Five steps to simple, sustainable change
To change one’s life:
- Start immediately
- Do it flamboyantly
- No exceptions.
~ William James
I appreciate the simplicity of William James’ quote. Over 5 years of professional coaching, I’ve found that people seem to make change more complex than it really is.
Here’s a quick, simple process for initiating change in your life. All you need for success is to be diligent in following the steps.
- Identify what you want to change. Notice I didn’t write what you “should,” “have to,” or “need” to change. If you don’t want to do it, you won’t.
- Be specific about the new result you want to achieve. “I want to have 3 ideal clients by May 31, 2007,” is specific. “I want some more clients,” isn’t definitive enough.
- Choose bite-sized actions that will move you closer to your goal. These are four bite-size action steps: I will review my list of ideal client qualities daily. I will attend at least 1 networking event weekly. I will draft a letter/email to all my current clients inviting referrals. I will send the letter/email to all my current clients.
- Have fun and celebrate your successes. If your journey to change feels like a huge chore, chances are you’ll stop doing it at some point. Do things to pat yourself on the back for each action you take and make the process as enjoyable as reaching the final destination.
- Evaluate your progress. Be truthful AND patient in this process. Sometimes we stop taking action if we cannot see immediate results, yet the results are coming. At the same time, if an action you’ve taken doesn’t produce the results you had envisioned, see what happened, and make an adjustment for “next time.”
They always say time changes things, but you actually have to change
them yourself.~ Andy Warhol
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I’m being trying to make a change to my life. But after several failure, I sometimes lost and felt tired. May be I’m not dedicated enough.
Thank you visiting my blog
Comment by Tuan Rumah — May 14, 2007 @ 1:13 pm
Tuan, I think what you described happens to us all from time to time. Dedication is important, yet a first place to look is did you truly want to make the change or was it something you felt obligated to do.
Comment by Shonnie — May 15, 2007 @ 10:10 am