Let the games begin again for Teams Y and Z!

The 2 Weeks 2 a Breakthrough Pilot Program is officially underway for the second two teams, Y and Z.

Teams J and K are half way through their program, but the dawn is just rising on teams Y and Z. Participants in these teams have had the benefit of reading what's going on with the first participants and so they are ready!

Each of the participants received a 12 page quick start document.

We will start things off by clarifying and refining goals and sharing the overall structures of the program. I am having 45 minute one-on-one conversations with each participant about what they want to accomplish and begin the brainstorming process.

Here is a reminder about the Daily Practice - the backbone of the program:

The Daily Practice:

The Daily Practice is likely to be the most dreaded part of this program - and the most important. It may seem intimidating, but once you get into it, it will be rather easy. Here’s a portion of what the participants received about the Daily Practice:

Each day of the program, I will offer ideas and suggestions designed to increase focus or action. In addition, you are to complete your daily practice EVERY DAY of the program. The daily practice is easy but can yield big results.

The Daily Practice – Each day of the program,
- Tell two people about your goal.
- Take two actions that support your goal.
- Make two requests that support your goal.

The Daily Practice can be done live, via email, phone, blog, or other communication means. But each day should involve different people. For example, if you tell readers about your goal on your blog one day, it would not qualify if you communicate it again 3 days later. Same thing with requests: posting two requests on your blog will not fulfill the intention of the daily practice.

You can, however, combine things. For example, you can tell someone about your goal and then make a request of him or her too.

One more clarification, although telling someone about your goal and making a request are technically actions, my intent is that you engage in two OTHER actions each day. These can be very small, like signing up for a relevant newsletter, registering a business license, or asking 3 people for ideas at lunch. Or they can be major actions like creating a business plan.

A little bit about requests:

The type of requests that I find make the biggest difference are not necessarily the “give me” kind, although if you read my blog post about requests a few days ago, it seemed to work for the nun. For most of us, what we are looking for with our requests is someone’s time, ideas, connections, counsel, projects, accommodations, mentoring, etc.. I will share an example of these requests:

Someone’s time: I am working on a project and would like to bounce a few ideas off you. Could I buy you coffee one day this week to chat (or could I ask for 30 minutes of your time over the phone)?

Ideas or information: I would like to help improve the workplace and would like your ideas. I’m inviting a few people for a brown bag lunch brainstorming session. Can you attend?

Connections: I am trying to build my business/get a publisher, can you tell me the people I should get to know in this field?

Counsel/mentoring: You are one of the best in your field. Would you be willing to mentor me if it did not take much of your valuable time? Perhaps we could start with a 30-minute phone conversation/coffee chat?

Projects: I want to develop my skills in this area and would like to participate on the ____ project because I think it would help me and I could contribute to the group’s success. I would be willing to lead the group if that’s preferable. Can you help me get on this project?

Accommodations: I am working on a goal that is very important to me and that will make a big difference. Over the next month, I would like to change my schedule slightly to accommodate the project. I have worked it out so that my other projects are not affected. Can I get your approval to: _____________?

Participation: I am working on a book called ________. I have attached the book proposal for your review. I have great respect for your work and would love to have you write the foreword.

The best requests are win-win. For example, I have created new jobs for myself several times and my employers accepted the ideas because I was able to demonstrate how the change was good for the company too.

Your response to acceptances and rejections is important. If your request is accepted, show genuine appreciation and excitement. This will make people feel great about helping you out. If the person does not accept your request, DO NOT demonstrate disappointment and do not make the other person feel guilty. This is what keeps us from making future requests. Instead, thank the person for his or her consideration and, if appropriate, ask if he or she has an alternative suggestion. Your demeanor should be matter of fact and open.

The point of the daily practice is to help you create a presence, platform, and place for your goal and to make new things happen.

I’d love to hear how Team Y and Team Z participants feel about starting the program and what they have explored so far!

Comments

[Allan Moult]

Thank you Lisa for an entertaining and valuable one-on-one this morning [Australian time].

It rekindled my gut feeling about the value of sharing your objectives, especially with someone who knows nothing about your existing projects or ideas.

You're forced to spell out what you're actually on about, and in the process there is often an 'aha' moment.

Sometimes when talking to friends or colleagues you use conversational shorthand that comes from shared knowledge and circumstances and this can actually have a negative impact on your plans or ideas as you never really get to discussing the detail.

Following our talk [and isn't Skype wonderful — and free], I'm certainly rethinking my goals today — a variation on my original outline, but more focussed — and will share it later.

[Lisa Haneberg]

Allan: Thanks for sharing your insights on the value of communicating what you are up to. I think you are right, getting outside your network can be very good sometimes! And yes, Skype is great!

[Paul]

Lisa - thank you for your time today; I really enjoyed the conversation. I think I have a relatively focused goal, but as discussed, I'm not in the habit of discussing it with people, or asking others for input or assistance (both habits I absolutely need to cultivate.) I therefore have high hopes that this exercise will be very fruitful for me, and in the process create one or more "breakthroughs." I look forward to discussing it as I progress. Thanks again for the opportunity.

Allan - beautiful website (leatherwoodonline.com) Did you develop it yourself?

[Lisa Haneberg]

Paul - You have a great goal and seem clear about what you want. I look forward to seeing how sharing your goal and enrolling others helps you gain velocity!

[idylldiane]

Thank you, Lisa for the phone call. We talked about how being addicted to online activities and 'getting organized' can get in the way of creativity.

Of course, the first thing I did was to make a chart to track my daily practice for the 2-week period of the Breakthrough training. But perhaps that's permissable. I've got lots of ideas for requests and actions and I'm determined to write at least 30 minutes Every Day.

Up and running!

[Rob]

I used day 1 as a springboard for the rest of the two weeks - I don't have a fixed timetable but I'm working out the list of actions I need to take, and by focusing on a couple per day, I've found that it really takes very little effort.

Thanks have to go to you Lisa, for this program and the kickstart in the phonecall!

[Lisa Haneberg]

Diane and Rob - Great start and I am glad you have jumped right in there!

[Jessica]

Hi Lisa,

Many, many thanks for yesterday's phone call--hearing about your own struggle getting your second book completed was so helpful for me, especially when you said that you decided that the book was just your perspective--that it didn't have to be the "official, one and only resource" on the topic :-).

So, yesterday I reread everything I'd written and realized that it was all such a jumble. As I wrote the first draft, I'd gotten so many new ideas that ... well, the first draft was just not at all working.

Today I started over (not exactly from scratch, but mostly) and I wrote throughout the day (clients kept calling and I kept picking up the phone...). I've now gotten 3009 words written (though that includes the title page and such) and am really excited about tomorrow.

This is actually how I used to approach my long college papers (though I'd forgotten about that)--I'd write the whole thing in advance and then the night before they were due I always decided I hated them and would stay up all night writing a new paper. Not the best way to turn in a *polished* piece, but I guess I have to write my ideas out in long form before they really crystallize for me. (I'm now so far from the original outline for this book it's like they're two completely separate projects!)

Sorry to ramble on so! But I really, really appreciate this kick and can't wait to see how far I get in the next two weeks.

[Dave]

I have actually been busy launching my new venture for the last two weeks. I am doing it on my own. There is a short summary on the YTeam Group. I have set myself five specific goals to achieve over the period of this 2Weeks2Breakthrough.

Earlier this evening I was invited to hijack (sounds silly but it is true) a talk on ADD to some forty people. I grabbed the opportunity with everything I could. I had taken around thirty business cards - I didn't have enough.

There is a good lesson to be learned from this. I nearly didn't go - I had to travel a considerable distance in stormy weather and I set out late. But I realised that even if I only managed to sign up one person, that is one less person I have to reach, but more importantly, I needed to convince that person to become a salesperson for me.

My investment in being disciplined has already paid for itself. My first goal is to have a small group up and running within the 2 weeks. After tonights event, I have the core of the group, now I have to create and deliver the content for them to use in the group over the next few weeks.

My overall goal is for me to manage the detail - I am very comfortable in the big picture and am good at implementing, but I drown in the detail. Doing detail work is like drinking cod liver oil - I gotta hold my nose closed to get it over and done with - it's hard to breath!

During next week I need to get the base content of my web site up. I would like to make the URL available to get your imput and comments before I let it loose on the greater audience out there.

Lisa - this is a great programme and it's a great privelege to be part of it. To do this on a global scale is really great. I am looking forward enormously to tasting the many different cultural flavours that will spice up our time together!

[Lisa Haneberg]

Jessica: This is wonderful! Your comment oozes energy and focus and I am thrilled that you had a great day of writing! I can't wait to read your helpful book.

Dave: Thanks for your kind words. Your project is fabulous and I am pleased that we can be a small part of your support system! I can tell that you are going to make great things happen and help many people.

[Sanders]

Lisa,

Thank you so much for our conversation on the phone: It was not only helpful in clarifying my goal, but it also provided me with an aha moment--insasmuch I hate making request, I discovered that, in the past, talking with other people has always helped me put flesh on bony ideas, which is exactly what happened during our conversation...

About the first day: I basically combined the "telling" and "requesting" parts by asking 3 people to give me 30 minutes: 5 minutes to listen to my goal of starting a translation business; 10 minutes for them to ask me any question about my presentation; and 15 minutes for feedback, advice, and any other people they know that might be interested in hearing me out or helping me.

I was surprised at how easy that went, in spite of my fears, Two of the people are friends, one is a casusal acquaintance. Everybody was very helpful and I got about 2 dozens names and a ton of ideas.

My 2 actions: I researched how to set up a blog and listed what I would need in terms of equipment and software.

I hope I will be able to keep up the energy generated by this first day and complete the whole program

[Lisa Haneberg]

Sanders - I KNOW you can keep up the energy and finish the program because you are ozzing passion and resolve. Yes, we need great practices and action to move from idea to results, but that's the fun of this process. Congratulations on a great first day!