What Is Your Game Plan?

This can be a crazy time of year if you let it. We’re planning and attending parties, shopping for gifts, finishing year end projects at the office, writing holiday cards, hanging lights, planning menus and the list goes on. While you’re at it, don’t forget to put yourself on that list. Find a time and place where you can concentrate on your game plan for next year. It’s time to get psyched! What do you want to do? Where do you want to go?

If you know that one of your goals next year is to get a job, make a career transition or seek a promotion, attend all the holiday parties you are invited to and network. Show your enthusiasm for where you want to go and the value you add. Excitement and drive about your passions is contagious so pass it on!

Your game plan doesn’t have to only be about career goals. Think about your personal objectives as well. Many of us are on the quest for improved health and fitness. Maybe you want to improve your relationship with a friend or family member, learn a new language or learn how to play the piano. I am from Arizona and have a goal of embracing winter sports in the Rockies, so I plan to head out on snow shoes for the first time this afternoon.

Once you know what you want your outcome to be, set some interim goals to move you in the right direction. If you plan to run a marathon, sign up for some shorter distance races in preparation. Small victories will help you stay motivated.

Be transparent about your goals. Telling some else about what you plan to achieve can often keep you on track. Look for other people with similar goals and interests and bounce ideas around with them. The support and camaraderie can be a big help.

Get ready for a great year!

Taking Your Game to Another Level

Have you ever stopped to really think about how powerful our minds are? I started to better understand the control my own thoughts had over me a few years ago after becoming part of a local toastmasters group. The feedback and positive energy I received there started to have a profound effect on my way of thinking. Is that voice inside you a coach or a critic? Sometimes I think we can be our own worst enemies when it comes to reaching our personal and professional goals.

What if we could apply the concepts of sports psychology to our work life? Coaches tell players to focus their thoughts on what they should be doing rather than thinking about avoiding what they should not do. For example, a golfer should think about following through on her swing rather than avoiding the sand trap. I’m an avid runner and tell myself to land on the balls of my feet rather than saying, don’t land heels first. This is made easier with my Newton running shoes developed right here in Boulder http://www.newtonrunning.com/. While approaching the stage to make a presentation, think about smiling hand having good posture rather than trying not to trip. If you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right.

If you want to change your outcome, start to gain awareness of your thoughts. Change your thoughts to coach rather than criticize yourself. Focus on your talents and abilities. Star athletes apply this to their game. How might you express yourself in an interview, network more effectively or be a better boss by changing the way you think?
Let’s see your “A” game!