The opposite of “Take it easy”
Hi there,
I hit a nice milestone in the English translation of my book GRIP: Found the first international ambassadors to help spread the word. Looking forward to sharing more with you soon!
Getting there has meant a lot of emailing. And hearing a lot of No’s, which is no fun of course. But I found that splitting up this formidable task into “Send out one pitch a day” does the trick. Breaking down larger projects into bite-size chunks works for me every time.
Prepare yourself: This issue of the newsletter is meant to urge you to take the long view and to take a critical look at how you’ll work this week.
(If it turns out these particular questions aren’t helpful, there’s a newsletter from the archive that might fit the bill: It’s about how questions can power change, big and small.)
A gentle nudge
I’m writing this mostly because I could use a nudge myself this week, and I gather I’m not the only one. Hope it helps you too.
This situation is tough. Conditions are far from ideal – or flat out disastrous – for getting any concentrated work done. It’s important to acknowledge that. But dwelling on it won’t help. And are we just supposed to stand by and let all our good work habits lapse?
This week, take on the inertia of those lockdown habits you’ve slid into. Take a step or two to reclaim your working self, for yourself and for those around you.
Don’t be too easily satisfied with your work. Aim to once again deliver top quality work, and do what you do with care and attention. Put aside your feelings of reluctance and chase that prospective client. Embrace remote learning or teaching.
Accept the hassles involved and make it your best work-at-home week yet. A crisis is the time to show what you’re made of. And to practice new coping skills.
Sometimes your job is not to do your job
Showing what you’re made of sometimes means rising above your job description. Or daring to look beyond your business plan. Whatever your plan was, it’s just that – a plan. Looked great on paper, but perhaps it’s no longer relevant. Dare to move beyond it.
Where will you make a difference this week? Which gaps will you close? Which issue will you address in your organization, because you see a way to make things better? Are you still hesitant to launch that new initiative or start doing that thing you’ve been thinking about? You’re not too late! Make it happen.
Sometimes it’s best to just dive into your work and do it well. But sometimes what’s called for is to move beyond the job at hand, in both thought and action.
What’s holding you back?
Whatever you have in mind, it’s good to ask yourself what’s holding you back. What’s causing you to keep postponing your dreams?
Why not get started.
I recently read about asking yourself the question: What would your friends say is holding you back? That can force a fresh and honest take on the matter.
Get going and have a good week!
Rick