I know it's only November, but I’d like you to think ahead to New Year’s Day. If you’re like many of us, you’ll see the start of a new year as the perfect opportunity to make some changes, and inspired by the clean slate of January 1, you’ll probably make a few resolutions. What promises-to-self will you make? Start a fitness program, lose weight, get out of debt, quit smoking, spend more time with friends and family, get organized, learn something new, help others, build a castle in the air? The list is as endless as people are unique. And while you’re thinking about resolutions, how far did you get with last year’s batch?
The truth of the matter, according to a poll taken by the time management firm Franklin Covey, is that four out of five people who make New Year’s resolutions will eventually break them, and a third of this group won’t even make it to February! And the most common reasons for dropping the ball have to do with both the scope and the timing of our resolutions.
This year, I'm going to suggest you get down to business - literally and figuratively – and give your goal-setting process an overhaul. And while you're at it, instead of locking yourself into New Year's Day as your starting line, why not just start now? There's really no need to wait, especially when there are a few simple business strategies you can use immediately to get started on your personal journey.
Small Steps
The Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu wisely observed that “a journey of a thousand miles starts with one step,” a principle that is inherent to the practice of Kaizen. Kaizen (pronounced ki-zen) stands for two Japanese words "kai" (change) "zen" (good), and literally means "to become good through change.” The practice of Kaizen has been used successfully for many years by businesses throughout the world to increase productivity and quality. And even though you may be on the road to self- improvement, you can apply the business practice of Kaizen to achieve your goals systematically and progressively.
The key is to understand that success in any endeavor is the result of a process of continuous improvement coupled with mindfulness, positive thinking and sustained goal focus. Robert Maurer, Ph.D., author of One Small Step Can Change Your Life, outlines how the Kaizen approach can be applied to achieve success at pretty much anything you want to accomplish, simply by downsizing your thoughts and actions.
Start by asking small questions. Instead of overwhelming your brain with huge demands to achieve your goal, start by asking yourself small exploratory questions that will lead you forward, step by step. Small questions encourage creativity and playfulness and allow you to progress without fear. It can be as simple as asking yourself: “What is one small step I could take towards reaching my goal?”
Think small thoughts. Athletes commonly use visualization to enhance their performance, focusing on the minute details of their sport. You can also use this kind of “mind sculpture” – imagining specific actions or behaviors - to develop social, mental, and physical skills. Choose an aspect of your life you would like to improve, and simply set aside a brief amount of time (even 30 seconds will do) at intervals throughout the day in which you imagine yourself acting positively in that situation. The more often you repeat this exercise, the more thoroughly the positive messages will be ingrained. When you feel ready to take on the action or behavior in reality, you’ll be surprised at how naturally it comes to you!
Solve small problems and take small actions. These techniques are truly at the heart of Kaizen. By learning to recognize and deal with small problems, you can save yourself from having to handle big problems later on. And when you break a large, overwhelming goal down into very small steps, you will provide yourself with the means to achieve success without stress. It becomes even simpler if you start by changing the easiest things first, so with each accomplishment, you will gain more confidence and energy to move on to the next step. The secret is, of course, to take that next step and to strive towards continuous improvement.
Get Smart!
Another goal-setting model that works well for personal development is Management by Objectives (MBO), a concept developed by social ecologist Peter Drucker. You can combine MBO with Kaizen to define your goals and work towards them at a comfortable pace. All you need to do is use the S.M.A.R.T. acronym as a guideline for setting your objectives, making sure your goals meet the following criteria.
Specific. By creating a very clear and specific objective, you are able to focus on the logistics of making it happen. So although you may want to “spend more time with your family,” it’s hard to define exactly what “more time” means. Instead, plan specific activities you can share with your family, such as family movie night every Friday.
Measurable. Your goal should be something you can clearly measure, and the best way is to express it in terms you can objectively gauge. For example, instead of charging yourself with the task to “get more exercise,” decide that you will take a 30 – minute walk three times a week.
Achievable. Big dreams and audacious goals are great motivators, but if they are way beyond your reach, you might set yourself up for failure simply by the enormity of the challenge. Use the Kaizen approach to break these big goals into smaller steps that are possible, striving to add success to success for continuous improvement.
Realistic. There are only 24 hours in the day, so make your goals realistic based on what time, resources and tools you have available.
Timely. Set goals you can reach within a specific amount of time. Giving yourself a "deadline" will motivate you to stay accountable, and will help you figure out where you should be when while tracking your progress.
Wrapping it Up
American philosopher Henry David Thoreau wrote, " Do not worry if you have built your castles in the air. They are where they should be. Now put the foundations under them." Although it's important to never lose sight of your ultimate goals and cherished dreams, they can often seem insurmountable. With Kaizen, however, you can bridge the gap between where you are and where you want to be by taking one small step at a time. Using the Kaizen approach to create S.M.A.R.T. goals honors your unique rhythm, breaks down resistance to change, and provides the quick results that help you move beyond the overwhelm and fear that create procrastination and self-sabotage. And with each small success comes the cornerstones of greater confidence and greater motivation with which to build the foundation for your "castles in the air."
Try it for yourself... and stop back to share your Kaizen experiences!
Namaste,
