2Weeks2aBreakthrough

Like Breathing - What's Your Natural Calling? What is FIT?

I love this post from Starbucker called, It's Like Breathing. In it, Terry tells a story of being hit by the thought of something being as natural as breathing. Check it out, it is a thought provoking post. And read all the great comments, too, as this post clearly got people thinking.

This notion of natural fit is interesting. Or maybe natural fit is not the right term - but harmonious fit. Maybe the fit was not always harmonious, but through exploration and practice, it has become seemingly natural.

Marcus Buckingham defines a strength as something that give you energy and a weakness something that drains you. Notice he does not say that a strength is something that is natural or easy. (Here is a great podcast I did with Marcus Buckingham)

I think that FIT is the key - fit with interests, with passions, and perhaps with some natural talent. But maybe the natural talent is not the key at all.

I think of my writing. I write a lot now. Ten books, three blogs, yada, yada, yada. And each year, my writing improves. I have wanted to write since I was a child. AND I was a lousy writer all through school because I had ADD, and now ADHD. It was HARD for me and did not come naturally. I had to listen to Strunk & White's little book of grammar on CD five times in a row before some of the basics started sticking with me. I consider myself a scholar (meaning lifeling learner) of writing. And yet, I might put it in the category as "like breathing" today.

And then in Outliers, Malcolm Gladwell stressed the role of practice - which certainly rings true for me. Geoff Colvin made a similar case in Talent is Overrated.

There's a spark - there's energy - there's a dedication to practice/learn and then there is fit. Like breathing.

Combining the notions of the strengths revolution, as brought to us by Buckingham and others, what we know about practice from Colvin, Gladwell and others and this notion of "like breathing" seems helpful and interesting to me. What do you think?

My talk at Santa Clara University

Check out the latest newsletter from Santa Clara University. The cover piece is an article about a talk I did there about generating breakthroughs and focusing.

How to generate breakthroughs - in one line.

I got an email from a reader named John:

Hello Lisa,

I'm writing to you because I'm in the process of recording an audio course.... and I make reference to your work.

Revision, especially when trying to hold down a job, is a big personal project ... and Two Weeks to a Breakthrough has been really influential to the way I approach it.

I was wondering if you had a quick (single sentence) piece of advice or top tip that I could include for students, when I plug your book?

Many thanks,
John _________

I sent John a few one-liners to choose from:

If you want to remain focused and in action toward your goal, you can make big strides and create positive momentum by doing a little bit every day.

Research show us that you can zoom toward your goal if you work at it a little each day - this is better than being a weekend warrior!

Have a big goal? Chip away at it a little bit per day and you will get there fast.

Focus is the act of working on what matters most.

To generate breakthroughs, stay focused and take small actions every day.

Like the puff of air from a butterfly's flap, small daily action reverberate and create a wind of progress.

I think I like that last one best. What's your one-liner for success?

Butterfly Effect - Let me count the ways

I see examples of the butterfly effect everyday and I just can't stop encouraging people to give its power a try. Got this email last week:

Hi Lisa,
 
My name is Mike ___ and I am launching a consulting practice.  I’m using your Two Weeks to a Breakthrough to help get this launch off the ground and find my first opportunity.  I’m very impressed with your book and believe it will be a very effective tool for me.  Therefore, I would very much like your insight and feedback regarding my business concept and bio.
 
I would like to forward you my business concept and bio early next week.  Then, if you are amenable to my request, I would dearly love to spend 30 minutes or less with you via phone to hear your thoughts and comments.
 
I would very much appreciate your consideration of my request.  I realize that you are very busy and your time is valuable, so I would be willing to adjust my schedule to your availability.
 
Respectfully,
Mike _____

My response to Mike:

Sure, Mike, send it along. Flap, flap. Everyday. That's the trick.

Lisa

Now, Mike, if you are out there, I need to nudge you a bit. The butterfly effect works because we flap a wee bit every day. So follow through and send me the information and then keep flapping! You never know what might happen (actually, we can't know, that's chaos for you - magically and wonderfully, and sensitively unpredictable).