When my son was in preschool he learned a song he cheerfully sang everyday:
‘At the beginning is a good place to be;
New life, new friends and good things to do’….
That little tune has played many times in my mind and even decades later I still think of it.
This fun song was filled with such an optimistic message; a simple lesson to begin at the beginning.
I wonder if today that message might be overlooked. Often people are in a rush to Succeed and lose focus on daily accomplishments.
In the book 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen Covey explains in one of the habits to
PUT FIRST THINGS FIRST.
Time management is key to success and time management starts with the commitment to change.
Recently a lot of attention has been focused on Admiral William McRaven’s commencement speech at the University of Texas.
In his speech he laid out 10 Life Lessons If You Want to Change the World ….
Lessons he learned from his experience as a Navy Seal.
The interesting thing is that his Number 1 Tip was….“START OFF BY MAKING YOUR BED”
He continued on by saying;
“IF YOU MAKE YOUR BED EVERY MORNING YOU WILL HAVE ACCOMPLISHED THE FIRST TASK OF THE DAY.“
WOW! SIMPLE BUT TRUE…that little task
leads to positive behavior toward the habit of
Accomplishing daily tasks.
I recall the founder of the direct sales company that I was with saying; “Start your work day at the same time each day.”
I heard what she said but I found working in a home-based business that suggestion for me wasn’t easy to follow. It was so much easier to get sidetracked with other things that caught my attention… I knew I should focus on my business ‘To-Do list” but often I found myself doing nonessential busy work around the house.
Then one day I came up with a plan. I thought if I were going out to work at a job I would have to leave the house at a specific time everyday in order to arrive at work on time.
So each morning ten minutes before my scheduled start time for my home based business I would be dressed for business and leave the house, get into my car and drive around the block right back to my house.
This probably sounds silly to you but it actually worked. When I returned home I went straight to my office and started working on my business.
Many years ago one of my business associates shared with me her plan of action for her daily accomplishment. Even though she worked a full time job that left her with a limited amount of free time she still had a burning desire to be the annual seminar Queen in team building in the direct sales company she was with.
Her plan was to book a 7a.m. breakfast appointment each morning with a prospect before she had to be at her full time job. She did this 5 days a week for one year and that plan of action allowed her to sit on the Queens chair that year at seminar.
Putting first things first is a must but to accomplish this we need to do more than prioritizing a To-Do List on paper.
Start First:
~Defining the outcome you wish to have.…
and
~Come up with a plan of action that will lead you to the behavior that puts you in a habit of daily accomplishment.
Admiral William McRaven explained that
making your bed first thing in the morning was
an act of accomplishment …
What power in that SIMPLE message!
When we set up our day’s routine with a something to do first thing in the morning, that ACCOMPLISHMENT encourages us to keep on going and we begin to set ourselves up for a habit of success.
[Tweet “Yes, at the beginning is a good place to be…..“]
What changes will you make to set your day up for Daily Accomplishment? It does not matter how silly it may seem … what matters is that the routine leads you to do first things first which truly will lead to “mission” accomplished.
I would love to hear from you! What are you beginning in your journey?
~Barbara
P.S. I’m working on learning Twitter this month, you can tweet me @BarbaraSunden, it may take me a bit, but I’ll be tweeting you, too!
Thanks, Barbara! The thought of driving my car around the block never crossed my mind, but that would work for me!
Dear Kelly,
Sometimes the hardest client we face is our own attitude. Isn’t it a fun way to change our mindset, simply go around the block and “arrive”.
It surely worked for me! ~Barbara
I look forward to all of your posts! Thank you for sharing your Lessons Learned, I am on a new journey in my life, and this was a good reminder that regardless what it is I’m called to do for the day, I must have a first step and a plan for the rest of the day… otherwise nothing happens.
Dear Kathy,
Thank you for your kind words and thank you for sharing! In a few weeks there will be an opportunity to join an “insiders” group, you may be interested in some of the activities we have planned for those who are sharing and would like to share and know some of my plans as we try out the projects we are working on! I hope you’ll consider it! ~Barbara
Barbara, thank you for sharing. I sometimes sit in my car and call customers, in order to remove myself from distractions (often referred to as creative avoidance).
Dear Taryon,
Isn’t it amazing how we avoid the very things that make us successful. Good for you for choosing to remove yourself from distractions! Identifying the source of your non-action is the first step to overcoming it! Leaders take the lead and you certainly did! Keep it up!
~Barbara
I loved your message this morning! My bed is made & I’ll be in my car at 8:50 ready to drive right back here to my office to punch the clock on working toward my vision for my family!
I read your above post & absolutely want to be a part of your “Insiders Group”!!
Joyfully,
Barb Worth
Ditto Barb’s comment. I chose to listen to the entire speech by Admiral William McRaven, and such simple suggestions are truly inspiring. I’ll definitely be “driving to work” going forward, and I too make many productive phone calls in the car after I drop my kids off at school.
Let me know the details of the Insiders Group when available. Have an amazing day!
Cherlynn
Barbara, I too begin a new chapter in my career tomorrow and will enjoy to be ‘At the beginning as it will be a great place to be. Thank you for sharing your experience and words of advice and encouragement. You have been a blessing.
Barbara, Thank you for this post! Such a simple act can lead to such profound change and insight! I would love to participate in your Insider’s Group and look forward to hearing from you! Have a fantastic day & weekend!
Amazing how we don’t take the little things in life like making our bed as an accomplishment of the day. Some of those things, I simply look at things that have to be done. We affirm ourselves for business accomplishments so maybe the little things need acknowledgement as well to help get to the bigger picture. I saw a quote: ” If you are looking for the someone who can change your life/business, just look in the mirror” Thanks so much for all of your posts.
Thank you Barbara for sharing about doing an interview during the hour BEFORE my other j.o.b. (joyless occupational bondage)! That was a great eye opener!!
Barbara, thank you so much for all your insight and experience. I searched for Admiral William McRaven’s Commencement Speech and not only listened but read the transcript. On Monday I joined Mary Kay’s 5 O’Clock Club and started making up my bed then started on my 6 Most Important List. I hated the phone so I dusted all my old dialogues, cleared space on my little
desk and started making calls. For the first time in years, I have a plan to work.
Barabara I thank God for your retirement and the Internet otherwise I’d never have access
to you! I an truly honored, God bless you!
Dear Olga,
Focus actions bring outcomes! So proud of you! ~Barbara