Lisa Trank’s Biz Mix: Looking in the Mirror on Monday Morning

Lisa Trank Biz Mix

I get a lot of newsletters that land in my email every week. I’ve signed up for them, so I know what I’ve gotten myself into as far as how much “weight” they add to my inbox, which is already bursting at the seam. Most of them I just scan and delete, but once in a while a gem arrives and provides me with virtual food for thought that inspires, motivates, or sometimes gives me that not-so-gentle kick in the keister to get going.

The latest installment of my favorites, which conveniently arrives just in time to start off my work week, is aptly titled “This Monday’s Kick,” written by Dave Navarro, who puts together the “Stop Settling Newsletter.” http://www.rockyourday.com. I like Navarro’s style because it’s offbeat, slightly rancorous and has sometimes made me spit out my morning coffee from laughter. Every week, he nudges and challenges his subscribers, lovingly referred to as “brilliant, talented and exceptionally good looking,” to take a long and hard look at our approach to work, whether it’s work we do for ourselves, or for others.

This week, I was challenged to do something that is in itself challenging, especially as a consultant: self-assessment, or as Navarro’s refers to it, “grading yourself.” He recommends this as a daily process of reaching toward a defined goal:

“It’s a simple fact that what you consistently measure  is likely to improve – but because holding yourself  accountable means you have to face up to certain  uncomfortable truths about your daily habits, you’re  probably feeling a pretty strong level of internal  resistance about it,” he writes.

He continues to prod the reader with the sometimes difficult truth that sometimes our work habits impede obtaining our goals: “Ever notice how tempted you get to web surf or do something frivolous when you’re supposed to be working on that goal? Yeah, that’s what I’m talking about.”

You mean when I’m playing “Bouncing Balls” on Facebook instead of creating my monthly invoices? I may spend only five minutes doing that, but tally all those other little ways we pull ourselves away from our stated goal, and it can add up to significant time..

Navarro’s solution? Pretty easy. Take a piece of paper and write your goal at the top and the following on the bottom: “What did I do today to make progress on this goal?”

If you missed the mark on making progress today, Navarro reassures that there’s always time, to take one step toward your goal, no matter how small. Just like how the little distractions add up, so do the little actions, each and every day.

I’ve got my piece of paper and managed to find a pen that actually works. I’ve written my weekly goal down and am glad to share that today was a good one with not too much time spent straying from my intended purpose. It may only be Monday, but that’s all right. I’ve got the rest of the week to make it happen. How about you?

Lisa Trank is owner of One Purpose PR & Communications, a sustainable public relations, social media and communications firm founded in 2007. Lisa has called Longmont home for close to 10 years and is thrilled to be running her business and raising her family here.