1. WORK WITH THE END IN MIND – OR FOCUS ON SUCCESS

“Starting with the end in mind is the endowment of the imagination. If you’re the programmer, write the program,” says goals expert Stephen R. Covey. Goals help us focus, and the quality of our attention is enhanced by having a project so cool and interesting that we can’t help but jump. Let’s say you want to organize your workspace so that everyone is inspired to do their best work. The Intermediate Steps – Like ergonomic concerns and planning comfortable lighting – in themselves may seem mundane, but together they name a greater accomplishment and, in doing so, ask us to raise our expectations and improve who we are. Focus on success and keep in mind how you want things to end, and you will soon be successful.

— name the achievement

— give your project a title

— what to do for when

– How would you like things to end?

— identify optimistic reasons to pursue the goal

2. RAISE THE BAR OR SHOOT FOR THE MOON

Defining greatness, challenging the limits, doubling down on the goal, or trying something new… These are just some of the feelings that set our plans in motion and move us toward revolutionary results. Look around you and witness the very essence of common activities being tested and reinvented. Like schools redefining physical education by incorporating activities “ranging from kickboxing to more esoteric offerings like tai chi and yoga.” And with the introduction of Blogs, an international conversation is in full swing with millions of links and a central clearinghouse inspired by immediacy, intrigue and tension. Raising the bar on a project can simply mean going one step further, being loyal to an odd idea, or sticking to a regular practice. Commit to a goal in a meaningful way, personalize it and make it your own, and then watch an otherwise sleepy project wake up and give way to new energy, creativity and distinction. “Aim for the moon. Even if you miss, you will land among the stars.”

— double the goal

— challenge the limits

— create a regular practice

— raise your standards, values ​​or beliefs

— make it a game

3. FOLLOW THE PATH OF LEST RESISTANCE OR SHOW ME THE SHORTCUT

Sometimes a goal deserves a break. TIME MAGAZINE reported that after 8 hours of sleep, you are more than twice as likely to find a shortcut to solving a problem. Suggesting that taking it easy is good for the brain, and what’s good for the brain is good for the psyche and soul in general. Are you doing too much, undernourished and feeling exhausted? Well, maybe it’s time to consider another path. Don’t reinvent the wheel. Choose a book written by an expert, join a group that is geared towards your project, sign up for a newsletter, or ask someone to join and help out. For example, if I were writing a screenplay and struggling with a self-imposed deadline, I could streamline my project simply by enrolling in a writing class. With weekly writing assignments and in-class exercises, this alone would speed up the development of my screenplay. Another overlooked shortcut is to consider smaller steps. The smaller the increments, the easier the target will be. Deng Ming-Dao, writes in EVERYDAY TAO, “An inch in one direction, then an inch in another makes for a span of 2 inches. We can gradually improve that.” Take the path of least resistance, it’s a gift of energy.

— don’t reinvent the wheel, find someone who has done it before

— slow down or change the pace

— maintain minimum daily standards

— write everything down — loose ideas vs. lost ideas

— the smaller the increments, the easier the target will be