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June 7, 2016 by AnnaPatrick

5 Steps To Do To Take The Summer Off From Your Job

Remember when you were back in school, and you had every summer off–the bell rings, and you run toward a summer full of fun and relaxation: The beach, camping, long days with nothing to do, laying in a hammock drinking lemonade.

What if you could recreate that as an adult? What would you do?

Imagine yourself in the hammock reading a book: What do you want to read? Would you swap 30 minutes on the treadmill for a hike? Would you take more time for higher-level thinking? You can get the time. You can even take a “semi-sabbatical” if that’s easier for you and your schedule. Taking a summer sabbatical doesn’t only have to be for professors and researchers–and I’m here to tell you that it’s not too good to be true for anyone from mid-level to CEOs, because I’ve done it, and I’m here to coach you on how to take your own summer sabbatical from your job.

Business leaders have started to catch on to the benefits of flexible summers. Some companies I’ve worked with even have a sabbatical program that you can apply for in advance, and they adjust your pay so you can be paid full time while you’re off to relieve the financial burden. European workers know this well, as the majority of European-based companies give their employees flexible summer schedules and vacation time.

Take these five steps to create a summer sabbatical for yourself:

Define the parameters. How much time do you need, and how do you want to take it? Be realistic in how much time you need to take off, and how much you can take off before catching up becomes unmanageable when you return. Next, decide if you want to take the time in one full stretch, or broken up into one-week periods through a three-month period, for example.

Define the purpose. Is your sabbatical a vacation, or a “working vacation” so you can continue to work independently on focused strategy away from your traditional working environment? Be honest with yourself on whether you’re preventing burnout, or whether you’re looking instead to shift your focus on one or two specific priorities that are work-related.

Communicate. As soon as you have defined the objectives mentioned above, start communicating with people you work with as early as possible to get as much lead-time as you can. This can help prevent any emergencies that may pop up during your sabbatical that would require your immediate attention, as well as give your team confidence that you have everything in order to make the break work.

Put milestones for achievements in place. To make sure you don’t end up spending your entire break sitting on the beach, especially if you’re taking a “working sabbatical,” pencil some deadlines on your calendar. For example, if you’ve chosen to take a three-month sabbatical, give yourself the first month for pure relaxation, but around the two-month mark start working toward a goal that you’ve set for yourself.

Picture yourself as a kid again, heading out the doors on the last day of school. Be sure to preserve the time you created for yourself. Other people will try to impose themselves on your time, but promise yourself that you’ll take the time you need.

Taking the summer off can be great when you’re in transition in your career or between jobs, and it can also make you a better leader. People take the summer off from their jobs for different reasons, but the outcome of being more refreshed, motivated and productive when you return is the same.

The previous article appeared on Inc.com as a part of my column, “Behind The Desk.” Look out for new columns every week!

June 7, 2016 by AnnaPatrick

2 Traits To Master To Be More Productive Working From Home

Working from home is becoming more than just a trend. More and more often, entrepreneurs are choosing to work at home, saving on office rent, rather than lose important time and money commuting and maintaining a space.

But working from home isn’t just for small businesses anymore. I recently worked with a senior level manager who took a new position at one of the Big 5 tech companies who was surprised to learn that he would be working from home, which was a big life change for him. He had grown used to the routine and conveniences of an office space. Now he had to build a new routine and create new conveniences at home. The difference was that whereas the office environment had provided that all for him, now he had to do it all for himself.

“I don’t know if I can work from home,” he said. “I feel like I’m going to be so distracted!” Plenty of home-based workers have had to overcome that same fear. Some actually embrace it and look forward to it. Either way, the commitment to working from home requires an intentional approach, as well as some new ways of.

Two tools that will help you succeed with working from home are familiar in any situation involving change: discipline and self-control.

Discipline means doing what you’re supposed to do.
Self-control is not doing what you’re not supposed to do.

The difference is subtle but significant. When you have discipline, you do eat your vegetables; when you have self-control you don’t eat the brownie. When you have discipline, you do focus on the person in front of you when they’re talking; when you have self-control you don’t check your email at the same time. You need both, or else one could sabotage the other.

Now let’s apply these two tools to working from home.

First, cultivate discipline. What do you need to do to make working from home a success?

Maintain consistent office hours.
Be obsessive about calendaring meetings with others.
Keep everything orderly.
Stay stocked up on office supplies.
Get dressed, get out there, and meet with clients.

When you’re doing what you need to do to run a successful business, your discipline will help you stay focused and moving forward.

Now layer in some self-control. What do you need to not do–or, what do you need to avoid – to protect your plan?

Don’t spend half your day puttering back and forth to the kitchen.
Don’t take personal calls.
Don’t let your office become a dumping ground for the family mail and junk that didn’t have a home.
Don’t get lost on Facebook or skip out early every week for the baseball game.

Without self-control, you can sabotage all of your efforts at discipline.

The twin tools of discipline and self-control are helpful for any kind of change or improvement. Whether you’re focused on staying healthy, spending more time with loved ones, making a bigger impact at work, improving profitability, or yes, working at home, these two important traits will make the difference between the distraction and failure that everyone fears–and the success that is yours to come.

The previous article appeared on Inc.com as a part of my column, “Behind The Desk.” Look out for new columns every week!

December 16, 2015 by sereynolds

Looking For An Executive Coach? Make Sure They Have These 7 Standards

I recently had a colleague tell me he was looking for an executive coach. I asked him about his process for finding one, and, as many people looking for a coach do, he said he was asking around for names. It’s the most common approach to finding a coach–find someone trusted by someone you also trust.

But when it comes to coaching, referrals actually aren’t enough. You can spend valuable time vetting coaches that are the wrong fit for you or your organization and end up hiring someone less-than-optimal. Too late, you discover that the coach that was perfect for the person who recommended him or her is a poor fit for you.

As an executive coach, I want to offer you better ways to find a coach that will lead to a more effective coaching relationship. In addition to a good recommendation from your colleagues, here are seven credentials every coach should have:

Education: Before you select a coach, make sure to have an understanding of the coach’s background. Do they have an MBA, or a PhD in executive coaching? Do they have a degree relating to leadership or business skill sets that you value?

Experience: Do some online research on their website, which should be clear and answer the following questions: Who have they worked with in the past? Which companies have hired them? What level of leaders do they work with?

Expertise: What is the coach known for? Are they known for a particular outcome, like preparing leaders for more senior positions? Do they have a particular content area, such a time management or work-life balance? Make sure to be clear on your goals before you do this research to ensure your goal and the coach’s expertise are aligned.

Approach: Has this coach developed an established approach? What tools do they use? How do they measure success? In what way is that measurement similar or different than yours? These are all important questions to ask to make sure that you will get the most out of the coaching sessions themselves.

Personal fit: Ideally, coaches connect with their clients beyond a friendly or personal way in a way that makes the client feels like they can learn from the coach. A coach should be someone who challenges you and helps you achieve your goals. Is this coach someone you look up to and can get you where you need to go?

Type of coaching: Every coach has a certain group or type of professional they are committed to working with. Do they coach executives who want to work at their leadership skills? Are they a leadership coach who teaches skills for building behaviors for managers in corporate settings? Or are they a personal coach or life coach who aims to help you outside of work?

Track record: Every coach should have evidence of a successful track record. Has the coach you are considering written a book? Do they have testimonials, or letters of recommendation? Can they connect you to a former client? The answer to each of those questions should ideally be a yes.

Remember, when you’re choosing an executive coach you are looking for more than coaching–you’re looking for results. Set the bar high. Yes, take into account the referrals you receive from friends and colleagues, and of course look for chemistry and personal preference. But take the time to assess the impact the coach will have by applying these seven essentials criteria, and you’ll give yourself the best start possible to get the most out of your coaching experience.

The previous article appeared on Inc.com today as a part of my column, “Behind The Desk.” Look out for new columns every week!

December 8, 2015 by sereynolds

3 Questions Every Entrepreneur Should Ask Themselves To Stay Positive

In our culture, we have clichs to describe the idea of staying positive, even when facing great challenges. “Everything works out for the best.” “If it’s meant to be, it will happen.” While many people believe at some level that “things happen for a reason.” Adopting this mindset can be more than a set of platitudes; it can be a significant step toward a positive future.

If it really is true that that everything works out for the best, then every situation is perfect in some way.

For an example, take Zach. Zach was an attorney who learned his business partner, Kareem, was leaving the practice. Zach and Kareem had built a business from scratch; he thought growing it big was what they both wanted. But people change. Kareem wanted to join a bigger firm, not build one. Zach tried everything to help Kareem see the possibilities, and he tried to see every possibility for himself. But Kareem’s answer was no. After the emotions subsided (anger, resentment, denial, and determination), Zach took the practice over by himself. “Well, at least one positive thing came out of this,” Zach thought as he signed the documents. “Now I get to be president.”

But Zach got to be a lot more than that. As he started to shoulder the practice, he became more confident as a businessman. He took the practice in his own direction. He made bold decisions, branched out and hired more attorneys. The business grew, as did his reputation and profits. Best of all, he maintained a friendship with Kareem. Zach didn’t know when Kareem said “no” to the business that the business was saying “yes” to Zach.

A situation that at first seems to be a disaster can actually turn out to be perfect, and looking for the perfect is especially helpful when you get an untimely surprise. Here are three questions to ask yourself to look for the perfect in every situation, and to help you stay positive during challenging times:

Recall a time in your life when you got a “no” or “yes” that you weren’t expecting.
How did the situation work out?
In hindsight, what was perfect?

Believing life might be perfect as it is doesn’t mean you play a passive role in your life. You are still leading your life; you are still becoming the leader you want to be and creating your vision. But you’re doing so with an open mind, realizing that for reasons we don’t understand, some things might be “right” for us that we wouldn’t have chosen for ourselves. Other things might be “wrong” for us even if we thought they were right. Sometimes we find the opportunities we’re looking for, but other times those opportunities find us. By asking yourself the three questions above, you’re helping those opportunities to find you.

The previous article appeared on Inc.com today as a part of my column, “Behind The Desk.” Look out for new columns every week!

November 24, 2015 by sereynolds

10 Questions Every Entrepreneur Should Ask Themselves

Have you been running a million miles an hour, trying to keep up with the busyness of the season? Many entrepreneurs, especially this time of year, feel like they are so busy they’re starting to lose control. Losing control–over your schedule, your priorities, your ability to manage all of the details–isn’t just stressful, it’s a big red flag. Recognize the symptom of overwhelm as a cue to STOP and take control. In just 15 minutes, you can move from feeling overrun by your schedule to being back in control. You can empower yourself to be in charge again with a few minutes of reflection.

Empowered reflection is an ongoing, even routine process of paying attention to your progress–especially as a leader and entrepreneur.

Basically, it means taking a time out to think about your vision and ask yourself, “How’s it going?” You step out of the busy-ness of life to ask yourself a series of reflective questions about your life and leadership. If you do this regularly, say once a month or even a few times a year, you will keep your finger on the pulse of your development as a leader and your progress toward your goals.

By practicing empowered reflection you make it a habit to assess your progress. To get the most out of your empowered reflection, try bringing the following questions to your next meeting, or schedule a 15-minute block for yourself to write them out:

What’s working?
What’s not working?
What would you like to change?
What accomplishments have you achieved?
What lessons have you learned?
Are the goals still the right goals?
What do you still need to know or learn?
How might you be sabotaging your own success?
What do you need to start doing, keep doing, and stop doing?
What’s next?

Every time you go through this process, you are putting a stake in the ground for what you want. You are declaring, “My vision is important to me, and I’m willing to continue thinking about it and reaching for it until I achieve it.” Practicing this form of reflection on a regular basis is a technique for accountability and focus.

Empowered reflection isn’t hard. It doesn’t take long, and it doesn’t cost a dime. You can practice empowered reflection while driving, jogging, walking through the park, meditating, lying down, or even sitting in the bath. You can almost think of this practice as “visiting your vision” to see how you’re doing. That way it never gets forgotten.

Whenever you’re feeling detached from your long term vision, whenever you could use a boost to get back into action, or whenever you want to step back to get an overall perspective on your progress, take a few minutes to run through the ten questions above. Doing so will resurface the motivation you need to make your vision a reality.

The previous article appeared on Inc.com today as a part of my column, “Behind The Desk.” Look out for new columns every week!

October 15, 2015 by sereynolds

Project 123: The Simplest Strategy For Getting Things Done

The following article appeared on Inc.com today as a part of my column, “Behind The Desk.” Look out for new columns every week!

I often write on my column about “maximizing your time” as opposed to “work-life balance,” because the former implies that you have some control or say in the matter. And you do! You are in control of your time–although, when you realize the truth of that, you may suddenly feel a little overwhelmed. Maximizing your time is a big responsibility and a far cry from just giving over to the busy craziness of life (as many of us usually do).

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by all you have to do and want to take control, here’s a strategy that can help. It’s called Project 123.

This strategy came up one time when I was–of all things redecorating my house. I have since made it a staple in my time-planning techniques and use it anytime there simply seems to be too much to do to fit the time I have.

One day years ago, my friend and decorator arrived to help me redecorate a room. One room. We sat in that room, the living room, and talked about ideas. Before we knew what was happening, we had moved to another room (more ideas) and another (more ideas) and another (still more). In an hour we had whipped ourselves into a fervor of bathroom remodels and office reorganization and new paint on every wall. When she left, I closed the door, turned around, and thought, “What just happened? And where will we ever start?” It felt so overwhelming, I just walked away and left it all behind.

The next day, the decorator emailed me her project proposal. It said in big letters, PROJECT ONE: The Living Room. Oh, yes, I thought. Project One. The living room was my original motivation for calling the decorator! She remembered when I had forgotten: There was one priority. A place to start. Later, we could move to Project Two (the TV room) and Project Three (the home office). The way she crystallized our plans into a logical order, they all made sense again, and we tackled them one at a time.

When you get overwhelmed by all of the complex and multiplying tasks competing for your time, it can help to sit back and identify Project One, Two, and Three. George Leonard of Mastery captures the essence of this strategy well. He writes, “Ultimately, liberation comes through the acceptance of limits. You can’t do everything, but you can do one thing, and then another, and then another.”

You can use this strategy to choose one focus area or one action item to tackle along the way to your vision:

Keep sight of which project you’ll grant top priority, and give it the best of your time.
Now number them in priority order.
Only turn to the next project when the first is completed fully and to your ability.

How would it change your efficiency if you could think of these as “Projects 1, 2, 3,” etc. and complete one at a time?

To put this strategy into place, jot down a quick list of all of the projects you have going right now. Tackle one at a time without any divergence–this is easier said than done! But this is a way to take back control over your time, and you’ll see a difference in the way you are able maintain focus.

September 18, 2015 by sereynolds

3 Steps To Finding Your Universal Timeline

The following article appeared on Inc.com today as a part of my column, “Behind The Desk.” Look out for new columns every week!

Recently I received a call from a business owner who was so stressed by the size of her To Do list that she was practically hyperventilating. Wringing her hands and wrinkling her brows, she worried she would never be able to get it all done, but she couldn’t not get it all done, either. She was completely overwhelmed.

Rather than try to race through all those action items at warp speed (stressful! and not very smart) or cram them all into the little boxes on her calendar (impossible), I suggested we take a different path–one of patient persistence that I call The Universal Timeline.

The universal timeline is the schedule on which everything happens at just the right time, whatever that may be. There are no dates and deadlines. No time pressures. Just milestones. There is a right time for everything. You don’t need to force it.

Obviously, you won’t want to use this strategy when:

You have a hard and fast deadline.
You’re accountable to other people.
Other people are counting on you to stay on a certain schedule.

But when none of those are the case, you can learn to ease up and speed up at the very same time.

That’s what the universal timeline does. It allows you to take advantage of just the right circumstances at just the right time to slip through your tasks with the most beneficial, advantageous timing. Here are three steps to find yours:

Make sure the time is right and in line with your vision. Say, for example, you have a really big project to complete. Once you’ve glimpsed the possibility of completing this project, you’ll be chomping at the bit to get going. On the universal timeline, if the time is right you will get up off your chair and start now.

Know your schedule. On the other hand, maybe now is not the time. Maybe your plate is full, your mind is distracted, or you just don’t have what you need to succeed. That’s okay, too. On the universal timeline, if the time isn’t right you don’t start. Instead, you make a note to do the project (“Start business development plan.” “Hire fitness trainer.” “Write memoir.”) and put it somewhere you will see it every day until the time is right.

Then wait. If you are patient and you maintain that priority, you will be walking along the universal timeline. When the time is right, you will know. Just as a big green sign appears on the edge of the highway telling you THIS IS YOUR EXIT, the “signs” will also arrive to tell you when the time is right to do this task. Either the phone will ring or the calendar will clear or the right person will say the right thing to jar you into action, and you’ll know. It’s time.

To get on the universal timeline, you give up expectations about how long things take to get done. You commit to doing them as fast as possible, but let go of how fast that has to be. Instead you wait for the perfect opportunity to act and take advantage of that perfect timing to let them happen in a snap.

The universal timeline isn’t about procrastination. You’re not putting off the things you want to do. You’re waiting for the conditions to be ideal. Certain activities require certain frames of mind, and you will get in those frames of mind naturally if you are patient. And you will be much, much more effective than you would be if you forced every project to take place on your own schedule.

What could you use the Universal Timeline for? Is there something you are hoping will happen but you don’t know when? Something you want to get to but somehow never do? Write it down, post it up, throw off the pressure of goals and deadlines, and trust that it will get done in its own time.

August 19, 2015 by sereynolds

5 Ways To Take A Virtual Vacation, No Matter How Much Time You Have

The following article appeared on Inc.com today as a part of my column, “Behind The Desk.” Look out for new columns every week!

Summer is swiftly coming to an end, and the question remains–have you taken your vacation yet?

When one client I’m coaching, we’ll call him Stephen, told me he hadn’t made time for one yet, I told him to take a “virtual vacation.”

Stephen walked along the sunny path with his spaniel Sporty panting by his side, the two of them trotting along cheerfully downhill toward the lake. At last, free from the pressures of the office…free from the demands of the clients…free from the deadlines and the numbers…Stephen was finally on vacation. He parked himself on a rock at the edge of the beach and laid back to take in the view. Sitting in the sun in his shorts and hiking boots, he allowed his mind to empty completely.

Stephen breathed deeply and closed his eyes. He lay there, breathing, smiling, resting, he didn’t know how long. At ease. At peace. Alone. He dozed. When his nap was over, he stretched long and grinned. What a feeling! And the best part was, he could come back here anytime he wanted. It was only a moment away.

Stephen opened his eyes, took his feet off his desk, and turned back to the computer. Just 15 minutes of rest and an imagined trip to the mountains, and he felt completely renewed.

Do you need to get away? Whether it’s a 15 minute vacation-in-your-office like Stephen’s or a real vacation for rest and restoration, a little time off can help you stop feeling like you’re a little off. Try one of these five ways to take your “virtual” vacation now:

The instant escape. Meditation is an art form practiced around the world for finding inner quietude. It can reduce stress, calm your mind, and clear your thoughts wherever you are–walking, driving, or sitting right where you are. In its simplest form, the entire process is: Close your eyes. Breathe. Clear your mind.

That’s it. Try it now. Breathe in deeply and slowly, breathe out deeply and slowly, feel your body relaxing, and gently release any thought that comes to mind. Close your eyes and try it for two more long, slow breaths. Notice the difference. You can meditate for just a few minutes, or keep practicing for longer and longer.

When you’re going top speed, slowing down in the middle of the day can sometimes seem like the hardest thing to do. But you carry within you the peace you need, and you can find it anytime.

The 10-minute escape. Stephen’s virtual vacation, as you saw above, is really just a form of meditation with a twist. As you do in meditation, close your eyes, breathe deeply, and release all thoughts. Then fill your mind with images, thoughts, or even music. If you’re worried about falling asleep, set an alarm and tell yourself that if you do fall asleep, you’ll awake feeling refreshed and energized.

The hour-long escape. You can combine the techniques of meditation and imagination with exercise to really come away revived and restored. Yoga, walking, running, biking and swimming have a rhythmic solitude that are especially well suited to resting the mind, but you can also get away from stress and frustration with any kind of sport.

Of course, it doesn’t have to be exercise. A bath, a hot shower, an hour in the tub, some quiet time on the couch can all bring the rest you need if you’re able to detach from the pressure and stress. Whatever you choose, be sure it engages your mind, either by helping you escape into a meditative state or getting you so involved in something else that you forget about work for awhile.

The full day retreat. How often do you take a day off? Really off, not to get stuff done but to get reconnected with yourself? If you plan a day off for yourself, even that one day can feel like a vacation. Think of it as a retreat; you are retreating from the world of work for a day to clear your head and gather your energy. Then make sure that’s really what it is.

Be by yourself. Go to the beach. Get outdoors. Get away.

If you really want to make the most of this retreat, turn it into a weekend. You’ll return with a new outlook on life.

The working vacation. If what you need isn’t a day off but a day in, with all the time you need to get stuff done, give yourself a working vacation, or as I call it, “A Vacation in Your Office.” You can also take a Vacation in your House. It’s when you take a day to hold call calls (or better yet, turn off the phone), take no visitors, answer no questions, pretend you’re on vacation and just blast through your To Do list. When you need to get to the bottom of those piles of paper, whittle down your To Do list, put away the holiday decorations, or just catch up on life, a working vacation can eliminate the tasks and the stress they cause.

With all of that said, one of my favorite time rules is to always have a vacation in Sight. No matter where you work or what you do for a living, you get to take a vacation. The simple fact that vacations are a requirement of every legal working contract acknowledges the fact that as people, we need to get away.

And it’s not just a benefit for you. Good ideas need space, and they can’t get it in a crowded mind. You need time off from work to think clearly and be your best. There are lots of ways you can clear your mind, from a thirty-second meditation to a yoga class to a real vacation. Below follow some suggestions to get it.

August 13, 2015 by sereynolds

The Post-It Note Approach to Time Management

The following article appeared on Inc.com today as a part of my column, “Behind The Desk.” Look out for new columns every week!

In addition to the shortcuts I discussed in my last column, I want to introduce a new strategy that you can start putting into place at any time. This is a strategy I learned from coach Kevin Lawrence, and it has helped many leaders establish a new relationship with time.

The 5 D’s are: “Do it, delete it, delegate it, decide on it, and date it.”

The “it” in these cases usually refers to some small task or action item–every time you have to get through a stack of email, voice mail messages, or a stack of paperwork, the 5 D’s are crucial. You will drastically cut the time you need to get through the stack.

To elaborate, here are the 5 D’s and how you can use them to maximize your time:

Do it means do it now. Use this for any task that takes fifteen minutes or less.

Delete it means there are some things that do not require your response. Just because someone sent you the message/document/suggestion doesn’t mean you have to reply. If an item doesn’t advance a relationship or achieve an important goal, get rid of it.

Delegate it means pass it on to someone else who can handle the job. They don’t have to do it better than you; they don’t even have to do it as well or as fast. They probably won’t. But unless it’s a top priority or specific result that you and only you can deliver, you’re not the right person. Pass it on. Don’t abdicate the responsibility; you still need to be sure the task gets done. This is not a game of hot potato. It’s a way of reorganizing work so the right people do the appropriate jobs for maximum efficiency and results.

Decide on it means no more moving items from one stack to another, telling yourself, “I’ll get back to that.” Will you attend the meeting or won’t you? Will you agree to that request or won’t you? Make a decision. Move on.

Date it means that you get to choose when you will give big-ticket items your undivided time and attention. Figure out how much time you need and block it out in your schedule. You can forget about it until then.

To put this into practice, trying writing a mini-version of the 5 Ds on a sticky note and put it near a stack of papers, projects, emails or administrative tasks. Set aside some time to tackle the tasks using the 5 Ds. Notice how they cut down the time it takes to finish the tasks. Set aside some time to tackle the tasks using the 5 Ds. Notice how the 5s cut down the time it takes to finish the tasks.

July 30, 2015 by sereynolds

5 Quick Steps You Can Take To Find Your Focus

The following article appeared on Inc.com today as a part of my column, “Behind The Desk.” Look out for new columns every week!

There is a quote by Stephen Covey that I love: “The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.” Essentially what he’s saying is that we, as entrepreneurs, need focus.

In order to get where you want, in order to be who you want to be, in order to live the kind of life you want to live and lead the way you want to lead, you need to be strategic and find that focus that will make it all possible.

My book, The Inner Edge, outlines many practices that can help you zero in your focus, so that when you’re leaving your office each day you can confidently say you were “productive,” not just “busy.” And how to gauge the difference.

Below are five quick steps you can take to take back your focus, and set yourself up for success instead of burnout:

Step 1: survey the scene. The question here is, “What do you want?” Briefly review your vision so your focus will be aimed in the right direction. In other words, take a step back and take in the panoramic view of your life. Remind yourself of the long-term vision, but zoom in on the near-term vision. Write down your answer to the question in one sentence, and keep it where you can see it often.

Step 2: choose your focus. The question to ask is, “What areas do you want to focus on to achieve your vision?” Name 3-5 specific areas that need your attention if you’re going to successfully attain your vision, and write those down under your statement of what you want. Identify the aspects of that vision that deserve your time, energy and attention right now.

Step 3: study the subject. Ask, “Where are you now? Where do you want to be? How will you know when you get there?” Get specific about what each focus area means. The answers to these questions can be a big reality check–for example if you have to get to California, it helps to know if you’re starting in New Zealand or New York. The same is true for your focus area. If you know where you are now in relation to what you want, you increase your chances of getting there quickly.

Step 4: sharpen your focus. The question here is, “What will you do and when will you do it?” Make a commitment. For example, let’s say you have a focus area called “financial growth.” Right now you are in debt, and you want to be making money. You’ll know you’re successful when you’ve got 12 consecutive reports showing your company to be in the black. The question, “What will you do?” forces you to consider how you’ll get there. Will you eliminate debt? Make an acquisition? Your answer is your commitment.

Step 5: take a snapshot. Ask, “What do I want to remember?” When you’ve gone through all of the steps above, write down your focus areas. Keep them where they can serve as a reminder of what’s important to you now.

Is anything missing from your focus areas? That’s an absolutely critical question to ask, and one many people overlook. Make a conscious effort to step back and think about the bigger picture of your life, and all of your focus areas logically will be designed to lead you to that end.