Three small powerful words that I'll be using more this year.
'With the specific and deliberate use of three words, I think I can achieve more this year. Achieve more professionally, achieve more personally and achieve more spiritually.
Those words are: "Get", "yet" and "no".
"Get"
Using "get" in place of "have" turns a potential chore in to something to be grateful to have the opportunity to do.
Context: The world is busy. Life is busy. There are always 'to do' lists. Too often, being present with the task in hand is replaced by distraction (and stress) thinking about all the other tasks that needs doing
Example: It's Monday morning. There's a sales meeting in an hour, a deluge of emails that need attention and a project that's overdue. Then a colleague calls asking for last minute help to proof-read an important proposal.
Ihaveget to help my colleague proof-read an important proposal.
"Yet"
Inserting "yet" at the end of a sentence can remove a (self-imposed) limit. It can turn a defeat in to a challenge. It is a rallying call. It is the simplest application of a growth mindset.
Context: We all have our boundaries to our abilities. Until we learn how to do something new. It's easier to live within the confines of what we can do (our comfort zone). But personal and professional growth happens outside of these walls.
Example: There's business plan to create. Finance are not there to crunch the numbers this time. This means doing some advanced work on Excel.
I can't create pivot tables yet.
"No"
Toddlers are experts at saying "no" to the things that they don't want to do. Somehow, as adults, we seem to say 'yes' to the things that we should say 'no' to. It's often easier. It's often more amiable. It's often regrettable.
Context: Doing fewer things better. The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing. Executing ruthlessly on key objectives. All of these management mantras require time (and resources) being devoted to a limited number of strategically-chosen activities aligned to the pursuit of specific goals... which means saying 'no' much more often than saying 'yes'.
Example: It's the last week of the Quarter and there are a number of forecasted deals yet to come in. An invitation comes through to be work on a new narrative as part of a product upgrade.
Yes *shudder* vs No, I am devoting all of my time to delivering my Quarterly commitment this week.
What are your resolutions or goals this year? What are the words that move you to action?
Self Employed Consulting in the DB Pensions, Actuarial, Investment and Professional Trustee sector.
5 年Good post, thanks. On the 3rd one, it often helps to add to the ‘No’ to say ‘No but how about if.....’ This can be less adversarial by offering an alternative.
Building for 2025 and beyond...Watch this space!
5 年3 words you will defo NOT be using this year; Arsenal Champions League.
Head of Enterprise Account Sales @ Apple
5 年Saying no is an obvious one that can’t be practiced enough. I like the idea of ?get“ vs ?have“. Will try that, too.
Commercial Leader | Customer Value advocate | Business Developer | Ecosystem enthusiast
5 年Solid advice. At least the first two are so very easy to implement and have huge instant impact.
Passionate about growing businesses, building culture and developing people
5 年Brilliant!! I love it and we can all learn from it. I will be using these and also something else I have learned recently. When doing things asking myself ‘does it feed my soul’ - if not, why am I doing it? Great post Tom.