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30 Days of Getting Results
30 Days of Getting Results
Getting Results
By J.D. Meier
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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
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.
Hereisashortlistoftheproblemswelltackleduringthe30DaysofGettingResults:
Howtoimproveyourpersonalproductivityandpersonaleffectiveness
Howtoachieveworklifebalance
Howtofocusanddirectyourattentionwithskill
Howtomotivateyourselfwithskillandfindyourdrive
Howtouseasimplesystemtoachievemeaningfulresults
Howtomanageyourtime
Howtospendmoretimeonthethingsthatreallymattertoyou
Howtoplaytoyourstrengthsandspendlesstimeinweaknesses
Howtochangeahabitandmakeitstick
Howtomakethemostofyouryourmoments,days,weeks,months,andyears
Howtobetheauthorofyourlifeandwriteyourstoryforward
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
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.
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!
Thekeyeachweekandeachdayistocelebrateyourwins,nomatterhowsmall.Areyou
gettingdonewhatyousetouttodo?Thisisaquickcheckonyourpriorities,yourfocus,and
whatsgettingintheway.Thisalsohelpsyoucarryforwardwhatsworkingandwhatsnot,so
ratherthanluckintosuccess,youknowexactlywhatworksforyouyouidentifyyourpersonal
successpatterns.
Icouldgointoalotofdetailsaboutwhythisworks,butsomeofthebigideasarethatyoure
makingmindfulchoices,youreusinglimitsofthreetobetterprioritizeandfocus,andyoure
usingpositivepsychologypracticesbyshiningthespotlightonyourwins.Yourealsousing
someprovenprojectmanagementandsoftwarepracticesinaverysimpleway,tohelpyou
authoryourlifeandwriteyourstoryforward,onedayatatime.
Itsaweeklysystemforgettingresultsthathelpsyougetafreshstarteachday,andafresh
starteachweek.
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.
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.
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.
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.
TherealbeautyofDailyOutcomesisthatyoucanwakeupanydayandsimplyaskyourself,
WhatarethethreethingsIreallywanttoaccomplishtoday?Thatsit.
Thethreeoutcomeswillguidealltherestofyourtasks.
Thesethreeoutcomesareyourtestsforsuccessfortheday.Itsyourpersonalwayofsetting
yourselfupforsuccesseachday.
Alwaysrememberthatyouarethemostimportantmeaningmakerinyourlife.
Your Assignment
1. Identifythethreeresultsyouwantfortoday.
2. Turneachresultintoasimplestorythatconnectstoyourpassionandvalues.
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.
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.
Thismeansbrutallyfocusingonspendingmoretimeonwhatyouvalue,andlettingtherest
go.Youmightthingofitaseitherfiercefocusordrivingwithclarity.Rememberthatyou
getwhatyoufocusonsospendmoretimeonwhatyouwant,notwhatyoudont.
WhenIlaterjoinedanothergroupinMicrosoft,acolleaguetoldmethattheirboundaryis
theytakeweekendsoff.Theyllworktheirfingerstotheboneallweek,butwhenthe
weekendcomesitstheirtimetorecharge.
WhenIworkedatTiffany&Company,oneofourdirectorshadaninterestingboundary
Tuesdaynightsisdatenightwithhiswife.AnotheroneofthemanagersatTiffany&
CompanyhadaninterestingbufferheusedDontspend$20ona$5problem.Inother
words,iftheproblemisonlyworth10minutesofyourtime,dontspendmorethanthat.
Forme,usingTheRuleof3totakeawaythreeactionableinsightsfromallthebooksIgo
throughhasbothsavedmealotoftime,andgeneratedalotofvalue.
Your Assignment
1. Writedownthreeoutcomesfortoday.ThisisreenforcingourdailyoutcomesAND
practicinglettingthingssloughoffwithskill.
2. Writedownyourthreeoutcomesfortheweek.Considertheremainingtimeandenergy
youhavefortherestoftheweek,wherecanyougetthemostbangforthebuck?What
wouldthreewinsfortheweeklooklike?
3. Setonesimplelimitonsomethingthatsbeenwearingyoudown.Seteitheratimelimitor
aquantitylimit.
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.
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!
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.
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.
Step3.Identifywhatyoullchangenextweek.Youlllikelycomeupwithalaundrylistof
simplethingsyoucantesttoimproveyourresults.Justpickafewyoureallycareaboutand
addthemtoyourbagoftricks.Ratherthanoveranalyzeyourideas,justwritedownafew
thingsthatyoucantestnextweekandgetfeedbackon.Theideaistolearnandimprove,
notbeatyourselfup,orwallowinpity.
Irecommendaddingaremindertoyourcalendarandblockingofftimeforit.Ifyoudont,its
easytoforgettodoit.Ifyouscheduleit,itwillhappen,anditsoneofthesimplestwaysto
improveyourresultseveryweek.
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.)
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!
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.
AgileResultsisasystemthatcansupportyoutherestofyourlife,nomatterwhatyoudo.Iuse
itforshippingstuffatMicrosoft,leadingteams,writingbooks,learning,etc.Thebeauty
though,isnotjustthatitssimple,orthatitsprovenitsthateachdayyougetanewchance
atbatafreshstart.
Eachdayyouwakeupisanotherchancetoaskthequestion,Whatarethreethingsyouwant
fortoday?andsoyouwriteyourstoryforward.
Notethatyouhavetosetyourownboundariesthatworkforyou.Thisisjustanexampleof
howsomepeoplehavefoundawaytoperformwellatwork,spendmorequalitytimewith
thosetheylove,investintheirbody,andfindawaytospendtimeontheirpassionsagain
andrememberthatonepersonsminimumisanotherpersonsmaximum.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Thinkingonpaperishowyougofromsouptosanity.
Theoppositeapproachistoletthingslurkinyourmind,whereeverycorneryouturn,
somethingjumpsoutatyousurprise!oreachthoughtturnsintoaJackintheBox,oreach
ideaislikelookingstraightintoaFunhousemirror.
Inallofthesecases,yourefactoringyourthinkingfromyourchatterandyourreminders.This
islikefactoringeditingfromyourwritingwriteitdown,thenedit.(Asanaside,Hemmingway
editedforanhourandwroteforanhour.)Onceyouhaveyourlists,youareempoweredto
turnthemintoaction,andyoucansimplydosobychunkingthemintostories,andfittingthem
intoyourthreestoriesfortheweek,orthreestoriesfortheday.
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.
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.
WherepeoplefalldownistheymixtoomanySHOULDsandCOULDsintheirworkeachdayand
theydontactuallyevergetanythingdone.IfMUSTSreallyareaproblemforyou,TheRuleof3
shouldhelpyoucapandavoidoverwhelmingyourself.GettingthreeMUSTSdoneeachday
quicklybuildsmomentum.Itsasenseofaccomplishment.Youmayfindasyougetmore
effective,youstarttobiteoffmore.
WhatMUSTIdotoday?
WhatSHOULDIdo?
WhatCOULDIdo?
WhittleyourlistdowntothreeMUSTsfortheday.Ifyouhavemorethanthree,thenlimitto
threemax.Youcanalwaysuplevelthemorbubblethemupintoahigherlevel
outcome.Cappingitatthreewillhelpyoufocusandrememberthemeasily.
CarveoutyourMUSTsbyweightingyourwindowofopportunity,painpoints,andbestvalue.
DontupgradeSHOULDstoMUSTs,acknowledgethatyougotyourMUSTsdone,andmoveon
toyourSHOULDsorCOULDs.RememberthewholepointofMUSTsisnotjusttohelpremind
youofwhatsmostimportantforyou,itsaboutsurvival
Choose Tos
OnethingtonoteisthatifthewordMUSTforyoucreatesasenseofheavinessoryoufindyou
nolongerlookforwardtogettingyourresults,thenchangeyourlanguage.Ratherthanyour
MUSTdos,thinkofyourCHOOSETOs.Thisputsyoubackinpowerandthissimplereframing
canhelpyougetyourenergyback.
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.
Youcanusethreesimplequestionstohelpyoucheckpoint:
Whatdoyouwant?
Whatdoyouwanttoaccomplish?
Whodoyouwanttobeandwhatexperiencesdoyouwanttocreate?
Your Assignment
1. IdentifyyourMUSTsfortheday.
2. IdentifyyourMUSTsfortheweek.
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.
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.
Youllgrowfasterinyourstrengths.Intodaysworld,youhavetooutpaceyour
problemsandgiveyourbestwhereyouhaveyourbesttogive,tosucceedinanysituation,flow
amazingvaluetoyourselfandothers,andfindasustainablewayforgettingresultsin
everythingyoudo.
Ifyouspendthebulkofyourtimeinyourweaknesses,thenyouarestackingthedeckagainst
you,andevenifyouimproveyourweaknesses,youwillneverachievethepowerfulforceof
growingyourstrengths.
Yourstrengthsarewhereyougetbetterfaster.Yourstrengthsareaplacewhereyoucan
accelerate.Yougrowfasterinyournaturalstrengthsthaninanyeffortthatworksagainst
yourstrengths.
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.
beholder.Youcanflowvalueforyourselforforothersorforyourcompany.Thekeything
hereisthatyoufindthestrengthsthatgiveyoujuiceandthatflowvalue.
Steps
Checks
Step1Map
OutYour
Weaknesses.
Canyouidentifythetop3activitiesthatmakeyoutheweakest?
Canyouidentifythetypesofworkthatmakeyouweak?
Canyouidentifywhodrainsyouandwhocatalyzesyou?Whatsthepattern?
Step2Map
outYour
Strengths.
Canyouidentifythetop3activitiesthatmakeyoustrong?
Canyouidentifythetypesofworkthatmakeyoustrong?
Canyouidentifythepatternsofpeoplethatcatalyzeyou?
Step3Design
aStrongWeek.
Haveyoueliminatedasmanyoftheactivitiesthatmakeyouweakasyou
can?
Haveyoufoundawaytoaddafewactivitiesthatmakeyoustronger?
Haveyouconsolidatedyourweaknessesasbestasyoucan?
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
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
Your Assignment
1. Findyourstrengthsandwritethemdowninwaysthatsingtoyourheartandputprecision
onwhattrulymakesyoustrong.Yourdonewhenyourlistfeelslikeashortlistofyour
superskills.
2. Mapoutyourstrengthsandweaknesses.
3. Findcreativewaystoeliminate,consolidate,orreducetheactivitiesthatmakeyouweak,
andfindawaytospendatleastonemorehourperweekinsomethingthatmakesyou
strong.Tradeupspendingtimeinyourweaknessesinfavorofspendingmoretimeinyour
strengths.
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.
listedyourcommontasksandpointsoffriction.Brainstormideasformakingtheseroutines
lesscomplicatedandlessfriction.
Therearemany,manywaystocreateglidepathsinyourday.Thesearejustsomerandom
ideastogetyourstarted.Getcreative.Youprobablyalreadyknowwhatyouneedtodo,you
justhavetodecidetodoit.Thisisworthmakingtimeforsinceitpaysyoubackthroughout
yourday,anditpaysyoubackeverydaywithinterest.
Your Assignment
1. Identifyyourworstfrictionpointsinyourday.
2. Createthreeglidepathstosimplifyyourday.Pickanyroutinesorcommontasksthatyou
wanttomakeeasierforyourself.
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.
Anotheroneofmyfriendsisgreatatfinishingthings.Heisamasteratknowingthedetailsand
beingcomplete.Wordsthatcometomindarethorough,attentiontodetail,responsible,
seesthingsthrough,yougettheidea.Whathelacksingettingthingsstarted,hemakesup
forinbringingthingstocloseandgoingthelastmile.Heisafinisheratheart.
Whenastarterandfinisherpairuplookout.Greatthingshappen.Thefastestwaytosuck
yourlifeforceoutofanyoneistoalwaysplaythefinisherrolewhenyoureastarter,or
alwaysplayastarterrolewhenyoureafinisher.
Ifyourefeelingdrainedorlikeyourespinningyourwheelsorsimplynotmakingtheimpact
youknowyoucanmake,thismightjustbeyourtickettofaster,simpler,andbetterresults.
RemembertousetheProductivityPersonasasalens.Thelabelsareforbehaviors,notfor
limitingorboxinginpersonalities.Anybodycandemonstrateanyofthebehaviorsatanytime.
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.
Your Assignment
1. Identifyyournaturalpreferencesintermsofastarterorfinisher.
2. IdentifythemostcommonProductivityPersonasorrolesthatyouplayinyourdaytoday.
3. Findonesimplethingyoucandotocomplementyournaturalproductivitypattern.
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.
Reallywhatyouredoingissettingthestageforyoursuccess.Byhavingatimeforthings,and
havingthemonyourcalendarorinyourqueue,youcanfocusonwhatyouhaveinfrontofyou
withmoreconfidence,clarity,andconviction,knowingthatyouremakingthemostofwhat
youvegot.YoucanalsomoreeffectivelyprioritizewithMUST,SHOULD,andCOULD.
Whatsthenextbestthingtodo?
Youcanalwayscheckyouractionsagainstthebiggerpictureandwhatyouwantto
accomplish:Thisisjustastartingpointandyoullwanttocreateandtestyourownquestions
toseewhatworksforyou.
Byaddingtriagingtoyourbelt,younowhaveasimplementalmodelfordealingwithincoming
actionitemsmoreeffectively.
Thebeautyisnotjustthatitssimpleorthatitsprovenitsthateachdayyougetanew
chanceatbatafreshstart.
Eachdayyouwakeupisanotherchancetoaskthequestion,Whatarethreethingsyouwant
fortoday?andsoyouwriteyourstoryforward,onedayatatime.
Your Assignment
1. Whenanincomingactionitemcomesyourway,triageitanddecidewhethertoDo
It,QueueIt,ScheduleIt,orDelegateIt.
2. Triageoneofyourstacksofthingstodotowhackitdowntosize.
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.
Youdonthavetime,youmaketime.Ifyoudontmaketimeforwhatsimportant,itdoesnt
happen.
Youllnevergetoffthetreadmillorstoptreadingwater,unlessyoudecideto.Thatswhatthis
seriesofmodulesisallabouthelpingyougetresults,enjoythejourney,andmakethemost
ofwhatyouvegotwithskill(versusjusthopingforthebestortryingharderorwishful
thinking.)
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.
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.
Whatareyourushingthroughfor?
Sometimesitsbecausepeoplearelate.Sometimesitsbecausetheyaremorefocusedonthe
goal,thanthejourney.Alotoftimes,itsbecausetheysimplydidntallowthemselvestobe
herenow,wherethismomentistheonethatreallycounts.
Itdoesntmeanbeingslow,unlessslowmakessenseforthesituation.Infact,Icanthelpbut
tothinkofJohnWoodenssaying,Bequickbutdonthurry!Forme,itremindsmetobe
deliberateandmindfulonhowIpacemyself.Icanbequickwithouthasteorrushingthrough
things,asifsomethingelseisalwaysmoreimportant,somewhereelse.
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.
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.
Forthatbriefmoment,yourmindiscaptivatedbytheexperience.
Yourmindisempty,butfullyalert,fullyaware,andnotdistractedbyanymentalchatterorany
ofyourheadmovies.Insteadofreplayingscenesinyourmind,youarethemovie.
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.
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.
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.
Contrastthatsomeofsomedisempoweringornegativemetaphors.Youcanusemetaphorsto
morepurposefullyshapetheexperiencesyouwanttocreate.ForexampleAreyouanold
dogoralifelonglearnerorforeveryoungoryoungatheartordoyouagelikeafine
wineandgetbetterwithage?Thechoiceisyours.
Ifyouseelifeasatragedy,itbecomesone.Ifyouseelifeasagame,youmighttryandfindout
howtowin.Iflifeisacomedy,thenmaybeeverydayislikeyourfavoritesitcom.Iflifeisa
dance,maybeyoufindwaystoseegraceorbeautyinyourselfandothers.Iflifeismagic,then
youfindthewonderintheworldandyouenjoyseekingoutmysteryandpossibility.
Todays Assignment
1. Findanempoweringmetaphorforyoursituationorcircumstance.
2. Findanempoweringmetaphorforyourselforwhatyoudo.
3. Findanempoweringmetaphorforlife.
Rememberthatthekeytoasuccessfulmetaphoristhatitmotivatesyouandhelpsyourespond
toanychallengethatcomesyourwayorsucceedatwhateveryoudo.Itsnotwhetheritmakes
sense,itshowitmakesyoufeelandtheresultsyouget.Measureandtestyourmetaphors
againstpersonaleffectivenessasyourultimateyardstick.
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.
ThebeautyofthePowerHouristhatItsasmallblockoftime.ItsYOURpeakhourandits
YOURforcemultiplier.Youcandeliberatelyturnmoreofyourhours,intoyourpeakhoursto
multiplyyourresults.
Ifyourealreadyworkingontherightthings,therightway,Icantthinkofanystronger
multipliertoyourdaythanusingyourbestenergytoamplifyyourresults.
Basically,youcanthrowmoretimeatsomething,oryoucanchangeyourapproachoryour
technique,oryoucanchangetheenergyoreffortyouapply.Thekeyistospendtheright
time,ontherightthings,therightway,withtherightenergy.Thatsthetruesecretoffaster,
simpler,easierresults.
ThemainreasontoaddPowerHourstoyourweekistogetleveragefromthetimeandenergy
youalreadyspend.Ifyouveeverthrowntimeatyourproblems,orhadyourworkfeellikeit
stretchesonandon,oryouvegonethroughthemotionsbutdidntfeellikeyouweregetting
anywhere,thenyouknowexactlywhyyouneedtoaddmorePowerHourstoyourweek.
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.
Creativityisallowingyourselftomakemistakes.Artisknowingwhichonestokeep.Scott
Adams
Your Outcome
AddmoreCreativeHourstoyourweek.Letyourideasandimaginationcomeouttoplay,
whileyouuncorkyourcreativegeniusandflexyourcreativemind.
Welcome to Day 18
Welcometoday18of30DaysofGettingResults,basedonmybook,GettingResultstheAgile
Way.Inday17,welearnedhowtoaddPowerHourstoyourweek.
Today,welearnhowtoaddcreativehourstoourweek.Withourcreativehours,wecan
innovateorthinkofnewideasorworkonourcreativeart.
Ifyourethecreativetype,thiswillbeespeciallyimportant.Ifyoudontthinkofyourselfasvery
creative,thensimplythinkoftheseasfreehourstoletyourmindwanderandexploreor
reflect.
YoumightfindthatCreativeHoursareyourperfectbalancetoPowerHours.Youmightalso
findthatyouthrivebestwhenyouaddmoreCreativeHourstoyourweek.Ultimately,you
mightfindthatyourPowerHoursfreeuptimeforyourCreativeHours,orthatyourCreative
HourschangethegameandimproveyourPowerHours.
YourpowerhoursmightalsobehowyouleverageyourideasfromyourCreativeHours.Test
yourresults.
Youcanusethesepatternsasalenstohelpyoubetteridentifywhenyouareinyourmost
creativestate.Keepinmindthatthenatureofyourworkwillinfluenceyourpattern.
Thekeyinallthisissimplybeingmoremindfulofwhenyouareatyourcreativebest,and
findingwaystoexperiencemoreofyourcreativemindsetbydesigninsteadofjustluckinginto
it.Experimentandtesttofindwhatworksforyou.
Todays Assignment
1. IdentifyyourCreativeHours.
2. CreatemorespaceforyourCreativeHours
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
Your Assignment
1. Identifyonequestionyoucanaskyourselfthatcanhelpyougetbetterresults.
2. Identifyonequestionyouneedtostopaskingyourself,soyoucangetbetterresults.Finda
moreeffectivequestionyoucanreplacetheineffectivequestionwith.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Ifeachdayislikeaplay,thenyouhaveabeginning,amiddleandanend,orthreeacts.What
rolesdoyouwanttoplay,andwhatdoyouwantyourdaytobeabout.Whetheritsfromthe
balconyorthedirectorschair,youneedtosetthestageforyoursuccess,onescene,oneact,
oroneplayatatime.
Youdriveyourdayoryourdaydrivesyou.
upsomegoodhabitsandsomebadhabitsalongtheway.Youlookedforwardtogrowingupso
youcoulddowhateveryouwant.
Unfortunatelyovertime,maybeyoustartedtothinkthatlifeisntasfullofpossibilitiesoras
limitlessasyouoncethought.Butwhatsreallylimitingyou?Youare,andallthelimitsyou
bringtoeachnewday.Baggagebringsyoudown.Dontpickupyourbagstoday.Travellight.
Testyourself.Testyourlimits.Chancesareyoullsurpriseyourselftimeandagain;justgive
yourselfachance.Ifthingsdontworkouttoday,thenyoucanstillwalkawaywithlessonsthat
willhelpyoushapeabettertomorrow.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Designingyourweekisoneofthesinglemosteffectivewaystoenhanceyourlife.
Imagineaweekwhereyouspendeachdayworkingontherightthingswiththerightpeople
andmakingtherightimpact.Imaginelookingforwardtothestartoftheweek,whetherits
becauseitsafreshstart,oritsachancetoexperiencemoreofwhatyouwant.Imagine
spendingmoretimeeachdayonthethingsthatmakeyoustrong,giveyouenergyandmake
youfeelpowerful.ImagineaweekfilledwithPowerHours,CreativeHours,andenoughfree
timethatyoufeelbalancedandeffective.Imagineaweekwhereyougetenoughsleep,get
enoughmovement,andhaveenoughenergytoaccomplishwhateveryouwant.
Thatisaweekbydesign.Itsnotjustaboutweeklyresultsitsaboutsustainableresultsfor
thelonghaul.
Thekeytorememberhereisthatnobodywillcomealonganddesignyourtimeforyouinthe
bestwaypossible.Youaretheultimatearchitectanddesignerofhowyouspendyourtimeina
waythatworksforyou.
Thishelpsgiveyouabalconyviewofyourweekataglance.
Itsasimple,yetconsistentpatternyoucancounton:
OnMondays,youenvisionwhatyoudliketoaccomplishfortheweek;yousimply
imagineifthiswasFriday,whatthreeresultswouldyoulikeunderyourbelt?
Eachday,youfigureoutthreeresultsforthedaythathelpyoumovetowardsyourthree
resultsfortheweek.Atthesametime,youstayflexiblesothatyourealwaysworkingon
thenextbestthingforyoutodo.
OnFridays,youreflectonyourresultsandyoucarrythegoodforward.
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.
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.
Rememberthatinlife,itsnothowmanytimesyougetknockeddownitshowmanytimes
yougetbackup.
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.
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.
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.)
Emotions
Emotionalupsanddownscanbetough,especiallyifyouhaveexceptionalemotionallows,or
exceptionalemotionalhighs.Oneofthemostimportantthingstodohereistoavoidlearned
helplessness.MartinSeligmanteachesusthattheworstthingwecandoismakethings
permanent,personal,orpervasive.Thewaytostayoptimisticistomakethebadthingsinlife
notpersonal,notpermanent,andnotpervasive.Thissimplelittlechangetoyourexplanatory
stylecanmakeacrucialdifferenceinyourabilitytobouncebackintheworstsituations.
Spirit
Youcanpracticeyourspiritualintelligenceasawaytofullyengageandliftyourspiritwhenyou
needitmost.ThemostusefulwayIfoundtothinkaboutspiritualintelligenceislivingyour
values,findingyouruniquecontribution,andshapingabetterversionofyourself.
Category
Items
Stories
1.
2.
3.
4.
TheLittleEngineThatCould
TheWizardofOz
Rocky
TheKarateKid
Metaphors
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Backonthesaddleagain.
Likearock
Likearubberball
Rollwiththepunches
You2.0
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
Todays Assignment
1. Findoneofyourpastvictoriesinlifeandaddthattoyourmentalflipbookofscenesto
drawfromwhenyouneeditmost.
2. Findonemetaphortohelpyoutorepresenthowyoubouncebackinlife.
3. Findonesongoronesayingtohaveinyourmindthatyoucanuseasaonelinerreminder
totaketherightactionswhenitcounts.Forexample,onethatsomepeoplelikeisStand
strongwhentested.
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.
Theoppositepatternistosimplyworkonsomethinguntilyouredone.ThatpatternisFix
Scope,FlexTime.Basically,youkeepthrowingtimeattheproblemuntilyoueventuallydecide
itsdone.Thatpatternhasseveralproblems,includingthefollowing:
1. Younolongerhavethebenefitoftimetohelpyouprioritize
2. Youcannolongercountonhittingyourwindowsofopportunity
3. Youpotentiallyrunoutofsteamorgointoadeathmarchwithnoendinsightbeforeyou
actuallyfinish
4. Youendupthrowingtimeatproblems(timeexpandstofillitscontainer)
5. Youendupwithscopecreepbecauseofyourmovingtimelinethatjustkeepsmovingout
furtherandfurther.
TherightsizedtimeboxlargelydependsonwhatyoudeterminedinStep1.Youmightneedto
groworshrinkyourtimeboxdependingonwhetheryouretryingtobuildmomentum,show
resultsorjustmakeprogressonaproblem.
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.
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.
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.
EventuallyIrealized,problemsareapartoflife.Theycomewiththeturf.Yourproblems
change,butyoullneverbefreeofproblems.Andeverybodyhasproblemsinsomeshapeor
form.Insteadoferadicateproblemsfrommylife,Icouldembracethemtakethebullbythe
horns.Atthatpoint,IdecidedthemosteffectivethingIcoulddoisbecomeaskilledproblem
solver.
Byfocusingonsolvingproblems,Ilearnedtotakeonbig,hairychallenges,andtoshapemylife
withmyskillsandabilities.Ialsolearnedhowtohelpothersdrasticallyimprovetheirproblem
solvingability.
Assimplisticasthisprocessmightappear,itscalesupanddownandyoucanuseitforpretty
extremechallenges.
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.
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.
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
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.
Bigdreamscreatethemagicthatstirsmenssoulstogreatness.BillMcCartney
Your Outcome
Immerseyourselfinsomethinggreat.Takeyourlifetothenextlevel.Dosomethinggreat
thatmattersforyouorsomeoneinyourlife.Goaboveandbeyondyourdailycallofduty.
Welcome to Day 27
Welcometoday27of30DaysofGettingResults,basedonmybookGettingResultstheAgile
Way.Inday26,welearnedhowtosolveproblemswithskill.
Today,wedecidetodosomethinggreat.
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.
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.
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 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.
Peoplearentheroes,theydoheroicthings.Thepointis,dontmissthegoodbecauseofthe
bad,anddontgetcaughtupinputtingpeopleonpedestals.Dontputyourselfonapedestal
either.Instead,focusondoingagreatthingandgivingityourbestshot.
Dontletfearrunyourlife.Especiallyfearoffailure.Whatifyoutryandyoufail?So
what.Guesswhat?Ifyouhavetosucceed,thenyoureplayingthegameoflifewrong.Test
yourpossibilities.Growfromit.Embracetheexperience.Thatswhatlifeisallabout.Ifyou
gaveityourbestshot,you.Yougrewyourselfalittlemore,ormaybealot.butthatyoull
giveityourbestshot.
Thatshowtomakegreatthingsordogreatthingsandstayonfire.
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.
Ivereallyenjoyedtheemailfolkshavebeensendingmesofarabouttheirbreakthroughsand
theirturnaroundstoriesandevenhowforsomepeople,justtheirordinarydayshavebecome
extraordinary.Imalsowatchingthegoodnessspread.Iseefriendsinspiringotherfriendsand
itscontagious.Asonefriendputittome,theirpilotlightislitagain!Iseepeoplelifting
eachotherup,andthatshowweallstandontheshouldersofgiants.
Getreadytomakenextmonthoneofthemostexcitingchapterinthestoryofyourlife,asyou
continuetowriteyourstoryforward.Itwillbeepic.
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.
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.
Wherepeoplefalldowniswhentheyignoretheirpassionortheirlustforlifeortheydont
capitalizeonmakingthemostofwhattheyvegot.Bringingyourcallingtothesurface,
ordoingmoreofwhatyoulovetodo,eveninasimplewayorasmallway,onaregularbasis,
ishowyoulightyourfire,getonyourpath,andmakeaworldofdifference,startingwith
you.Itshowyouleadyourlifefromtheinsideout.
Heresatipalotofpeoplefindtheirinnerstrengthbyfindingsomethingtobetonthats
biggerthanthemselves,whetheritsservicetoothers,theircommunity,oranidealintheirlife
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.
Becarefultheenvironmentyouchooseforitwillshapeyou;becarefulthefriendsyouchoose
foryouwillbecomelikethem.W.ClementStone
Your Outcome
Createanenvironmentthathelpsyouthrive.Youcanbeafishoutofwater,oryoucanbein
yourelement.
Welcome to Day 29
Welcometoday29of30DaysofGettingResults,basedonmybookGettingResultstheAgile
Way.Inday28,youlearnedhowtofindyouronethingtosimplifyyourlife,makemeaning,
andgrowyourlustforlife.
Today,wefindourarenaforourbestresults.
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.
Sometimesoneofthemostimportantreasonstochangeacontainerisbecauseyouhitglass
ceilingsintermsoftheimpactyoucanmake.Sometimesyouneedtochangecontainers
becauseofthefinanciallimitsoneindustrymightvalueyourskillswaymorethan
another.Oneindustriesprincecanbeanotherspauper.
Sometimes,thebestthingyoucandoisfindanewtown.
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.
Theselittleadjustmentsgoalongwayinhelpingmemakethemostofmyarena.
Rapid Growth
EdwarddeBonosayswecanaccelerateourgrowthbyfindingrapidgrowthfields.Hewrites,
Thecomputerindustryisagrowthindustry,andwithinthatindustrysoftwareisagrowth
field.Hispointisthatyoucanridethesuccessbandwagonorgetcarriedalongwiththe
growth.Forexample,hesaysitseasyforageneraltobecomeasuccessinwarbutrather
moredifficultintimesofpeace,andthatthemostlikelywaytomakeagoodlivingoutof
creativeimaginationmaybetogointoadvertising.
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.
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.
Byusingthreestoriestodriveyourday,yourweek,yourmonth,andyouryear,youtakecharge
ofyourlife,andyoulivelifeonyourterms.Ithelpsyoubewhoyouwanttobeandcreate
moreoftheexperiencesyouwanttocreate.Byspendingtherighttime,ontherightthings,
therightway,withtherightenergy,youunlockapowerfulcombinationforyourlifethat
unleashesyourbestpossibilitiesandhelpsyoumakethemostofwhatyouvegot.The
commonthemebehindthesystemisonesimpleidea:
Betheauthorofyourlifeandwriteyourstoryforward.
Iwantedasystemthatwaseasytoadoptandimmediatelygetthebenefits,andthatifIfelloff,
Iwantedittobeeasytohopbackon.Thesystemissupersimpletogetbackonifyoufall
off.Onanygivenday,simplyaskyourself,whatarethreeoutcomesyouwantfortheday,and
yourebackonsaddleagain.
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.