5 Small Behaviors Preventing Your Momentum

It's The Small Things.... Here are 5 Small Obstacles Getting In Your Way.

We've all heard it said, "It's the small things that matter," or "The Devil is in the details."

If you don't believe that, try sleeping in a tent with a mosquito.

It is most annoying, to say the least. if you've never experienced that, it will surely test your sanity. Imagine, all you really want is to go to sleep and the devilish, flying, blood-sucking, buzzing demon? ... well?

But in life and in business, answer this for me, ...all I really want is...?

What small things get in your way repeatedly? Those things that seem to persist and keep popping up over and over? The mosquitos that won't go away. Buzzing in your head? Isn't it time to rid yourself of them? Permanently?

I'm a big-picture thinker—a fairly high "D" on the D.I.S.C. profile. I tend to focus on the desired results, not the intricate steps to get me there. In addition, I'm risk-tolerant. This combination has served me well at times but also has left me, let's just say,

Up the proverbial sewer waterway without a means to propel myself.

(I won't say it like Grandpa said it.)

Our strengths often become our liabilities. I've witnessed it over and over. Scientific research has proven that there is a relationship between strengths and weaknesses in human behavior. They are complementary and have similar frequency and magnitude but are polar opposites.

Here are five common opposites. They present themselves as strengths but are usually disguised imposters. They mostly prevent our forward progress and momentum.

1. Knowledge. We assume what we know will somehow guide us to achievement. It's not at all what we know. Often, we must adopt an attitude of unlearning. And no one ever reached great heights of achievement based on what they knew. It's all in the "doing" that helps us reach our goals. Besides, you will never know it all. Value the process of learning.

2. Timing. Waiting for just the right time, timing the market, waiting until ... whenever you are ready. Just get started. The reality is you will never get much done if you continue waiting to get started. If you wait for your ship to come in, you'll be waiting a long time. Go now!

3. Perfectionism. The best way is latent. There will always be unintended and unforeseen results. You must start if you wish to find the best way. Planning, though, is valuable. But realize there is no perfect plan and your success will depend on adaptability as you move forward on your vision and goals.

4. Fear of Failing. Fear is crippling to most people. We play the "what if" game. Truth be told, yes, you will fail. Fear is a cancer, debilitating your dreams and goals. In the words of Peter Drucker, "fail fast, fail often" and learn from the failure. It is only crippling if you allow it to be. Why is it that we put our faith in our fears? Poverty mindset and entitlement-type thinking have their roots in fear.

5. Comparison Thinking. Stop comparing your results to the results of others. Ignore the desire to look elsewhere and compare your results to those of others who may be suffering underneath the surface. Looking and comparing is like the iceberg effect. You only see what is above the surface. ONLY view where you were yesterday and make improvements based on that. Your goal is to be better than you were yesterday.

For me, growth means determining what I will not do today. I will NOT participate in the traps that keep me stuck.

Review the five snares above. Make a list of your thoughts toward each one. When have you done them? What were the circumstances?

Be specific about remembering the events or specific circumstances when you compared yourself to someone else, failed to take an action based on the fear of what might happen, felt like you didn't have enough of a plan, or felt that the timing just wasn't right.

These are just a few of the mosquitos in your tent. They are bothersome, but in the overall picture of your life and business, don't let the mosquito prevent you from having a good time camping and living your dream.

Remember, it's all about where your focus goes. What will you focus on this week? I hope not the mosquitos.

Today, be Encouraged. And Encouraging!