Amazing 2009: 2

The back story:

A forecast of challenges for 2009.

Step 1: building personal toughness to deal with a tough commercial environment.

Step 2: JFDI

Once you've got Step 1 working - and this can take time because of the 're-wiring' needed -just keep at it, you can move onto Step 2 or JFDI or Just F*c*ing Do It. This is the pattern-break step. As humans we tend to see and seek patterns. Have you notice how we can see a face out of two head-lamps and a grill on a car? How despite knowing that there's an alternative route to work we resist trying it as our current one is comfortable. That's pattern seeking; it's known as an evolutionary double-bind or sometimes it's useful (recognise safe food) sometimes it's not (pre-judging a person). Here's what to do. Identify some common unhelpful patterns e.g.

• go to the gym first week of January, then stop
• complaining that your young children never allow you any writing time
• going out for just one drink and ending up in the bar all evening
• talking but not acting about promotion
• etc.

  Getting that 'awareness' is the first step. Now put massive attention on breaking that pattern:

• find a buddy so that you encourage each other to keep going to the gym until it becomes easy;
• having a really good chat with the children and exchanging some good play time for 30 mins of quiet writing time;
• deciding just not to go out a few nights a week until the alcohol-pull drops away;
• booking a meeting with your boss to talk about what you specificlaly need to do to get promotion;
• you get the idea.

That's it. You've got it. Recognise the limiting pattern. Break the limiting pattern.

Good luck.