One small change

It’s that time of year.  The time of year  when we resolve to be better.  We call those resolutions New Year resolutions. Unless you subscribe to my premise that the power in this is when those resolutions are revolutions. 

My first question is why do we wait for 1 January to change? If what we intend to do will make us better, will it only work if we start on the first of January? If it will help us now, start now! My Number One Protégé, Dr José LugoSantiago, tells me that it serves as a reset point. Yeah, I guess that makes sense, but we can reset our lives, especially for the better, right now. Every day. Every moment. 

 

I’m a writer. I do it a lot. You can search my name in amazon and Apple books for proof of that. I noticed something the other day as I was writing my new book. I was doing the final formatting. I saw something I didn’t like so I changed it. Not a big deal, right? Until I continued reading. I realized that that one small change, it was adding a space between a couple of words, affected the entire rest of the document. And it changed everything. The context, the thought, everything. I was amazed!

 

Life as a leader, and a person, really, is that way. One seemingly small thing can change everything… our entire lives. Now, if it changes everything for the better, then I suggest you do it! If it’s negative, stop doing it. Life is simple….

 

My friend, Shā Sparks, recently posted in her podcast, some thoughts about why New Year resolutions don’t work. One big reason is that our resolutions are often overwhelming. I’ve heard it, no kidding, “Chief, this year I resolve to lose fifty pounds. In the next month!” Whoa, I always think, which leg are you having cut off? That’s a lot. In one month. I always suggest doing it in small increments throughout a longer period of time. That may work. Otherwise, that person will quit shortly after they realize that’s near impossible to do, in one month, and that’s usually after the first workout or kale salad.

 

You’ve, surely, heard or read the question, “How do you eat an elephant?” And the answer is always, “One bite at a time.” One small change will affect everything. Start there. That small change can lead to another, maybe even larger change, and give you the momentum to reach your goal. It may take longer, but it’ll be worth it. And it will be way more effective if it leads to progress.

 

As a leader, what small change can you make today that will help empower you to be the leader you envision, the leader you wish you had? Once you answer that and apply a process for improving that, you’re on your way to becoming an Effective Leader.

 

Until next time,

 

Be great! You ARE!

 

HEIRPOWER!