January 26, 2010

How to Get Better - at What You Do   The acronym CANI - constant and never-ending improvement - was coined by Anthony Robbins.   "One of the most important global beliefs that you and I can adopt is a belief that in order to succeed and be happy, we've got to be constantly improving the quality of our lives, constantly growing and expanding," he said.   What are you doing to constantly improve?    In his book, The Speed of Trust, Stephen M.R. Covey describes two strategies that are helpful in getting you to get better.   Seek feedback.  "Appropriately seeking feedback and acting on it is the hallmark of a learning, growing, innovating company."  Seek feedback on you - ask others what they see as your strengths and weaknesses and compare that to what you perceive.  The same, different, how so?  Get your ego out of the way and take the feedback to heart and take action on positive change.  Likewise, seek feedback from your customers and co-workers.  What is your business getting right and where can it get better? Take action on all the feedback you receive; this will inspire greater trust in your relationships. Learn from your mistakes.  "If you're not willing to make mistakes, you're not going to improve."  Looking good and protecting your ego keeps you stagnant.  You must be willing to go out there, fall down, get back up, fall again, and get back up again, for however many times it takes you to succeed.  Each step of the way will bring you new insights, and it is these insights which are the key to getting better. Furthermore, create an environment where it is safe to make mistakes.  This also inspires greater trust in your relationships.   Covey suggests sending out a "Continue/Stop/Start inquiry to your customers, team, and family to assist you in getting better.  Ask these three questions, he says: What is one thing we are now doing that you think we should continue doing? What is one thing we are now doing that you think we should stop doing? What is one thing we are not now doing that you think we should start doing?   Those are powerful questions. Team them with the two strategies above and they will open a dialogue that will enable you and your business to get better - at what you do.       "Anyone who stops learning is old, whether this happens at twenty or eighty.  Anyone who keeps on learning not only remains young, but becomes constantly more valuable regardless of physical capacity."             Harvey Ullman   "You learn nothing from your successes except to think too much of yourself.  It is from failure that all growth comes, provided you can recognize it, admit it, learn from it, rise above it, and then try again."             Dee Hock, founder and former CEO, Visa International   "Champions know that success is inevitable; that there is no such thing as failure, only feedback.  They know that the best way to forecast the future is to create it."             Michael J. Gelb   "There's always room for improvement - it's the biggest room in the house."             Louise Heath Leber     I'm a life-long learner so living with constant and never-ending improvement comes naturally for me. The difficult part is actually putting into action what you have learned; otherwise you remain book smart and life dumb. Take the feedback and use it to make the changes that will enable you to get better.  Additionally, don't be so hard on yourself - give yourself permission to make mistakes. "Success represents the one percent of your work that results from the ninety-nine percent that is called failure," said Soichiro Honda, the founder of Honda Motor Company.    Have a fantastic week and get better at what you do.                 Stephanie   P.S.  Ask questions to get better at what you do!  You'll find them on the Balance Cards: Power Questions.  Pick a Card, Change Your Life!  50 cards to guide you in asking the questions that will empower you to live your life to the fullest.  Each card has an appropriate quote on the front and questions and action steps on the back which will empower you to reflect on your life and make the changes that can change your life.  I know you're busy, so pick one card from the Step you are struggling with and begin to chart a new path.  It's that simple.   Go to Coach in a Bag to order your Balance Cards today.     We grow by "word-of-email" so please feel free to forward this newsletter to anyone whom you think might benefit from and enjoy it. Thanks so much! Contact Us: stephanie@7steps2abalancedlife.com