2Weeks2aBreakthrough

Reflections on a Year of Breakthroughs

Earlier in the year I declared 2007 the Year of the Breakthrough. This was my inspiration for driving 9,400 miles on my motorcycle to meet and talk to people about breakthroughs and my book about generating breakthroughs came out.

I have not posted on this blog for a while, so I thought I would take the time to reflect a bit about the last eight months and write about how I would like to close out the year.

First, I would like to thank everyone I met - either in person or virtually - during this great adventure. I can think of no more satisfying thing than having someone tell me that in some small way, my work has made a difference in his or her life. I have had several people tell me this and I consider myself a very lucky person.

I have seen amazing things happen - many with lightening speed and a thrust of passion and focus. My notions about how to generate breakthroughs are not entirely new and they are not rocket science (more like quantum science) but I know - with all my heart and conviction - that the system works. I have seen it again and again.

And I can look at my successes and failures and see evidence that reinforces this approach to generating breakthroughs.

As a practitioner, I am both rewarded and frustrated by breakthrough science every day. Rewarded, because when I flap, flap, flap, in a focused manner, things happen. And frustrated because when I don't, things don't happen.

I have not posted much on this blog because I find that I am repeating myself. I don't want to create NEW messages, the old ones really work. The information found in these 300 posts and my book, Two Weeks to a Breakthrough are simple and effective. I hesitate to gunk things up. After all, most breakthroughs are elegantly simple, too.

Instead of letting this blog languish, I an going to put it on sabbatical. I won't post here unless there is something new that must be written. I invite you to keep in touch with my movements on my main blog, Management Craft.

There are still 2 1/2 months to this Year of the Breakthrough and amazing things can happen in this time. Heck, amazing things can happen by Thanksgiving. If you want to make something big happen, read through the archives of this blog or pick up a copy of the book and get into focused action.

I will continue to do live talks about how to generate breakthroughs. Just send me an email if you want me to talk to your company or group.

Make the most of the next 2 1/2 months. Of course, one thing you can count on - 2008 will be the Year of the Breakthrough, too, if you make it so.

Flap, flap, flap.

Brains Under Pressure

Check out this post on Brain Based Business called, Brains Under Pressure. Here is a snippet:

A fine colleague of mine just resigned from several boards ... and cut back on work hours. His doctor warned that stress has spiked his blood pressure to life threatening levels. Have you seen it happen?

We can do only so many things well and with full engagement. If we spread ourselves too thin, we never get into anything to the degree where we can reach a flow state.

Drop One Thing

I like this post from Zen Habits called, Simple Living Simplified: 10 Things You Can Do Today to Simplify Your Life. I really like this one:

2. Drop 1 commitment. Think about all the things in your life that you’re committed to doing, and try to find one that you dread doing. Something that takes up time but doesn’t give you much value. Perhaps you’re on a team, or coaching something, or on a board or committee, or whatever. Something that you do each day or week or month that you don’t really want to do. Now take action today to drop that commitment. Call someone, send an email, telling the appropriate person or people that you just don’t have the time. You will feel relief. I’d recommend dropping all commitments that don’t contribute to your short list (from Item #1), but for today, just drop 1 commitment.

Simplifying is critical. That said, I think the more accurate word is to streamline, or reduce the clutter or volume. Because we are human and because the most rewarding experiences likely involved other humans, life will not be  and ought not be simple - human systems are chaotic by nature and therefore complex.

That said, if our relationships are gunked up with crud and baggage, they can be more complex than optimal. So you should simplify there.

But the techniques in the Zen Habits post are more about streamlining and reducing, which is very important and beneficial. The more focused your life the better able your are able to deal with and relish in life's inherent complexities.

Try This Clump Grid Exercise to Focus Your Life/Work

Why do we keep doing things that take lots of time and energy and yield little benefit? Why do we ignore or under do those activities that can most enhance our lives.

An age old question with no real answer.....

Sometimes we need a visual to help us make better choices. Check out this simple grid I created:

It's simple to understand, harder to act on, right? I was feeling in a funk today (we had to say goodbye to our 16 year old poodle, Jet, last night). I get reflective about life when I am in a funk. Does that happen to you? It's a good time to take stock in what I am doing and make adjustments.

Click on this link to download and print off this grid in a one page exercise.

Download ClumpGridExercise.pdf

There are two important considerations for the exercise:

1. Include as many activities as possible. Take the time to be thorough.

2. Define "reward" wisely. This is the key, isn't it? We will each define rewards differently, but we need to be clear so we can put activities in the right boxes. And what you find rewarding might change over time. How you define rewards ought to align with your goals and how you define success.

Into the Wild

In my previous post, I told you about my struggle to read. On my reading list this week was the book, Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer. I wanted to get the book read before all the media exposure about the upcoming movie (directed by Sean Penn) affected my reading the story fresh.

I think you should read the book before seeing the movie. And then see the movie.

It's a great story that is both provocative and evocative. Into the Wild tells the true story of Chris McCandless, a college educated young man from a well-to-do family who shed most of his possessions to choose the life of a drifter. He hitchhiked, camped, canoed, and lived like a vagabond for two years. After spending four months in the Alaskan wilderness, he died of starvation.

You might remember this story from the news in the early 90s.

I like this book because it will make us take an inventory of how we are living our lives and the degree we are actually LIVING it.

It's a short and easy read but packs a punch and could catalyze breakthroughs. The true life story is compelling.

Turning a Turd into a Candy Bar

OK, no jokes about the pool gag where you throw a candy bar in the water and then yell, "turd!" What I'm suggesting goes the other way.

I am a big fan of redefinition - I don't mean in a slimy "being sold something I don't need" kind of way. I mean redefinition that makes your life work better.

Reality is socially constructed. Change your definition - change reality.

Here's a small tangible example.

I struggle with reading. I have had adult ADD and find it hard to sit and read for more than 15 minutes and I find most books boring. I know, a book writer ought not say these things.....

I have struggled with this for years, but I need to lick this problem for two reasons:

1. There is a strong correlation between writing skill and reading. Writers need to be readers.
2. I am enrolled in an MFA program that requires me to read and annotate (report on) one book per week minimum. Yikes - that's about 1000% more than my normal reading pace.

I did a few practical things:

1. I got my eyes checked and got new glasses.
2. I got a good reading lamp and chair.

But I still struggled, why? Because reading for me has always been a turd. As long as it remains a turd, there will be no breakthroughs forthcoming. I need to turn reading into a Candy Bar. How do I do this?

1. Change my view of what reading means. This is important. Reading for 15 minutes is reading. It's like a wee spa treatment for my brain. It's like a 3pm soy latte. It's like a quick walk around the block. Reading in bits and bites is my success formula (not how I fail) and if I do this 3-4 times a day, my life will be blessed and transformed. Candy Bar.

2. Create anticipation and excitement by planning for my reading spa Candy Bar sessions. Today, for example, I got all the little things in order - made tea, selected the book, collected my highlighter, went to the little girl's room (TMI?), put on my office space heater (yes, already, Fall has arrived in Seattle), and cleaned my glasses, face, and pulled my hair back. Like a lover might prepare for a hot rendezvous, I prepped for my reading. Candy Bar.

3. Increase opportunity. I have put books everywhere (I have many to read), so it is very easy to do a bit a spontaneous reading. Candy Bar.

4. Pair reading with other pleasurable events. In my case, my cat loves it when I read because I recline just enough to make my lap a cozy place for her to lie. Having a reading lap cat makes the experience more enjoyable and I read longer because I don't want to disturb her. Candy Bar.

You might be asking, What if a turd is just a turd? That's a great question. If a turd is just a turd, then flush it, for heaven's sake. Get rid of it. But if you want to reinvent your love for some ritual or habit (exercise anyone?), then you can turn that turd into a low calorie high taste Candy Bar.

What will you transform this week?

I'm Gonna Wash that Gray Right Outa my Resume..

How many of you are looking for a job? What does your resume look like? What impression does it make?

I think the career books are wrong most of the time with regard to what makes a resume great.

They say: There are three formats......

I say: Don't do any of the formats, they don't stand out.

They say: don't use color.

I say: boring! Don't come across like a three-year-old (unless your are 3), but color is great.

They say: You must use our online submission form.

I say: OK, go ahead and do that, but you need to find another way. Find a human! Connect with a voice. Put paper in hand. Spend 41 cents. Personally, I hate inflexible online submission systems.

Sidebar: Hey HR people! The best candidates won't play games with your mandatory rules. what does this mean? The people who comply are not the ones you want.

They say: The order of information on your resume should be X, Y, Z.

I say: Communicate your essence. Share the reasons they ought to hire you. Do this in any way that makes sense.

Fine print: If you are out of work and need a job to pay the rent and buy Mac and Cheese, don't follow my advice. It will turn some employers off and perhaps you should not do that. If you are employed but curious, give this irreverent approach a try - you never know!

Report back.

Why Worry

Dire Straits - Why Worry

Why worry, there should be laughter after the pain
There should be sunshine after rain
These things have always been the same
So why worry now

The lyrics of this song - especially the chorus - are very wise. Here's a You Tube version of the song.

Why worry?

Dale Carnegie had a nice way of dealing with worry. Here is a snippet from his book, How to Stop Worrying and Start Living:

Focus! Haiku Productivity

I love this post from Zen Habits called, Haiku Productivity: The Fine Art of Limiting Yourself to the Essential. The post offers several ways to focus on the most important tasks and includes ways to ensure you don't waste precious time.

One of the suggestions is to limit yourself to 10 RSS feeds. Interestingly, I just went through and unsubscribed to a bunch of feeds last night because my list had gotten too long. I don't check my aggregator when I travel and often come back to hundreds or thousands of unread posts. I did not get to 10, however, I still have over 100. I think I should shoot for 50. Emphasizing this suggestion could well bite me in the tail - I guess I will just have to see if my subscriber numbers go down!

Check out all the suggestions. In the spirit of focus, try just one!

The Role of Determiniation

I like this post from Dr. Ellen over at Brain Based Business called What Does bob Woodruff's Mental Miracle Say About Yours?

And related - sort of - check out this post from zenhabits called, Get Off Your Butt: 16 Ways to Get Motivated When You're in a Slump.

Reinvention is a privilege - we can do it anytime, but realize that most people do not. Most people let the drone of the everyday swallow their hearts and passions.

I am not an exception. I live what most people would call a privileged life. I agree. I can pretty much do what I want and I have some very special client relationships that allow for flexible and interesting work. Even so, I struggle with determination and get sucked in by the machine that is my daily routine.

The difference between how we are living our lives and our potential is usually just a couple decisions each day. People who live their best lives make different choices. On any given day, we can be the person we aspire to be and generate the life we most value.

Commit to the small and be great in tiny ways every day.

Working Class Millionaire?

I love this post from Jory over at Pause called, The most depressing new term ever: Working-Class Millionaire. Jory is always a joy to read. Here's a snippet:

But I digress, as I tend to. Back to the ridiculousness of the Siliconians. Apparently there are a class of them who have $1 to $5 Million in the bank and still feel the need to work themselves to the bone, like they did when they were 25-30 and justified their lives by promising themselves that they wouldn't have to work like this at 50. Now they are 40-50 years old and don't have a glimpse of retirement in sight. Why?

It's interesting how we frame what success looks like and how much money and stuff we need to feel comfortable. Most of us could cut our things and cash in half and still be filled with bliss and abundance. Or we could seek twice as much and somehow manage to still be miserable human beings. There are two elements - happiness and wealth. They are not always positively correlated, are they?

Where are you along the spectrum of wealth and happiness? How might others see it? Where do you want to be? What are the steps you could take this week to inch in the right direction?

Another post from Raj - Invent New Possibilities Daily

You might think that I was trying to butter up Raj Setty - linking to him two days in a row. Nope! I just love this post called, Ways to distinguish yourself #179 - Invent new possibilities daily. Read the whole post, but here is a juicy snippet:

The problem with knowledge and resources is that the more you have them, more you realize how much more of them you need. If you are looking to accumulate more resources before you an ACT on your dream, you may be WAITING for a long time. Why not change the game and start inventing possibilities with ALL the resources that you ALREADY HAVE?

I agree. Are you stopped because you are waiting for something? Stop being stopped by getting into imperfect action now.

Making the Most of Your Time

My pal, Raj Setty has created a wonderful Change This manifesto called, Making the Most of Your Time. Click on over and get your free copy now. Raj is such a smart guy, and he has a way of saying things that shoots into the middle of the issue - like a laser.

How we spend our time makes a huge difference. You can make BIG things happen in tiny bits of time. Each moment is precious and loaded with potential. That said, be sure to fill some of those moments with relaxation and recharge.

I find that the choices we make about how we spend our time often means the difference between living a life we love versus one filled with unrealized hopes.

Does your zest for progress outweigh your fear of networking?

I have several conversations going on right now with individuals and groups about how to generate breakthroughs. The most common barrier for all of these smart and dedicated folks? Not getting "out there" enough - in conversation.

Breakthroughs occur in conversation. If you want more to happen, talk to more people and talk to them about more. Engage. Ask the uncomfortable questions if needed. Ask for ideas and be grateful for them.

I promise you, if you do this, it will work.

The daily practice for generating breakthroughs stands - the recipe still works wonders:

1. Share your goal with others.
2. Take actions that support your goal.
3. Make requests that will help more your goal forward.

The daily practice is designed to get you "out there." Focused and in action. How much do you want it? Move beyond any discomfort you might feel and do the daily practice today. Drop me an email or comment with how it goes.

And one more thing. The more you can do this - zoom toward your goals - from a mindset of service and contribution, the better for all involved.

On "Being" versus Aim to Be

My last post, yesterday, was about my choice to go veggie. In the last 24 hours, it has been interesting to reflect on the difference of

BEING something

and aiming TO BE something.

It has been on my list of things to do - go veggie. And when something is on the list, it takes up space in the brain. These "aim to be" lists gunk up our heads!

Now that I am a vegetarian, I have one less thing gunking up my head.

It strikes me that there are many other things gunking up my head and that perhaps I ought to either BE them or get them off the list and out of my head.

How about you? Are you aiming to be so many things that you don't have the energy or drive to be much at all?

Just Became a Vegetarian Again - Fast Food Nation

When I was around 20, I experimented with being a vegetarian. I did not make this change because of any social or moral reasons, I did it because I wanted to feel healthier. I lived in Chevy Chase, Maryland, a northern suburb of DC. I had a dinky efficiency apartment that cost a fortune and no spare money. At one point, I had to move around a single light bulb from the living/sleeping area to the bathroom and kitchen until I got paid and could buy more bulbs.

Given my economic realities and the fact that I don't like to cook, I found it difficult to keep up the vegetarian lifestyle and eventually went back to being an omnivore. The #1 meal (Big Mac) has always been an important part of my diet.

I have thought about returning to the veggie life several times. My family has a strong history of heart disease and I find Dr. Dean Ornish's research on the benefits of a vegetarian lifestyle (in reversing heart disease!) compelling.

And I have always had these vague notions of disgust over how food animals are raised and treated and slaughtered. Like many people, however, I have blocked out those thoughts and focused on the neatly carved and wrapped slabs of meat sold in my grocery. Out of sight, out of mind.

But these interests  - reversing heart disease, animal treatment, general health - have not been compelling enough to cause me to change. The drive-through is just so darned convenient.

Sometimes things just need to come together in a particular way to nudge change. And they did.

1. I still have an interest in going veggie for my health. And with my family history, it's pretty important I not wait too long.
2. It is becoming easier and easier to eat vegetarian.
3. I joined a new social networking site for boomers called Tee Bee Dee. They have a group called, Go Veggie, and for some reason I did not hesitate to join this group (while digesting a fast food burger).
4. Bill and I decided to rent a DVD last night. We picked Fast Food Nation up from the shelf, I handed it to him and kept walking and looking, he hung onto it and said, "let's rent this one." I thought it was going to be a dark comedy like, Thank You for Smoking, which I loved. So we got it and watched it last night.

Fast Food Nation is not a dark comedy. Let me tell you, I have never felt so disturbed. The DVD is good, and the few truly gross parts are tastefully done (bad choice of words, I know). It's not all about the meat - there are several interesting subplots in the movie, many of which were apparently not in the book by the same name. We watched the extra features too. The director talked about how they were lucky to get access to shooting in a meat processing plant, including the "kill room."

My stomach feels sick as I write this and think about the whole topic. I can't imagine eating meat henceforth. Maybe a fish that I catch in a stream, but I don't know.

This is all a big sign or rather several signs coming together. Now I need to explore and decide what I do want to eat. What's OK? What's best for me and the world? Will having a bean burrito at Taco Del Mar be OK or do I need to be concerned with 1) if there is animal fat used in its preparation and 2) if the other bad practices of fast food production make this a bad choice? Actually, I was very pleased to see that Taco Del Mar had this very informative page up on their website for vegetarians (they are opening a Taco Del Mar one mile from our house).

One thing I feel for sure, no more #1 meals.

BTW, my aim in writing this post is not to push a veggie agenda - I would not be a very good spokesperson, anyway. I think we all need to decide these things for ourselves. This blog is all about change, however, and we often come to change only after many signs clunk us over the head. Sometimes not even then. So for me, this post is selfish. I know that by writing this down and sharing it with the world, I will be more likely to pay attention to these signs and stick with my new choice. I also plan on sending emails to all my regular clients and pals so that my dietary choices can be better accommodated during future gatherings.

And I just told Bill. We were going to have leftover homemade chicken soup for lunch (that Bill made, very delicious). I told him to go ahead and I would make a peanut butter sandwich (we don't have much food in the house, we usually shop every day for that day). During lunch, I told him I think I need to go veggie. He asked lots of questions like whether I would eat dairy, fish, or meat grown and processed under human conditions. I said "no" to the meat, but the other questions I am not sure about. We have had different diets before and it will not be a problem to have some differences now. I am also lactose intolerant, so I need to factor this into the diet.

Day 1 and counting. I would be happy to receive any advice or coaching from those of you who have made the transition to veggie. A few specific questions:

1. Which are the best veggie burgers? I like veggie burgers a lot, but find the quality and taste vary a lot.
2. Lets face it, I will not become a cook. I still need my faster foods, especially when Bill travels. What have you found that is fast and convenient and healthy?
3. Any major pitfalls to avoid?

More Evidence of the Butterfly Effect

Aahh... I love a great story. This one came in the form of an email today. Enjoy.

Thanks, Bev, for sharing.

Hi, Lisa:

I was in your ASTD Monthly Meeting presentation and have to tell you how RIGHT ON  this is! I started trying it out that week with the conversations around a Scottish children's book. It is written and witty. I need an illustrator! It is called "The Terrible Tenor" (tenor drumming is my hobby). So right away, I opened it up in conversations ---new for me---and the universe showered me with ideas and connections. NOW one of the people I shared with is on a Native American Council and we're talking about a cultural SERIES. Plus she suggested I check with Art School students for low-cost illustration. WOWEE!!!

I train therapists in couples therapy (Gottman Method- Dr. John Gottman). In March we had trainees who were from Ft. Lewis. We've had a huge breakthrough in conceptualizing where our educational product sales & outreach to VA/Military couples and families should meet. How did it start to take fire? I FINALLY had lunch with an associate I've known by phone for 2 years. Guess what?! She is a military spouse, soon-to-be therapist, personally used Gottman Method when her husband came back from Iraq to help their marriage and has a HUGE interest in helping us. This sparked ANOTHER conversation I had with our Products Manager about our united new front. For the past TWO DAYS our products department has been flooded with requests from---guess who--many military bases and we've not "officially" even implemented the plan yet. BUTTERFLY EFFECT!!

When it clicks and has passionate, positive people involved, this BREAKTHROUGH process is UNREAL!! It's like butter melting, like magic, like the perfect Americano coffee!!!

You know, I believed you...but this is like being on a roller coaster. Now I BELIEVE. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!

Keep spreading the good word!
Bev
Helping Seriously Swamped Leaders since 2001

P.S. You are welcome to quote me!

OK, I did. I see the butterfly effect more as a smooth soy mocha, but to each her own! Did you pick up the fact that Bev needs an illustrator? Let me know if you want me to make the connection.

Hey Bev, I love your signature too - Helping Seriously Swamped Leaders - because there are no shortage of these!

Breakthroughs occur out there. Go flap.

More on Giving Up

Here is another post about giving up from Adrian over at Slow Leadership. Here's a provocative snippet:

If you’re willing to give up the idea—the false but seductive dream—of becoming someone or achieving a particular goal, you may well increase your chances of doing it for real. That dream may have no longer have anything to do with the reality it mimics. After all, you probably formed it long ago, when you had almost no idea of what reaching your goal would take—or what it would be like when you got there. The reality is what you need to aim for; the dream is mostly compounded of fantasy and ignorance.

When to Give Up

Sometimes progress comes when we stop doing something that is not working. But how do we know when we need to try harder and when it is time to quit and try something else?

I am sure you could find a complex decision model in some book, but for me it comes down to two variables.

1. The Heart - what's your heart telling you and what kind of life do you most want to build?

2. The practical situation at hand - what are your current needs and circumstances?

I find that a lack of progress can often be tied to inadequate attention to one or two of these variables. Some people are all heart - going full blast toward their dreams - but fail to plan well and take into account current financial needs and lead times.

For example, I left Intel (a perfectly good, well paying job) to become a writer. I bought a small cabin in the woods and decided to make it happen. My heart was in overdrive. But I had not done my homework and I did not know the time involved in writing, selling, publishing, and then promoting books. The right decision was to quit, get a real job again and then create a new plan (which I did and now I write).

Some people are practical to a fault. They focus on stability and push riskier dreams aside. I am a big believer in slowly developing one's dream while taking care of life's needs.

I have also known people who stick with a bad thing way too long. They know it is not the right job, relationship, profession, city, but stick with it because the fear of something new is greater. Sometimes our ego and pride get in the way of giving up when giving up is the right thing to do. It was very hard for me to get a real job again after quitting Intel - it felt like a failure to me.

Ah, actually it was a failure. But that's OK. I tried something. It did not work. So I tried something else.

During my motorcycle book tour around the country, I met a lot of people who want to start their own consulting and coaching businesses. Many people jump into these businesses too soon, IMHO. I think you ought to have a strong platform in both consulting and coaching BEFORE you go fully on your own. You have to be able to articulate why someone should hire you - what experiences and successes have you mounted? Have you taken the time it takes to develop into a great coach?

I am constantly looking at the mix of how I spend my time and focus and making adjustments. Another adjustment is coming soon, I can feel it.  What about you? Is it time to give up on something?

8 Random Things

Here's a meme I had not heard of until I got tagged by Debra over at 8 hours & a lunch. I do not know Debra, but I just checked out her blog and she does some great stuff. Check it out.

The rules of this meme:

1) post these rules before you give your facts.
2) list 8 random facts about yourself.
3) at the end of your post, choose (tag) 8 people and list their names (linking to them)
4) leave them a comment on their blog letting them know they've been tagged!

I am not known for following rules, but here's the first half.....

Here are the random facts (that are not really random, I am sure):

1. I buy cool stationary and never write letters.
2. I was a waitress at TGI Friday's right after high school and while attending community college.
3. I dislike most shades of blue.
4. I collect cowboy boots.
5. I once lived in Bethesda Maryland.
6. I had a blind Siberian husky/malamute mix dog named Sundance.
7. I played trombone in grade school.
8. When I was 8, I had a bright yellow dinghy boat named Prudence, but I had no idea what the word meant. I just liked the sound of it. I sold it at a garage sale to buy a bright green 10-speed bike.

Now here is where I am supposed to tag other people to tell 8 random things. But I am not going to do this part. I would invite people to share their 8 things if they like.

Some bloggers are open books and others like to keep their online and off line personas separate and distinct. I even know one fellow who blogs under a pseudonym and his employees do not know he blogs. Very clever. We all like to take on different identities sometimes, right? I used to do that when I lived in Washington DC and would go to political bars up on the hill (I guess that's #9).

A lot of my blogger pals either like to be mysterious or they get meme tagged all the time. Me? I am pretty open, so this little meme was fun.