Step 1 => Just
Step 2 => Do
Step 3 => It
Just Do It!
Ok, I am kidding!!! But, actually, not that much 😉
I wanted to start this article by getting a reaction from you, and I know that most of you must have smiled. The thing is that the solution is simple like many other solutions, and often, very unfortunately, the simplest solutions get dismissed because “It sounds too simple, so surely, it is not it…” If that sounds familiar, STOP doing this!
It is often that simple. And, yes, that’s a belief, and one that is empowering. Believing it is not, is a belief that is hindering you.
It is that simple; so, here, is how to change something you are unhappy with in 3 steps.
We have all been unhappy with things in the past, and we will all be unhappy with things in the future. We learn, we stretch, we step outside our comfort zone, we grow, we expand, and we reach the point, where one or many areas while leading our life, our team, our business, is not what we want it to be. We reach “that” point, you know the one, right? The one, when you feel stuck, sad, frustrated, irritated, and the list goes on and on.
Staying in that situation is within your control, and so, is stepping out of it. However way you put it, whatever adjectives you are using, whatever way you are feeling, bottom line, you are unhappy.
And, should you want it to change, it is entirely up to you.
I hear you say, “Duh, of course, I want to change…” Well, that’s not always the case, you see, every one of us will have a different “point”, and, that is another reason why, it is entirely up to us.
So, I am going to assume that you are unhappy with something, and guide you through these 3 steps.
Step 1 => identify where the change is wanted
APPLY IT! Take a piece of paper (or if you have a flipchart, stand in front of it), and write at the top: “I am unhappy with…” and then, start writing. You want to be specific, so don’t write down, “my life”, “my team”, “my business”: what is it exactly that you are unhappy with in your life? (i.e., your lack of free time, your weight, your eating/drinking habits, your house organisation, your relationship, etc); what is it exactly that you are unhappy with in your team? (i.e., your lack of communications, your team motivation/morale, your team lack of initiatives, etc); what is it exactly that you are unhappy with in your business? (i.e., your client number, your offering, your productivity, etc) It can be anything, remember, as long as it makes you unhappy, it goes on that list. And, it might be a long list, that’s ok, that’s where you start from. Write it all down, no judging, no filtering. You want it to be as clear and specific as possible, and stay away from vague description. The more you know about your unhappiness areas, the best you can change them, and ultimately move forward. Once you have your clear list, you are ready to progress to step 2…
Step 2 => decide to change
APPLY IT! Here is where you want to leverage the information you have just gathered and take it upon yourself to make the decision to change. Things are not going to change until you decide to change them yourself. Take a different piece of paper (or again, a flipchart), and start each of the pieces (one piece per area of change), with the thing that you want to change, and then write, “My Top Reasons are…”, and start listing, you want a minimum of 6 reasons on why this change is important for you, why is it going to make you happy, what is this change going to mean for you, how is the change going to impact you? This is you, building up your case. Also, you can close your eyes, and see it done, as in whatever it is that you want to change, you’ve accomplished it, and you can imagine it, in a vivid, vibrant, and powerful imagination, I want you to feel, hear and see it, this is it. And, then, open your eyes, as, it is time, isn’t it? Time to change. Decide right now, and move to the 3rd and final step, you are so close…
Step 3 => change
APPLY IT! You have clarified what you want to change by identifying the specifics, you’ve decided that this was it, and now, it is time to change. I see, change as a path (and, feel free to refer to this previously written article on change to read on this a bit further), and as with any path, one that you choose to embark on. To embark on your change path, take a different piece of paper (or again, a flipchart), and draw a table with 4 columns (the first, third and fourth ones can be smaller, with the second one larger) with the following headers: “Things I have decided to change:”, “My changing actions”, “Accountability” and “Date by”. In the 1st column, list what you have decided to change, in the 2nd one, ask yourself, what is it that you can do to change, list at least 3 actions, in the 3rd one, the name of the person who will hold you accountable to the action(s) you’ve committed to, and in the 4th one, a date to complete your action(s) by (and you give that date to your Accountability person!). Once you have written your Change Plan, start actioning it. Every action you will take, every behaviour you will amend, every state you will alter, etc, will bring you further on your change path.
It is up to you, always. So, identify, decide and change; these 3 steps can happen in minutes. And, once on your change path, you will already feel so much better, as you will know, consciously know, that you are doing something about it, and on your way to see the results.
PS: This week’s tweet, so that you can easily share this blog’s takeaway, Click to tweet!
Until next time! 😉
To your Mountain Moving Mindset.
Let’s Lead Beyond The Edge,
Frederique
