Like an empty Moleskine notebook, the possibilities of the new year are exhilarating! Here are three important reminders to help us win in 2022…
One – Direction: Working hard is important, but working on the right thing is often more important.
Quote: “Life is easier when you know what you want – but most people don’t take the time to figure out what they want. It’s not that we are completely lost, but our efforts are often slightly misdirected. People will work for years and ultimately achieve a lifestyle that isn’t quite what they were hoping for – often simply, because they never clearly defined what they wanted. An hour of thinking can save you a decade of work.” – James Clear
Direction Questions: Which games are worth winning? Are you investing your energy on a game worth winning?
Two – Targets: Failing restaurants almost always have too many menu options. Big menus take longer to order from, they require more ingredients, and create longer ticket-times. But we aren’t talking about restaurants, we are talking about helping you identify which rabbit you should chase in 2022…
Quote: “The man who chases two rabbits catches neither.” – Confucius
Target Questions: At this time next year, which rabbit will be most satisfying to have caught? Will you be proud that you invested your energy chasing this rabbit?
Three – Substitution: When it comes to hitting your targets, substitution is better than elimination. Replacing is more effective than removing. Examples:
- Replace drinking alcohol with drinking water
- Replace eating candy with eating fruit
- Replace social media reading with book reading
- Replace writing texts with writing in a journal
- Replace smoking with chewing gum
Quote: “Success with habit formation is more about substitution than restriction.” – Dan Go
Substitution Questions: What am I doing out of habit that is no longer helping me make progress? What can I replace that habit with?
Final Thought: Doesn’t matter if your glass was half-full or half-empty in 2021. Figure out how to fill your glass in 2022.
Happy Goal-Setting!