“Imagine the possibility of unlimited possibilities.” — Unknown
This is the heart of my results system. It’s a pattern I call Monday Vision, Daily Outcomes, Friday Reflection.
It’s probably the single most important thing I teach everyone I mentor.
Get A Fresh Start, Each Day, Each Week
It’s the same approach I use to lead myself and my teams. It’s a way to help set yourself up for success each day. It’s also a way to keep learning and growing. It’s simple, but it’s powerful.
In fact, it’s power is its simplicity.
The way it works is, on Mondays, you figure out the 3 outcomes you want for the week. Each day you identify 3 outcomes you want to accomplish. On Friday, you reflect on 3 things going well and 3 things to improve. It’s that simple. Here’s the rhythm of results in more detail …
Monday Vision
Each week is a fresh start. On Mondays, I identify 3 outcomes (or results) I want for the week. To do this:
- I remind myself what I learned from last Friday’s reflections.
- I scan my Hot Spots (my hot spots include my work projects, personal projects, and my life frame (mind, body, emotions, career, financial, relationships, and fun).
- I scan my calendar for any key events for the week.
- I scan my inbox for new information and action items.
As I scan, I use four guiding questions:
- What must be done? … what should be done? … what could be done?
- What value am I delivering? (I measure in value delivered vs. activity performed)
- How am I improving myself in key areas: mind, body, emotions, career, financial, relationships, and fun?
- What are the key things that if I don’t get done … I’m screwed? (By using the principle of contrast, I paint a picture of where I don’t want to be.)
The most important question I ask myself is, “if this were Friday, what 3 things would I want under my belt?” I know I’m done when I have a good mental picture of the week’s 3 most important outcomes (notice outcomes vs. activity), I know my big risks for the week, and I know my MUSTs vs. SHOULDs vs. COULDs.
Daily Outcomes
Each day is a fresh start. I think of 3 outcomes for the day. I may have a bunch of activities and tasks, but I think of the 3 most important results I want for the day. By figuring out 3 outcomes for the day, I can easily prioritize all of my action items. The 3 outcomes are also my tests for success. It’s how I set myself up for a great day. It’s also how I pick myself back up if I fall off the horse. Imagine each day figuring out the 3 best things you can do, and actually working on them. It’s simple and effective.
Friday Reflection
This is the day where I do my reflection. To do this, I ask two questions:
- What are 3 things going well?
- What are 3 things to improve?
As input to this exercise, I first scan my Daily Outcomes for the past week. (This is fast for me because I have a simple tickler list for each day) . I also do a quick mental scan of my accomplishments.
A Simple System for Meaningful Results, Each Day, Each Week
Well, that’s the heart of the approach. What I like most about this approach is that it’s low-overhead and it works. I’ve done away with over-engineered approaches, where you die the death of a 1000 paper cuts in administration. I also like this approach because it’s systematic, yet holistic and flexible. Basically, it’s designed for getting real results, in real life.
I’m currently writing more about my results system in a book. I’ll elaborate more on the principles behind it as well as the supporting mindsets, patterns, and practices that help. My goal is to share the best of the best practices that I’ve found so everybody can get exponential results in their life. Having a results system you can count on is one of your most important assets in life. Everybody deserves a chance to kick some arse and take some names.
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