2+ hours of professional and leadership development every month

How do leaders get better?

It’s a question that goes back through the millenia. Taking time to get better, to save time, to make work/life more efficient…that IS the mark of a true leader. We all know these people. They are the readers, the conference-goers, the networkers; I call them The Doers.

Every month, as a Get Momentum member, you have access to:

A monthly Town Hall meeting to study one area of leadership and professional development. (Click here to tweet.)

Direct email (or phone) access to your coach, Jason Womack. Ask questions and pose your biggest professional development challenges for new ideas. (Click here to tweet.)

An invitation to participate in the Get Momentum leadership group; a high level think-tank group where you can share questions and ideas. (Click here to tweet.)

A 60-day professional (and personal) boost; videos, articles, posts and phone calls that give you the push you need to find and keep momentum. (Click here to tweet.)

You get to watch an interview between Jason and a successful Get Momentum member as they discuss the wins (and the learnings) of personal engagement and development. (Click here to tweet.)

Only the best and most appropriate resources will be provided to you. Each month we find, organize and share relevant content so that you are more prepared and take advantage of more opportunities at work and with your life.

Perspective

Simply by joining the Get Momentum monthly program, you are choosing to up level everything. Every month, you will spend to 2-4 hours on you. Your development professionally and personally will be kick started into action every 30 days.

Growth

Not all companies provide adequate, supported or sustained growth opportunities. As a member in the Get Momentum coaching program you are guaranteed 24 or more hours of professional development training every year.

Variety

We all learn in different ways. We most efficiently learn when we approach the same topic from multiple angles. Every month, you will have access to a live webinar that will be recorded for repeat viewing, special podcasts to listen to. You will also be provided with videos to watch, PDF worksheets to download, surveys to fill in, and much more. You will Get Momentum.

Clear expectations

Each month you can expect to achieve more. Your productivity will increase. Your stress will go down. You will get more done. This program will show you how to make your best even better.

Feedback

Each monthly Town Hall online meeting will conclude with an extra 45 minutes of Questions and Answers discussion. You will also contribute to the online discussion forum, where you open yourself up to receiving feedback on your progress directly from the peers in this program.

Peer support

In the online discussion forum you can ask for support, guidance or ideas and you are guaranteed to receive ideas from other members in this program. These ideas will have a great impact, and may save you hours of time or hundreds of dollars as you find new ways to achieve more.

Collaboration

Often, people find significant reason to collaborate once they recognize they have joined a community of forward thinking peers all looking to achieve their next. Join this program and you will be surrounded by people ready to help you in an instant.

Can you “create” luck (in life, and at work?)

Over on the Womack Company website blog (link here) I wrote about this month’s GetMomentum theme: Creating Opportunities…

As you’re considering changing things up a bit, and looking to make this year even better than before, look around and notice the two kinds of opportunities that show up:

Situations that arise that you are ready for, and take advantage of.

Challenges the present themselves that knock you backward.

By studying chance, luck and opportunity, you can do better. Here’s the link…

(In this month’s webinar - which you can watch a recording of as a member of www.getmomentum.com - you’ll learn how to prepare for and CREATE better opportunities out there.

Success: composing an ideal day

Have you ever thought about how you create the conditions to experience success? As it turns out, Martha Beck and I have something in common: We both talk about an Ideal Day approach to life. On our flight back from Vancouver last night - after spending 5 days in Whistler, Canada, at the TED Conference - Jodi leaned across the aisle with her iPhone and headphones in both hands. That’s her universal signal, “Jason, ya gotta listen to something.”

Close your eyes, compose the day

If you read the email I sent you last Tuesday (I sent an email to everyone who’s subscribed) about the “Secret” to having a better day, you know that I believe in moving toward success by implementing The Ideal Day Process. I first came across this approach to living, working, and loving during a conversation with a mentor of mine back in 1995; thank you Ron Kok, you were one of the most influential mentors I’ve ever had. You see, I was having an especially difficult day and he sat me down and asked, “Jason, would you know a good day if you saw one?” In that moment, I realized that I didn’t know what success would feel like, much less look like, for the program I was managing.

I went home that day, and over the next year I created this process for myself called “An Ideal Day.” NOTE: It’s not “THE” ideal day, it’s just another one. Since about 1997 I have regularly consulted this approach to achieving success.

In my work with clients, friends and family around the world I’ve found that most people have dozens if not HUNDREDS of different versions of ideal days. Of course, don’t let yourself get overwhelmed by thinking about it, just pick up a pen, open your notebook to a new, fresh page, and on top write something like, “An Ideal Day.” Next to that, pick the day you want to write about.

  • It could be a vacation day.
  • It could be a work day.
  • It could be today.

Then, make a list, draw a mindmap, write a poem, draft an outline…What would that day look like - what would it be composed of - if it were an Ideal Day?

ideal (adjective): satisfying one’s conception of what is perfect; most suitable.

There are no winners, no losers, no right or wrong way. The purpose of this, I have found, is to let myself win in my own fantasy. Sure it’s mine, and it may be lofty, but I’m the only one who can limit or expand what I let myself image-in. If you do wind up writing one of these, take a picture and send it my way. I’d love to see what you come up with!

Are you growing?

When it comes time to make your best even better - to go to where you’re growing to - do you have the support, the guidance, the mentoring and the coaching you need? Self-improvement, professional development and goal achievement is ALL we study in GET MOMENTUM. There are things I can imagine you want to know, such as:

— how to focus on winning instead of thinking about what might go wrong

— what the most successful people - high achievers - actually do every day, week and month to experience a life of abundance AND success

— the tactics, routines and moves to get more done by noon than most people get done all day long (or, even all WEEK long)

— the ideas you can use to become the best at what you do, growing toward your next level of you

— simple strategies you can practice to develop resilience, the mental toughness, strength of character and unbeatable spirit of a leader (at work AND in life)

— the latest in neuroscientific research - breakthroughs, really - on how you can become better, happier and more successful

Do any of these things sound interesting to you? If so, join GET MOMENTUM today. Click here, and choose your level of membership.

Dream. Act. Achieve.

Before you go, let me leave you with this MOMENTUM building idea…take out a pen and a notebook (need one? Call me, I’ll set you up…) and answer the following four prompts:

So here’s how to line up your dreams with deadlines to achieve your goals.

What is your dream? This goes WAY beyond your To Do list. This is the reason you’re here; your purpose, your legacy. Write it down. Even if (or, maybe it’s ESPECIALLY if) you’re not 100% sure, it’s a heck of a lot easier to EDIT than it is to get started. So, get started and you’ll get the hard work done first.

Who is on your team? Look, the 5 people you spent the most time with you are the ones who are going to influence how big you dream, what you think about, and how far you go in life and at work. If you KNOW it’s time to get update your team, do the work that needs to be done. Hang out somewhere new tomorrow morning. Sign up for a conference next month. Book a vacation, even if it’s one night away, that you need to take.

What is the next milestone? Pick a date, pick a project, pick a deliverable. One of the best books I have ever read is called, “Do the Work.” In fact, I have it “saved” as an Audible book on my Droid and my iPhone. It’s an hour and a half. 90 minutes that will Change. Your Life.

What is your calling? What is their hope?  Everyone wants something more. Every. One. Whether it’s in your life or for your career, someone out there is hoping you’ll show up and “do your do.”

 

3 questions that will take a year to answer

Leaders in learning constantly question. They question their process. The question their systems. They question themselves. As you make your mark as an effective and efficient learning professional, here are three questions you must ask yourself. Each one is designed to push your focus out at least 12 months into the future.

What Am I Consuming? Consider the books you’ve downloaded, the magazines you’re subscribed to, the conferences you’re registered to attend and the meetings you have committed to over the next month or so.

Who Do I Spend Time With? On a blank piece of paper, write down the 5 people you’ve spent the MOST time with over the past 24 hours. Then, do some analysis. Start with “how they made you feel.” Then, write down the topics you discussed. Identify any next steps to take. Then, ask yourself, “Is there value in spending more time with them?

Who Is a Role Model? There must be someone you can bring to mind who helps you think…Better. Reach out to them with a request to meet monthly for at least 6 months. Then, prepare a few topics of discussion to “bring to the table” when you do see them.

A year is enough time to see significant change happen, while short enough to keep your notation and focus on the distinct prizes ahead. Consider bringing your team together to share a dialogue focused on the short-term changes you see coming over that time frame.

 

 

“I’m not here to motivate you.”

Thank you so much for attending the Young Professionals Group event at the Crown Plaza hotel in Ventura. I heard a few people say they were expecting some information that would motivate them, but what they really got were some actual tactics they can use to be better at work…and in life.

Managing a life, a career and a job can be daunting at times. the improvement process requires that we stay on our tows, at the edge of learning and implementing. That’s what I saw you demonstrating at the YPG event.

I don’t intend to motivate anyone to do anything differently than what they currently do. I always look for ways to help you find the time, the energy, and the focus to do more of what you want to do, by handling what MUST be done each day as effectively and efficiently as possible. If there is anything I can get you now that you’ve had time to think about our time together, just click the Contact tab above and send me a note…now, on to the recap!

Books I Mentioned

  • Mastery, by George Leonard
  • Influence, by Robert Cialdini
  • Credibility Marketing, by Larry Chambers
  • The Dip, by Seth Godin

Questions I heard

How do I stay motivated and not get distracted (when working from home and telecommuting)?

Purpose. It’s a very powerful word; sometimes, though, it’s too much. So, instead of trying to count on the thought that by going to my job I’ll fulfill my destiny on the planet, I suggest you experiment with one of these two approaches:

  • Identify one of your “Ideal Days” at work. Ok, so after you read the Preface to my book (it’s about 400 words long), I suggest you sit down and write just ONE of your own Ideal Days. I explain the process in a video here: www.ShareYourIdealDay.com
  • Clarify your “So That…” statements. Jump in to chapter 7 of the book, “Your Best Just Got Better” (reviews are here) and complete your “So That…” agreements for what you’re doing, and why. This can help motivate you. Think about that word for a moment: Motivation. Take it apart, in to three different words: Motive For Action. I’ll ask you…What is YOUR motive for taking the action you’re about to take today? Answer that, and you’re on your way!

How do I get work done when I’m in the car a lot? (It’s not safe to work while I’m driving.)

One of the things I’ve noticed is that people wait until it shows up to do the thinking that they should be doing. This happens a lot for those of who travel; this idea of putting off until later what comes to our mind right now. Here’s one thing I know: When I do think of something while I’m driving, or out to dinner, or on a long bike ride, it generally wasn’t the first time I thought of it.

  • So…Do deep thinking early in the morning for 5 days. Set a timer, first thing in the morning, for 15 minutes. (Here’s mine.) Take out a piece of paper and think. Deeply. Write down your ideas, your tasks, your dreams, your goals…at the end of those 15 minutes, pick the ONE thing you’re going to do next. (And, then, return to that page throughout the day.) Try this for 5 days and let me know how it goes.
  • Next, schedule a meeting for a week from now with SOMEone on your team. Remember that from Chapter 5? I’d really like you to build your team up over the next few months. I can absolutely promise that 60 months from now you will be who you are, doing what you’re doing, experiencing the life you have BECAUSE OF the people you spend the most time with; starting now, spend more time with the right people.

The 5 things to consider as you’re growing a business…growing a career

  1. Connect
  2. Predict
  3. Adapt
  4. Serve
  5. Follow up

Further Resources

If you use Microsoft® Outlook®, please click here.

If you know someone who “battles procrastination,” please share this page.

And, if you’d like to find out more about Get Momentum, just click the “About” menu option above.

How is your momentum? (Reflections from the GM member hangout last night…)

After the Ojai Leadership Retreat last month (video here), one of the comments from GET MOMENTUM members was, “how do we spend more time together, working together, holding ourselves accountable to our own process of using MOMENTUM in our lives?”

Well, one of the results of that question has been short “Google Hangouts.” Here’s a picture from last night’s meetup:

(Thanks Devon, for sharing your story of using MOMENTUM modules to prepare for - and earn a trophy - your Toastmaster’s Speech Contest.)

There were some takeaways from last night’s conversation. Here are some of the things I walked away with (and, if you were there, please leave your takeaways in the comment section below…)

Buy your domain name. We know it’s  a little thing, and who knows if you’ll ever use it, but Jodi and I have had our “names” as domains for years. If EVER you’re thinking of letting the world know what you stand for, believe in, and want to promote, jump on over and buy your name for at least a year. (Do a web search for “domain name” “.99” and see if you can purchase it for a year at ninety-nine cents.)

Track more, to know more. We had a big discussion around the topic of tracking, health, fitness, nutrition and overall fitness. One GM member said she’s been tracking her food log for more than 450 days; every day! It was inspiring to hear how people are keeping up with their goals, it was awesome to watch people (me included) ask for support in achieving new ones.

Take on something new. Ok, so one GM member is about to take her first flight lesson, ever. Another GM member has been a pilot for YEARS. It was incredible to listen in as the questions and reflections went on between those two women. Thanks for showing what it’s like to go for something new, AND for sharing what it’s like to experience that wonder anew.

Download the getAbstract app. Ok GM members. You have 3 months FREE access to getAbstract. My advice: Download the App and use it; a LOT! Need any help? Email me right away…

 

Want to know more about using getAbstract?

Send me an Mail

In less than 5 minutes, learn 3 ways to MAXIMIZE your meetings

Just last week, I was in New York City and met with 14 Managing Directors who attended our 2-hour course titled, “The Productive Leader.” (Link to that debrief here.)

I asked a question to get the discussion started, “If you were to think about your work and your world 18 months from now, what is the #1 factor that gets in your way of being a Productive Leader?”

I have a Special Report titled, “10 Tips: Meeting Management
Would you like me to send it to you? Click here: Send me the report!

What gets in the way?

Before I share with you what they said, think for a moment about your current situation. Whether you work for yourself, own a small business, are a new hire in a big organization or are managing a team of professionals, thank about your MOST limited resource; the one that you can’t make more of just by working harder…the managers I met with told me that ineffective meetings and wasted time is the #1 thing that gets in their way of being maximally productive.

Ok, in the video below (just click the sideways triangle to get started) you’re going to learn how you can maximize your meetings. You’ll be more effective, get more done, and be less stressed if you take advantage of the time you have to work collaboratively.

In this video, I share three (or more!) ways you can get more done, in less time, and maximize the meetings you attend. These tips go way beyond the simple ones: “Have an agenda.” Or, “Start on time, even if everyone hasn’t yet arrived.” As you watch the video, imagine what your day would be like if you had more effective meetings!

Also, please check the schedule - www.WhereIsWomack.com. If your team would like to get together and discuss some ways YOU can be more productive leaders, let’s talk.

If you were more “well read” would it impact your career?

According to an article in the January, 2014 issue of the Atlantic Monthly, the Pew Research Center reports:

23% of American adults read 0 (zero) books last year.

That includes paperbacks, audiobooks and books on e-readers. That blows my mind… FYI, 28% read 11 or more books last year and the remaining 49% lingering in the 1-10 books/year.

Do you wish you had more time to read the important, best-selling books out there? If so, I have a treat for you…

You see, I am 100% convinced that the success - married for 15 years, wrote a best-selling book, have one a 5-mile running race, and finished in the top 3 of triathlons nationwide, have started not one but two profitable companies, have invested in 3 tech startups, and more - is due to reading 1 book or more each month. This is what it takes to get me and my business to the next level.

Don’t you want to get to the next level too?

Do you see Get Momentum as an important resource for your personal and professional success? That’s our goal. I want to share the tools that I use, tools like getAbstract book summaries. I use getAbstract at least weekly to review more books and know which ones are really worth my time.

As a Get Momentum member you automatically receive a 3 month membership to getAbstract (look, that alone is a $90 value). getAbstract is a great online book summary service that I’ve been using for the last 12 years. Each month, I’ll post my recommendation and you’ll have access to their entire library. So your complimentary membership in getAbstract starts today and runs through June 13th.

Letter from David at getAbstract:

“As Jason has mentioned, getAbstract has extended its library of 10,000 business book and TED Talk summaries to the Get Momentum members. Everyone has already been registered for three month complimentary access. As a part of Get Momentum, you know you have 96 blocks of 15 minutes each day. getAbstract’s 5 page book summaries take less than that to read, so enjoy!

To access your account visit www.getabstract.com and login at the top right with your email address and the password ‘getmomentum’. At that time you can modify your profile to email you specific types of summaries each week.

This site is customized for Get Momentum members and we have a special tab “Jason’s Recommendations” to get you started.”

INSTRUCTIONS:

Go to: www.getabstract.com

Login: (each member gets their own login)
Password: (each member gets their own password)

I hope you enjoy this incredible resource. Once you’re logged in, click on “Jason Recommends” on the menu bar to see what I’m reading this month!

Are you good at “Creating” luck?

What would more MOMENTUM look like in your life? For one of the clients I worked with last week in New York City, it could mean one of the biggest deals of her career.

In this short video (yes, I’m on my mountain bike, in Ojai) you’ll learn how you can set yourself up for better things to happen in your work…and for your life.

Would you like to know the tactic she used to prepare for one of the biggest presentations of her career? Contact me (click the Contact link above) and send me a note. I’ll put something in the mail that will make it easier for your to do… better.

What is the MOST important tool to getting things done?

Before I answer this question, “What is the MOST important tool to getting things done?,” pause long enough to think of the resources you have at your disposal. Whether you are reading this sitting in front of your computer, or looking at it on a smart phone or tablet, what IS the most impotent tool?

Focus: an act of concentrating interest or activity on something

How many times have you sat down to do an important task, and before you knew it an hour had passed by and you hadn’t worked on what it was that you had wanted to do? So, what did get done during that time? Any of these sound familiar?

  • Email inbox got “near” zero (it’s never really empty)
  • Social status updated (you made up something good)
  • The to-do list was rearranged (not really complete anyway)

Too many leaders I know have become used to the following facts about working in an office environment. They tell me:

It’s challenging to stay focused on one task, by being distracted by something else.
They occasionally forges to follow up on a task/to do, to be reminded about it later.
Are challenged to organized their tasks and projects.
Put important/significant work off until “later” when there might be more time.

The days of multitasking are coming to an end. You don’t need another study, quote or how-to article to give you the steps you need to take to prioritize. You need to do the work. The studies that do exist remind us to work in sprints through the day.

Here are two suggestions to get started:

Working in Sprints

First, plan to work in 45-60 minute sprints. I use a tool such as www.e.ggtimer.com and I set it for the amount of time that I want to focus. (I set it for 45 minutes for this article, start to finish.)

Now, productivity experts are going to suggest you do the important work early in the day; some even suggest you don’t check email first thing in the morning, that instead you put in one of these focused work-sessions. My advice, try this for 5 continuous days.

The Daily Review

Second, at the end of the day review what got done with some kind of a custom “Daily Productive Checklist.” The most successful leaders I know do some kind of debrief at the end of the day. Here’s the one that I use:

1. Acknowledge what got done.
2. Compliment someone (internal or external) on work they did.
3. Identify what project was not touched, ignored or put off for later.

Starting tomorrow, reclaim your productivity. Commit to this week-long experiment get more of the most important things done. And, while you’re here, please leave YOUR greatest productivity tip in the comments below.