The Winning Secret (#43)

2 Comments

Want an incredible life hack? Try my Won Thing, Five Minute Focus Rule. I have discovered that if I focus on my Won Thing for five minutes, it makes a big difference over time. Here’s the Won Thing premise: Every military victory is the sum of the individual battles won, and each battle is fought one battle at a time. The same is true for our victories in life.

So, what’s the Five Minute Focus Rule? Generally speaking, anyone can do just about anything for five minutes. Five minutes may seem too short to be productive, but you would be surprised at what you can accomplish in just five minutes. And for bigger projects, five minutes is all it takes to get a good start and make commitment-solidifying progress. Five minutes will build necessary momentum to accomplish an unpleasant or overwhelming task. Stack several five minute increments together over the course of a day or a week and you really will make progress.

Do you have a formidable task list? I understand. I can get paralyzed or even despairing at the weight or complexity of a task…or the sheer volume of items on my to do list. Instead of focusing on the whole list, I pick one item and I commit to five-minutes of focus on that task.

Does the whole house need cleaning, focus on unloading the dishwasher – that Won Thing you can do at the moment to make an impact toward your goal. Do you have a huge report to write, start with a five minute mind dump to just get something on the screen. The thought of committing just five minutes is manageable. That’s all the time it takes to fold a load of laundry, respond to an email, queue up the next project, or make that quick phone call.

Speaking of phone calls, have you ever procrastinated making a phone call because you don’t have time for a long conversation? Set a timer and start the conversation with, “Hi Sally, I only have five minutes, but I wanted to connect with you briefly about…” Then, when the timer is almost up, politely remind Sally that you really need to get going but look forward to connecting again at another time.

Try it. Commit five minutes and just do what you can in that amount of time. Seeing even five short minutes of progress is energizing. You may even find that you have the momentum and energy to keep going for another five minutes. Before you know it, maybe 15 or 20 minutes have passed and you’re seeing even more significant progress.

Then give yourself credit. It’s ok to celebrate even the seemingly mundane functions of life. Adulting is hard. It’s ok to be your own cheerleader. Often after doing something – like making dinner or emptying the dishwasher or even just walking in the door on Friday having made it through another work week – I will announce to my husband and the dogs, “Mommy did it, boys!” 

What’s your Won Thing today? Take five minutes of focus…then go ahead and announce to the world, “I Won!”

So That… (#34)

Leave a comment

I love that little phrase, “so that”. It’s a short transition statement that packs a big punch. Have you ever thought about it?

The phrase “so that” is used to convey purpose, to clarify the why of something.

In the last post I mentioned that I recently made a big career move. That move was based on my so that.

I have had a pretty interesting career path, from correctional officer to CFO, from contracts manager to Vice President – I made a few moves, accepted several promotions, and held executive positions of influence and responsibility. I’ve worked with incredible people, viewed the political sausage-making up close and have had experiences most people are never afforded. It’s been a good run. Yet, the years of working 70+ hours a week in demanding, high-stress positions have, at times, taken a toll on my health and relationships, and stole way too much of my precious time and focus.

Perhaps approaching my 50th year of life also had something to do with it? I felt that it was time and the right opportunity came along. So, I took my own advice, evaluated my personal definition of success (see blog post #22), and moved in another direction. I am now the executive director at an amazing church…and I love it! I’m using my talents and skills to more directly further the kingdom of God. What the world may think I “lost” in terms of pay and fancy titles I “gained” in purpose, satisfaction, and time for family and my other purpose-filled interests – like this blog, book writing and launching a new website (coming soon!). I definitely made a quality trade.

All SO THAT I can fulfill my purpose.

We all need to know our purpose. Our purpose is like a compass that helps us find our way when we’re lost. Losing sight of your purpose can lead to unnecessary hopelessness and despair. We were never meant to live in hopelessness and despair.

Someone I care deeply about recently took his own life. It is a tragic, senseless, and devastating loss. He fell into despair…he lost his so that.

Every life was created intentionally by God on purpose and for a purpose. We all have a so that.

What is the so that in your life? What is that purpose in your life that drives everything else? If you’re not sure, spend some time this week to think about it. You DO have one, and we all need you to see it through!