Winning in increments

I read an article at Sparkpeople.com that talked about setting realistic goals in increments. The article was about weight loss. They gave the example that a woman weighing, say, 170 lbs, will aim to lose 40 lbs. That's almost 24% of her weight.

When she loses 10 or 15 lbs, she feels like she's failed, so she stops trying. They suggest aiming to lose 10% of whatever you weigh and giving yourself a reasonable amount of time to accomplish it. Once you have the first step done, aim for the next 10%. The energy you get from the win keeps you moving.

I've heard clients say that they won't start something they can't win. Wow. Depending on the definition you hold for "winning," you could miss out on a whole lot.

An Indian colleague of mine, Mr. Hundekari, once told me, "you cannot eat an elephant in one bite." It's the same thing as the 10% rule, yet I can't always assimilate analogies across subjects.

When it comes to goals involving numbers, the 10% rule helps me keep goals in bite sized pieces. In our super-sized world, we inadvertently think in big chunks and leaps and "pantry packs." It takes conscious choice to be reasonable with, let alone gentle on ourselves.

So what kind of Sam's Club goal have you dumped on yourself this month?

• Are you doubling your sales?
• Revamping your entire marketing strategy?
• Are you teaching your 2 year old to read AND use the toilet?

What goal could you dive after knowing you can win?

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I Hold Your Light, Not Your Shovel

I often receive referrals from people who know someone in need of "fixing."

I'm not a repairman.

I'm an excavator with a huge light. I help people to discover and live the lives they truly desire.  A big ugly rock in the dark is still a big ugly rock when brought into the light.  I point out the stuff that isn't twinkling in my clients lives and help them either get it out of the way, or tumble it until it's smooth and shining. Together, we achieve much more, in a shorter period of time, than they would alone.

As a coach, I walk with my clients on their journey; celebrating, mourning, growing and reaching with them. But I don't do their work for them. I keep them accountable for making it happen for themselves.