Making It Stick

Challenge 2011: Create and Sustain Your Personal Motivation

January 19, 2011 By Barry

As the end of January nears, the resolutions that were strong only just a few weeks ago begin to wear off for some and habits from the past return. How will you sustain your personal motivation in 2011? Perhaps some of these quotes can offer an interesting perspective and serve as healthy reminders.

“It is better to follow the Voice inside and be at war with the whole world, than to follow the ways of the world and be at war with your deepest self.”

– Michael Pastore

“The only person who is educated is the one who has learned how to learn…and change.”

– Carl Rogers

“Man is what he believes.”

– Anton Chekhov

I welcome the opportunity to learn how you are using tools and information to sustain your goals for 2011 and can be contacted at 248-740-3231 or through my website – Troy Michigan Business and Personal Coach.

Launching a New Life in the New Year

December 22, 2010 By Barry

As we launch ourselves into a New Year I thought I would share a series of quotes from a book called Life Launch by Frederic M. Hudson and Pamela D. McLean. Enjoy!

“Your past cannot be changed, but can change tomorrow by your actions today.”
– David McNally

“The daily pressures to act, to do, to decide, make it difficult to stop and think, to consider and to examine your life goals, directions, and priorities – to find the best choices you have managing your own world.”
– Roy Menninger

“The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and if the can’t find them, make them.”
– George Bernard Shaw

“Developing a mission means seeing a pattern in the things and though that get you moving; assessing your resources; then formulating your feelings into words.”
– Charles Garfield

“Is there something in your life you would like to change? If so, first change your perception of the problem. When you can see yourself and your situation differently, you have already taken on the responsibility for your success.”
– Marilee Zdenek

Making It Stick: Achieving Sustainable Change

December 15, 2010 By Barry

Coach Barry Demp was recently asked some questions about why people have great difficulty in achieving sustainable change in their lives. Here are a few excerpts from the interview:

What causes change to be difficult to sustain for many individuals?

There are three primary things that seem to affect people’s ability to change. First appears to be a lack of commitment. Second is an inadequate support structure both socially and structurally. And the third is the great difficulty people have turning new behavior into sustainable habits.

What are some of the things that you recommend for those who struggle with sustaining personal change?

Select only one, or very few, highly important commitments and provide ongoing rigorous support both on a social and structural level. Breakdown the goal into measurable milestones to make the goal that you set less overwhelming and more achievable.

You mentioned a Project Action Plan or Blueprint. What is that?

A Project Action Plan is a roadmap that allows you to identify and execute on a powerful committed goal with a clear destination. By designing specific, iterative action steps that you enjoy you will have a greater rate of success. Key ingredients that assist in seeing the best results from your action plan are establishing time sensitive tasks and using scoreboards to record and visualize your progress towards achieving your goal.

Visualize the Achievement of Your Goal

It is important to review your goal frequently. The more detailed you can make your vision, the more powerful it will be. Tools that you can use to help envision the achievement your goal are using a picture or image as a reminder, and creating relevant scorecards to measure progress.

Goal Affirmation

Every morning read your goal either silently or aloud. Reflect on your progress at the end of your day. Consider using a buddy system or a family member to help sustain the process. Additional support structures can include email and voicemail accountabilities.

Take Massive Action

Persistence and determination will keep you on the success track anytime obstacles stand in your way. By taking continuous massive action, you will eventually reach the point where nothing can stop you. What stopped you in the past is now just a tiny bump in the road.

Take One Specific Action

Take at least one specific action every day to propel you toward your goal. By taking continuous specific action, you develop the necessary discipline and momentum that you will need to achieve your goals. Any worthwhile goal requires sustained effort and continual organization such as placing important events or tasks in a calendar system. By consistently applying the methods above, you will develop the success habits that will enable you to achieve the goal that you desire.

Recommended reading resources from Barry Demp:

The Power of Focus by Jack Canfield

Getting Things Done by David Allen

Work Less, Make More by Jennifer White

Made to Stick by Chip Heath

Influencer: The Power to Change Anything

Making It Stick: Thoughts on Creating Sustainable Change

November 19, 2010 By Barry

We are only a few weeks away from the New Year and many people are beginning to plan for their New Years Resolution. A question on many peoples mind is often, “Why don’t over 90% of resolutions stick?”

In an article from FastCompany.com in 2005 there was an interesting statistic that shocked many that discussed the percentage of people who would actually change in the face of impending death. The article called “Change or Die” discussed the science and behavior behind people’s willingness or lack of willingness to change.

Below are some reasons why change is so challenging and also a few strategies to consider for improving your odds.

Identifying the Right Goal

The first step is to find a goal that is big enough to inspire you. Unless you are truly inspired to accomplish the goal, it is just a wish. By calling it a “goal”, you are affirming that (a) you desire it intensely, (b) you truly believe in your ability to achieve your goal and (c) you are willing to pay the price in advance for achieving your goal.

Document Your Goal

Writing out your goal stimulates the “filtering” part of your brain, called the Reticular Activating System (RAS). When you write down your goal, the RAS begins collecting relevant information, then sends results to the conscious part of your mind. It acts “behind the scenes”, causing you to become aware of opportunities that would have otherwise gone unnoticed. Make sure that the goal is positive, is written in the present tense, is action-oriented, and is specific and as detailed as possible.

Establish a Deadline

By setting a deadline, your subconscious is activated to ensure the achievement of your goal within the prescribed time frame. If you follow all of the steps in this process, and your projections are realistic, then you will achieve your goal by the deadline.

Determine the Benefit

You will only be compelled to achieve your goal if it is something that inspires you; something that causes such intense desire in you that you are willing to do whatever it takes to accomplish your goal. By writing down the reasons you want to achieve your goal, you’ll discover how intense your desire really is.

Identify the Roadblocks

There will probably be several elements standing between you and your goal. Make a list of these “challenges”, and rank them in order of priority. Then, begin taking action to remove each of the elements that stands in the way of the accomplishment of your goal.

I welcome the opportunity to learn how you have used the information posted in our “Making It Stick” blog series in your life and can be contacted at 248-740-3231 or through my website – Michigan Business and Personal Coach.

When patterns are broken, new worlds will emerge – Barry Demp Coaching