Looking out toward the end of this week, what is it you know you’d like to have done, contributed to, facilitated … Let me put it this way: “What will you want to have done that could/would make a difference out there?”

If you could focus in on one of your Most Important Things between now and the end of the year, what would it be? What is the result you’d want? How can you set yourself up to win?

What Are You Doing To Make Things Easier…and Better?

Sitting across the conference table on the 10th floor of a New York City office (there on Park Avenue) last Thursday morning from 8:45-9am, I listened as the CEO of a multi-billion dollar firm shared some of the “workplace performance” opportunities he sees needing attention. We’d coordinated a 15-minute meeting, and as he shared the issues of “Productive Leadership” that he’d been thinking about, I found myself reflecting on specific instances of previous coaching projects with my clients, as well as some of the things I’ve written about in (and since) Your Best Just Got Better.

Specifically, there are three (3) recommendations I have for people who (1) are busy, (2) planning to get busier, and (3) want to maintain a focus on their overall ability to lead and engage in their “Whole Life” experience to the best of their ability.

If you’re going to Be Better, you’ll have to start doing these three things better…and more:

1. Slower…and Steadier: All three of these recommendations DO tie together, but this one deserves it’s own call-out of attention. So, ask yourself this question, “What’s easy to do?” To rush. To skip over something that’s a “minor detail.” To think you’ll have a little more time later. There’s something magical about pausing, slowing down and breathing in to and through the project, problem, opportunity, or challenge your facing. I know of a few better ways to do this kind of reflecting; but, the one I’ll encourage you to do right now is: Open your notebook to a blank piece of paper. Write down the date 14 days from now, and choose very deliberately a SPECIFIC project you want to have made significant progress on between now and then. Set a timer for 15 minutes, and do your own version of “thinking, planning, organizing.” Do this kind of pre-planning once a morning for each of the following 13 mornings (weekends included) and notice how far and fast you get going.

1. Effective…and Then Efficient: Closely tied to that last one, but on to another level, is the suggestion I make to do things that are effective and THEN look for ways to get things done more efficiently. Doing a task (or series of tasks) that is effective means that it’s important to the overall mission of the organization/product/project you’re working on. Doing it effectively means that you’re actually accomplishing progressive movement toward that purpose. Before you find a way to do something easier, faster, more efficiently, make sure that what you’re working on at that level deserves the kind of attention you’re paying it. When it’s time to actually get it done…that is the time to bring in a coach, an advisor, someone experienced in the HOW of your why. When you’re clear on the why, a good coach should be able to give you a series of suggestions that will positively impact your productivity AND save you 30-60 minutes of time each day. (At least that’s my goal!)
2. Think…and Think Deeper: You wanna know the one thing I hear leaders say that worries me more than just about anything else they COULD say? It’s this comment, “Jason, I don’t even have time to think during the day.” I don’t know of a more dangerous way of going about working. If there isn’t time to THINK embedded in to your day, what will you be working on 21 days from today, 180 days from today, one year from today? As your coach, I have a very quantitative study doing on in my mind when I get to meet with you. I simply ask you this question: “About how much time, about how many times, a day do you want to be thinking?” The minimum I can suggest for a Managing Director, Partner, or C-level leader is 3X15 minutes a day. Minimum. Your job: Identify what “thinking” would look like to you, and schedule your next 3 sessions this week.

If you were going to bring yourself to the point of thinking about doing what you do a little bit better, which of those three suggestions is most for you right now? Leave a comment in the section below and let us know. If there’s a specific “tactic” you’d like some assistance with, let us know and we’ll get you an idea right away!

Have you ever found yourself reflecting on a conversation long (even years) after you had it? I have. In fact, here’s one that I’m about to celebrate a new anniversary of: In 2011, a mentor of mine said:

“You’ve got to find a problem you can fall in love with. A problem that draws you in, teases you, and brings out the best in you.”

If you want write that in a notebook. Memorize it. Say it to yourself in the morning as you drive/commute to work. Since Rao asked me that question years ago, I’ve been thinking, dreaming, wondering, and building with that prompt in mind. It was something he said over a #CoffeeChat in #Ventura, CA and I’ve used it to create workshops, write speeches, write books, and advise clients worldwide. When it’s time to create something and bring it to the planet, you (no doubt in my mind) want to experience success.

Have you discovered YOUR question yet??? I have…”How do I continue to get better, do less, and experience more in this short time I have on the planet?”

My grandpa passed away recently. For all 42.5 years I’ve been on the planet, I’ve known him as a man of integrity, someone who could guide me to change my mind by simply “looking my way,” and a grandpa who gave me my name (we both have Wayne as our middle name…). I learned a LOT from my grandpa. A LOT. As I prepare for the new year, and look forward to getting “teased” by the problem I’ve fallen in love with, I’m putting together a series of discussions - in person AND on line - to share ideas of problem solving and engagement with the communities I’m a part of.

Will I see at an upcoming #CoffeeChat (click here) or during an online Town Hall at Get Momentum (and, click HERE). Over the next few months, here are the topics we’ll explore. They are what I call the “not so secret steps to success.”

1. Show Up

Recently, a Get Momentum member (and graduate of our past two Leadership Retreat programs in Ojai, CA) invited me to discuss the Get Momentum tenets of “FutureCasting” in to the new year with a small group of her most trusted clients AND advisors. Ranjani Mohana is an extremely successful small business owner in the Silicon Valley, and over the past few years, I’ve worked as her coach as she continues to “Show Up.” She builds her network by looking for ways to be of service. Think about that…

So, here’s the tactic I can recommend: Open your calendar - right now - and block out a MINIMUM of 12 days over the next 12 months. You can do 2-3 days a time, or 1 day a month, whatever you think might work for you. Your goal, find somewhere you can “show up,” at a meeting, a conference, an event, where your question can be “tested.” (You know, the problem you’ve fallen in love with.)

I’ve got 9 of my 12 mapped out for 2015. Wanna talk about them? Want to meet me there? Let me know!

2. Do Good Work

“Good”…It’s such a darned relative word. What does “good work” mean to you? Is it work you enjoy doing? Is it work you get paid (well) to do? Is it work that you give away? Is it ALL of that? Or, is it something totally different? I know, I know, that was a long list of questions. But, it’s important that you know - from the get go - what “good work” means to you.

At the end of the day, for the next 5 days or so, do yourself a favor: Write down the times during that day where and when you were WAY engaged. When did time seem to disappear? Where did you notice that your energy was rockin’ at a night level? Where did you feel like you were doing “who” you are, not just what you do? Keep track of this over a week so you can do some kind of Weekly Review at the end. In there will be a lot (and I mean a LOT) of information.

Ok, so I’ve been writing in a daily journal at the end of each day since 1997. I answer the same three prompts at the end of the day, and I’d love to share that with you. Members of Get Momentum will tell you that these discussions around “searching for the good work” are always worth the time. Welcome!

3. Stay In Touch

Accountability. To the project. To the people. To the process. When you are there, time-and-time again, for the work that needs to be done, for the people you work with, and for all of the activities that need to happen in order to achieve success, you will find more and more opportunities coming your way. The people around you - what I call your “Social Network” - are the ones that are going to look forward to your call. They are the ones who will turn to you for assistance. And, they are the ones who will refer you to others, when the time is right.

Today, right now in fact, go through your “Sent Items” in email. Look back over the last 30 days, and identify the people you’ve emailed who are “new” to your network. Then, as you think about who they are, what they work on, what keeps them busy, ask yourself this question, “Is there anything I can do to be of service?”

I’ve said it before, and I know I’ll say it again: “The best time to build your network is when you have something to give.”

What did I miss?

As YOU think about the secrets to success, what would you add to that list of four? Jump on over to www.getmomentum.com and let me know. If you submit one that I can test over the next 30 days - AND IT WORKS - I’ll contact you and set you with a month-long membership to our Get Momentum Leadership Skills coaching program. C’mon, in, we’d love to see you!