2Weeks2aBreakthrough

Fresh Eyes - Day 9, Teams Y and Z

Several of the participants in teams Y and Z have taken on the Requests Blitz with full gusto! For Day 9, I am asking them to step back and see their goals and their barriers from other perspectives. This is a good idea whenever we get stuck, unfocused, or overwhelmed.

There are many ways to stimulate our thinking..... What does this picture say to you?

Here's a portion of the email I sent Teams Y and Z:

The Theme for Day 9 is Fresh Eyes

I don’t want to add a bunch of new actions and requests to your lists today. The exercise for today is to see your project/goal from other perspectives and filters.

How would:
Friends
Peers
Managers
Customers
Competitors
Vendors
Partners
Industry experts
Coaches/counselors

How might they assess and address the barriers getting in the way? What ideas might they think of that you have not?

Use your daily practice to see your goal with a fresh set of eyes.....

Requests Blitz - Day 8 for Y and Z

I would recommend this for anyone who wants to feel the thrust of a zooming goal. The rush of being on a roll is great!

Here's a portion of the email I sent Teams Y and Z:

Day 8 is a day for a Requests Blitz

I love doing requests blitzes - I still do them once a month or so and almost always make great things happen. Really!

Tuesday is a great day of the week to make requests, I think. It is better than Monday, because people are not in their best mood and they are often playing catch up. And by making requests early in the week, there is time for people to respond before the week ends.

Play big today. If you have not been rockin’ and rollin’ with requests, today is the day to make things happen. Remember, requests can cover a broad variety of topics and needs.

Before you create your list, reread this post about request.

Requests can cover a lot of territory - you can make requests pertaining to:

Creating more time for yourself, your schedule, your “you time”
Asking people to meet with you and let you pick their brains.
Asking people to participate in your project.
Asking for financial support, like sponsorship, advertising, or a sale of a product or service.
Improving your skills or effectiveness.
Asking people to barter with you.
Asking people to make an introduction on your behalf with someone you want to meet.
Asking a group of people to meet with you to help you brainstorm, think through, or plan your project.
Asking people to review and critique your plan.
Asking people to be your evangelists (like asking them to blog about you/your project, or to send an announcement to their email network).
Asking local/regional/national press for coverage/article. (Several of you who have businesses might consider doing and sending out a press release)
Asking for help on other projects so that you can concentrate on this one.
Asking for a job/interview/informal meeting.
Asking for a brief meeting to share how you think you can help company X meet or beat its goals.
Requests related to improving your finances (lower credit card rates, re-negotiate bills, sell excess items, business loans).

And I could go on and on.....

For today, create and make 10 requests.

In person is best (Best results, gets you out there, puts your goal more powerfully in the world, the other person is more likely to grant the request or at least offer something)

On the phone is second best

Over email or via mail is a third option.

Use all three methods, not just email.

I have found it helpful to let people know upfront that they should feel no pressure to say yes, that you will still be their biggest fan and friend, and they should not feel uncomfortable if the answer is no AND that you would be thrilled if they said yes. Always thank people for their consideration and be just as happy/perky as when you made the request. This is important for maintaining the long term relationship.

Be great at accepting a NO.

Be even greater at accepting a YES!

The requests blitz can be the most transforming day of the program. If you are having a hard time coming up with a robust and inspiring list, let’s talk and I will help you!

For those of you, like Jean, who have made some pretty big requests already and had success, have fun with this and add a few more requests if you can think of them (perhaps pertaining to another aspect of the project or aimed at someone else).

Go get em’ !!!

Lisa

Participant Breakthroughs - Part 1

Dwayne, from Genuine Curiosity, offered this nice post about his experience with the 2 Weeks 2 a Breakthrough Program pilot. Thanks Dwayne and I am glad that you found the program of benefit!

It's Day 14 for Teams J and K!!

The participants in Teams J and K will be completing their program on Tuesday. It has been an interesting 14 days! I would like to thank all the participants who allowed me to eavesdrop into their process and lives. I learned a lot that will help me improve the program.

I know that several people had breakthroughs and I would encourage all J and K members to share their thoughts on this blog!

Here is a portion of the email I sent to teams J and K:

The Theme for Day 14 is Thanks and Reflection

For most of you, your work on your goals will continue. Even so, it’s a good time to:

1. Reflect on the two-week process. Where you can come. What you have learned. Progress you have made.

2. Thank those that have contributed and assisted you during the process.

3. Acknowledge your breakthroughs and celebrate your success. Remember, breakthroughs are anything that helps you skip forward, any ah-has, and sometimes they come as a result of dissonance.

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Please provide me feedback about the program!

1. Did you experience any breakthroughs?
2. Did you enjoy the program?
3. What were your favorite, least favorite parts of the program?
4. What recommendations do you have for improving the program?
5. Would you recommend he program to others?

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I also offered participants my thoughts about how to keep the momentum up on their goals. and how to involve others in the 2 Weeks 2 a Breakthrough Program. The 14 days went by very quickly!

What If? Day 7 for Y and Z

We are often our biggest barriers for breakthroughs. Our doubts and fears get in the way and manage to stop many of us in our tracks. I find it helpful to ask a lot of "what if?" questions. Here is a portion of the email I sent to teams Y and Z:

The Theme for Day 7 is What if?

To create more ideas, angles, ways, perspectives, possibilities, and approaches, ask at least a dozen what if questions.

What if time was not an issue?
What if I knew _______?
What if I cleared my calendar today?
What if I am talking to the wrong people?
What if I viewed this from the customer’s perspective?
What if I partnered with someone? Who would he or she be? What would I say? What would it mean?
What if I need to create a support structure, how might I do this?
What if today were really 2 years from now - how have things changed?
What if technology X takes off?
What if I asked for exactly what I want?
What if I am barking up the wrong tree?
What if my goal were achieved, how would I feel? What would things look like?
What if the answer is right in front of me?

Ask 2 friends or online buddies to help you brainstorm what if questions. And the answers.

What if you have the opportunity to have a breakthrough today? What could you do to ensure you are breakthrough enabled?

Planning and Playing - Day 6 for Teams Y and Z

Teams Y and Z have dipped their toes in the pool and are ready to take the plunge into focusing on their goals. There are 8 days left. I asked the teams to reconnect to their goals and play. Here is a portion of the email I sent to Teams Y and Z:

The Theme for Day 6 is Playing and Planning

This Monday morning I would like you to reconnect with your goal. Say it to yourself. Is it compelling? Does it excite you? Play around with expressing your goal a few different ways until you have 2 - 3 crisp one line explanations of your goal. This exercise gives you more ammunition for sharing with others and may help you further refine your goal. Challenge yourself - is this really the goal? Make sure your are focused on the goal an not one action within the goal.

Let’s play a little basketball - to play, we need to get on the court.

You have 8 days left in the program. Your opponent is tough, has been practicing for years, and has been well fed (your opponent is your habits, beliefs, fears, resistance). I don‘t know what the score is right now, as it is different for all of you. But here’s the thing - it does not matter. You can win even if you have been asleep on the bench (or in the stands). Most of you have been playing the game.

What’s your game plan? What plays and maneuvers will ensure that you win over your opponent?

You can only make the shots you take.

Take some time today to redeclare your goals and to plan your plays. Have fun with it. Make sure your thoughts and ideas are “on the court“ conversations.

I am sure you have heard this before. Many professional athletes will admit that conditioning and athletic capabilities are important, but that the difference between winning and losing is often a head game. This applies to all of us. We need certain skills and experiences, yes, but what’s most important is what’s going on in our heads (belief-action cycle).

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Teams Y and Z are off to a very interesting start. Several folks have had what I consider to be pretty major breakthroughs already. Others are just getting warmed up! No worries, there's still lots of opportunities to create breakthroughs. There are several participants who struggle with "Stargazing" - thinking too much and acting not enough. They are writing each other about their challenges and helping each other "just do it."

Y and Z - How are you feeling?

Being it Today - Day 13 for Teams J and K

Only 2 more days left for Teams J and K. It is hard to believe we are on day 13!

The Theme for Day 13 is Being it Today

Here is a portion of the email I sent teams J and K:

This is one of my favorite days of the program (the request blitz is my favorite). You have had some time to explore and play around with your goal, but are you being it?

If your goal is to build a successful business - are you thinking and acting like a successful business person?

I your goal is to finish your book, are your thinking and acting like an author?

If your goal is to get a great new job/contract job, are you thinking and acting like the most successful folks who hold this job?

Create and take on the persona that will serve your goals!

Think about beliefs, habits, associations, and style. This is something you can have fun with. Also, start calling yourself by your expertise:

“I’m a business writer and management and leadership expert.” That’s me. I can also say that I am an expert in helping people produce breakthroughs. Do I have a PhD in this?
No.
Are there other experts, perhaps more experienced than I?
Probably.
Does this mean I am not an expert?
No!

How about you?

“I am an entrepreneur in the area of online business development.”
“I am professional leader.”

Send a note to your team saying who you are being.........

“Be the change you you wish to see in the world.” Ghandi

Approach Monday with your head held high and ready to conquer the world!

Courage is...

Dwayne, over at Genuine Curiosity offers this wonderful John Wayne quote that fits so well with the pursuit of breakthroughs.

Follow-up and Listening - Day 5 for Teams Y and Z

For Day 5, I have asked the teams to focus back on the daily practice and following-up with people. To experience breakthroughs, we need to be excellent listeners, and so I shared a few thoughts about listening as well. Here is a portion of the email I sent to Teams J and K:

Are you still doing your Daily Practice? I know it is easy to let others things get in the way, but I would encourage you to do the daily practice, even on the weekend. You can do a shortened version if you need to. For example:

Send two quick emails sharing your goal and asking for input.
Go to the library or bookstore and get a book in the topic of your goal. Read at least one chapter.
Do one other action - work on your plan, write 1000 words, brainstorm a pitch/slant for your business idea or project, get wickedly organized for a full goal assault on Monday AM.

The Theme for Day 5 is Follow-up!

Get back to the people you have spoken with or emailed (if you have not already). Perhaps there is someone you would like to invite for a cup of coffee and chat? Thank them and expand on what they have said/offered. Follow-up with people in the email group who have offered to be a sounding board - we all need sounding board, so use him or her!

Are there other loose ends? Perhaps from before the program? People you have been meaning to get back to? Folks you met at a meeting but have never contacted.

Today is about making another connection with people you already have in your business card file or email list. Share fully and openly what you are up to and express sincere interest in their endeavors.

Stephen Covey has said that in every exchange we have with someone, we have the opportunity to either add to or subtract from the relationship. Make sure that all your communication today, even with friends and family, adds to the relationship. Be a great listener and show a desire to be engaged.

Here is a bit about Active Listening:

If we want to make BIG things happen, we need to listen well. the catalyst for most breakthroughs comes from OUT THERE, so we don’t want to miss the it!

Active listening is a way of listening and responding that improves mutual understanding. Many people are poor listeners. They get distracted, talk too much, and think about what they are going to say next when they should be listening. They assume that they know what the other person is going to say and tune them out. It can be difficult to take the time and energy to listen actively, but the rewards are worth the effort.

You are listening actively when you:

Demonstrate a sincere desire to pay attention to the other person (instead of mentally practicing what you are going to say next).
Are committed to being coachable and open with the information being received from the other person.
Are interested in relating to the other person’s perspective and empathizing with their point of view.
Are non-critical or judgmental, but seek to understand the other person.
Are attentive and not distracted by other things in the environment.
Feedback, confirm, restate, or paraphrase information to ensure you have interpreted it as intended.
Reflect on what the other person is saying.
Synthesize the information, emotion, and feelings to improve understanding.
Clarify the information by asking questions and probing down into additional layers of information as needed.
Validate perceptions and assumptions.
Let the other person talk.

How does this apply to email? We often get distracted when reading email, just like when someone is talking to us (looking around, thinking about what you need to get done, singing along with the radio, etc). For example, how many of you can honestly say you are focusing on the message in this email right now? If you are not really reading and considering the ideas, either choose to listen better as you read or come back later when you can fully take in the information.

What about the other emails you have received in the last couple days - have you really considered the information that might be there waiting to make a difference for you?

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How's it going Y and Z?

Giving Back - Day 12 for Teams J and K

The Theme for Day 12 is Giving Back

Here's a portion of the email I sent to teams J and K:

One way to experience a breakthrough is by contributing to the success of others. And I don’t mean helping others so that you can gain. When we sincerely open up our time, minds, and hearts, we gain and grow.

I know it is Sunday, but I want you to think of a few ways in which you can give back:

How could you make a difference for others?
What could you offer that would mean a lot to someone else?
How might you volunteer?
What could you do that is a nice surprise?

Construct 2-3 emails or make phone calls offering to contribute to others. It will be most meaningful if you offer to assist business acquaintances or nonprofit organizations. You can help out your friends, too, but this is something you likely already do. I would like you to contribute in new ways.

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Make someone else's day!