"When you’re running in the wrong direction — more speed won’t help." -Rick Butts
What would make today at ten? (on a scale of zero to ten) This is one of the simplest (yet most powerful) questions you can ask yourself at the beginning of each day. Try it tomorrow morning.
I’ve suggested this question to several of my coaching clients and to groups I have spoken for over the past few months, and — to my delight — have heard nothing but positive results. Now that I know how helpful this can be, I’m suggesting that you give it a try.
Here are some of the answers I’ve heard from a variety of people…
-Go to work a half hour early
-Stay calm, centered and peaceful
-Make three important sales calls
-Get in a good workout
-Have at least an hour of quality family time
-Eat healthy meals (or follow my diet program)
-Meditate
-Go for a walk at lunch time
-Acknowledge or compliment someone
-Take a risk
-Get a massage
-Surprise my spouse with a card and flowers
-Call a friend I haven’t connected with in a while
-Pray
-Acknowledge myself
-Play (golf, tennis, basketball, etc.)
-Stop working by 5pm
You see, there are many options and I’m sure you can think of many others. The key here is to choose at the beginning of each day what the MOST important areas are to focus on. Don’t over commit. Just choose three to five and remind yourself of them throughout the day. As the saying goes, "You can do anything but you can’t do everything."
Realizing that every morning marks a new day of opportunity it is helpful to get clear on how to make the most of those opportunities. Whether it be your family, your health, your career, or your friendships — asking yourself how you want to be and what is most important to do will increase your success, fulfillment, and peace of mind.
ACTION IDEA: For the next week (at the beginning of each day) ask yourself, "What would make today a ten?" and then follow through on those answers. At the end of the week notice how your week went and how you feel. If you feel more successful and more fulfilled then, by all means, keep asking yourself that question at the start of each day.