One of my dearest friends, an excellent speaker, and the founder of the Double D Diner (a charity to which I regularly contribute) is Rich DiGirolamo. He puts out a bi-weekly newsletter. If you’re interested in attitude, change, morale, or just want something to make you think – subscribe to it. It’s free. However, if you do not, I am reprinting – with permission – today’s newsletter on a really clever “resolution” idea for this year. Let him know what you think.
It starts here:
For those of you who have been with me for a while you know my views on New Year’s Resolutions. We all know the statistics. We all have failed and not met the goal. We all have set the same resolution year after year. I gave up resolutions years ago. After resolutions I chose a word or phrase to hold onto as an anchor to dictate decisions and actions. It was a fun approach. Then my Shiny Bright Object Syndrome kicked in and I got bored with that.
This year I am taking a different approach to accomplish some of the things I want to get done. But most importantly the approach I am taking is about changing the way I work and creating some new habits.
Two weeks ago I wrote 2013 on a piece of paper and sat staring at if for a while. Then I got up from my desk drew a line down the center. I don’t know why I did this. I just did. I sat down. I stared some more. And then I realized something.
How many of you reading this get bored easily? Distracted? Find yourself looking for the next thing to move onto? I’ll bet a lot of you reading this are shaking your head. My attention span to most things, probably is about 20 minutes.
And then it hit me. Today I offer you:
20 Minutes. 13 things. And make the New Year Happy!
It’s pretty simple. I’m committing to spending 20 minutes each day doing these things:
- Write – A blog entry. A portion of your upcoming newsletter. A thank you letter to a client or a vendor. A poem. A diary entry. A proposal. A few paragraphs of your book. Just spend some time writing.
- Play – A game. A sport. Color. Draw. Do arts and crafts. I keep modeling clay on my desk. Maybe you should too! You’d be surprised how playing stimulates the mind and creativity.
- Exercise – twenty minutes to clear your mind, stay in shape and give yourself that pat on the back that we all need!
Market – people often tell me they forget to market their business. I remember a woman many years ago telling me she hates marketing. So every day she spends the first 30 minutes of her day doing the thing she hates most – marketing. Now as I am going to share in an upcoming Marketing Teleseries (geared for Parks & Recreation peeps, but good for everyone!), marketing when made fun will make you look forward to the task.- Review & Implement – You’ve read books; and even took some notes. You’ve attended seminars and planned on implementing some of the ideas. All these notes and ideas got filed somewhere. Pull out several resources that really excited you. Review them and start implementing. Today. Every Day.
- Share your story – If you’re like me you probably don’t tell enough people about your work. But I’ll bet you’re world is full off narcissistic, me, me, me types. You know the ones. Make it a point every day to spend time telling people what you’re doing and working on. This can be done in person, via email, on your social networks, however. Just commit to telling people what you are doing. Just don’t be arrogant about it.
- Ask for help – Perhaps this one and #6 should be chunked together. We all need help. We all have a personal or business challenge that could use another set of eyes, ears or brainwaves. Ask and you’ll usually receive. And if the narcissist starts making it about them and not you, be bold and tell him or her that today is your turn.
Research – What interests you? What about your work is important. Maybe you have an interest in painting? Car repair? Thai cooking? In 2010 I knew nothing about the charity/nonprofit work when I founded The Double D Diner; The World’s Only Virtual Diner Fighting Hunger. I’m still learning about nonprofits – mainly because I want to do just the opposite; to break the jello mold on boring and depressing approaches to charitable work. Spend 20 minutes per day researching a fun interest or business related topic and watch how fast you become an expert or acquire a new hobby. Great way to suck up to the boss too!- Read – Magazines. Books. Articles. Not Facebook posts. Fiction. Non-fiction. Children’s books.
- Dream – You’ve got dreams. I do. We all do. Spend 20 minutes each day dreaming about that vacation, relationship, new business idea. Get a journal and jot down the ideas. Create a dream/vision board. Update it. Spend some alone time with it. Try to make your dream bigger, better and more outrageous each day.
- Be of Service – There are so many ways to volunteer. In person. Virtually. Joining discussion groups and just offering assistance. Do it from the place of seeking nothing in return.
- Clean up a mess – It happened. Again. Those piles on your desk. The last 20 minutes of my day, every day is going to be about cleaning up the pile of open messes that accumulated during the day. Will be nice to sit down at my desk and not experience anxiety as the pile grows.
- Celebrate your success – And who says 13 is an unlucky number? Each day celebrate an accomplishment. Throw a party for yourself. Go out for a cup of coffee. Buy a small gift. Or just spend some time acknowledging that you’re moving forward.
Don’t know where this is going. Don’t know what it will deliver. But I’m excited because I see the potential and possibility. l see a new (fun) method of keeping me on task.
Can you do more than 20 minutes?
Of course? Do you need to do all 13 things every day? Of course not? But above is 4 ½ hours of time spent well. And that’s not a bad way to start a new year.
What do you think? Wanna join me? Change the 13 if you need to do so. Align them with your life.
Happy New Year!
See you in two weeks.
Rich
Did you know that Rich gives 10% of his speaking fees back to a hunger relief agency in your community?
Rich DiGirolamo
http://richdigirolamo.com
Is your organization ready for a “Recess” from a so-so employee experience? Employees first; customers second. Cuz if employees ain’t happy; no one is!
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Rich DiGirolamo ● PO Box 584, Marion CT 06444 ● 203.470.3388
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