I feel I am what I would call a master of getting stuff done. Creating multiple guinness world records, writing a book, writing blogs, 6 kids, 1 wife, and 2 busy restaurants, Operator consultant for 2 licensed locations (like a Mini Chick-fil-A), board member on multiple boards, and on the Chick-fil-A Operator Innovations team, these things do not happen by accident. Here is one of the ways I look at productivity if your looking to get more done in the day:
I have figured this out for myself, but it might be useful question to ask: What do your opportunities look like? I have found that when I plan out my choices, it makes the consequences much more productive. Plan out my choices? What in the world does that mean?
Map out on a piece of paper what your typical day looks like. Here is how mine would look:
Most of us, generally do the same things over and over, same routine. It may even include some choices we make through the day that could be better planned. For example, I know that there are some days that when I am running the kids around town for band, for school, etc. that I end up spending a lot of time in the car. I will routinely pull out my phone and check on what is going on in my friends’ lives via FB. Most of it is just nonsense or quotes, but it is entertaining.
If you are not paying attention, how many 5 minute opportunities did you use through the day?
What if I planned for some of my down time? What if I brought some reports with me to go over so I can be prepared for my next meeting? What if I brought that book with me that I need to complete? You know, the one you made a commitment to read 6 months ago that you have not finished because you “don’t have the time.”
If you are being real, how many opportunities do you come across each day? I will use my day as example.
- When I am waiting on the Dr for an appointment I had.
- When I am waiting for my son to get out of school
- When I am ready to go, and I am waiting on my wife to finish getting ready.
Ok… maybe you don’t have downtimes like I do, but EVERYBODY poops!!
According to research done in the United Kingdom, a man spends an average of an hour and 45 min per week on the toilet, where a woman spends an hour and 20 min. On another note, the average person can read 48 pages per hour…… This means that potentially a man could read about 84 pages per week, or possibly a 300 page book per month.
When you create a plan of what to do when you come across moments of opportunity, you will find that the things you plan for will happen.
What do your opportunities look like?
“You were born to win, but to be a winner, you must plan to win, prepare to win, and expect to win.” ~ Zig Ziglar
I’ve learned by traveling the world as a motivational speaker that you have to know where you’re going before you can get there. When I left for The Biggest Loser in 2009, I knew two things: God gave me this opportunity, and it was my responsibility to act on it.
180 pounds was my destination – quite a long road from 430 pounds! But if I never set the destination, how I would I ever get there? There are two things you must know to navigate to your destination: Where you are and where you are going. The first step is to acknowledge where you are. If you don’t know where you are, how can you know where you want to go? You cannot heal or change what you don’t acknowledge. The second step is defining where you want to be. These destinations could be health, finance, relationship, career, any number of things. Only when you know where you are and where you are going can you then “map” a road to success. In my case, once I knew where I was going, and I had less than 7 months to get there, so I had to devise a plan for success.
Plan For Success in Health
I learned that 3,500 calories equaled a pound. I made a goal of losing of 1½ pounds per day – a 5,250 calorie deficit. If I ate 2,000 calories, I would need to burn 7,250 calories per day to reach my goal. This gave me a mark to hit – a target! Some days I would fail, some days I would succeed, and other days I would exceed the mark. The show’s nutritionist Cheryl Forberg and Trainer Jillian Michaels taught me what to eat, and Bob Harper and Jillian taught me how to burn calories – SWEAT! Then I hit GO on my GPS.
Plan For Success in Finances
This principle has helped me in areas other than losing weight. Finances are also an important area in which to plan for success. When you are in debt it can seem overwhelming. The reason I know this is because at one time Darci and I owed $62,700 of unsecured debt. Darci and I paid off that debt in just a few years – WITH A PLAN! On my YouTube channel you can see the video of Darci and me seen on Joyce Meyer describing our journey. It took a plan and self discipline to get there.
In marriage, it is wise to counsel with your fiancé and learn each other’s goals BEFORE saying I do! Then you can know where you both presently are and where you both want to go – and you can agree on plan for success in your marriage.
In whatever area you are looking to change – health, finances, marriage, parenting, any area – you must devise a plan. I urge you to find wisdom from good people who can help you such as your pastor, a counselor, or a trusted friend or support group. Those who have gone through The Journey Training have buddies and small groups to help when they need encouragement or ideas. Then you can follow a plan to focus on the future you want, not the future you just might happen upon! As Benjamin Franklin said, “If you fail to plan you are planning to fail.”
Too often we associate “fault” with something negative. Let’s change this up.
- Where you are in life right now is your fault.
- Your great marriage is your fault.
- The position you have at your job is your fault.
- Your great kids are your fault.
The great relationship you have with your spouse is the result of work, great choices, discipline, humility, patience, and commitment. The position you hold at work is a result of your hard work and high personal standards. Your kids are the result of the investments you’ve made in them.
At some level, everything good that you experience in life is your fault because each good thing that you have that is lasting is the result of focus that you’ve devoted to it.
What have you been investing in?
What will be your fault today?
