The most active ingredient of a goal

Posted: April 15, 2014 | Categories: Self-Improvement, Time management

What do messy desks, smoking, and being overweight have in common?  They are conditions that occur based on habits and behavior.  While most would argue that a messy desk, smoking, and being overweight are not desirable, why do so many of us struggle when trying to reverse these conditions?  Habits are powerful and to overcome a bad habit and replace it with a good one may be simple, it isn’t always easy.  How do we make it easier?

DESIRE!  Without desire, it is no go.  We start an initiative only to lose steam after a short time.

Some of my coaching clients have messy desks, and I think they are often surprised that I rarely comment about it.  Is a messy desk a detriment to our effectiveness and time management?  Absolutely.  Walking in to a tidy office with everything in its place can be the first step to the greater focus and concentration we are looking for. It gives us energy.  A messy desk is a distraction.  So why is it rarely discussed?  Because here is what would happen:  A person with a messy desk cleans up their desk because they know it is a good thing to do.  Two weeks later, what does that desk look like?  Right.  It is probably as bad as it ever was.  You have probably figured out the cause of the problem:  Just knowing that something is the “right thing to do” is not enough fire to get us started.  Instead, we need the desire.  Imagine walking in to your office each morning and everything is perfectly in order.  You have your fresh cup of coffee in your hand.  Your well-planned action list is right on your desk.  It is categorized and prioritized.  You have energy.  You can’t wait to get going.  You never want to start the day with a messy desk again!  Now that’s desire.

Here is what I recommend to you:  What is the most important habit you need to work on for your professional development?  Overcoming procrastination?  Avoiding distractions?  Imagine your world if you could grow in these areas.  Get started on it immediately and stay with it.  Remember the old saying…”If nothing changes…nothing changes”

 

 

 

---