Five Waves for Building Personal Momentum

Well its the 4th quarter - October 1st - Its gonna get cold up here in Chicago. Even colder when I show up a Soldiers Field in December - Those Bears better shape up or its gonna be a long season. Go Cubs!!

Here's what I want to cover today....

Often times (as in everyday) we face challenges and opportunities that tests our growth and desires. Its easy to not pay close attention to our personal bigger game or the vision we set out to be our guideposts - That path to fulfillment. Its not about the goal but about the process that builds on itself to bring more joy, more opportunity, more fun, more fulfillment, more happiness, and eventually giving us something we get juiced about. Its about that that pivotal moment when we are at the doorstep of greater potential. So what do you do with this potential? How so you operate when it comes to you? I have 5 basic steps that can be your simple lifestyle model. Call it the Living Momentum 5 Step Program. Here we go ... Step 1.

1) Create a Extraordinary Vision

Do you have a vision for your work life? your personal life? I'm talking about the life you want. Not about the non-stop chase of what you should do? Is it about relationships for you? Is it money? Is it about adventure? What drives you - what fulfills you? How will you get on the path? You need a map where you can line up your path and the road you will take to your destination. That destination isn't a place per se - but I suppose it could be. Its about where you're going. Then this vision aligns with you so that the action you take will move towards this vision and create strong living momentum. And guess what - the vision can be flexible - it can change - but you must have one.

Just like the old japanese proverb - "Vision without Action is merely a dream, Action without Vision is just a passing of time, but Vision with Action will change the world".

Work on your vision!

2) Carpe Dium (Seize the Opportunity)

Once your vision is set - this becomes what helps you operate day to day. Its the compass - its the light - its the guide towards your path. What happens now is you begin to notice things - you begin to focus on your vision and your outcomes. And its up to you to notice the opportunities and challenges that you can face to move towards or align with your vision.

So set up a model that allows you to focus on the best places that will move you towards the vision. Often times in my vision and momentum workshops - I will show my clients how to build a model where they can categorize their life and build a vision for each area of life that is most important - then planning and taking actions based on the overall purpose for each result. The end game is alignment - authenticity - and doing what is most important to you. And Finally - you are taking action and from the success or failure - you are building momentum towards the next journey or next opportunity

3) Have a MAP - Your Massive Action Plan

We mentioned Vision and Recognizing the Opportunity. Now comes the hard part - Making a Decision to take action. This is where things can slow down - you have the Vision (your fulfillment journey) - you have the opportunity or moment of decision - and then comes the test of your resolve. The majority of us often spend too much time here - procrastinating, taking our time on the path towards weighing the pros and cons. We seem to think time is on our side and we can put off an action.

If you truly want growth - Action must be taken. I can remember many times when I took a step forward in the moment of decision (volunteering, asking for an order, going the extra mile for a client), the experience for me was one of exhilaration as I built momentum forward to reinforce my excitement to match my vision. I attribute this Action oriented attitude for my success in both my personal and professional life. Its not always easy and we do make mistakes along the way - but what the heck. If we don't take action - we die a little on the inside.

To sum up this - Plan every week, know your vision for the important areas in your life, set up a plan with each plan having a purpose (a purpose that is a must for you). Each week is different - we always have times where some aspects of our life is more important than others - so focus on what you need - but don't lose sight of those other areas - Its about balance but it doesn't have to be rigid. But Do Plan to Take Action in those most important parts of your life.


4) Capture what you've learned

Here comes an even more challenging part. Take Action - Learn from it - and Capture it.
If you consider for a moment - the many areas in life that are important to you. Relationships, Family, Money, Health, Spirituality, Career to name a few. And since we would have a vision for each of these areas in our life. And since we have a plan to take action for each of these areas throughout a time period - wouldn't it be amazing if you captured all the wins and what you learned.

Imagine what you would have accomplished and what progress you would have made for your own growth. Its all about momentum and living life to build and have it. Through all the emotions and experiences - I recommend you have a simple journal that can capture this and carry it with you always.

5) Living Momentum

What made me come up with this combination of these two word - Living and Momentum? I believe we all want more from our personal and professional life. How can you not. Its up to us decide what that means because its different for all of us. And as our lives change - this changes. In the face of conflict, change, and transition - how do we keep living and create the momentum that we need to build towards our bigger vision - our bigger game (as my friend Rick Tamlyn says http://www.biggergame.com/ ). Its about taking life to a new level - setting your own standards - and contributing to this world - because this world is looking for us to show up. Many do not - But for those that do there is much to enjoy.

Like many others I have had so many moments in my life where I let the opportunity pass or I took an action that led to failure. But on the flipside - I've had counless times of the most incredible experiences in life, I've made decisions and took actions that put me in the top of my peer group professionally. I made personal decisions that changed my life but brought me the greater gift of bringing my authenticity to my relationships. I've saved lives (an old story to be told later), I've ran big organizations, I've been the top sales rep globally, I've been fired, I've started businesses, I've been married and divorced and happily remarried, I am a great Dad, and I've learned so much over the last 40+ years. Thats what I think is important - Be able to always be coachable (ABC) - I am constantly curious - I am confident but I know that I have alot to learn. Often times - this is where a personal coach makes a heck of alot of sense. If you only knew the value. Go Find and invest in a personal Coach - it will lead to some incredible insights and change. Its amazing how much an investment in yourself will move you forward faster.

I wish for you continuous momentum and a life full of challenges and opportunities - a life of certainty and uncertainty - a life of love and significance - and more importantly a life full of growth and contribution. As Tony Robbins told me some time ago and to many others - Its time to Step Up.

All the best.

Mike


Copyright Living Momentum Coaching Systems, LLC (October 2007)