self improvement | Get Lasting Results with Mike

Problem Solving Tools and Techniques

Get Results: problem solving — Get Results: Problem solving

We encounter numerous problems throughout our lives, and in all areas of our lives. The people that insist on putting a positive perspective on life have renamed problems, “challenges”, but for the purpose of this post we are going to stick with tradition.

Although problems can be simple or complex, we can go through a step-by-step process to try to solve the problem and provide a solution to it. Tackling problems is often a better solution than burying-our-head in the sand and hoping it goes away, although “doing nothing” can be a valid solution in itself. Burying our heads relies mainly on luck to solve the problem and takes the power away from us. Confronting the problem empowers us and in itself can be life changing.

One of the skills required for solving problems is decision making which is a topic in its own right, and is a crucial life skill that should be studied, and improved..

Stripping the problem solving strategy down to its basic components leaves us with 5 stages to go through.

1.Identify the problem and understand how it impacts your desired goal. I like to use the following equation to simplify this stage.

Get Results: problem solving equation — Get Results: Problem solving equation

Example = (EP) Enough traffic to site to earn living – (RP) not enough traffic to site = (P) need more traffic to site
More specific example = (EP) 1000 visits per day to site – (RP) 50 visits per day to site = (P) -950 visitors a day to site

Break the problem down – Evaluate the components of the problem and their relationship to one another so that you understand the problem from all angles. You must define it clearly. so that you can understand it.
Find possible solutions – Research the possible solutions and expected outcomes of those solutions. Weigh the pros and cons of each. Use your creative thought process for this. You are not guaranteed the outcomes will be as you expect, but you can only judge on the knowledge you possess at the time. Research the models, systems, habits and relationships of others that have overcome the problem(s) you are trying to overcome, where possible.
Decision making – Take action to resolve the problem. Evaluate the options and prioritise, moving on those solutions that you believe will solve the problem.

5.Review. Check that the problem has been solved. If not then go back to step one and re-evaluate, adding the information learned to the mix and begin the process again. Each failure to solve the problem takes an option off the table, and moves you a step closer to finding the right solution.

There are a number of tools and techniques available to help you solve different types of problems. Some have been designed to tackle particular types of problems, ,many of which can be modified to fit your needs. Here is a list below:

Pareto Analysis (80/20 Rule)

Pareto Analysis is a statistical technique in decision-making used for the selection of a limited number of tasks that produce significant overall effect. It uses the Pareto Principle (also known as the 80/20 rule) the idea that by doing 20% of the work you can generate 80% of the benefit of doing the entire job.

Force Field Analysis

Force Field Analysis is a method for listing, discussing, and assessing the various forces for and against a proposed change. It helps you look at the big picture by analysing all of the forces impacting on the change and weighing up the pros and cons.

Six Thinking Hats

Six Thinking Hats is a system designed by Edward de Bono which describes a tool for group discussion and individual thinking involving six colored hats

Starbursting

Starbursting is a form of brainstorming that focuses on generating questions about an idea.

Get Results: starburst — Get Results: Starburst

Ishikawa Diagram (Cause and Effect Analysis)

The fishbone diagram identifies many possible causes for an effect or problem. It can be used to structure a brainstorming session. It immediately sorts ideas into useful categories.

Process Flow Chart

A flowchart is a picture of the separate steps of a process in sequential order.

Get Results: process flow diagram — Get Results: Process flow diagram

Paired Comparison Analysis

Paired Comparison Analysis helps you to work out the importance of a number of options relative to each other. It is particularly useful where you do not have objective data to base this on.

The Stepladder Technique

The Stepladder Technique is a simple tool that manages how members enter the decision-making group. It encourages all members to contribute on an individual level BEFORE being influenced by anyone else. This results in a wider variety of ideas, it prevents people from “hiding” within the group, and it helps people avoid being “stepped on” or overpowered by stronger, louder group members.

Venn Diagram

A Venn diagram is a diagram representing mathematical or logical sets pictorially as circles or closed curves within an enclosing rectangle (the universal set), common elements of the sets being represented by intersections of the circles.

Grid Analysis (otherwise known as Decision Matrix)

Decision Matrix Analysis works by getting you to list your options as rows on a table, and the factors you need consider as columns. You then score each option/factor combination, weight this score by the relative importance of the factor, and add these scores up to give an overall score for each option. Check out more about the Decision Matrix/Grid Analysis on my Decision Making post.

Get Results: decision matrix — Get Results: Decision Matrix

Cost/Benefit analysis

The cost/benefit analysis is designed to summarize the overall value for money of a project or proposal. It looks at the benefits of a project or proposal, expressed in monetary terms, relative to its costs, also expressed in monetary terms.

Risk/Reward ratio

Get Results: risk reward analysis — Get Results: Risk Reward analysis

The Risk/Rewards ratio is a ratio used to compare the expected returns of an investment against the amount of risk undertaken to capture these returns.

More tools

PMI
Decision trees
Critical thinking
Impact analysis
The ladder of inference
Blindspot analysis
The kepner-tregoe matrix
Nominal group technique
The delphi technique
5 whys
Brainstorming
Check sheets
Concentration diagram
Activity sampling
Ranking and rating
Solution effect diagram

I’m sure there will be many other tools and techniques available, if and when I come across a new one I will add it to this list. I will in the course of time add some posts specifically about each of these tools, and link from this post to them, so keep this post bookmarked.

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Problem-solving Quotes

Quotes are a great way to draw inspiration, shift perspective and escape habitual thought patterns, here are a selection of problem-solving quotes I’ve collected over the years.

“Focus on the solution, not the problem.”

“Stop talking about your problems and start thinking about solutions.”

“If you don’t solve the problems from your past, they will follow you into your future.”

“Life is a continuous exercise in creative problem solving.” – Michael J. Gelb

“Every problem has a solution, you just have to be creative enough to find it.” – Travis Kalanick

“When solving problems, dig at the roots instead of just hacking at the leaves.” – Anthony J.D’Angelo

“Never bring the problem solving stage into the decision making stage. Otherwise, you surrender yourself to the problem rather than the solution.” – Robert H. Schuller

“Problems are nothing but wake-up calls for creativity.” – Gerhard Gschwantner

“You’re either part of the solution or you’re part of the problem.” – Eldridge Cleaver

“Solving problems is a practical art, like swimming or skiing, or playing the piano; you can learn it only by imitation and practice.” – George Polya

“People who believe a problem can be solved tend to get busy solving it.” – William Raspberry

“The best way to escape from your problems is to solve them.” – Unknown

“Running away from any problem only increases the distance from the solution. The easiest way to escape from the problem is to solve it.”

“We can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.” – Albert Einstein

“Instead of thinking outside the box, get rid of the box.” – Deepak Chopra

“It isn’t that they cannot see the solution. It is that they cannot see the problem.” – GK Chesterton

“You can’t teach problem solving unless you are a problem solver.” – Jim Wilson

“Stay away from negative people. They have a problem for every solution.” – Albert Einstein

“The only way to get good at solving problems is to solve them.” – Seth Godin

“Problem-solving leaders have one thing in common; a faith that there’s always a better way.” – Gerald m. Weinberg

“It’s not that I’m so smart, it’s just that I stay with problems longer.” – Albert Einstein

“Any problem, big or small, within a family, always seems to start with bad communication. Someone isn’t listening.

“If a problem can be solved, there is nothing to worry about. If it can’t be solved, then worrying is useless.” – Unknown

“Sometimes problems don’t require a solution to solve them; instead they require maturity to outgrow them.” – Steve Marboli

“When people tell me “you’re gonna regret that in the morning” I sleep in until noon, because I’m a problem solver.” – Unknown

“To launch a business means successfully solving problems. Solving problems means listening.” – Richard Branson

“There are solutions; even to the hardest problems.”

“Problem-solving is hunting; it is savage pleasure and we are born to it.” – Thomas Harris

“Not everything that is faced can be changed. But nothing can be changed until it is faced.” – James Baldwin

“The important thing is to never stop questioning.” – Albert Einstein

“Abilities essential for academic success and productivity in the workforce, such as problem solving, reasoning and literacy, all develop through various kinds of play, as do social skills such as cooperation and sharing.” – Susan Linn

“Insanity; doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” – Albert Einstein

“Problems we have cannot be solved at the same level of thinking with which we created them.” – Albert Einstein

“All life is problem solving.” – Karl Popper

“Leaders spend 5% of their time on the problem and 95% of their time on the solution.” – Tony Robbins

“It’s very important to have a feedback loop, where you’re constantly thinking about what you’ve done and how you could be doing it better.” – Eton Musk

“Problem, means that you are dwelling on a situation mentally without a true intention or possibility of taking action.” – Eckhart Tolle

“To solve our most difficult problems we must radically change our thinking.” – Stephen Covey

“Mental acuity of any kind comes from solving problems yourself, not from being told how to solve them.” – Paul Lockhart

“Hate has caused a lot of problems in this world, but it hasn’t solved one yet.” – Maya Angelou

“Our problems are not solved by physical force, by hatred, by war. Our problems are solved by loving kindness, by gentleness, by joy.” – Buddha

What does ADDING VALUE mean

Adding Value in Business

One of the first things I learned in business was the principle of adding value. Adding value is about bringing something to the table that customers will pay you for. In business it can involve adding convenience, by saving your customers’ time, money, resources, energy.

It can be closer-to-hand, on-demand, just-in-time. It can make things easier for customers, saving them effort, worry, frustration. It can provide them with expertise and knowledge to help them get better results. It can help people get closer to their goals by increasing efficiency, motivation and productivity or help them be more effective in their goal seeking. It can help them solve problems, such as medicines do for the ill, or losing weight, being healthier and fitter, or unblocking bottle necks from their production processes. It can make people feel better about themselves by adding prestige and luxury to their lives. Adding value can involve increasing quality, reliability, durability to something they purchase.

List of value added characteristics

Newness – satisfying an entirely new set of needs that customers previously didn’t perceive because there was no similar offering. i.e. cell phones
Performance – improving product or service performance i.e. PCs
Customization – tailoring products and services to the specific needs of individual customers.
“Getting the job done” – helping customers get certain jobs done i.e. rolls Royce servicing jet engines for airlines
Design – getting a product to stand out with superior design
Brand/status – finding value in the simple act of using or displaying a specific brand i.e. wearing a Rolex watch signifies wealth.
Price – offering a similar value at a lower price to satisfy the needs of price sensitive customer segments.
Cost reduction – helping customers reduce costs is an important way to create value. i.e. salesforce.com sells a hosted CRM application. This relieves buyers from the expense and trouble of having to buy, install and manage CRM software themselves.
Risk reduction – reducing the risk of purchasing products of services. i.e. for a used car buyer, a one year service guarantee reduces the risk of post purchase breakdowns and repairs.
Accessibility – making products and services available to customers who previously lacked access to them. i.e. netjets popularised fractional private jet ownership.
Convenience/usability – making things more convenient. i.e. ipod and itunes offered unprecedented convenience searching, buying, downloading and listening to digital music.

Adding Value in Relationships

In a personal situation, adding value can be done through friendship, by supporting, listening, understanding, caring, encouraging, not putting friends down or making fun of them, or defending them when someone else does. Being fun to be around, and adding to others’ lives rather than taking away from them. Friendships are about connecting emotionally, being empathetic, and authentic. Keeping your word, keeping a secret when you are asked to. It’s about giving them your time, attention, your love and sincerity.

Adding Value for Strangers

Add value to strangers by smiling at passers-by and saying hello, being considerate, friendly, courteous, pleasant. Holding a door open for someone struggling with shopping, letting someone go in front of you when you can see that they are rushing.

The Bottom Line

At the most basic level, adding value is about adding something of value to another person’s life. No matter how large or small that value may be. It’s about making people feel better about their lives even just a moment of their life. Move them towards a better state of being. Move them away from worry, pain, frustration, unfulfilled, disappointment, feeling conflicted, angry, useless, resentful, dissatisfied, struggle, lack of.., limited, confused and towards pleasure, love, completeness, success, their goal, wealth, the realisation of something, triumph, progress, accomplishment, expansion, abundance, freedom, a breakthrough, a work-around, to survive or even thrive. Go out into the world and make it a better place for yourself and others by being a giver and not just a taker.

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Add Value Quotes

“Stop Selling, Start Helping.” – Zig Ziglar

“My mission is to add value. My attitude is of active curiosity, and my method is through relationships of trust.”

“Key to wealth: Provide more value than anyone else.”

“Try not to become a man of success, but rather try to become a man of value.” Albert Einstein

“I learned the value of hard work by working hard.” – Margaret Mead

“Add value to everyday. Sharpen your skills and your understanding.”

“If your presence doesn’t add value, your absence won’t make a difference.” – Zero Dean

“Find your passion, learn how to add value to it, and commit to a lifetime of learning.” – Ray Kurzweil

“Smiles ADD VALUE to our face, love ADDS VALUE to our heart, respect ADDS VALUE to our behaviour and friends and family ADD VALUE to our life.”

“The more value you add to the lives of others, the more valuable you become.” – Hal Elrod

“Price is what you pay, value is what you get.” – Warren Buffett

“Strive not to be a success, strive instead to be of value.” – Albert Einstein

“innovation is change that unlocks new value.” – Jamie Notter

“Never waste your feelings on people who don’t value them.”

“You add value to people when you value them.” – John C. Maxwell

“Too many people overvalue what they are not and undervalue what they are.”

“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.”

“Be the type of energy that no matter where you go, you always add value to the spaces and lives around you.”

“Once you realize your worth, it will be easy to get go of those that don’t.”

Goal Setting

The Goal setting strategy highlighted in this post is designed for businesses and individuals alike. Goal setting can be used for personal, business, health, and spiritual life, in fact whatever area of life you want to accomplish something.

Get Results: goal setting model — Get Results: Goal setting Model

You can have as many goals as you like in as many areas of your life as you like as long as you don’t overload yourself with an unrealistic amount of goals that are so plentiful you can’t keep track of them all.They can be changed at any time, altered, and redirected as you desire, but having goals, sets you off in a specific direction rather than just floating aimlessly. I advocate using one big “End Goal” which sets your life to a purpose, with all other goals supporting this “End Goal”.

Focus on one BIG Goal

Aim towards one big “End Goal”. A Goal will add purpose to your life. Check yourself before embarking on your journey. Check that your “End Goal” will give you the lifestyle you crave. Will you be doing what you want to do? Will it fit in with your family life? Will it give you the feeling you want it to? Will it allow you the right work/life balance you crave? Think about this carefully from the start. Don’t waste your life pursuing a goal you don’t really want.

Summary

Aim for one big “End Goal”
Check your “End Goal” will give you the life you crave

Break down into smaller mini Goals

Each action should be aimed at the attainment of your “End Goal”. Start from your “End Goal” and work backwards. Break your “End Goal” down into smaller mini goals whose purpose is the ultimate attainment of your “End goal”. Line up your daily, weekly, monthly, yearly mini goals like domino’s so that each one that is pushed over helps in knocking down the next. This will add momentum and make the next mini goal easier. It’s goal setting in the present, we can only shape the future with our actions in the present. Tomorrow never comes. “Doing it tomorrow” is simply procrastination and fear of failure, rejections or disappointment.

Summary

Break “End Goal” into smaller sequential “mini goals” line up like domino’s so that each mini goal helps in the attainment of the next
Mini goals should be daily, weekly, monthly, yearly all leading to the “End Goal”.
What’s the one thing I can do now to help in the attainment of the “End Goal”.
Start today. The present moment is the only moment we live in. So shape tomorrow with the actions of today.

Take action

The most important part is to take action. A sure way of not fulfilling your goals is failing to take action. Work out a sound plan of action and go for it. Don’t fear failure, because it is part of the learning process. Failure will help you test the soundness of your plan and help in your search for a better plan and for the attainment of your “End Goal”. Look for the best systems, models, habits and relationships that others have used to get the same “End Goal”. Who has achieved what you want to achieve and how did they do it?

The fear of failure, fear rejection, and fear of disappointment, will conspire to work against you and deter you from reaching your goals, they manifest themselves in the form of procrastination, indecision, overwhelm, anxiety and keeping yourself busy doing unnecessary things so that you feel busy. To test whether you are suffering from any of these, ask yourself “What would I be doing now if I knew I could not fail for the next 24/48/72 hours?”

Measurable – Put a deadline on it. If you treat it like a project with a deadline and work backwards. setting your mini goals as you go it will help you “think it through”. Moving it away from being just a hopeful dream into a doable project. It will help you see what needs to be done this week, this month, this year, in the next 3 years etc. Check your actual progress against your planned schedule to see if you are still on schedule.

Summary

Taking action is key, without action you will never reach any goal
Set deadlines for your mini goals and the “End Goal”, and check progress against the plan.

Don’t give up

You can only fail if you give up. Life has a habit of testing us as we move through it and this seems particularly true just before we make a major goal breakthrough. It seems to be testing to see if we are worthy of it. Make sure you don’t give up at the first signs of failure overtaking you. Remember to look at the systems, models, habits and relationships of others who have succeeded in achieving the goal your are aiming for and see what you can learn from them in the pursuit of yours. Check out my problem solving post about overcoming obstacles.

Get Results: goal setting components — Get Results: Goal setting components

Get Results: setting goals — Get Results: Setting goals

If you’re interested using the S.M.A.R.T. approach to goal setting it should be

Specific – Remember specific goals lead to specific actions
Measurable – If you can measure your goal you will know when you have achieved it. “If you can’t measure it you can’t control it” goes the management mantra
Attainable – don’t make goals easy to reach, In his book “The one thing”, Gary Keller advocates ignoring “doable” and “stretch” goals and going for “possible” goals, where you don’t currently have the skills to achieve it, this will allow you to grow into the goal in question.
Relative – Your goal should align with your morals and ethics and put you where you want to be in life. If it doesn’t align with your values and give you the life you want then it will not make you happy.
Timely – Set a timeline and aim for a deadline. Setting a deadline will help you focus on reaching your goal.

For more articles on GOAL SETTING, click here.

Goal setting Quotes

“Some men give up their designs when they have almost reached the goal; while others, on the contrary, obtain a victory by exerting, at the last moment, more vigorous efforts than before.” – Polybius

“Life can be pulled by goals just as surely as it can be pushed by drives.” – Viktor Frankl

“Don’t be pushed by your problems; be led by your dreams.”

“Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you will land amongst the stars” – Les Brown

“Your goal should be just out of reach, but not out of sight.” – Denis Waitley and Remi Witt

“Ah, but a man’s reach should exceed his grasp, or what’s a heaven for?” – Robert Browning

“Purpose is what gives life a meaning.” – C. H. Parkhurst

“Every ceiling, when reached, becomes a floor, upon which one walks as a matter of course and prescriptive right.” – Aldous Huxley

“Aim at the sun, and you may not reach it; but your arrow will fly far higher than if aimed at an object on a level with yourself. ” -J. Howes

“Our plans miscarry because they have no aim. When a man does not know what harbor he is making for, no wind is the right wind.” – Seneca

“Who aims at excellence will be above mediocrity; who aims at mediocrity will be far short of it.” – Burmese Saying

“Don’t bunt. Aim out of the ballpark.” – David Ogilvy

“The virtue lies in the struggle, not in the prize.” – Richard Monckton Milnes

“To reach a port, we must sail—Sail, not tie at anchor—Sail, not drift.” – Franklin Roosevelt

“He who would arrive at the appointed end must follow a single road and not wander through many ways. ” – Seneca

“It is not enough to take steps which may some day lead to a goal; each step must be itself a goal and a step likewise.” – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

“In absence of clearly defined goals, we become strangely loyal to performing daily acts of trivia.” – Author Unknown

“Most “impossible” goals can be met simply by breaking them down into bite size chunks, writing them down, believing them, and then going full speed ahead as if they were routine.” – Don Lancaster

“There are two things to aim at in life; first to get what you want, and after that to enjoy it. Only the wisest of mankind has achieved the second.” – Logan Pearsall Smith

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Walking Towards your Goal

Hazel and I recently went for a lovely walk around Entwistle and Wayoh reservoirs which took us approx 100 mins to walk the 9 km distance, and I thought of how that walk was almost a metaphor for the road to business success.

When we first started it look such a long way, Hazel asked “Are we going to walk all the way around it?” but as I’m trying to lose weight at the moment, I thought it would do me good to do it. It reminded me of setting off with a business goal in mind that may cause us to question ourselves “Is this goal too big for me?” or “Can I do this?” Just making a start is half of the battle in these circumstances, make a start and see what happens.

As we walked around the reservoir we just took it one step at a time, not big steps but definite ones, one after the other. We were admiring the scenery as we went, it was such a lovely day. Before we knew it we had travel approx 4000 steps (according to our mobile phone app) when we turned back to see the distance we’d travelled we were surprised at our progress. It hardly seemed any time at all, yet those small steps had added up, partly because of our consistency of walking and partly because we were enjoying the walk so much. As in business if you take the important steps towards your goal, and try to get some enjoyment from the journey, you will be surprised how quickly you can make progress.

As we progressed along the pathway we found lots of alternative routes that went off into the surrounding woods, some of which looked rather interesting, but we stuck to our aim of going around the water’s edge. In business we face lots of distractions, that try to lure us from our main path. Beware of these time wasters. Stick to the quickest route to your destination otherwise you might find yourself lost and wasting time and effort, leaving you without the energy to get to your goal

Sometimes our path may be blocked and we are forced temporarily off route, and this is ok, we just have to take a diversion and get back on course as soon as we can.

As we passed the halfway stage of our walk we got a second wind of energy which seemed to add a spring into our step. There seemed to be a building momentum pushing us towards our destination. In business you find that the same thing seems to come to your aid after you’ve gone so far, pushing you forwards, or is it your goal pulling you to it?

When we finished after an hour and half or so, we had walked close to 9 km, not that far you may say, but for me, who has back trouble when walking, I thought it was a great achievement. I felt pleased that we had done it but was surprised how quickly we had done it and how easy it had seemed after all. Again in business you will find that sometimes goals, which seemed such long shots when you started out are indeed much easier to achieve that you worried they would be. But you’ll never know until you actually give it a go.

Summary

Set yourself a big goal
Formulate a plan of action – the best way to achieve your goal
Make a start towards your goal – just do it
Avoid distractions
If you hit any road blocks take enough of a diversion to get past it and carry on
Let momentum push you goal-wards. Successive wins (steps) build and form new habits which will make the journey easier as you go
Achieve your goal, enjoy your sense of achievement and use this to set new bigger goals and repeat the cycle

Check out our “Ultimate Guides” links in the sidebar/navigation, well worth a look.

FOCUS to Improve Productivity

Get Results: FOCUS follow one course until successful — Get Results: FOCUS

FOCUS has a couple of dimensions which should be considered, one is focusing on DOING what’s important, when there are a multitude of alternatives available, and doing it without distraction. You shouldn’t keep yourself busy doing unimportant tasks, that aren’t going to move you closer to your goal.

The second dimension relates to time. It’s important to be PRESENT, focused on DOING in the moment, rather than stuck mindfully in the future or past. Nothing gets done in the future, only by your interaction with the present moment are you able to shape what comes next.

Concentrating your focus will inevitably increase your productivity. Like a laser beam that packs incredible energy in a narrow field of light, or the sun being concentrated through a magnifying glass. Your focus is key to increasing your effectiveness in search of fulfilling your goal.

If you dilute your energy across many activities, your power is shared out and becomes less effective for each activity you’re involved with.

Below are a number of quotes that will help you focus on the one important thing you should be doing.

“What’s the one thing you can do now such by doing it, everything else will be easier or unnecessary.” – The one thing.

Get Results: What's the one thing you can do now such by doing it, everything else will be easier or unneccessary — Get Results: What’s the one thing…

“What you do in this moment shapes all your tomorrows” – getresults.org.uk

“Focus on the one most effective thing in pursuit of your goal.”

Get Results: focus on the one most effective thing in pursuit of your goal — Get Results: Focus on the one most effective thing in pursuit of your goal

“Do something today that your future self will thank you for.” -unknown

Get Results: Do something for your future self

“The decisions you make and the actions you take shape all your tomorrows.” -getresults.org.uk

Get Results:actions have consequences — Get Results:Actions have consequences

“Focus on one thing at a time – multi tasking is an illusion.”

Get Results: focus on one thing at a time - multi tasking is an illussion — Get Results: Focus on one thing at a time – multi tasking is an illussion

“FOCUS – Follow One Course Until Successful.”

Get Results: Focus on one thing at a time - multi tasking is an illussionfollow one course until successful — Get Results: Focus on one thing at a time – multi tasking is an illussionfollow one course until successful

“Your future is created by what you do today, not tomorrow.”

Get Results: Your future is created by what you do today, not tomorrow

“Most people treat the present moment as if it were an obstacle that they need to overcome. Since the present moment is life itself, it is an insane way to live.” ― Eckhart Tolle

“There are only two days in the year that nothing can be done. One is called yesterday and the other is called tomorrow, so today is the right day to love, believe, do and mostly live.” – Dalai Lama

Get Results: Nothing can be done at any time other than today

“Unease, anxiety, tension, stress, worry – all forms of fear – are caused by too much future, and not enough presence. Guilt, regret, resentment, grievances, sadness, bitterness, and all forms of non-forgiveness are caused by too much past, and not enough presence.” – Eckhart Tolle

Get Results: Presence is the only time that really exists

“The future is a concept, it doesn’t exist. There is no such thing as tomorrow. There never will be, because time is always now. That’s one of the things we discover when we stop talking to ourselves and stop thinking. We find there is only present, only an eternal now.”

“If you are unable to find the truth right where you are, where else do you expect to find it?”

“Don’t let a mad world tell you that success is anything other than a successful present moment.” – Eckhart Tolle

More Quotes

“What the future holds for you depends on your state of consciousness now.” ― Eckhart Tolle

“Nothing ever happened in the past that can prevent you from being present now, and if the past cannot prevent you from being present now, what power does it have?” ― Eckhart Tolle

“When you want to arrive at your goal more than you want to be doing what you are doing, you become stressed.” ― Eckhart Tolle

“You are never fully here because you are always busy trying to get elsewhere.” ― Eckhart Tolle

“Nothing is going to make us free because only the present moment can make us free. That realization is the awakening.” ― Eckhart Tolle

“The present moment is the field on which the game of life happens. It cannot happen anywhere else.” ― Eckhart Tolle

“The most important, the primordial relationship in your life is your relationship with the Now, or rather with whatever form the Now takes, that is to say, what is or what happens.” ― Eckhart Tolle

“Awareness is the power that is concealed within the present moment.” ― Eckhart Tolle

“The past has no power to stop you from being present now. Only your grievance about the past can do that. And what is a grievance? The baggage of old thought and emotion.” ― Eckhart Tolle

“Awareness means Presence, and only Presence can dissolve the unconscious past in you.” ― Eckhart Tolle

“So when you look to the future for salvation, you are unconsciously looking to your own mind for salvation.” ― Eckhart Tolle

What’s Stopping you Getting Results?

Get Results: get results model — Get Results: Get Results model

Whether you’re trying to lose weight or get fit, or become a success in business, whatever you want, there must be a way you can get the results you crave. But let’s first go back to basics.

There are only 5 basic reasons you’re not getting those elusive results…
• You don’t know what is wanted – a lack of a defined goal
• You’re knowingly not doing something that needs to be done
• You don’t know something that needs to be done
• You’re doing something wrong – you don’t necessarily know it’s wrong
• You’re trying to do something that is impossible to achieve

At a very basic level, there are just 2 things you need to do to get the results you so desperately want…

Know what to do

and

Do what needs to be done

It’s important that we start from this basic understanding, so that you don’t miss any of the important possible variables that could be preventing you from getting results, although these appear simple to overcome the devil is in the detail, and this detail is specific to you and your situation.

Let’s have a look at each of the reasons why you might not be getting the results you want. Although these are a great starting point, remember that we are highlighting a framework here, to start your journey of discovery from. You will require further insight to make this framework more relevant to your particular situation. However this framework applies to such diverse goals as weight loss, improving fitness, wealth building, success in business, relationships and much more.

#1 – You don’t know what is wanted, you lack a defined goal.

Make your goals specific and measurable. Focus on outcomes and results rather than activities. It’s really not about working on the pursuit of your goal for 16 hours a day and seeing yourself as an hard working go-getter. A few hours are fine, if that’s sufficient time to do what needs to be done. As long as you’re laser focusing on achieving results, rather than clocking up your working time, it’s about working smarter rather than harder, being effective rather than efficient.

Clearly visualise the outcome, what does it feel like, look like, taste like when you reach your goal? Align your goal with your purpose (be true to yourself). Make sure you’re doing it for the right reasons, doing it for you, not others You don’t want to spend time striving to achieve a goal that once achieved makes you feel empty and dissatisfied because it wasn’t in keeping with “who you are”.

#2- Doing something wrong – you don’t know it’s wrong and don’t know something that needs to be done.

Both these points concern undertaking research and gathering accurate information that will allow you to achieve your goal. Without accurate knowledge, about how to do what needs doing, the results you crave are going to be hard to come by.

Layout the assumed essential elements of the process required to achieve your intended goal. Research each of the steps in the process using role models and study the models, systems, habits and relationships that they have adopted to achieve what you’re aiming to achieve (more about this here). This should be your starting point only and you should aim to work from this point, testing possible variations to see what works specifically for you. It’s a trial and error approach that often leads to the best results for many goals.

#3- Knowingly not doing something that needs to be done.

This is about failing to take appropriate action and involves both motivation and productivity components.

Motivation

It’s important to stay motivated, you’ve got to want to change and be inspired to take action. There are a number of motivation hacks to help in this process such as doing the hard things early in the day when your will-power is fully charged.

Being persistent and not allowing failure to diminish your drive is also important when you hit hurdles during your journey.

Productivity

Work with priority and focus, be effective not efficient, work smart not hard. Productivity is a whole book in itself, we have lots of productivity help for you if you decide to sign up with us.

#4- Trying to do something that is impossible.

It’s important not to put artificial limitations on yourself. You might not strictly be able to run a 100 miles per hour, but you can find ways to travel at that speed aided. It’s about looking for alternative ways of getting the job done, but also understand that there are some things that are currently impossible to achieve. However if someone else has already done what you’re aiming to do, then it can be done again for sure.

Challenges

Underestimating Goals

Sometimes pursuing your goal is not as easy as going from A to B to C. Be prepared to be flexible in your approach. Lookout for feedback and review progress as you go. Think outside the box if you need to and approach situations from a different angle. Look to how role models have succeeded in achieving what you’re aiming to do.

Look at trends to see where things are headed in the future. You need to be effective by doing the right thing. Don’t allow difficulties to diminish your motivation. Build on each successful day.

Test and practice, measure and monitor results. Tweak and begin the process again until you achieve your goal. Be adaptable, be prepared to be flexible in your approach. Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result is the definition of madness.

Avoid Fear

The fear of failure, rejection, change, embarrassment, being vulnerable are often manifested through things like procrastination, defending your position, staying within your comfort zone and remaining stuck in your ways, avoidance, over complicating situations, insisting on perfection and giving up too early.

These are all signs of underlying fear and this is holding you back from doing what’s necessary to push past this and do what’s required. Be prepared to take calculated risks, waiting for the perfect time to reveal itself is foolish, because it simply will never be the perfect time. Take action sooner rather than later. Get in the game! You’ve got to be in it to win it.

Create opportunities, “do”, focus, face challenges head on, learn from your failings, and be committed to your cause.

Acquire practiced expertise

There is no substitute for practice in developing certain skills. There is no short cut when developing a skill that can’t be taught or learned quickly. Some skills are only attained through deliberate practice and doing repetitively over a prolonged period of time. Things like motor skills, intuition, co ordination, muscle memory, seeing variables that less experienced people just can’t see, are improved and strengthened over time.

In many instances, if you haven’t got the time to invest in developing such skills you can allows look to hire people who already possess these skills to do it for you, if you have the necessary financial resources.

Conclusion

Stripping it back to basics helps clarify the underlying requirements for you to achieve your goal. The sheer number and variety of human goals requires a unique set of approaches for each goal you may have, but using each of the points highlighted above will provide a framework to start from.

Some health based goals may require more of a motivational focused approach than say, wealth accumulation goals, where knowledge or productivity may be the main focus. Most goals will require differing amounts of knowledge, motivation and productivity based skills developing as you progress towards the successful completion of those goals. Life is as much about the journey as the destination, so make that journey as enjoyable an experience as possible as you make progress towards goal achievement.

Plan Less Do More

Sometimes it pays to spend less time planning and more time doing.

Much of the popular advice about undertaking a new project advocates doing lots of planning. It’s important to ensure you align any new project with your life goal, so you know you’re undertaking it for the right reasons. You don’t want to get to the end and discover you feel empty and unfulfilled, having just successful completed your project.

Having said that, I have always found greater effectiveness comes from the actual “doing stage”, the experimenting bit, if you like. Getting your hands dirty, testing things out, failing and learning from that failure, tweaking and testing again. I find this way of working far more interesting and insightful.

Don’t get me wrong, having an outline plan is fine, a general direction to aim for, making sure you have an end goal that you truly want and believe in. The finishing line is important otherwise you’re like a rudderless boat floating around aimlessly and without any purpose and as a result little desire, or motivation to do anything constructively. Not having a sense of purpose takes the fun out of life. Human nature is inspired by ambition and striving, and as long as it’s done positively and without desiring power over others, or knocking others down, it’s a good thing. “A rising tide lifts all boats”.

Some years ago organisers did an interesting experiment where they pitched kindergarten children against MBA Harvard graduates and asked both groups to build the tallest structure they could within a time limit, using sticks, tape, and string, placing a marshmallow on top. The graduates took the task seriously, taking a highly analytical approach, debating how best to use the string, tape and sticks to achieve maximum altitude. For all the planning and construction, they ran out of time and were unsuccessful. The kindergarten children on the other hand, just got on with building, if it didn’t work they quickly tried something else, they got to give it a lot more tries than the graduates. They learned from their mistakes as they went along, instead of trying to figure out everything in advance. They won! They were more efficient in using the time they had available to them.

When it comes to making progress with a difficult task in uncertain conditions, there is no substitute for quickly trying things out to see what works. As soon as you think of a possible combination, try it to see how it will work.

In a rapidly changing world we must become better experimenters. Coming up with ideas, building and testing those ideas. With technological advancement it is often less expensive to try out your ideas than to figure out if you should try them out.

Acquiring Knowledge in pursuit of your Goal

Get Results: acquire knowledge — Get Results: Acquiring Knowledge

When it comes to pursuing your goal, knowledge is a vital component it that journey. Without knowledge about what to do, how to do it, and when to do it there is nothing but a vision of the end result and no way of getting from here to there. Knowledge is the ladder to success each rung takes you ever closer to the top.

Knowledge comes in two parts, finding…

reliable sources and
accurate information

Reliable sources

Reliable sources of knowledge include Role models, Mentors and Mastermind teams.

Role Models

A Role Model is define as:-

A person looked to by others as an example to be imitated.

We tend to study role models from afar. They are often people in the public eye or are widely publicised. In the world of business we might look to people like Richard Branson as a role model, because he is seen as successful in the world of business, having accumulated millions in personal wealth and build numerous successful businesses under the brand name Virgin, such as Virgin Atlantic, Virgin Media, Virgin Money etc.

When selecting role models ensure you:-

Only take advice from someone who has provable experience achieving the same goal as you are aiming for. If it is a business goal, search for successful business leaders, if its health related look for individuals who have a great fitness background. If you’re looking to kick an habit look for those that have kicked the habit in the past and are helping others to do the same.

Understand the underlying principles behind the activities that resulted in their success and model these. Look to the Models, Relationships, Systems and Habits they have employed to achieve their success.

Be cautious of the passing of time and its effect on the methods being modelled – are they still relevant in today’s world – did they benefit from being in the right place at the right time.

Use their principles as a starting point, then test for yourself, look to improve upon it, and learn from your own experience moving forward.

Mentors

A Mentor is defined as:-

An experienced and trusted adviser

A mentor is someone we are lucky enough to personal contact with in a one to one situation, someone at work is probably the most common type of mentor, but increasingly we have access to virtual coaches that are able to communicate via video or email contact.

If you approach someone to be a Mentor to you, look to provide some value in exchange for their time and effort. For instance offer to work for them for free or use your existing skills or resources to do something they will value, in return for them mentoring you.

The above still applies, making sure they know what they are talking about, understanding the underlying principles etc. Usually Mentors will take a more guiding role and take you through the steps and feedback what you did right and wrong as you go. This is often more fruitful than just using role models, because of the instant feedback and corrections as you take your journey towards your goal.

Mastermind teams

A Mastermind team is defined as:-

The coordination of knowledge and effort of two or more people, who work toward a definite purpose, in the spirit of harmony

Mastermind teams offer a combination of brainstorming, education, peer accountability and support in a group setting to sharpen your business and personal skills. A mastermind team helps you and your mastermind team members achieve success.

By its very nature it is closer to the Mentoring model than that of the role model situation. It is coaching as you go, but with a slightly different twist. The people in your mastermind team might not be experts in achieving your particular goal, but can offer a more general perspective, using their knowledge to bring fresh eyes to your pursuit and as a results can be a valuable addition to having a mentor.

Conclusion

When it comes to acquiring knowledge ensure you are getting accurate information. Remember the quote:-

“A journey of a 1000 miles starts with a single step”

Taking one step at a time will only move you closer to your goal if you are heading in the correct direction to start off with, otherwise each step could be taking you in the opposite direction and ultimately further away from that goal. So make sure the information you are using is actually accurate.

Force Yourself to Take Action

Check out the video above, delivered by Mel Robbins about forcing yourself to take action.

Video summary:

100 million people living in America say they are dissatisfied with their lives, that’s an awful lot of dissatisfaction. What do they and you want? It doesn’t have to sound good to other people, just be honest with yourself. If you want to lose man boobs to be able to attract a mate, then that’s fine, as long as it means something to you. Pick something.

How you get what you want? Well it’s really simple but not easy.

We live in unprecedented times, a world of information at our fingertips, we have it in the form of books (electronic and paper versions), or search engines like Google and Bing, which are easily accessible from our mobile phones and computers. There are literally thousands of blogs or websites giving you step by step instructions about how to do just about anything that’s ever been done before. So why aren’t you getting what you want? It comes down to one word. a small four latter word that is the route of your problems. The word is “Fine”. People ask you “How are you doing?” you reply, “I’m fine!”. Really, are you fine? Fine says you don’t have to do anything about it, you’re okay where you are. The result is you stay in your comfort zone. You don’t push yourself, you stay put.

Experts have calculated the odds of your very existence, taking into account all the wars and disasters that have ever happened, as being 1 in 400 trillion. Wow those odds are amazingly long, you are amazing just for being here. You are full of great ideas and impulses, but when you have one you do nothing about it. You press the snooze button, because your comfortable where you are. Let’s be real, any area of your life that you want to change, you will never feel like it when it comes to actually taking action, you’ll always prefer to procrastinate.

Activation energy as it’s been labelled by science, is required to get you to do anything new, anything outside your normal routine. Try this exercise tomorrow, set your alarm 30 minutes earlier and get up and start your day. You will come face to face with the physical force required to change behaviour. Getting out of a warm bed into a cold room requires much the same effort as taking exercise, dieting, or whatever else you want to do/achieve that’s new.

Your parents used to make you do the stuff you didn’t feel like doing, as adults it’s our own responsibility to make us do the things we don’t feel like doing, but you have to force yourself, it’s simple but not easy.

You brain is split into two halves, one side is autopilot and the other is the emergency brake. Everything outside our normal routine, anything new, usually results in the tendency to pull the emergency break and move back into autopilot (normal routine).

You’re bored because of routine and habit and doing the same things over and over again in autopilot. Your body is wired to send you signals, for instance if you need food, your brain tells you you’re hungry, if you need sex your brain tells you you’re horny. When you’re bored or dissatisfied, your brain is telling you one of your most basic needs isn’t being met, your need for exploration and growth.

Force yourself out of your head and into the world, out of your comfort zone. If you’re in your head you’re behind enemy lines. You will never feel like taking action. Those first 3 seconds you get out of bed, blow big time, but once you’re up it’s okay. Get outside, that’s where the magic is, where the 1 in 400 million exist. Act within 5 seconds to marry action with the idea/impulse, otherwise your emergency brake gets pulled and you do nothing. Practice the 5 second rule by acting within 5 seconds of the idea/impulse and see what changes happen.

Pareto Analysis (80/20 Rule)

Force Field Analysis

Six Thinking Hats

Starbursting

Ishikawa Diagram (Cause and Effect Analysis)

Process Flow Chart

Paired Comparison Analysis

The Stepladder Technique

Venn Diagram

Grid Analysis (otherwise known as Decision Matrix)

Cost/Benefit analysis

Risk/Reward ratio

More tools

Problem-solving Quotes

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Adding Value in Business

Adding Value in Relationships

Adding Value for Strangers

The Bottom Line

Add Value Quotes

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Focus on one BIG Goal

Break down into smaller mini Goals

Take action

Don’t give up

Goal setting Quotes

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Summary

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More Quotes

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Know what to do

and

Do what needs to be done

#1 – You don’t know what is wanted, you lack a defined goal.

#2- Doing something wrong – you don’t know it’s wrong and don’t know something that needs to be done.

#3- Knowingly not doing something that needs to be done.

#4- Trying to do something that is impossible.

Challenges

Underestimating Goals

Avoid Fear

Acquire practiced expertise

Conclusion

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Reliable sources

Role Models

Mentors

Mastermind teams

Conclusion

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Video summary:

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