinking."Voltaire
16. "Problemsaretothemindwhatexerciseistothemuscles,theytoughenandmakestrong."
NormanVincentPeale
17. "Someproblemsaresocomplexthatyouhavetobehighlyintelligentandwellinformedjust
tobeundecidedaboutthem."LaurenceJ.Peter
18. "Stoplookingforsolutionstoproblemsandstartlookingfortherightpath."AndyStanley
19. "Themeasureofsuccessisnotwhetheryouhaveatoughproblemtodealwith,butwhether
itisthesameproblemyouhadlastyear."JohnFosterDulles
20. "Theproblemisnotthatthereareproblems.Theproblemisexpectingotherwiseand
thinkingthathavingproblemsisaproblem."TheodoreRubin
21. Thewayweseetheproblemistheproblem.StephenCovey
22. "Uncertaintycanleadtoparalysis.Andifyoubecomeindecisiveyouredead."JimCitrin
23. Wecantsolveproblemsbyusingthesamekindofthinkingweusedwhenwecreated
them.AlbertEinstein
24. "Whenyoucometoaroadblock,takeadetour."MaryKayAsh
25. "Worryislikearockingchairitgivesyousomethingtodobutwontgetyouanywhere."
Anonymous
26. Youwontfindasolutionbysayingthereisnoproblem.WilliamRotsler

Additional Ways to Master the Art of Effective Problem Solving

Herearesomeadditionalwaystohelpmakemincemeatoutofyourproblems:
1. Overwhelmyourproblems.Thiscouldmeanthrowingmoretimeormoreenergyatyour
problemtogetoverthehump.AsVoltaireteachesus,"Noproblemcanstandtheassault
ofsustainedthinking."
2. Expandyourbubbleandexpandyourself.Imaginethatyouareinabubbleandyoubump
upagainstyourglassceilingsorthisbubbleyourein,everytimeyouhitaproblem.When
yousolveaproblem,youexpandyourcontainer,andyouexpandyourself.Solving
problemsishowyougrow.
3. Whatareyoutryingtoaccomplish?Askyourself,Whatareyoutryingtoaccomplish?,not
Whatareyoutryingtodo?Itsaverysubtle,butverycriticalchangeinhowyouaskthis
question.Whenyoufocusonwhatyouaretryingtoaccomplish,youuplevelit,and
immediatelycreatemoreflexiblesolutionstosolvingyourproblem.
4. Whatareyouoptimizing?Youshouldbedeliberateinwhetheryouareoptimizingfor
bestorsimplestorfastestorcomplete,etc.Thiswilldramaticallyshapethetypes
ofsolutionsyoulookfor,andthetypesofresultsyouwillget.
5. Reframefromproblemtochallenge.Itsasimplestep,butmakeitahabittotreatyour
problemasawaytotestyourskillsandtogrowyourselfandexpandyourabilities.
6. Whateverdoesntkillyoumakesyoustronger.MyMomtaughtmethis,andastheysay,
"Momalwaysknowsbest.
7. Yourepartoftheproblemorpartofthesolution.Remindyourselfthatyourepartofthe
problemorpartofthesolution.Choosetobeapartofthesolution,andstopwhining,
complaining,orblaming,andstartdefining,exploring,andsolving.
8. Asktherightperson.Itmightbetoughtoaskforhelp,butifyoufindpeoplethatlike
solvingtheproblemyouhave,youcanactuallymakeitawinwinscenario.Letpeoplepit
theirskillsagainstyourproblem.
9. Askbetterquestions.Ifyouwantbetteranswers,thenaskbetterquestions.Ifyouwantto
makemoreeffectiveprogressonyourproblem,thenaskmoreeffective
questions.Questionsarethekeystounlockingsolutions.
10. Sharetheproblemwithskill.Youllfinditeasiertobrokerinhelpifyoucanstateyour
problemclearly.Youknowitsclearwhensomebodycanbasicallystarttestingsolutionsto
yourproblemortheycanechotheproblembacktoyou,usingtheirownwords.
11. Teamup,pairup,orcocreatethesolution.Findpeoplewhoeatyourproblemfor
breakfast.Onepersonsproblem,isanothersplayground.
12. Satisficing.Yoursolutiondoesnthavetobeperfect.Ithastobeeffective.Satisficing
isaboutfindingasolutionwithagoodenoughmatchtofityourscenarioorcontext.
13. Respondtothechallenge.Alwaysdrivefromthemindsetthatyouarerespondingtothe
challenge,notreactingtotheproblem.AsCoveysays,successiswhentheresponse
meetsthechallenge.
14. Aresourcefulstateofmind.Whetherthismeansaskingyourselfabetterquestion,or
puttingonyourfavoritehat,orplayingyourfavoritesong,watchingyourfavoritemovie,or
sayingyourfavoritequote,getyourselfintoamodewhereyourbrainisready,willing,and
abletobrainstormsolutionsinaresourcefulstate.

15. Measureagainsteffectiveness.Whenyouretestingresults,yourultimatemeasureis
simplywhetheritiseffective,againstwhatyouwanttoaccomplish,andwhatyouare
optimizingfor.
16. Counttheactionsyouvetaken.Actuallywritedown,theactionsyoutook"Ididthis"or
"Ididthat",etc.Worstcase,youhavealistofwhatdoesntwork,buteventhatis
progress.Behonestwithyourselfandadmitwhetheryouactuallytookanactionorsimply
thoughtaboutit.Itstooeasytothinkaboutanaction,tothepointyoufeelyoutook
action,butinreality,youdidntdosquat.
17. RemembertheLittleEnginethatCould.Evenwhenyouthinkyoucant,rememberthe
LittleEnginethatthoughtitcould.Sometimesyoujusthavetosay,IthinkIcanandthen
proveyourselfright.

Your Assignment
1. Pickoneofyourproblemsthatyoudliketosolveandwriteitdownashowto(suchas
howtogrowmyblogto10,000subscribers)
2. Findthreeexamplesofpeopleorsolutionsthatyoucanmodelfrom.
3. Pickonesolutiontotestandgetfeedbackasyouapplyit.Usethisfeedbacktohelpyou
shapeyoursolutionsorchangeyourapproach.

Day 27 Do Something Great

Bigdreamscreatethemagicthatstirsmenssoulstogreatness.BillMcCartney

Your Outcome

Immerseyourselfinsomethinggreat.Takeyourlifetothenextlevel.Dosomethinggreat
thatmattersforyouorsomeoneinyourlife.Goaboveandbeyondyourdailycallofduty.

Welcome to Day 27
Welcometoday27of30DaysofGettingResults,basedonmybookGettingResultstheAgile
Way.Inday26,welearnedhowtosolveproblemswithskill.

Today,wedecidetodosomethinggreat.

You Never Know What Youre Capable Of.

Youjustneverknowwhatspossible.Myfirstbookwasdownloadedseveralhundredthousand
timeswithinthespanofafewmonths.Itwasunreal.Whatwasevenmoreunrealthoughwas
thatIdidntknowwhetherIcouldevenpullitoff.Afterall,Ihadneverwrittenabookbefore.

WhenIfirstjoinedthepatterns&practicesteamatMicrosoft,theyknewIcouldwritearticles,
buttheyquestionedwhetherIcouldwriteabook.WhentheyaskedmeifIcould,Isaid,I
dontknowbutIguessIhavetofigureitoutnowdontIsinceitspartofthejob.Atthat
point,Idecidedthatinsteadoffocusingonwritingabook,Iwouldfocusonsolvingsignificant
problems.IdecidedtowritetheultimateplaybookforbuildingsecureASP.NETapplications.I
decidedIwouldgiveitmyall,assembleateamofrockstars,andtackletheproblemlikeithad
neverbeentackledbefore.Isetmyeyesontheprizeand,asYodasays,ThereisDoordo
not.Thereisnotry.AsmyMomalwayssaid,wheretheresawilltheresawayandthats
howIcreatedtheveryfirstBlueBookforMicrosoft,severalyearsago.

Thelessonformewasthatyoujustdontknowwhatyourecapableof,untilyoupushpast
yourlimits.

From Ordinary to Extraordinary

Sometimesinlife,youhavetodecideatleastonemoretimetobeTheLittleEngine
thatCould,evenwhenyouthinkyoucant.Whenyoudecidetodosomethinggreat,your
lifetakesonnewmeaning.Youinstantlychartanewcourse.Yourlifegoesfromordinary
toextraordinary.Youdecidethatwhatyoudowillmakeadifference,thatwhatyoudowill

matter,andthatwillgivewhatyoudoallthatyouvegot.And,Ifyouregoingtogodown,
thenyourenotgoingdownwithoutafight.
Butfailureisntevenanoption.Itsnotevenonyourradar.Inyourmind,youcanseethe
prizefrontandcenterandlargerthanlife.Itsthepathandyoureonit.Withallyour
might,andmaybeevenalittlemagic,youllmovewhatevermountainstandsinyour
way.Itsonwardandupward.Itstimetodosomethinggreat.

3 Steps to Do Something Great

Todosomethinggreat,ithelpstohavearecipe.Feelfreetodepartfromtherecipe,buthereis
itasastartingpointtohelpyouprepareandlaunchthesomethinggreatthatyouwilldo:
1. FindYourEyeoftheTiger.IfyouveseenRocky,youknowwhatImean.YourEyeofthe
Tigerisyourfireinthebelly.Itsyouatyourfinestanditsyoureadytotakeonthe
world.ThesimplestwaytofindthisEyeoftheTigeragainistorememberatimeinyour
lifewhenyouhadyourgreatestvictory.Rememberthefeelingyouhad,whenyouwere
unstoppable?Grabthatfeelingandholdontothat,anddontletgo.Ifthatsnotworking,
thenblastyourfavoritealltimesongyouknow,theonethatalwaysmakesyoudrivetoo
fast.Ifyouneedhelphere,readmyguestpostonFindingYourEyeoftheTiger.
2. Decidewhatgreatthingyouwilldo.Dontswatatflies.Getthedynamiteout.Pick
somethinggreat.Thisisyourchancetosay,Imgoingforit.Thisisyourchancetofight
withallyourmightandmakeithappen.Thisisnotatimetopicksomethingmediocre.Its
timetoknocktheballoutofthepark.Itsatimetopicksomethingfantastic.Makeit
epic.ItsFrodogettingridofthatstinkingring.ItsRockygettingbackhisEyeofthe
Tiger.ItsmakinglikeaDeadPoetSocietyandseizingtheday.ItsEdwardfindingthejoy
inhislife,BucketListstyle.ItsRudyagainsttheodds,fulfillinghisdream.ItsDanielson
whippingouttheCrankTechniquewithafinalblowwhenhesliterallydownonhislast
legIfyourenotcrying,oryourenotfurious,oryourenotelated,oryourejustnot
feelingit,thenyouhaventfoundit.Itsnotaboutdoingonemorethingyoucando.Its
doingTHEthingyouMUSTdofindingyourcalling,theonethatsherenow,andanswering
thedoor.
3. Makeitaproject.Callitaproject.Haveavisionforit.Seetheendinmind.Giveitastart
andafinish.Inthiscase,makeitamonth.Boundit.Makingitamonthlongprojectboth
givesyouahighchanceforsuccess,butitalsogiveyouagoodchunkoftimetodo
somethinggreat.Makingitaprojectgivesitaspecialplaceinyourheartandaspecial
placeinyourmind.Itsasimplewaytowakeupyourinnergiantandsay,Hey,thisone
reallycounts.
Thisisyoupushingandtestingyourlimits.Thisisyoufocusedondoingthegreatthinginyour
lifethatyouvehadonhold.Thisisyougettinguptobatwithskillonyoursideandthefire
inside.Bestcasescenario,youexceedyourownexpectations.Worstcasescenario,youmoved
theneedleinyourlife.

Ideas of Great Things to Do

Whenyoudecidethattodo,ithastobegreatforyou.Itsforyouthatithastomatter.Its
yourstory.Itsyourchance.Thatsaid,herearesomeexamplesofvariousthingsthatother
peoplehavedonewithinthespanofamonththatchangedthecourseoftheirlives.Useitasa
listtodrawfromorinspireyou:
1. Reshapeyourbody.
2. Findyourfire.
3. Writeabook.
4. Writeasong.
5. Makeavideo.
6. Changesomebodyslife.
7. Overwhelmyourgreatesthurdleorbreakthroughabarrieroraceilinginyourlife.
8. Changeahabitorchangethewayyouleadyourlife.
9. Retoolyourselfforyourcurrentjungleoflife.
10. Getanewleaseonlife.
11. Getyourdreamjob.
12. Makeyourdreamjob.
13. Shareyourlessonslearnedwiththeworld.
14. Rekindleanoldspark.
15. Reconnectwithanoldhobby.
16. Createtheultimateknowledgebaseonyourpassion.
17. Learnanewskill.
18. Finishoffapetproject.
19. Dustoffanolddreamormakeyourdestinyhappen.
20. Turntheworstpaininyourlife,intoyourgreatestopportunity.
21. Bethefather,mother,sister,brother,daughter,son,uncleoraunt,cousinorfriendthat
youvewantedtobe.

Why Make it a Project?

Todosomethinggreat,makeitaproject.Makingsomethingaprojecthelpsyouthinkaboutit
inatangibleway.Giveyourgreatprojectaname.Thisisyourprojectsocallitwhateveryou
want.InamedoneofmyprojectsJ.D.2.0,basedonmyYou2.0guide.Givingyourprojecta
name,helpscreateastrongholdinyourmind.Foramonth,thisprojectisyourcastle.

Do It For a Month
Makeitamonthlongproject.Startatthestartofthemonth.Endattheendofthe
month.Youcanalsodoasecondrun,butfornow,giveyourselfamonth.Thisisntamarathon
anditsnotadeathmarchoranendlesspursuit.Justforthismonth,youdoputallyour
eggsinthisonebasket.Concentratedeffortamplifiesyourimpact.Becauseitsjustamonth,
youcanprioritizeitoverotherthings.Becauseitsjustamonth,andnotforever,youcangive

ityourall.Bymakingityourthemeforthemonth,ithelpsyoufocusandharnessallofyour
discretionaryenergy,focus,andtime.Thisisyoursecretrecipefordoinggreatthings.

Do It Daily
Todosomethinggreat,doiteveryday.Carveoutalittletimemoretimeeachday,toinvestin
yourgreatthing.Youdontknowwhenyourbreakthroughmighthappen.Serendipityisapart
oflifeandoftenapartofsuccessTeeupmorepossibilitiesinyourlife,adayatatime.

Eachdayisanotherchance.Doingsomethingeveryday,evenjustalittlebit,getseasierasyou
go,andhelpsbuildmomentum.Timeandagain,Ifoundthatdailyaction,evenbabysteps,is
howIconsistentlygotoverhumpsorcreatedbreakthroughs.

Your Mental Model

Whilethestrategiesandtacticstomakethingshappenareimportant,themostimportantstep
startsinyourmind.Itsthementalpicturesyouhold,itsthebeliefsyouhave,anditstheself
talkthatyoutellyourselfthewholewaythrough.
Foratleastthismonth,dontfocusonyoursuccess.Focusongivingyourbest.Dontfocuson
thescoreboard,focusonthepitch.

Your Tools
Youremakingthingshappenwithskillnow,soletmeremindyouofyourtools:
1. Mindsetsandmetaphors.Youcanswitchyourmindsetsbyswitchinghats.Putonyour
explorerhatoryoursolutionhatoryourthinkerhatoryourdoerhat.Usemetaphors
thatserveyou.Therightmetaphorcanhelpyoumovemountains.
2. AgileResults.Getthesystemonyourside.Byusingthethreestorieseachday,week,and
month,youreconnectingyourewiringyourmind,body,andemotionstoachievegreat
things,aswellasdealwiththesetbacks,andbouncebackstrongerandfastereachtime.
3. Storiesandchoices.Byusingstoriesandmakingmindfulchoicestodriveyourday,week,
andmonth,youbringtogethereverythingyouvegotinaninspirationwaytowriteyour
storyforwardandcarveoutmeaningfulresults.
4. Time.Foronce,timeisreallyonyourside.AgileResultsautomaticallyusestimeasa
foundationforbuildingmomentumandgettingresults.Youautomaticallycreatearhythm
ofresultsbypinningagainsttimeandridingtheday,week,andmonth,likeawaveorrolling
snowball.
5. Action.Takingactioniswhatmakesthingshappen.Actionisyourplaygroundandwhere
youtestyourideasagainstreality.Ifyouwantedtojustthinkyourwayintosomething,
thenyoumisstheride.Itsfinetobeadreamer.Itsfinetobeadoer.Howaboutbeinga
doerwithdreamsoradreamerthatdoes?

6. Reflection.Takethetimetoreflectonyourresults.WithAgileResultsthisisautomatically
bakedintoFridayReflection.Youcanalsodesignyourday,tocapeachdaywithsome
reflectiontime.Learningandrespondingishowyougetclosertoyourdreams.

Thepeoplethatdogreatthings,enjoythejourney,actionandall,theupsanddowns,andthey
enjoythedestination.Thesecrethereistodriveyouractionfromwhoyouwanttobeandthe
experiencesyouwanttocreate.Driveitfromyourlifestyle.

Everybody has Flaws

HereisalessonfromoneofmymentorsonthepowerofdoinggreatthingsThereareno
greatpeople.Therearepeoplethatdogreatthings.Heroesfall.Itsthefeetofclay
scenario.

Peoplearentheroes,theydoheroicthings.Thepointis,dontmissthegoodbecauseofthe
bad,anddontgetcaughtupinputtingpeopleonpedestals.Dontputyourselfonapedestal
either.Instead,focusondoingagreatthingandgivingityourbestshot.

You Cant Fail

StephenCovey,RandyPausche,andothersremindusthatnobodyregretsthethingsthey
did.Theyregretthethingstheydidntdo.

Dontletfearrunyourlife.Especiallyfearoffailure.Whatifyoutryandyoufail?So
what.Guesswhat?Ifyouhavetosucceed,thenyoureplayingthegameoflifewrong.Test
yourpossibilities.Growfromit.Embracetheexperience.Thatswhatlifeisallabout.Ifyou
gaveityourbestshot,you.Yougrewyourselfalittlemore,ormaybealot.butthatyoull
giveityourbestshot.

How To Stay on Fire

Dontdependonexternalvalidationtoomuchthatsthebestwaytokillyourmotivationona
dailybasis.Dontholdyourbreathforyourmanagersacknowledgment,oryourspouses
appreciation,ortheaudiencesapplause.Itsawonderfulbyproduct,butitcantbeyour
driver.Firstandforemost,impressyourselffirst.Remembertoconnectittoyourvaluesand
yourinternalbaryourinternalrewardsandthenyoubalancewithexternalrewardsand
appreciation.

Thatshowtomakegreatthingsordogreatthingsandstayonfire.

If You Get Knocked Down, Get Up Again

Givingsomethingyourbestshotiswithinyourcontrol.Theresultsarenot.Thebestyoucan
do,isgivethebestyouvegot,testyourdreamswithskill,androllwiththepunches.Andwhen
yougetknockeddown,thesinglebestthingyoucandoisgetupagain.

Youneverfailunlessyougiveup.

Quotes on Greatness
Hereareafewwordsofwisdomtoaddtoyourmentaltoolboxoflife:
1. Ashumanbeings,ourgreatnessliesnotsomuchinbeingabletoremaketheworldthatis
themythoftheatomicageasinbeingabletoremakeourselves.MohandasGandhi
2. Askyourselfwhetherthedreamofheavenandgreatnessshouldbewaitingforusinour
gravesorwhetheritshouldbeourshereandnowandonthisearth.AynRand
3. Donotdespisethebottomrungsintheascenttogreatness.PubliliusSyrus
4. Donottrustpeople.Theyarecapableofgreatness.StanislawLem
5. Everyday,peoplesettleforlessthantheydeserve.Theyareonlypartiallylivingoratbest
livingapartiallife.Everyhumanbeinghasthepotentialforgreatness.BoBennett
6. Greatheroesneedgreatsorrowsandburdens,orhalftheirgreatnessgoesunnoticed.
PeterS.Beagle
7. Greatmenarerare,poetsarerarer,butthegreatmanwhoisapoet,transfiguringhis
greatness,istherarestofallevents.JohnDrinkwater
8. Greatnessisaroadleadingtowardstheunknown.CharlesdeGaulle
9. Greatnessisnotmeasuredbywhatamanorwomanaccomplishes,butbytheopposition
heorshehasovercometoreachhisgoals.DorothyHeight
10. Greatnesslies,notinbeingstrong,butintherightusingofstrength.HenryWard
Beecher
11. IalwaysknewIwasdestinedforgreatness.OprahWinfrey
12. Ifwecannotseethepossibilityofgreatness,howcanwedreamit?LeeStrasberg
13. Illusionsofgrandeurarenotthesameasvisionsofgreatness.EdwinLouisCole
14. Nooneeverachievedgreatnessbyplayingitsafe.HarryGray
15. Thegreatestthingyoucandointhisworldistomakethemostpossibleoutofthestuff
youvebeengiven.Thisissuccess,andthereisnoother.OrisonSwettMarden

Todays Assignment
1. FindyourEyeoftheTiger.Findoneoldmemoryoronementalpicturetoholdinyour
mindthatgivesyouyourEyeoftheTiger.
2. Picksomethinggreattodonextmonth.Teeyourselfuptostartatthebeginningofthe
monthandendattheendofthemonth.Itwillbeyourthemeorfocusforthe
month.Makesureitsgreatforyouevenifgreatforyou,meansdoingsomething
thatsgreatforsomebodyelse.Putthatfireinyourbellytogooduse.Aboveall,
rememberthatgreatisintheeyeofthebeholder,anditsallrelative.

3. Watchyourfavoritemoviethatalwayshasawayoflightingyourfire.

Share Your Stories

Ilikerealstoriesfromrealpeople.Thatswhatlifeisallabout.Ifyouwanttotellmeaboutthe
greatthingyouregoingtodonextmonth,youcanemailmeatGettingResultsTeam(at)
gmail.com.Betteryet,tellmewhyyouregoingtodoit.Tellmewhyitmattersomuchfor
you.Itsnotwhatwedoinlifethatendsupsomeaningful,itswhywedoit.Nothingismore
inspirationalthansomebodyswhy.

Ivereallyenjoyedtheemailfolkshavebeensendingmesofarabouttheirbreakthroughsand
theirturnaroundstoriesandevenhowforsomepeople,justtheirordinarydayshavebecome
extraordinary.Imalsowatchingthegoodnessspread.Iseefriendsinspiringotherfriendsand
itscontagious.Asonefriendputittome,theirpilotlightislitagain!Iseepeoplelifting
eachotherup,andthatshowweallstandontheshouldersofgiants.

Getreadytomakenextmonthoneofthemostexcitingchapterinthestoryofyourlife,asyou
continuetowriteyourstoryforward.Itwillbeepic.

Day 28 Find Your One Thing

Purposeiswhatgiveslifeameaning.CharlesH.Perkhurst

Your Outcome

Findyouronething.Whetheryoucallityourpassion,yourpurpose,yourmission,your
crusade,findingyourWhy,orsimplywhatyouwantyourlifetobeaboutexpressitin
words,asamotto,ortagline,orasimpleoneliner.Thiswillbeyourpathandtorch.

IfyouveseenthemovieCitySlickers,thissceneshouldsoundfamiliar:
Curly:Youknowwhatthesecretoflifeis?
Mitch:No.what?
Curly:This.(holdsuphisfinger)
Mitch:Yourfinger?
Curly:Onething.Justonething.Yousticktothateverythingelsedontmeanshit.
Mitch:Thatsgreat,butwhatstheonething?
Curly:Thatswhatyouvegottofigureout.

Thatsthechallengeinlife,butthekeytoyoursuccessyouhavetofindyouronething.

Welcome to Day 28
Welcometoday28of30DaysofGettingResults,basedonmybookGettingResultstheAgile
Way.Inday27,wesetourselvesuptodosomethinggreatasamonthlongproject.

Today,wefindouronething.Wefindourpurposewithskill.

The Story of What Drives Me

MaybeIwatchedtoomanycartoons,butgrowingupIwasadefenderofunderdogs.Somehow
Igotthemessage,defendtheweakorunderprivileged.MyMomreenforcedthismakingsure
Iknewtoprotectmylittlebrotherandsister(although,mysisterknewhowtowhoopsome
arse,andshekilledanyspiderthatthreatenedmypath.)

Itsnotjustdefendingpeopleweakerthanyouthough.EarlyonIsawthemovieTrading
Places.Irememberhowjustbyswappingpeopleslotinlife,everythingchangesWhat
peopleexpectofthemchanges,howpeopletreatthemchanges,andwhatpeopleexpectof
otherschangesevenwhatpeopleexpectofthemselveschanges.Itspowerfulstuff.But
dontexpectanybodytopickyouupandplopyoudown.Youhavetomakeyourown
changes.Imabigbelieverthat

Everybodydeservesachanceattheirbestlife.

Ilearnedearlyonthatitsnotyourlotinlife.Itsnotwhatyouvegotinlife.Itswhatyou
makeofit.Andtheonethingyouhaveyourwholelifeisyou.Youtakeyou,everywhereyou
go.Theonethingyoucaninvestinthatgetsyouexponentialresultsisyouyourbody,your
mind,andyourfoundation.Yourfoundationisntthestuffyouhaveitswhoyouare,its
yourbeliefs,itsyourvalues,itsyourrules,itsyourmindsetsandyourmetaphors,andits
yourstrategiesandtacticsforlifeitsyourtoolkityouusetomakethemostofwhatyouve
got.Thatsthestorybehindmyonelinerpurpose
Exponentialresultsfortheunderdog.

Ileveltheplayingfieldwithsmarts.Andeverybodyisanunderdogatsomepointintheir
life.Maybeitsagame,whereyoudontknowtherulesorhowtoplaythegame.Maybeits
inasituation,whereyoureinthedark.Maybeitsyoureducationcomparedtosomebody
elses.Maybeitsyourmoneycomparedtosomebodyelses.Maybeitsyourstatuscompared
tosomebodyelses.Regardless,wereallunderdogsinsomeway,shape,orform,insome
situation.

Thewaytoleveltheplayingfieldisthroughknowhowandknowledge.IsharethebestskillsI
learnformakingthemostofanysituation.Isharethewisdomoftheagesandmodernsages.I
drawfrombooks,people,andquotes,aswellaswhatIlearninthetrenchesatMicrosoftand
whatIlearnfrommymasterfulmentors.ThatswhatdrivesSourcesofInsight.ThatsmyLittle
EngineThatCould.ImakeothersgreatIenhanceyouwithskillIempowerYOUtobe
YOURbest.

Butenoughaboutmethispostisaboutyou,andfindingyouronelinerpurpose.Ishared
minetohelpyoufindyours.Maybeseeingmineinaction,helpsyouconnectyourdotsand
lightsabulbandyourahhamomentfiresforyouinawayitsneverfiredbefore.

Do What You Were Born to do or Do What You Love to Do

Forsomepeople,theyfindawaytodowhattheyloveforaliving.Forsomepeople,theyfinda
waytofundtheirlifestyle,andinturn,maketimetodomoreofwhattheylove.Eitherway,
thisisthehappypath.Fulfillmentispotentiallyabyproduct.Forotherpeople,theydowhat
theywereborntodo.Thisisthefulfillmentpath.Happinessmaybeabyproductofthe
process,but,whatdrivesthemisgivingtheirbest,wheretheyhavetheirbesttogive.
Eitherway,effectivepeoplearefindwaystoanswertheircalling.

Wherepeoplefalldowniswhentheyignoretheirpassionortheirlustforlifeortheydont
capitalizeonmakingthemostofwhattheyvegot.Bringingyourcallingtothesurface,
ordoingmoreofwhatyoulovetodo,eveninasimplewayorasmallway,onaregularbasis,
ishowyoulightyourfire,getonyourpath,andmakeaworldofdifference,startingwith
you.Itshowyouleadyourlifefromtheinsideout.


Heresatipalotofpeoplefindtheirinnerstrengthbyfindingsomethingtobetonthats
biggerthanthemselves,whetheritsservicetoothers,theircommunity,oranidealintheirlife

What Do You Want Your Life to Be About

Whodoyouwanttobeandwhatexperiencesdoyouwanttocreate.Ifyouwantyourlifeto
bemagical,thenspendtimewithmagicians.Explorethenaturalwondersoftheworld.Stay
curiousanddreamuppossibilities,andwatchmoreDisney.Ifyouwantyourlifetobea
comedy,thengotomorecomedyclubs.WatchILoveLucy.Learntolookatlifethrougha
twistedlensthathelpsyouopenupandsay,hah!Findthefunnyinyourlifeandthefunnyin
theworld.

Youronething,canbecomeanoverarchingthemeforyourlife,thathelpsyoumakemeaning
andenjoythejourneyasyougo.Thebeautyis,tomakethechange,allyouhavetodoisstart
withthequestion

Whodoyouwanttobe?andwhatdoyouwantyourlifetobeabout?andthenstart
creatingthoseexperiences.

Youretheauthorofyourlife,thearchitect,andthedirectorpointyourcameraatwhatyou
wantmoreof.

TodaysAssignment
1. Findyourtheme.Distillyourstoryintosomethingsimple.Flipbackthroughyourlifeand
findthetheme.Forme,itwashelpingleveltheplayingfieldwithknowhowandhelping
underdogsgetexponentialresults.
2. Findyouronething.Whatdoyouwantyourlifetobeabout?Somepeoplemakelifean
epicadventure.Somepeoplemakelifeatragedy.Somepeoplespendtheirlifeturning
tragedyintotriumph.
3. Createyouronelinerreminder.Letyourproductiveartistcomeouttoplayandturnyour
missionintomagic.Youknowyounaileditwhenyousuddenlyfeellikeyousuddenlyhave
thestrengthofathousandbullsonyourside,andyouareonyourpath,andyourean
unstoppableforceofone.

Thesurpriseisthatwhenyoubecomeapowerfulforceofone,youactuallycreateacoalitionof
thewillingandyoubecomealighteningrodforthosethatshareyourvalues,helpliftyouup,
andspreadyourcauselikewildfire.

Whetheryoubecomeafirestarterforyou,yourfamily,yourneighbors,friends,oryour
community,theworldbecomesabetterplacewhenitsfilledwithpeoplewithalustforlife.

Day 29 Find Your Arena for Your Best Results

Becarefultheenvironmentyouchooseforitwillshapeyou;becarefulthefriendsyouchoose
foryouwillbecomelikethem.W.ClementStone

Your Outcome

Createanenvironmentthathelpsyouthrive.Youcanbeafishoutofwater,oryoucanbein
yourelement.

Welcome to Day 29
Welcometoday29of30DaysofGettingResults,basedonmybookGettingResultstheAgile
Way.Inday28,youlearnedhowtofindyouronethingtosimplifyyourlife,makemeaning,
andgrowyourlustforlife.

Today,wefindourarenaforourbestresults.

Finding YOUR Best Arena

BeforeIjoinedMicrosoft,Imovedjobsalot.Ikeptbecomingabigfishinasmallpond,and
thenstagnated.IjoinedMicrosofttobealittleguppyinabigocean.Iwantedtosurround
myselfwithexcellenceandpeoplewithapassionformorefromlife.Iwantedtotryandkeep
upwithpeoplewhowantedtochangetheworld.

Growingup,Ilearnedthatyourcontainermakesabigdifference.Whetheritwassports,or
school,Ifoundthatifyouhungwiththerightpeople,yougotbetterfast.WhileIcouldalways
improveonmyown,therightenvironmentacceleratedmygrowth.Everytime.Ivetriedto
usethispatternoflearningfromthebestofthebest,andputtingmyselfintoenvironmentsor
takingonprojectsthatacceleratemysuccess.Igrowmorebychangingmycontainerthanany
otherway.Ithinkofthisasfindinganareaformybestresults.WhenImintherightarena,I
thrive.WhenImnotIdie.Slowly.InYoungGuns,Ithinkoftheline,Youregrowingordying
theresnoinbetween.

Ithinkofmyarenainmultiplelayers,butitseverythingthatswrappedaroundmy
performance.ItstheworkIdo,itstheindustryImin,itsthepeopleIworkwith,itsthe
platformIdoitfrom,etc.Thekeyformeistoalwaysfollowthegrowth,ridethewaves,and
makethemostimpactfrommyarena,orchangearenastounleashmybest.Itsmypersonal
successplatform.

ThelessonIkeeplearningongrowingmysuccessisFillyourheadwithstoriesofsuccess,
hangoutwithinspiringpeople,findtheworkthatbreatheslifeintoyourday,andplayYOUR
bestgame,inYOURbestarena.

Your Container Limits or Supports You

Yourcontainercanaccelerateyoursuccessorholdyouback.Youcangofromstrugglingto
succeeding,orfromsurvivingtothriving.Youmightbelikeadiamondintherough,thatjust
needssomepolishingwiththerightpeopleintherightplace.Youramazinganduniquevalue
cangoundervaluedorunderappreciatedsimplybecauseyoureinthewrongarena.Seth
GodinteachesustoleanintotherightDips,getoutofthewrongDips,andbecomeaLinchpin
beindispensibleandremarkableinthejobyoudo.Sometimesyoucandoaremarkablejob,
butyouresimplyinthewrongcontainerorstuckinaDip.

Sometimesoneofthemostimportantreasonstochangeacontainerisbecauseyouhitglass
ceilingsintermsoftheimpactyoucanmake.Sometimesyouneedtochangecontainers
becauseofthefinanciallimitsoneindustrymightvalueyourskillswaymorethan
another.Oneindustriesprincecanbeanotherspauper.

You cant Be a Preacher in Your Home Town

Oneofthebestsayingsoneofmymentorsremindedmeis,Youcantbeapreacherinyour
hometown.Theideaisthatyoumightbeaperfectlygoodpreacher,buteverybodygrowing
upremembersyouaslittleJoeydownthestreetandtheycantimagineyouasapreacher.It
conflictswiththeirmentalmodel.

Sometimes,thebestthingyoucandoisfindanewtown.

5 Ways to Change Your Arena

Herearefivewaysyoucanchangeyourarena:
1. Changeyourmentalmodel.Itstartsrighthere.Ifyoucantseeit,itwonthappen.Have
youeverjustknownyoucoulddosomethinglongbeforeyouprovedit?Itsthepictures
yougetinyourmind,itsthebeliefsyouholdinyourheart,anditsyourunshakablemind
thattellsyouwhatspossible,orwhatsnot,longbeforeyoueventry.Thisiswhythemost
importantpersonandwhattheythinkofyou,isyou.Thatswhyrolemodelsandscenesof
successaresoimportant.Whatyouholdinyourmind,youcanmakehappen.Itsvery
difficulttoworkagainstyourownmentalmodelandbeliefs,especiallylimitingones.They
becomeselffulfilling.Ifyouwanttochangeyourarena,startbychangingyourmind.
2. Changehowyouplaythegame.Thiscouldbeassimpleasshiftingtospendingmoretime
inyourstrengths.Thiscouldbeassimpleasfindingamentorthatshowyoubetterwaysto
playyourgame.Thiscouldalsobeassimpleasshiftingfromgettingyourjobdone,to
masteringyourcraft.Thiscouldalsomeanchangingrolesorwhichaspectofthegame
thatyouchoosetofocuson.Someactorsbecomedirectors.Someathletesbecome
coaches.Theyrestillinthegame,butfromadifferentperch.
3. Changewhoyouplayitwith.Spendmoretimewithcatalystsorpeoplewholiftyouupor
peopleyoucanlearnfrom,andlesstimewithpeoplewhodrainyouorbringyou

down.Dontletthepeopleyouspendtimewithbethereasonyourballoonnevergetsoff
theground.
4. Changewhereyouplayyourgame.Thiscouldmeanchangingteams,changingcompanies,
etc.Thiscouldmeanmoving.Basically,itschangingwhereyouperform,andsometimes
thatalonemakesallthedifference.Thekeyistogowhereyouarevalued,youfully
engage,andyoufeelyourselfgrow.
5. Changethegameyouplay.Sometimesthebestthingyoucandoischangethegameyou
play.OneofourVPsatMicrosoftrealizedhecouldbeamediocredeveloperoragreat
ProgramManager.Whenhechangedpaths,heacceleratedhisgrowth.

Youknowagoodcontainerorarenawhenyouaregivingyourbest,whereyouhaveyourbest
togive,anditsamplifyingyourimpact,andhelpingyougrowinanacceleratedway.

Design Your Workspace to Support You

Imafanofkeepingmyworkspacesimple,clean,andeffective.IreducedistractionsandIkeep
acleanspacesoIdonthavetofightthroughmystufftogettowhatImworkingonorbattle
forsomeopenarea.Icreatebreathingroom.Fromavisualperspective,itssimple,clean,and
unclutteredandsupportive.Fromanauditoryperspective,Iplaymyfavoritemusic,unlessI
needtohearmyselfthink,thenIfindawaytogetthequiettimeIneed.

Theselittleadjustmentsgoalongwayinhelpingmemakethemostofmyarena.

Rapid Growth
EdwarddeBonosayswecanaccelerateourgrowthbyfindingrapidgrowthfields.Hewrites,
Thecomputerindustryisagrowthindustry,andwithinthatindustrysoftwareisagrowth
field.Hispointisthatyoucanridethesuccessbandwagonorgetcarriedalongwiththe
growth.Forexample,hesaysitseasyforageneraltobecomeasuccessinwarbutrather
moredifficultintimesofpeace,andthatthemostlikelywaytomakeagoodlivingoutof
creativeimaginationmaybetogointoadvertising.

Find a Stage Where You Feel Strong

Attheendoftheday,thekeyforyouisthatyourarenamakeyoustrongandkeepsyou
growingwhereitcounts.

Youdonthavetocompletelychangeyourarena,orchangeitallatonce,butifyoufind
yourselfkeepgettingstuckornotgrowingyoursuccessthewayyouwant,thenlooktoyour
environmentasawaytostructureandaccelerateyoursuccess.

Todays Assignment
1. Fixupyourworkspacetosupportyou.Dowhateveryouneedsothatwhenyougetready
toperform,youfeelgoodaboutthespaceyouworkin.Whetheritsaddplants,addmusic,
orjustdeclutter,setthestageforyourbestresults.
2. Evaluateyourcontainer.Areyouworkingontherightthings,withtherightpeople,forthe
rightmanager,fortherightcompany,makingtherightimpact?Thatsastringofthoughts,
buttheyllhelpyoulookatyourcontainerintermsofhowwellitssupportingyougiving
yourbest,whereyouhaveyourbesttogive.

Day 30 Take Agile Results to the Next Level

Thetruemeaningoflifeistogiveourlifemeaning.TateT.Weber

Your Outcome

ReviewthebasicsoftheAgileResultssystemandsetthestagetotakeyourlifetothenext
levelbyexploringmoreoftheAgileResultsprinciples,patterns,andpractices.

Welcome to Day 30
Iwantedtheendtobeagoodbeginningfortherestofyourlife.Well,hereweare.Itsday
30of30DaysofGettingResults,basedonmybookGettingResultstheAgileWay.Itsbeen30
dayssincewestartedandyoucanbrowseallthelessonsat30DaysofGettingResults.Revisit
themwhenyouneedthem,orsharethemwithfriendsandfamilytohelpgivethemtheedge.

Ihopeoneofthemostimportantideasthatcameacrossduringourjourneytogetheristhat
youareyourultimateinvestment,throughoutyourlife.Investinginyourselfishowyouturn
yourworldaroundandhowyouturnotherpeoplesworldaround.Itbreathesspiritintolife
anditscontagious.

Attheendoftheday,youaretheonethatmakesyourlifehappen.Youaretheonethattakes
careofyourbusiness.Whetheryouregettingyourgameonatworkortakingcareofyour
businessoflife,IhopethatAgileresultscanhelpyousucceedfarbeyondyourwildest
dreams.Itstheretoenhanceyouandhelpyouunleashwhatyourealreadycapable
of.Everybodydeservesachanceatthegoodlife,andthisistheultimatetoolkitthatIcan
giveyouthatcanhelpyoumakethemostofwhatyouvegot.

Write Your Story Forward A Day at a Time

AsareminderofwhatAgileResultsis,itsasimplesystemformeaningfulresults.Youcanuse
ittostepupyourgameandsupportyoufortherestofyourlife,ineverythingyoudo.Itgives
youanextremeadvantagebygivingyoustateoftheartpracticesfromavarietyofdisciplines
forimprovingyourthinking,feeling,anddoing.IknowmanyparentswhoareusingAgile
Resultstohelptheirkidsimprovetheirfocus,theirenergy,theirtimemanagement,andbasic
productivity.Iknowcompaniesusingittohelpdrivechangeandtohelpbuildarhythmof
resultsfortheirteams.IknowmanypeoplethatareusingAgileResultstogetanewleaseon
life.

Byusingthreestoriestodriveyourday,yourweek,yourmonth,andyouryear,youtakecharge
ofyourlife,andyoulivelifeonyourterms.Ithelpsyoubewhoyouwanttobeandcreate
moreoftheexperiencesyouwanttocreate.Byspendingtherighttime,ontherightthings,

therightway,withtherightenergy,youunlockapowerfulcombinationforyourlifethat
unleashesyourbestpossibilitiesandhelpsyoumakethemostofwhatyouvegot.The
commonthemebehindthesystemisonesimpleidea:

Betheauthorofyourlifeandwriteyourstoryforward.

Back to the Basics

Thebasicsworkandtheyllsupportyou.Letsdoaquickrecap:
1. YoucanuseTheRuleof3toavoidgettingoverwhelmed.
2. Youretheauthorofyourlifeandyoucanwriteyourstoryforward,onemomentoroneday
atatime
3. Youcanusethreestoriestodriveyourdayandandlightupyourdaybyconnectingtoyour
values(DailyOutcomes).
4. OnMondays,youcanusethreestoriestodriveyourweek(MondayVision).
5. OnFridays,youcanuseFridayReflectiontocelebrateyourwinsandfindyourpersonal
successpatterns.
6. YoucanmapoutwhatsimportantinyourlifeusingHotSpotstocreateameaningfulmap.
7. Youcanletthingssloughoffwithskillnomorestrawsbreakingthecamelsback.
8. Youcanaddpowerhoursandaddcreativehourstobreathelifeintoyourweekandget
moredone,inlesstime,withbetterresults.
9. Youcanusemetaphorstoinspireyourselfwithskillandmakemeaningineverythingyoudo.
10. Youcanachieveapeacefulcalmstateofmind,whereworriesmeltaway,andyourclarity
andfocuscometotheforefront.
11. Youcansetupboundariesandbufferstoachieveworklifebalancewithskill.
12. Youcanfeelstrongallweeklong,byplayingtoyourstrengthsandspendinglesstimein
weaknessesandthingsthatdrainyou.
13. Youcandosomethinggreatandmakeitamonthlongproject.Greatthingscanhappenin
monthlongpackages,anditsawaytorockyourworld,amonthatatime.

Monday Vision, Daily Wins, Friday Reflection is the Backbone

Eachdayoreachweekisanotherwaytogetthesystemonyourside.Allyouhavetodois
rememberthissimplepattern:
MondayVisionIdentifythreestoriesoroutcomesyouwantfortheweek.Thissetsthe
stage.
DailyOutcomesEachday,identifythreeoutcomesorstoriesthatyouwanttoachievefor
theday.
FridayReflectionEachFriday,identifythreethingsgoingwellandthreethingstoimprove.

Iwantedasystemthatwaseasytoadoptandimmediatelygetthebenefits,andthatifIfelloff,
Iwantedittobeeasytohopbackon.Thesystemissupersimpletogetbackonifyoufall

off.Onanygivenday,simplyaskyourself,whatarethreeoutcomesyouwantfortheday,and
yourebackonsaddleagain.

Where to Go from Here

Oh,theplacesyoullgo.Foryourjourneyfortherestofyourlife,takethesystemwithyouand
gettheforceonyourside:
1. ReadthebookGettingResultstheAgileWayathttp://GettingResults.com
2. ExploretheGettingResultsKnowledgeBase,andbesuretobrowsethevisuals.Ifindsome
picturesarewortha1000words.
3. Forinspiration,readthetestimonialsandsomeofthestoriesofadoptionandrealworld
casestudiesatGettingResults.com.
4. IfyouhadachancetogothroughDay27DoSomethingGreat,hopefullyyouhave
somethinginmindthatyouareexcitedaboutandreadytotackle.IhavesomethingthatIll
beworkingon,andImlookingforwardtocrankingthingsup.

Herestoyoursuccessonwardandupward.

Call to Action
1. Share this free eBook with a friend.
2. Explore the full book, Getting Results the Agile Way, for free in HTML on Getting Results.com at
http://GettingResults.com
3. Explore the Getting Results Knowledge Base for time management tips and time management
strategies at http://gettingresults.com/wiki/Knowledge_Base

Note -- Getting Results the Agile Way is available for purchase as a printed book and on the Kindle at

http://www.amazon.com/GettingResultsAgileWayPersonal/dp/0984548203.