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30 Days of Getting Results
30 Days of Getting Results
Getting Results
By J.D. Meier
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WhatOthersSay
"Getting Results the Agile Way delivers know-what, know-why and know-how for
anyone who understands the value of momentum in making your moments count."
Dr. Rick Kirschner, bestselling author
JD is the go-to-guy for getting results, and Agile Results demonstrates his distinct
purpose he shows how anyone can do anything, better. This book has simple,
effective, powerful tools and ideas that are easy enough for everyone to apply in their
work and lives, so that they get the results theyd like, even the impossible and the
unexpected.
Janine de Nysschen, Changemaker and Purpose Strategist, Whytelligence
NOTE You can read more testimonials at http://gettingresults.com/wiki/Testimonials.
About the 30 Days of Getting Results
Gettingresultsintodayslandscapeistough.Theworldchangesfasterthanwecankeep
up.Worse,wedontalwayshavethebestpracticesforfocus,managingourtime,managing
ourenergy,orevenpersonalproductivity.
Mybook,GettingResultstheAgileWay,isasimplesystemformeaningfulresults.Itcombines
thebestpracticesIvelearnedforthinking,feeling,andtakingaction.ItsthesamesystemIuse
tomentorindividuals,leaders,andteamsforimprovingtheirresults.Itempowersyouwithan
unbeatablesystemformakingthingshappenwithskill.Itsastorydrivenapproach,andby
usingthreestoriestodriveyourday,youweek,yourmonth,andyouryear,youwriteyour
storyforwardandrespondmoreeffectivelytoyoureverchangingworld.
Hereisashortlistoftheproblemswelltackleduringthe30DaysofGettingResults:
Howtoimproveyourpersonalproductivityandpersonaleffectiveness
Howtoachieveworklifebalance
Howtofocusanddirectyourattentionwithskill
Howtomotivateyourselfwithskillandfindyourdrive
Howtouseasimplesystemtoachievemeaningfulresults
Howtomanageyourtime
Howtospendmoretimeonthethingsthatreallymattertoyou
Howtoplaytoyourstrengthsandspendlesstimeinweaknesses
Howtochangeahabitandmakeitstick
Howtomakethemostofyouryourmoments,days,weeks,months,andyears
Howtobetheauthorofyourlifeandwriteyourstoryforward
Herearethenamesofeachofthelessonsthatarepartofthe30days:
Day1TakeaTourofGettingResultstheAgileWay
Day2MondayVisionUseThreeStoriestoDriveYourWeek
Day3DailyOutcomesUseThreeStoriestoDriveYourDay
Day4LetThingsSloughOff
Day5HotSpotsMapOutWhatsImportant
Day6FridayReflectionIdentifyThreeThingsGoingWellandThreeThingstoImprove
Day7SetupBoundariesandBuffers
Day8DumpYourBraintoFreeYourMind
Day9PrioritizeYourDaywithMUST,SHOULD,andCOULD
Day10FeelStrongAllWeekLong
Day11ReduceFrictionandCreateGlidePathsforYourDay
Day12ProductivityPersonasAreYouareaStarteroraFinisher?
Day13TriageYourActionItemswithSkill
Day14CarveOutTimeforWhatsImportant
Day15AchieveaPeacefulCalmStateofMind
Day16UseMetaphorstoFindYourMotivation
Day17AddPowerHourstoYourWeek
Day18AddCreativeHourstoYourWeek
Day19WhoareYouDoingitFor?
Day20AskBetterQuestions,GetBetterResults
Day21CarrytheGoodForward,LettheRestGo
Day22DesignYourDaywithSkill
Day23DesignYourWeekwithSkill
Day24BounceBackwithSkill
Day25FixTime.FlexScope
Day26SolveProblemswithSkill
Day27DoSomethingGreat
Day28FindYourOneThing
Day29FindYourArenaforYourBestResults
Day30TakeAgileResultstotheNextLevel
Theonlyreasonfortimeissothateverythingdoesnthappenatonce.AlbertEinstein
Welcome to Day 1
Welcometoday1of30DaysofGettingResults.Today,wegoforaquickwalkinthe
park.WelltakeatouroftheAgileResultssystem,asitsdescribedinmybook,GettingResults
theAgileWay.
ThepowerofAgileResultsisthesimplicity.Butdontletthesimplicityfoolyou.Itsthe
simplicitythatmakesitworkforindividuals,teams,andleaders,athome,atwork,andat
play.
AgileResultshasbeenbattledtestedinthetrenchesofconsulting,inthehallsofMicrosoft,and
aroundtheworldinvarioussettingsfrompersonalproductivitytodistributedteam
effectiveness,bothinworkandinlife.Forexampleonenonprofitcompanyusesitwhile
helpingdoctorsandpatientsinextremescenarios.Youtoocangetthesystemonyourside.
ThewayIquicklyteachcolleagueshowtogetupandrunningwithAgileResultsisIshowthem
threesimpleparts,andittakesnomorethanafiveminuteconversation.
The Three Key Parts of Agile Results
HerearethethreekeypartstoAgileResults:
TheRuleof3
MondayVision,DailyWins,FridayReflection
HotSpots
The Rule of Three
TheRuleofThreeisasimpleconcept.Thinkinthrees.TheRuleof3helpsusdealwith
informationoverload.Itsasimplewaytosetlimitsandchunkthingsdown.Itseasyforusto
rememberthingsinthrees.
YoumighthaveheardoftheRuleof3before.Evenifyouhavent,itsbeenallaround
you.Youveseenitintitles:TheThreeLittlePigs,TheThreeStooges,ThreeBlindMice,
etc.Storytellersstructuretheirstorieswithabeginning,middle,andanend.Itsatimetested
approachanditsbeenusedineverythingfrommarketingtothemilitary.Infact,themilitary
teachessurvivalinthrees:3minuteswithoutair,3dayswithoutwater,3weekswithoutfood.
InAgileResults,weuseTheRuleofThreetomapoutwhatwewanttoaccomplishinsetsof
threes:
3winsfortheday
3winsfortheweek
3winsforthemonth
3winsfortheyear
Thiscreatesasimple33systemthatiseasytouse,easytoremember,andeasytogetbackon
track,ifyoufalloffthehorse!
Monday Vision, Daily Wins, Friday Reflection
ThisistheheartofAgileResults.MondayVision,DailyWins,FridayReflectionisasimple
patternforyourweeklyworkflow.Itsaweeklysystemforgettingresultsthathelpsyougeta
freshstarteachday,andafreshstarteachweek.Eachweekandeachdayisanewchanceat
bat.
MondayVisionOnMondays,identifythreeresultsyouwantbyFriday.Forexample,
maybeitsmypresentationiscomplete,Ihaveawrittenplanformyproject,andIve
spentaminimumoffivehoursdoingwhatIlovethisweek.Focusonoutcomesor
achievementsoveractivities.
DailyOutcomesEachday,identifythreeresultsthatyouwantunderyourbelt.Ifyoure
havingareallybadday,yourthreeoutcomesmightbeassimpleashaveagreatbreakfast,
agreatlunch,andagreatdinner.Somedaysarelikethat.Ideallyyoucanseehowit
connectsbacktothethreeresultsyouwantfortheweek.Itsthissimplecheckbetween
thedayandtheweekthathelpsyouseeforforestfromthetrees.
FridayReflectionFridaysareyouchancetotakeastepbackandreflectonyour
results.OnFridays,askyourself,Whatarethreethingsgoingwell?andaskyourself,
Whatarethreethingstoimprove?Thisishowyoustarttoseewhatsworkingandwhats
not,aswellaslearnyourowncapacity.
Thekeyeachweekandeachdayistocelebrateyourwins,nomatterhowsmall.Areyou
gettingdonewhatyousetouttodo?Thisisaquickcheckonyourpriorities,yourfocus,and
whatsgettingintheway.Thisalsohelpsyoucarryforwardwhatsworkingandwhatsnot,so
ratherthanluckintosuccess,youknowexactlywhatworksforyouyouidentifyyourpersonal
successpatterns.
Icouldgointoalotofdetailsaboutwhythisworks,butsomeofthebigideasarethatyoure
makingmindfulchoices,youreusinglimitsofthreetobetterprioritizeandfocus,andyoure
usingpositivepsychologypracticesbyshiningthespotlightonyourwins.Yourealsousing
someprovenprojectmanagementandsoftwarepracticesinaverysimpleway,tohelpyou
authoryourlifeandwriteyourstoryforward,onedayatatime.
Itsaweeklysystemforgettingresultsthathelpsyougetafreshstarteachday,andafresh
starteachweek.
Thisisamorestoryorientedviewofyourweek.Youhaveabacklogofbigthingsyouwould
liketoachieve.Eachweekyouchoosethreestoriestomakehappen.Eachday,youchoose
threesmallerstoriestomakehappen.Astoryisasimpleonelinerreminderofwhatyouare
tryingtoaccomplish.Forexample,oneofmystoriesmightbe,Winaravingfan.Another
samplebeDefeatmydesktopclutterorNailmyprojectproposal.Itsastorybecauseyou
aretheherohere,anditsaboutyourspecificchallenges.Usingastorylike,oneliner
reminder,youcanflashforwardtoyourvictoriesfortheday,ortheweek.
Hot Spots
WhenyouthinkofHotSpots,imagineaheatmap.Takeamomenttopauseandimaginea
heatmapinyourmind.Onthisheatmap,thinkofmostimportantthingsinyourliferight
now.Chancesaretheyfallunderoneormoreofthefollowingbuckets:
Mind
Body
Emotions
Career
Financial
Relationships
Fun
HotSpotsaresimplyareasoffocus.Theymightrepresentalotofpain,ortheymight
representalotofopportunity.Eitherway,itsaquickvisualwaytomapoutwhatsimportant
foryou.YoucanalsothinkofHotSpotsforwork.Simplylistoutyourtopprojectsoractivities
thatmattermost.YoucanalsothinkofHotSpotsforyourpersonalprojects.Again,simplylist
outyourtopprojectsoractivitiesoutsideofwork.
HotSpotsarelikeaportfolio.Theyhelpusbalanceourinvestmentoftime,energy,andfocus
acrossourcompetingdemands.Whatyoulltendtofindisthatwhenyouinvestinyourmind,
body,emotions,career,financial,relationships,andfun,youimproveyourabilitytorespondto
whateverworkorlifethrowsyourway.Whenyoudontinvestinoneormoreofthese
buckets,youfindthatitcannegativelyimpacttheothers.
Atthispoint,allthatsimportantisthatyouknowthatHotSpotsareawaytovisualizeamap
ofwhatsimportantinyourlife.
Recap
Letsrecapthekeythingswelearnedfromourtour:
UsetheRuleofThreetodealwithinformationoverloadandsetsimplelimitseachdayand
eachweek.
UseMondayVision,DailyOutcomes,FridayReflectionasapatternforweekly
results.Eachweek,identifythreeresultsfortheweek,thenidentifythreekeyresultsyou
wanteachday,andonFriday,identifythreethingsgoingwell,andthreethingstoimprove.
UseHotSpotstoseetheforestforthetrees.Mapoutthekeyareasinyourlifethat
mattermosttoyou.Mapoutyourkeyprojectsatwork,andmapoutyourkeypersonal
projects.Simplybeingabletolisttheitemsisagreatstart.Itshowsyouataglance,whats
onyourradar.Thisisimportantforchoosingwhattoinvestmorein,andwhattoinvest
lessin.
Mapoutyourfuture,butdoitinpencil.JonBonJovi
Your Outcome
Takecontrolofyourweekandcreateacompellingvisiontoguideyouthroughouttheweek.
Welcome to Day 2
Welcometoday2of30DaysofGettingResults.TodaywetakealookatMonday
VisionfromGettingResultstheAgileWay.
HaveyoueverhadaweekflybyandwhenFridayhitsyoureaskingyourself,Wheredidthe
weekgo?
Notanymore.WithMondayVision,youtakeamomenttojumpaheadtotheendoftheweek,
andyouaskyourself,IfthiswereFriday,whatarethreeresultsIwantundermy
belt?Mondayisyourchancetocreateacompellingvisionforyourweek.
MondayVisionisasimplepatternforhelpingyouachievemoreeffectiveresultseach
week.ItsalsoagreatwaytodealwithacaseoftheMondays.
The Challenges
MondayVisioncanhelpyoudealwiththreecommonchallenges:
Youreoverwhelmed.Youhavewaymoretodo,thanyoucanpossiblygetdoneduring
yourweek.
Youreunderwhelmed.Yourenotinspired.Youmighthaveabunchofthingsyoushould
orcoulddo,butyoudonthavetheenergyforit.
Yougetofftrack.Youspendyourtimeonalotofthings,butattheendoftheweek,you
didntgetdonethethingsyoureallyneededtogetdone.
The Response
OnMondays,yousimplyidentifythreekeyresultsyouwantfortheweek.Thisisyourvisionfor
theweek.Itputsyouinthedriversseatandyougettodecidewhatyouwanttoaccomplish.
Ratherthangetlostamongtheseaofthingstodo,yoububbleupthethreemostimportant
outcomesfortheweek,andthesethreeoutcomeshelpguideyouthroughoutyourweek.
Thissimplepatternhasafewbenefits:
Eachweekisafreshstart.
Itsawaytomakeyourweekmoremeaningful.
Itsawaytohelpyouprioritizeandfocus.
Itsawaytohelpyouimproveyourresults.
Thismightnotbeverycompelling.Youcanspruceitupassimplestoriesandconnectittoyour
values.Forexample:
Wintheracetofinishmyprojectplaninrecordtime.
Createapresentationthatsetsanewbarformypersonalbest.
Turnmystakeholdersintoravingfans.
Youhavetoplayaroundtofindwhatconnectswithyourheart.Whatyouendupwithisthree
storiestodriveyourweek.Thesestoriesarehandcraftedandpersonalafterall,youmade
them.Theyareyourstoriestomakehappen.
Your Assignment
1. Identifythethreethingsyoureallywanttoaccomplishfortheweek.
2. Turnyourthreeoutcomesintosimplestoriesthatyoufeelpassionateabout.
Dontworryifyouhavetroublefiguringoutyourthreebestresults,anddontworryifyouhave
ahardtimeturningthemintocompellingstories.Whatsimportantissimplytryingthe
exercise.Youmightsurpriseyourself,andinthebestcase,youllinspireyourselftoanewlevel
youdidntknowwaspossible.
Makeeachdayyourmasterpiece.JohnWooden
Your Outcome
Takecontrolofyourdaybyconnectingyouractivitiestowhatyouvalueandwhatinspires
you.Turneventhemostmundaneactivitiesintomeaningfulopportunities.
Welcome to Day 3
Welcometoday3of30DaysofGettingResults.Inday2,welookedatusingthreestoriesto
driveyourweek.Todaywetakealookatusingthreestoriestodriveyourday.Icallthis
practiceDailyWinsanditsfrommybook,GettingResultstheAgileWay.
DailyOutcomesisawaytousethreestoriestodriveyourday.Beforeyoustartyourday,
simplyidentifythethreeresultsoroutcomesyouwanttoaccomplishfortheday,andwork
backwardsfromthat.Anoutcomecanbeanythingfrom,Ihadagreatlunch,toIenjoyed
myday,toIkickedarseinmypresentation.Whatsimportantisthatyourejumpingahead
totheendresult.Iliketothinkofthispracticeastakingafewmindfulminutestoavoidgoing
onamindlessmarch.
TherealbeautyofDailyOutcomesisthatyoucanwakeupanydayandsimplyaskyourself,
WhatarethethreethingsIreallywanttoaccomplishtoday?Thatsit.
Thethreeoutcomeswillguidealltherestofyourtasks.
Thesethreeoutcomesareyourtestsforsuccessfortheday.Itsyourpersonalwayofsetting
yourselfupforsuccesseachday.
Alwaysrememberthatyouarethemostimportantmeaningmakerinyourlife.
Your Assignment
1. Identifythethreeresultsyouwantfortoday.
2. Turneachresultintoasimplestorythatconnectstoyourpassionandvalues.
Sometimesyouhavetoletgotoseeiftherewasanythingworthholdingonto.Anonymous
Your Outcome
Learnhowtoletthingsgowithskill.Bylettingthingssloughoff,youimproveyourability
tofocusonwhatcountsandyoumakeroomforYOURbestresults.
Welcome to Day 4
Welcometoday4of30DaysofGettingResults.Inday3,welookedatusingthreestoriesto
driveyourday.Todaywelookatlettingthingssloughoff.Lettingthingssloughoffsimply
meanseitherlettingthingsgofromyourplateeitherbydesignorasanaturalprocessof
focusingonhigherpriorities.Thisisthekeytostartingeachdaywithafreshstart.
Ifyoudontletthingssloughoff,theproblemisyouweightyourselfdown.Thisistheproblem
ofbigToDolists,whicheitherturnintolistsofthingsthatnevergetdone,oryouspendall
yourtimemanagingyourlistofthingstodo,butnevergettinganythingdone.Ifyoureaslave
toyourToDolist,orifyoufearthesheermagnitudeofitssize,itsnotworkingforyou!
Evenifyoucoulddoitall,youcantdoitallatonce.Youonlyhavesomuchtimeandenergyin
theday.Iftheresonetakeawayfromallthisrememberthatitstheachievementsunderyour
beltANDthejourneythatyoulookbackon.
Thismeansbrutallyfocusingonspendingmoretimeonwhatyouvalue,andlettingtherest
go.Youmightthingofitaseitherfiercefocusordrivingwithclarity.Rememberthatyou
getwhatyoufocusonsospendmoretimeonwhatyouwant,notwhatyoudont.
Your Assignment
1. Writedownthreeoutcomesfortoday.ThisisreenforcingourdailyoutcomesAND
practicinglettingthingssloughoffwithskill.
2. Writedownyourthreeoutcomesfortheweek.Considertheremainingtimeandenergy
youhavefortherestoftheweek,wherecanyougetthemostbangforthebuck?What
wouldthreewinsfortheweeklooklike?
3. Setonesimplelimitonsomethingthatsbeenwearingyoudown.Seteitheratimelimitor
aquantitylimit.
Onereasonsofewofusachieveswhatwetrulywantisthatweneverdirectourfocus;we
neverconcentrateourpower.TonyRobbins
Your Outcome
LearnhowtouseHotSpotstocreateasimplemapofwhatsgoingoninyourlife.Useyour
HotSpotsmapasawaytoinvestyourtimeandenergywhereitreallycounts,andtoknow
thatyoureonyourpath.
Welcome to Day 5
Welcometoday5of30DaysofGettingResults.Inday4,welookatlettingthingsgowith
skill.Today,welookatmappingoutwhatsimportant.IcallthispracticeHotSpotsandits
frommybook,GettingResultstheAgileWay.
HotSpotsareawaytoseetheforestfromthetrees.Thesimplestmetaphoristothinkofyour
lifeasaheatmap.Takeamomenttoactuallyimagineaheatmap.Onthisheatmap,ifIwere
toaskyou,whatsgoingonatwork,whatwouldyousee?IfIweretoaskyou,whatsgoingat
home,whatwouldyousee?IfIweretoaskyoutostepbackandlookacrossyourlife,what
wouldyousee?
Iusedthosethreelevelsforareason:work,home,andlife.Yourabilitytoquicklyseewhats
goingonineachareaofyourlife,willhelpyoumakebettertradeoffsacrosstheboard.
Congratulationsyoujustcreatedmoreclarityinyourlifethanmanybusinessesorpeopledo
inalifetime!
Byaskingyourselfsomeverysimplequestions,youcantestyourinvestments.Forexample,are
youspendingenoughtimeorenergyinrelationships?Areyougivingyourbodyenoughrest
andrelaxation?Areyouchallengingyourbodyenough?Areyoumakingtimeforfunorfor
play?,etc.
Thekeytoinvestingwisely,issimplytoanswerthequestion,Why?andthencross
checkingbyaskingthequestion,Whatdoyouwanttoaccomplish?Yourmindcanfindthe
answerswhenyouasktherightquestions.Ifyourmindcantfindtherightanswers,thenpair
uporfindsomebodyyoutrusthowcan.
Your Assignment
1. ReviewyourHotSpotmapsforwork,personal,andlifeandimprovethemuntilyoufeel
theytrulyrepresentwhatsgoingoninyourlife.Theyshouldbesimpleand
scannable.Theyarenotyouroutcomes,theyarenotyourtasks,theyaresimplyalistofthe
activitiesorprojectsorbigrocksinyourlife.
2. ExploresomeoftheexamplesofHotSpotsinChapter4HotSpots,fromGettingResults
theAgileWay.
3. Pickoneareathatyoucouldinvestlessintoinvestmoreinanotherarea.Identifywhyyou
wouldwanttomakethisshift.Thisisyourchancetodeliberatelyimproveanareaofyour
lifethroughaconsciousinvestmentandmanagingyourlifeportfolioinasmartwayby
takingalookfromthebalcony.
Ivefoundthatsmallwins,smallprojects,smalldifferencesoftenmakehugedifferences.
RosabethMossKanter
YourOutcome
Celebrateyourwinsandfindyourpersonalsuccesspatterns.Learnasimplewaytopractice
yourattitudeofgratitudewhilegrowingyourabilitytogetmeaningfulresults.
Welcome to Day 6
Welcometoday6of30DaysofGettingResults.Inday5,wecreatedasimplemapof
whatsgoingoninourlifesothatwecouldimproveourfocusandinvestourtimeand
energymoreeffectively.Today,wereflectonourpastweek.IcallthispracticeFriday
Reflection.ItspartoftheMondayvision,DailyWins,FridayReflectionpatternfrommy
book,GettingResultstheAgileWay.
FridayReflectionisasimplebutpowerfulpractice.ForFridayReflection,simplythinkabout
yourpastweekandidentifythreethingsgoingwellandthreethingstoimprove.Itsa
chancetocelebrateyourwins,nomatterhowsmall.Itsalsoachancetofigureoutwhats
notworkingforyou.Whateveryoulearn,youcancarryforwardintothenextweek,and
usethistocontinuouslyimproveyourresultseachweek.Itsasnowballofsuccess.
Irecommendaddingaremindertoyourcalendarandblockingofftimeforit.Ifyoudont,its
easytoforgettodoit.Ifyouscheduleit,itwillhappen,anditsoneofthesimplestwaysto
improveyourresultseveryweek.
3ThingsGoingWell
IgotgreatfeedbackfromalotofpeopleinsideandoutsideofMicrosofthow30Daysof
GettingResultsishelpingthemachievemoremeaningfulresults.
IaddedkeypeopletomynetworkatMicrosoftthathaveveryeffectivewaysofgetting
results.
Ieffectivelyanticipatedjustabouteverypossiblesurprisethisweekandhadafallbackplan.
3ThingstoImprove
Ihadthewronglens,model,andmapforlookingatafewscenarios,whichlimitedmy
effectiveness.
IdidntcheckpointafewofmykeyassumptionswiththerightpeopleasearlyasIcould
have.
Ididntresetexpectationsappropriatelyinafewcases,whichwouldhavesavedmesome
extraworkandbacktracking.
AsfarasafewthingsIllchangenextweek,Illbeaskingalotmorepointedquestionsnext
weekregardingpeoplestheirmodelandtheirmap.Ivebeenquicktoexposemythinking
andvision,butnowIllbetestingotherpeoplesassumptions,theiroperatingmodels,their
vision,theirtimeframes,andgainingclarityonunderstandinghowtheytesttheirsuccessor
whattheirrulesareforwhatgoodlookslike.Itshouldbeinteresting.Illalsobestudyingup
againstoneffectiveargumentationaswellasrhetoric(theartofarguingwithoutanger.)
Asyoupayattentiontothesepatterns,youllfindyouwillimproveyourabilitytoanticipate,
youllgetabetterhandleonyourcapacity,andyoullimproveyourabilitytofocus,prioritize,
andachievetheresultsyouwant,whilerespondingtothingswithskill,insteadofreacting.
Asidefromnaturallyimprovingyourabilitytogetresults,youllalsoimproveyouroutlook.
Toomanypeoplelookatonlytheupsideorthedownsideoftheirweek.
Lookingatthreethingsgoingwellandthreethingstoimprovegivesyouamorebalanced
view,andyourwinswillbuildmomentum,whileyourlessonslearnedwillsupportyouinall
areasofyourlife.
Your Assignment
1. Schedulearecurring20minuteappointmentwithyourselfforFridaysforreflectiononyour
results.IrecommendmakingthissomethingyoudoearlierintheAMversuslaterinthe
day.Yourclaritywillserveyoufortherestofthedayandstartyouoffontherightfoot.
2. Identifyyourthreethingsgoingwellandyourthreethingstoimprove.Celebratethose
wins!
Simplypushingharderwithintheoldboundarieswillnotdo.KarlWeickquotes
Your Outcome
Createspaceinyourlifetorenewandrecharge.Bysettingboundariesandbuffers,youset
yourselfupforsustainableresultsandyoutakeasignificantsteptowardmasteringyour
worklifebalance.
Welcome to Day 7
Welcometoday7of30DaysofGettingResults.Inday6,welearnedhowtouseFriday
Reflectiontoskillfullytakealookatwhatsgoingwellandwhattoimprove.
Today,Ihadtoaskmyself,whatsthemostusefulnuggetIcansharewithyouatthisstage?I
thinktheanswerissettingboundariesandbuffers.Thisishowyoucreatespaceinyour
lifeandmaketimeforwhatsimportant.Itsattheheartoffindingyourpeacefulcalmand
findingyourflow.
AgileResultsisasystemthatcansupportyoutherestofyourlife,nomatterwhatyoudo.Iuse
itforshippingstuffatMicrosoft,leadingteams,writingbooks,learning,etc.Thebeauty
though,isnotjustthatitssimple,orthatitsprovenitsthateachdayyougetanewchance
atbatafreshstart.
Eachdayyouwakeupisanotherchancetoaskthequestion,Whatarethreethingsyouwant
fortoday?andsoyouwriteyourstoryforward.
Notethatyouhavetosetyourownboundariesthatworkforyou.Thisisjustanexampleof
howsomepeoplehavefoundawaytoperformwellatwork,spendmorequalitytimewith
thosetheylove,investintheirbody,andfindawaytospendtimeontheirpassionsagain
andrememberthatonepersonsminimumisanotherpersonsmaximum.
Steppingback,IcantellyouthatthemostimportantpatternIveseenacrosspeoplethatget
moreofwhattheywantfromlife,isthattheyfixtimeforeating,sleeping,andworkingout
andeverythingelsefitsaroundthat.Theyneverrobthemselveshereitstheirfoundation
andplatformforallresultsintheirlife.
Youcanonlyspreadyourlifeforceoversomuch.Thecategoriessupporteachother.
KeyInsights
1. Whenyousetaminimumintherightcategories,youavoidgettingunbalancedand
improvingothercategories.Whenyousetamaximumintherightcategories,youlearn
howtobecomemoreeffective.Forexample,ifyouonlyhave8hourstothrowatyourday,
youllusethemwisely.
2. Theworstmistakeittothrowmoretimeatproblems.
3. Thekeyistoreducetimespent,whileincreasingvalueandimproving
effectiveness/efficiency.
Sosteponeisdecidingtospendnomorethan50hourseachweekatwork.Nowitforcesyou
tobiteoffonlywhatyoucanchew.Thisishowyoustartimprovingplatemanagementand
pushingbackeffectively.
Iusedtobeveryscopedriven.Iwantedtochangetheworld.Theproblemisthatwhenyou
drivefromscope,youoftenrunoutoftime,thenyouhavetocutcornersyoudontwantto
cut.Worse,youoftenpushpastyourboundaries(Illeatlunchlater,orIllstayuplaterto
finishthisonelastthing,orIcanttakeabreaknow,etc.Worse,whenyoudontrespect
time,notonlydoyouthrowtimeatproblemsandreenforcebadhabitsyoumisswindows
ofopportunity.Ivefoundthatastitchintimeactuallysaveswaymorethannineandthat
itsthekeytoeffectiveresults.
Thisisakeyshiftfromitsdonewhenitsdoneorittakesaslongasittakes,tohowmuchtime
doyouhaveforitandhowmuchtimeisworthspendingonthatandhowmuchistoomuch
timetospendonthat?
Onewaytothinkaboutthisisthattimeisabudget,justlikeyourmoney.Youonlyhaveso
much.Youcanspenditwisely,oryoucanletitruleyou,oryoucanwasteit.Timeisaunique
resourcethatyoudontgetbackandchoosinghowyouspendyourdiscretionarytimeiswhat
ultimatelychangesyourlife.Ifyouwanttospendmoretimeinsomething,thenmakemore
timeforsomething.Thewaytodosoistosetsmartlimitsonthethingsyouknowyouneedto
do.Tradeyourtimebydesignvs.bydefault.
Your Assignment
1. Chooseanareainyourlifethatsnotworkingforyouandtrysettinganewlimit.Thismight
meansettingamaximumamountoftimeinsomething,oraminimumamountoftimein
somethingelse.
2. Findonesimplewaytoaddspaceinyourlifeandtakeitforatestdrivenextweek.
Youmustweedyourmindasyouwouldweedyourgarden.AstridAlauda
Your Outcome
Turnyourmindfromacarnivalfunhouseorhauntedmansiontoyourownprivateden.Free
yourminduptofocusonbetterthings.Thisispartofachievinga"peacefulcalm"stateof
mind,aswellasgettingridofthe"buzz"inyourmind,orthenaggingremindersthat
interruptyourfocusthroughouttheday.Ratherthanuseyourbrainasadepotforrandom
ideas,"ToDo"lists,reminders,andgeneralmindclutteryoullhaveaplacefordumping
yourbrainandunshacklingyourmind.
Welcome to Day 8
Welcometoday8of30DaysofGettingResults.Inday7welearnedhowtosetupboundaries
andbuffersasawaytorechargeourbatteries,setthestageforworklifebalance,andcreatea
foundationforasustainablelifestyle.
Today,welldeclutterourmindsandgiveourselvesspacetothink,dream,orsimplywonder
aroundwithoutbumpingintosomuchmentalclutter,mentalchatter,andnoise.
Thinkingonpaperishowyougofromsouptosanity.
Theoppositeapproachistoletthingslurkinyourmind,whereeverycorneryouturn,
somethingjumpsoutatyousurprise!oreachthoughtturnsintoaJackintheBox,oreach
ideaislikelookingstraightintoaFunhousemirror.
Inallofthesecases,yourefactoringyourthinkingfromyourchatterandyourreminders.This
islikefactoringeditingfromyourwritingwriteitdown,thenedit.(Asanaside,Hemmingway
editedforanhourandwroteforanhour.)Onceyouhaveyourlists,youareempoweredto
turnthemintoaction,andyoucansimplydosobychunkingthemintostories,andfittingthem
intoyourthreestoriesfortheweek,orthreestoriesfortheday.
Thatwasstepone.Itsrandomanditsjustaquickdumpofmytopofmindthings.Steptwo
wouldbesortingitandanalyzingitagainstwhatIwanttoaccomplish.Thatswheremymapof
HotSpotsreallycomesintoplay,becauseIcanseeataglancewhatsonmyradarandwhats
important.
Your Assignment
1. Dumpyourbrain.Simplymakealistanddumpouteverythingthatstopofmindortugging
atyourthoughts.
2. Takeamomenttoenjoythefactthatyouunclutteredyourmindandgaveitsome
breathingroom.Letyourselfplaywiththepossibilities.
3. Ifyourereallyfeelinggungho,thenreviewyourlistandfindsomelowhangingfruit.For
example,thesimplestthingonmylistisshreddingpapers,andIenjoyit,soImgoingto
tacklethat.Fortheotherthings,Illhavetostepback,prioritizeagainstwhatIwantto
accomplish,thenmakeasimpleplan.
Goodthingshappenwhenyougetyourprioritiesstraight.ScottCaan
Your Outcome
Getahandleontheminimumyouneedtodo.Gettheminimumoutofthewayandtherest
ofthedayorweekisyours.ByhavingclarityonwhatyouMUSTdo,youcanavoidgetting
overwhelmedbyallthetasksandactivitiescompetingforyourtimeandenergy.With
claritycomesconvictionandyousetthestageforfierceresults.Orsimplyclearyourplate,
thendoenjoytherestoftheday,CoolHandLukestyle.
Welcome to Day 9
Welcometoday9of30DaysofGettingResults.Inday8,welearnedhowtodumpyourbrain
tofreeyourmind.Today,welearnhowtousesomesimplelanguagetohelpusprioritize
moreeffectively.
Prioritizingeffectivelyisoneofthemostimportantkeystoyoursuccess.Whenyoufeellike
youreworkingontherightthingattherighttime,itseasiertofocusandstay
engaged.Prioritizingisacontinuousactivity.Itsabouttakingthingsonwhilelettingother
thingsgo.Itsaboutmakingtradeoffs.Itsalsoaboutfindingsynergies.Toprioritize
effectivelyyouneedtobeabletoseetheforestfromthetrees,andyouneedtobeableto
identifytheminimumforsuccess.ThatswhereMUST,SHOULD,andCOULDcomeintoplay.
WherepeoplefalldownistheymixtoomanySHOULDsandCOULDsintheirworkeachdayand
theydontactuallyevergetanythingdone.IfMUSTSreallyareaproblemforyou,TheRuleof3
shouldhelpyoucapandavoidoverwhelmingyourself.GettingthreeMUSTSdoneeachday
quicklybuildsmomentum.Itsasenseofaccomplishment.Youmayfindasyougetmore
effective,youstarttobiteoffmore.
WhittleyourlistdowntothreeMUSTsfortheday.Ifyouhavemorethanthree,thenlimitto
threemax.Youcanalwaysuplevelthemorbubblethemupintoahigherlevel
outcome.Cappingitatthreewillhelpyoufocusandrememberthemeasily.
CarveoutyourMUSTsbyweightingyourwindowofopportunity,painpoints,andbestvalue.
DontupgradeSHOULDstoMUSTs,acknowledgethatyougotyourMUSTsdone,andmoveon
toyourSHOULDsorCOULDs.RememberthewholepointofMUSTsisnotjusttohelpremind
youofwhatsmostimportantforyou,itsaboutsurvival
Choose Tos
OnethingtonoteisthatifthewordMUSTforyoucreatesasenseofheavinessoryoufindyou
nolongerlookforwardtogettingyourresults,thenchangeyourlanguage.Ratherthanyour
MUSTdos,thinkofyourCHOOSETOs.Thisputsyoubackinpowerandthissimplereframing
canhelpyougetyourenergyback.
Why MUSTs?
TherearemanyreasonsforusingMUSTs,buthereareafewtoconsider:
MUSTmeanssomething.ContrastthiswithaskingWhatisPriority1thisweek?Your
mindhastotranslatewhatPriority1reallymeans.WithMUST,SHOULD,COULDyourmind
cancategorizethetasksmucheasierinsteadoftranslatingintosomeothersystems.
NailingyourMUSTsbuildsarhythmofresults.WithoutyourthreeMUSTstoprioritize
with,everythinglooksimportant.Thisisthesourceofoverwhelm,shutdown,burnout,and
lackoffocus.WhenyoustartwithafirmfoundationofMUSTs,thenyoucandriveyour
day.Youcanprioritizeincomingrequestsagainstyourthree.Asyoufinishsomething,you
cantakemoreon.Thisishowyoufindyourrhythmforresults.
MUSTshelpyouputyourmostimportantissuesoutonthetable.Itstheheartoffocus
andprioritizationandoutcomes.Ifyoudontknowyoureonyourbestpath,youcant
commitalltheway.Whenyouknowyoureworkingonthemostimportantthingsright
nowinthemomentforyourmostimportantoutcomes,thenyoucanfullyengageand
yourenolongerworriedaboutalltheothernoise.
MUSTshelpyouquicklyidentifyyourminimumfortheday.TheMUSTisforbrutalclarity
aroundtheminimumIveneverfoundamorecuttingwordtogetsomebodyto
absolutelyfocusonjustthat(andevenwith*MUST*folksstillbiteofftoomuchordont
prioritizetheirbest.)ThecommitmentofMUSTforcesyoutochoosedefinitelydoablein
theavailabletimeandnotoverstep.Takingontoomuchiswherefolksfalldown.
MUSTshelpyoucreateaglidepathfortherestofyourday.Takecareofyourbasicneeds
andMUSTsfirstinthedaysoitsaglidepathfortherest.Asimplewaytothinkaboutyour
dayisMUSTs,thenSHOULDs,thenCOULDs.
MUSTsenableincredibleflexibility.IfyouknowyourthreeMUSTsfortheday,youthen
canprioritizeagainstthem.Ifsomethingmoreimportantcomesin,youcanbump
somethingoutasadeliberatetrade,yetstillremainagile.
Youcanusethreesimplequestionstohelpyoucheckpoint:
Whatdoyouwant?
Whatdoyouwanttoaccomplish?
Whodoyouwanttobeandwhatexperiencesdoyouwanttocreate?
Your Assignment
1. IdentifyyourMUSTsfortheday.
2. IdentifyyourMUSTsfortheweek.
Lifeisnotmeasuredbythenumberofbreathswetake,butbythemomentsthattakeour
breathaway.HilaryCooper
Your Outcome
Getready.YOURworldsabouttorock.Youreabouttobecomeapowerfulforceof
one.Weallhavestrengthsandweaknesses.Itstimetoshiftfromspendingmoretimein
yourweaknessestospendingmoretimeinyourstrengths.Byspendingmoretimeinyour
strengths,andlesstimeinyourweaknesses,itslikeacombinationofsimultaneously
uncorkingyourabilitiesanddrinkingfromthefountainofyouth.Findingyourvitalfewset
ofstrengthsandspendingmoretimeinthemisthesinglemostdirectwaytocrankupyour
energyandyourpassion,enjoywhatyoudo,andcreateuniquevaluetoyourworld.
Welcome to Day 10
Welcometoday10of30DaysofGettingResults.Inday9,welearnedhowtofocusand
prioritizeusingMUST,SHOULD,andCOULD.Todaywelearnhowtorefocusthetimeand
energywealreadyspendawayfromtheactivitiesthatmakeusweaktotheactivitiesthat
makeusstrong.Itstimetounleashourpossibilities.Forsomeofyou,thispostwillsing
directlytoyourheart,asifitsexactlywhatyouneed,righthere,rightnow.Youregoingto
changeyourworldinyourmostpowerfulway,,.,youregoingtochangehowyouspendyour
timeandyoullhaveanewlensforunleashingyourbest.
Ifthereisonethingtorememberasyoureadthis,itsthisGiveyourbestwhereyouhave
yourbesttogive.
Iftherearesomanybenefitstobeingonyourstrengthspath,andspendingmoretimeinyour
strengths,thenwhydoesnteverybodyjustdoit?Becauseitrequiresselfawarenessandyou
havetoownit.Nobodycomesalongandputsyouonyourstrengthspath.YOUhavetoown
it.YOUhavetocontinuouslyfindwaystospendmoretimeinyourstrengths.Onlyyouknow
trulywhatmakesyoustrongandwhatmakesyouweak.Youhavetodecideyouwantto
spendmoretimeinyourstrengthsandyouhavetobedeliberateaboutspendinglesstimein
yourstrengths.
Yourethearchitectofyourlife.Buildafirmfoundation.Designhowyouspendyourtime
effectively.Spendyourtimeonyourstrengths.Limityourtimeonyourweaknesses.Ifyouget
knockeddown,getupagain.Staythepath.Focusonfindingyourstrengthsandfindingways
toleveragethem.Expectalearningcurve,butknowthatthisisthehighROIpath.
Wheneveryougetrundownorfeeloverwhelmedanddrained,thereisagreatchancethatyou
arenotspendingenoughtimeinyourstrengthsandyourenotonyourstrengthspath.
Youllgrowfasterinyourstrengths.Intodaysworld,youhavetooutpaceyour
problemsandgiveyourbestwhereyouhaveyourbesttogive,tosucceedinanysituation,flow
amazingvaluetoyourselfandothers,andfindasustainablewayforgettingresultsin
everythingyoudo.
Ifyouspendthebulkofyourtimeinyourweaknesses,thenyouarestackingthedeckagainst
you,andevenifyouimproveyourweaknesses,youwillneverachievethepowerfulforceof
growingyourstrengths.
Giveyourbestwhereyouhaveyourbesttogive.
Whenyoufindthat,itsyouruniquecontributiontotheworld,andwhenyouspendtimein
yourstrengthsitsyourgrowth,renewalandpassioninaction.Ofcourse,thetrickistofind
somethingwhereyoucanbethebestintheworldat,andthetrickthereisitsYOURworld,
sinceitsallrelative.
Herearesomekeypoints:
Lightthingsupyourway.Imafanofbemoreofyourselfwithskillandgiveyourbest
whereyouhaveyourbesttogive.Itsallaboutbringingyourselftothepictureandlighting
thingsupthebestwayyoucan.
Amplifyyourresults.ItlinesupnicelywithwhatIvelearnedtobetruedrivebyyour
why,liveyourvalues,andplaytoyourstrengthsandgiveyourbestwhereyouhaveyour
besttogive.
Renewyourselfandliftothersup.Ithinkitsimportantthatyougiveyourbestwhereyou
haveyourbesttogive,otherwise,youcandrainyourself.Ithinkrenewalanddowntime
andtakingcareofyourownbasicsbuildsafirmfoundationforliftingothersup.
Focusonthevitalfewactivitieswhereyoucanreallygiveyourbest.Focusonstrengths
overweaknesses.Youllgetmoreresultsbyimprovingyourstrengthsthanimprovingyour
weaknesses.
Spendlesstimeinyourweaknesses.Limitthetimeyouspendinyourweaknesses.Find
waystooffloadmoreofyourweaknessessoyoucanspendmoretimeinyourstrengths.
Fighttospendmoretimeinyourstrengths.Dontletthechangesaroundyou,causeyou
tolosesightoftheactivitiesthatmakeyoustrong.Dontletyourselfgetcaughtupin
activitiesthatweakenyou.
Getbackonyourhorse.Sometimeswegetknockedoffourhorse.Wemaynothave
realizedhowbeautifultheridewasorhowwellwewereriding.Wewerecaughtupinthe
rideanditwasgreat.Butsomethingchanges.Theridenolongerfeelsrightandweno
longerfeelstrong.
Steps Checks
Step1Map
OutYour
Weaknesses.
Canyouidentifythetop3activitiesthatmakeyoutheweakest?
Canyouidentifythetypesofworkthatmakeyouweak?
Canyouidentifywhodrainsyouandwhocatalyzesyou?Whatsthepattern?
Step2Map
outYour
Strengths.
Canyouidentifythetop3activitiesthatmakeyoustrong?
Canyouidentifythetypesofworkthatmakeyoustrong?
Canyouidentifythepatternsofpeoplethatcatalyzeyou?
Step3Design
aStrongWeek.
Haveyoueliminatedasmanyoftheactivitiesthatmakeyouweakasyou
can?
Haveyoufoundawaytoaddafewactivitiesthatmakeyoustronger?
Haveyouconsolidatedyourweaknessesasbestasyoucan?
Reviewing the Map of Your Week from a Strengths Standpoint
Usuallywhathappensisyoufindoutthatyouhaveascatterchartallovertheweekofspending
timeinyourweaknessesandspendingtimeinyourstrengths.Thekeyistoconsolidateyour
weaknessessothatyoucaneitherspendlesstimeinthem,getthemoffyourplate,orpairup
withotherpeople,orfindawaytoenjoythem.Theotherkeyistoaddmoreactivitiesthat
giveyoustrengthtoeachandeveryday.Thisisthesecretofrenewalandboundlessenergy
formakingthingshappeninyourlife.
Example of a Strong Week
Hereisanexampleofdesigningyourweektoconsolidatethatthingsthatmakeyouweak,
whiledoingmoreofwhatmakesyoustrong:
Your Assignment
1. Findyourstrengthsandwritethemdowninwaysthatsingtoyourheartandputprecision
onwhattrulymakesyoustrong.Yourdonewhenyourlistfeelslikeashortlistofyour
superskills.
2. Mapoutyourstrengthsandweaknesses.
3. Findcreativewaystoeliminate,consolidate,orreducetheactivitiesthatmakeyouweak,
andfindawaytospendatleastonemorehourperweekinsomethingthatmakesyou
strong.Tradeupspendingtimeinyourweaknessesinfavorofspendingmoretimeinyour
strengths.
Simplicityistheultimatesophistication.LeonardodaVinci
Your Outcome
Simplifyyourdaybygettingridofthehurdlesandpersonalobstaclecoursesthatareinyour
waythroughouttheday.Doingyourdailychoresorcommontasksshouldntbeajungle
gym.Itshouldbeaglidepath.
Makeyourdayawholeloteasierbyeliminatingorreducingthefrictioninyourday.Establish
frictionfreeglidepathsthatsupportyouthroughoutyourentireday.Byreducingthefriction
andsimplifyingyourdailyroutinesandcommontasks,youmakeiteasiertoglidethroughyour
results.
Welcome to Day 11
Welcometoday11of30DaysofGettingResults.Inday10,welearnedhowtofeelstrongall
weeklong.Today,welearnhowtoreducethefrictioninourday,andmakeiteasiertodothe
commonthingswedo.Thiswaywespendlessenergyonlittlethingsgettinginourway,sowe
havemoreenergyandfocustotacklethebigthings.
Dontdiethedeathofa1000papercutsthroughoutyourday!
Allthelittlefrictioninourdaycanwearusdown.Dontcomplainaboutthestuffinyourway
dosomethingaboutit.Yourglidepathswillreallyhelpyouondayswhenyourerundown,or
yourerunninglate,andyoureallyneeditmost.
Therearemany,manywaystocreateglidepathsinyourday.Thesearejustsomerandom
ideastogetyourstarted.Getcreative.Youprobablyalreadyknowwhatyouneedtodo,you
justhavetodecidetodoit.Thisisworthmakingtimeforsinceitpaysyoubackthroughout
yourday,anditpaysyoubackeverydaywithinterest.
Your Assignment
1. Identifyyourworstfrictionpointsinyourday.
2. Createthreeglidepathstosimplifyyourday.Pickanyroutinesorcommontasksthatyou
wanttomakeeasierforyourself.
Ourchiefwantissomeonewhowillinspireustobewhatweknowwecouldbe.Ralph
WaldoEmerson
Your Outcome
Becomeaproductiveartist.Findwhetheryouareastarterorafinisherandimprove
yoursuccessineverythingyoudo.
Somepeoplearenaturalstarters.Theyliveforthecreativebeginningofprojects,butnotthe
daytodayexecutionorthedetailedfollowupandfollowthrough.Somepeoplearenatural
finishers.Theylikethedaytodayworkandtheroutineexecution.Whenstartersand
finisherspairup,everybodywins.
Welcome to Day 12
Welcometoday12of30DaysofGettingResults.Inday11,welearnedhowtoreducefriction
andcreateglidepathsforyourday.
Today,welearnhowtofigureoutourstrengthsandweaknesseswhenitcomestoproductivity
usingProductivitypersonas.ThebeautyisthatyoucanProductivitypersonastogetabetter
lensonyourself,yoursituation,orpeopleyouworkwith.Withthislens,youcanbemore
effectiveandgetbetterresultsinanysituation,whetheritsaonemanbandorpartofateam.
Anotheroneofmyfriendsisgreatatfinishingthings.Heisamasteratknowingthedetailsand
beingcomplete.Wordsthatcometomindarethorough,attentiontodetail,responsible,
seesthingsthrough,yougettheidea.Whathelacksingettingthingsstarted,hemakesup
forinbringingthingstocloseandgoingthelastmile.Heisafinisheratheart.
Whenastarterandfinisherpairuplookout.Greatthingshappen.Thefastestwaytosuck
yourlifeforceoutofanyoneistoalwaysplaythefinisherrolewhenyoureastarter,or
alwaysplayastarterrolewhenyoureafinisher.
Ifyourefeelingdrainedorlikeyourespinningyourwheelsorsimplynotmakingtheimpact
youknowyoucanmake,thismightjustbeyourtickettofaster,simpler,andbetterresults.
RemembertousetheProductivityPersonasasalens.Thelabelsareforbehaviors,notfor
limitingorboxinginpersonalities.Anybodycandemonstrateanyofthebehaviorsatanytime.
Persona Notes
Achiever Likestoaccomplishthings.
BigPicture Seestheforestfromthetrees.Likesthebigideasanddoesntwanttogetlostintheminut
CanDo Findsaway.Wheretheresawill,theresaway,andtheyllfindit.Itmaynotbetheoptim
solution,buttheyllfindaworkaround.
Controller Likestocontrolthings.ThiscouldbetheDoers,theproject,ortheirworld.
Critic Findsthefaults.Theyllfindwayswhyyoucantorwhyitswrong.Theyllcritiquethemselv
theirwork,ortheirideas.Anythingisfairgame.
Daydreamer Likestodreamupbetterwaysforbetterdays.Theydratherdreamthando.Theydontha
toactontheirdreamstoenjoythem.
Details Lovesthedetailsandwillwanttoseethingsthrough.Dotstheisandcrossesthets.They
passionateaboutspreadsheets.
Doer Doestheirjob.Theytendtogettheirjobdone.Theymaynotcomeupwithnewideas,but
theyhaveapreferencefortakingaction.
FactsandFigures Isanumbersperson.Theywantquantifiablemeasurements.LikeDetails,theytoolike
spreadsheets.
Finisher Bringsthingstoclosure.Effectivefinishers,completethingsandmoveon.Isafitandfinish
typeofperson.Itsfinishedwhentheysayitsfinished.
Marketer Communicatesthevalue.Knowshowtosellideas.
Maximizer Findsthemaximumimpact.
Opportunist Findstheopportunityinanysituation.
Perfectionist Treatseverythinglikeaworkofart.Qualityistheirname,finishingisnttheirgame.Theyll
donewhenitsdone.Itwillbedonejustassoonasitsperfect.Wheneverthatis.
Procrastinator Findswaytoputofftotomorrow,whattheyreallyshoulddotoday.Theyonlysendbelated
birthdaycardssincetheyknowtheyllneversendthemoutontime.
Randomizer Turnstheirlatestpriorityintootherpeoplesproblems.
Simplifier Findsthesimplestpath.Stripsthingsdowntotheminimum.GoodenoughfornowisOKin
theirbook.
Starter Startsthingsbutdoesntalwaysfinish.Theirenergycomesfromthinkingupnewideasand
kickingthingsoff.Loveprototypinganidea,butoncetheyvefigureditout,theyrereadyt
moveontosomethingelse.
Thinker Isanideasperson.Thinkingiswhattheydobest.Analysisistheirgame,butdoingis
somebodyelsesgame.Theydonthavetoactontheirthoughtstoenjoythem.
Tinkerer Likestotinker.Theworldistheirsandbox.Dabbleshere,dabblesthere.
Using the Productivity Personas
SimplyfamiliarizeyourselfwithsomeofthevariousProductivityPersonas.Theycanhelpyou
whenyouneedtomakesenseofaproductivitychallengeorscenario,aswellastolearnmore
aboutyourself.Thekeyistobeawareofthepreferences,foryourselfandothers,andto
choosemoreeffectivebehaviorsaswellastooptimizeyourselfandothersinanysituation.
Your Assignment
1. Identifyyournaturalpreferencesintermsofastarterorfinisher.
2. IdentifythemostcommonProductivityPersonasorrolesthatyouplayinyourdaytoday.
3. Findonesimplethingyoucandotocomplementyournaturalproductivitypattern.
Dowhatyoucan,withwhatyouhave,whereyouare.TheodoreRoosevelt
Your Outcome
Learnhowtodealwithabarrageofincomingactionitemsanddemandsonyourtime.
Welcome to Day 13
Welcometoday13of30DaysofGettingResults.Inday12,welearnedhowto
useProductivityPersonastoanalyzeandimproveourresultsinanysituation.
Today,welearnhowtotriageanoverflowingplateofactionitemsandtasks.Triageisa
HealthyProcessofSorting,Sifting,andSelecting
What is Triage
Triageisaprocessofsorting,siftingandselectingwhattoworkon.Youmighthaveheard
aboutdoctorstriagingtheirincomingpatientsinemergencysettings.
WhenIfirstjoinedMicrosoft,Triagewasacommonpracticeourteamusedtodealwithour
incomingissues.Triagehelpedussortourbacklogsandqueuesofissuesintomoremeaningful
buckets.Wecouldntjustdoeverythingatonceandwecouldntkeepupwithourflowof
incomingrequests.Triaginghelpedusmoreeffectivelymakethemostofourtime,energy,and
resourceswehadonhandatthemomentagainstourincomingactions.
Triage in Practice
Iveusedtriagesuccessfullytodealwitheverythingfromdealingwithemail,todealingwitha
floodofincomingtasks,todealingwithagingbacklogsofactionitems,bothatthepersonal,
andtheteamlevel.
WhenIleadadistributedteam,Iuseemailtriageasanadhocandlightweightwaytogetthe
teamseyeballsquicklyfocusedonanissue.Isimplyaddemailtriagetothesubjectline,and
sendthemailoutwiththespecificissueorquestiontosortthrough.Ivealsousedtriageto
clearmyemailinboxandtokeepmyemailatzeroinboxforyears,andIveshownmanyothers,
includingteamsaroundMicrosoft,todothesame(andwehavealotofemailatMicrosoft.)I
affectionatelycallthisapproach,TheZenofZeroMail.Forthingsthatyouneedtoacton,
prioritize,orgetoffyourplate,triageisahealthyprocessofsortingandselectinginamore
mindfulway.
Reallywhatyouredoingissettingthestageforyoursuccess.Byhavingatimeforthings,and
havingthemonyourcalendarorinyourqueue,youcanfocusonwhatyouhaveinfrontofyou
withmoreconfidence,clarity,andconviction,knowingthatyouremakingthemostofwhat
youvegot.YoucanalsomoreeffectivelyprioritizewithMUST,SHOULD,andCOULD.
Youcanalwayscheckyouractionsagainstthebiggerpictureandwhatyouwantto
accomplish:Thisisjustastartingpointandyoullwanttocreateandtestyourownquestions
toseewhatworksforyou.
Byaddingtriagingtoyourbelt,younowhaveasimplementalmodelfordealingwithincoming
actionitemsmoreeffectively.
Thebeautyisnotjustthatitssimpleorthatitsprovenitsthateachdayyougetanew
chanceatbatafreshstart.
Eachdayyouwakeupisanotherchancetoaskthequestion,Whatarethreethingsyouwant
fortoday?andsoyouwriteyourstoryforward,onedayatatime.
Your Assignment
1. Whenanincomingactionitemcomesyourway,triageitanddecidewhethertoDo
It,QueueIt,ScheduleIt,orDelegateIt.
2. Triageoneofyourstacksofthingstodotowhackitdowntosize.
Thingswhichmattermost,shouldneverbeatthemercyofthingswhichmatterleast.
Goethe
Your Outcome
Maketimeforwhatsimportant.SpendmoretimeinwhatreallymattersinYOURlife,and
spendlesstimeinwhatdoesnot.Asoneofmyfriendsputsit,timeisallwehave.
Welcome to Day 14
Welcometoday14of30DaysofGettingResults,aseriesofpostswhereIsharewithyouthe
artandscienceofgettingmoreeffectiveresultsfrommybook,GettingResultstheAgile
Way.Inday13,welearnedhowtotriageouractionitemswithskilltochopourbacklogsor
overflowingplatesdowntosize.
Today,welearnavitalkeytosuccessfulandeffectivetimemanagement.Welearnhowto
maketimeforwhatreallymattersinourlife,adayatatimeandamomentatatime.
Youdonthavetime,youmaketime.Ifyoudontmaketimeforwhatsimportant,itdoesnt
happen.
Youllnevergetoffthetreadmillorstoptreadingwater,unlessyoudecideto.Thatswhatthis
seriesofmodulesisallabouthelpingyougetresults,enjoythejourney,andmakethemost
ofwhatyouvegotwithskill(versusjusthopingforthebestortryingharderorwishful
thinking.)
Theteacherreachesunderthetable,pullsoutsomegravel,andaddsthegraveltothejar.The
gravelfillsthespacesbetweentherocks.Theteacherasksagain,Isthejarfull?Somenod
theirhead.
Theteacherthenaddssandtothejarfillinguptheremainingspaces.Theteacherasks,Isthe
jarfull?Theclassisontohimnowandsays,No.
Good,theteacherreplies,andheproceedstopourwaterintothejaruntilitsfilledtothe
brim.
Theteacherasks,Whatsthepointofthisillustration?Oneofthestudentsrepliesthatno
matterhowfullyourscheduleis,youcanalwaysfitmorethingsin.
No,theteacherresponds.Thepointisthis:
Ifyoudontmakeroomforthebigrocks,youllneverfitthemin.
Thedefaultpatternistotryandfittheminwithallyourexistingroutines.Amorepowerful
approachistomaketimeforyourthreeresultstodayandoptimizearoundthat.Thismight
meandisruptingotherhabitsandroutinesyouhave,butthisisagoodthing.Themoreyouget
inthehabitofmakingtimeforwhatsimportant,themoreyoullgettheresultsyouwant.If
yourenotgettingtheresultsyouwantyoucanstartaskingbetterquestions.Forexample,are
youinvestingenoughtime?Areyouinvestingtherightenergy?Maybetheapproachisoff.
Justmaybe,adifferentthinghappens.Maybeyoustartaccomplishingtheresultsyou
*thought*youwanted,butyoudontlikewhatyouget.ThegrassisNOTalwaysgreener.Now
youcanstepbackandaskwhetheryourechoosingtherightoutcomesorstoriesforwhatYOU
reallywantorreallyneedinyourliferightnow.
Whatareyourushingthroughfor?
Sometimesitsbecausepeoplearelate.Sometimesitsbecausetheyaremorefocusedonthe
goal,thanthejourney.Alotoftimes,itsbecausetheysimplydidntallowthemselvestobe
herenow,wherethismomentistheonethatreallycounts.
Itdoesntmeanbeingslow,unlessslowmakessenseforthesituation.Infact,Icanthelpbut
tothinkofJohnWoodenssaying,Bequickbutdonthurry!Forme,itremindsmetobe
deliberateandmindfulonhowIpacemyself.Icanbequickwithouthasteorrushingthrough
things,asifsomethingelseisalwaysmoreimportant,somewhereelse.
And,ofcourse,youcanalwayssimplyaskyourself,Whatareyourushingthroughfor?anddo
areset,atanymoment,atanytime.
Todays Assignment
1. MaketimeTODAYforsomethingyoureallywanttospendmoretimein,thatsimportant
foryou.Maybeitsassimpleasfeedingtheducks.Maybeitsspendingtimewithanold
friend.MaybeitsspendingmoretimelearningaboutGettingResultstheAgile
WayWhostojudge?Yourethejudge.Justremember,youretheonethatliveswith
theconsequencesofhowyouchoosetospendyourtimeeachmoment,eachday,every
day.Betheauthorofyourlife,andwriteyourstoryforward.Noregrets,justchoosingyour
ownadventurefromhereforward.
2. Stepbackandaskthetoughquestion,Whatareyourushingthroughfor?Iftheansweris
nothing,thenjustkickbackandenjoydoingwhateveryouredoingrighthere,rightnow.
Afterastormcomesacalm.MatthewHenry
Your Outcome
Quietthebuzzinyourmind.Achieveapeacefulcalmstateofmindthatisrelaxed,
responsive,andready.
Welcome to Day 14
Welcometoday15of30DaysofGettingResults,aseriesofpostswhereIsharewithyoua
simplesystemformeaningfulresultsfrommybook,GettingResultstheAgileWay.Inday14,
welearnedakeywaytomastertimemanagementbycarvingouttimeforwhatsimportant.
Today,welearnhowtoquietourmindandachieveapeacefulcalm.Fromthisvantage
point,youllseethingswithmoreclarity,youllfeelcentered,andyoullthinkyourbest
thoughts.Youllalsofinditeasiertoquietyourmentalchatter,andjustbeinthe
moment.Youlldirectyourattentionwithskill.
Forthatbriefmoment,yourmindiscaptivatedbytheexperience.
Yourmindisempty,butfullyalert,fullyaware,andnotdistractedbyanymentalchatterorany
ofyourheadmovies.Insteadofreplayingscenesinyourmind,youarethemovie.
WhenIthinkofpeacefulcalm,wordsthatcometomindare:tranquil,centered,serene,
andpeaceful.IalsothinkofaseriesofRwords
including:restful,resourceful,relaxed,responsive,andready.
Anemptymindisapowerfulone.Itsreadyforaction.Itsrelaxed,ready,andresponsive.
Whenyourmindisrelaxed,youcantakeininformationwithlessdistortion.Youre
connectedtoyouremotions,butratherthanbeingoverwhelmedorrandomized,itsmore
likeusingyouremotionsasinput.
Whenyourmindisready,youareresponsive.Youareabletoeasilyseethesituationand
respondwithskillinsteadofreactoutoffearoranxiety.
Whenyourmindisresourceful,youareabletoeasilythinkthethoughtsthatserve
you.Yourcreativemindisreadytosolveproblemswithyouinsteadofworkagainstyou.
Todays Assignment
1. Getagoodmentalpicturethatyoucanusetogettoyourpeacefulcalm.Remembera
timewhenyourmindwasatitsmostrelaxed,ready,andresourcefulstate.Reallygeta
goodpictureinyourmindofthisexperience.Noticewhatitfeelslike.Walkyourfive
sensesonebyone(site,hearing,touch,smell,taste):Whatdoyousee?Whatdoyou
hear?Whatdoyoufeel?Whatdoyousmell?Whatdoyoutaste?Forexample,if
yourimageisonthebeach,youmightseathewaveslapagainsttheshore,youmighthear
theseagulls,youmightfeelthesandbetweenyourtoesandthewarmsunonyour
shoulders,youmightsmelltheboardwalk,andyoumighttastethesaltintheair.Simply
walkingyoursenseswilldramaticallyimproveyourabilitytofullyrememberthe
feeling.Themoreyoupracticethebetteryouget.
2. Writedowneverythingthatsbuzzingaroundinyourbrain.Whetheritsthingsthatare
buggingyouorideasthatkeepfloatingaround.Justemptyitandkeepemptyingituntil
youvegotitalldown.Breatheasighofrelief.Yourelookingatyourmindonpaper.
3. Makeatimeandaplaceforthings.Forthethingsthatyoureallyhavetodealwith,create
anappointmentwithyourself,addittoyourschedule,andwhenevertheissuecomesup,
reminderyourselfthatyouhaveanappointmenttodealwithit.
Todifferentminds,thesameworldisahell,andaheaven.RalphWaldoEmerson
Your Outcome
YourOutcome:Findthemetaphorsthatempoweryourforyourbestresultsinworkand
life.Useinspiringmetaphorstomakemeaningandenjoythejourneyandyour
destination.Thisisyourwaytogetonyourpathorbackonyourhorseorgetupto
batandmakethemostofwhatyouvegot.
Welcome to Day 16
Welcometoday16of30DaysofGettingResults.Inday15,welearnedhowtoachievea
peacefulcalmstateofmind.
Today,welearnhowtousemetaphorstofindourmotivationanddrive.Metaphorsarea
simplewaytoaddjuicetoyourlife.Byusingmetaphors,youcanempoweryourselfmore
effectively,andcreatemoremeaningfulandcompellingsituationsandcircumstances.When
youusemetaphorsthatconnecttoyourvalues,youfindwaystoturnordinarysituationsinto
extraordinarysituations.Forexample,Idontdriveaproject,Ileadanepic
adventure.Adventureisoneofmyvalues,soItryandconnecttoitwhereverIcan.
Inyourlife,itsyourstoryandyouarethedirector.Youchoosewhattopointyourcameraat
andthemeaningyoullmake.Metaphorshelpyoushapeyourstory.
Why Metaphors
Metaphorshelpsusshapealanguageandthepicturesweholdinourminds.Creatingavision
andholdingitinourheadswilltendtosteerustowardstheemotionsandfeelingsthatwe
associatewithsuchapicture.
Whetherornotthepictureisanaccuraterepresentationofwhatwearerelatingitto,wetend
tocreatethatpictureanywayandtheemotionsthatgoalongwithit.Itthereforehasa
tendencytobecomereality,atleastonanemotionallevel.Thebottomlineis,metaphors
shapeyouroverallexperience,filterwhatyouperceive,andinfluencehowyoumakemeaning.
Youarethemostimportantmeaningmaker(andperhapsnotalwaysthebest,especiallyifits
bydefaultandnotbydesign).Chooseyourmetaphorsthoughtfully;hereswhy:
Theyshapeyourexperience.
Theyempoweryoutochangehowyouthinkandfeel(andyourthinkingandfeelingimpact
yourdoing).
Theyhelpyoumakemeaning.
Example Metaphors
Herearesomecommonmetaphors:
PositiveMetaphors NegativeMetaphors
Chippingawayatthestone
Expedition
Eyeofthetiger
Grabthebullbythehorns
Mission
Yourshiphascomein
Yourshipissailingandyoureonit
Hittingawall
Lifesucksthenyoudie
Swimmingupstream
Thatshiphassailed
Upthestreamwithoutapaddle
Uphillbattle
Youreonyourown
Whetherametaphorispositiveornegativeisuptoyou.Forexample,mostpeoplewould
probablythinkofanuphillbattleasnegative.Thenagain,somepeoplemightlikethe
challenge.Ultimately,itsyourcontextandhowyouthinkaboutaparticularmetaphorthat
decideswhetheritspositiveornegative.
Youcanusemetaphorsforyourselfandforlife.
Contrastthatsomeofsomedisempoweringornegativemetaphors.Youcanusemetaphorsto
morepurposefullyshapetheexperiencesyouwanttocreate.ForexampleAreyouanold
dogoralifelonglearnerorforeveryoungoryoungatheartordoyouagelikeafine
wineandgetbetterwithage?Thechoiceisyours.
Ifyouseelifeasatragedy,itbecomesone.Ifyouseelifeasagame,youmighttryandfindout
howtowin.Iflifeisacomedy,thenmaybeeverydayislikeyourfavoritesitcom.Iflifeisa
dance,maybeyoufindwaystoseegraceorbeautyinyourselfandothers.Iflifeismagic,then
youfindthewonderintheworldandyouenjoyseekingoutmysteryandpossibility.
Todays Assignment
1. Findanempoweringmetaphorforyoursituationorcircumstance.
2. Findanempoweringmetaphorforyourselforwhatyoudo.
3. Findanempoweringmetaphorforlife.
Rememberthatthekeytoasuccessfulmetaphoristhatitmotivatesyouandhelpsyourespond
toanychallengethatcomesyourwayorsucceedatwhateveryoudo.Itsnotwhetheritmakes
sense,itshowitmakesyoufeelandtheresultsyouget.Measureandtestyourmetaphors
againstpersonaleffectivenessasyourultimateyardstick.
Theenergyofthemindistheessenceoflife.Aristotle
Outcome
AddPowerHourstoyourweekanduseyourbestenergyforyourbestresults.Byguarding
yourpeakhoursthroughouttheday,andapplyingthemwhereyouneeditmost,you
dramaticallyimproveyourabilitytoachievefaster,better,andeasierresults.
Welcome to Day 17
Welcometoday17of30DaysofGettingResultsbasedonmybook,GettingResultstheAgile
Way.Inday16,welearnedhowtousemetaphorstofindourmotivation.
Today,welearnhowtoincreasethenumberofpowerhourswehavethroughouttheweek.By
addingPowerHours,wekeepourenergystrongandweachievemorethanwouldnormallybe
possible.
ThebeautyofthePowerHouristhatItsasmallblockoftime.ItsYOURpeakhourandits
YOURforcemultiplier.Youcandeliberatelyturnmoreofyourhours,intoyourpeakhoursto
multiplyyourresults.
Ifyourealreadyworkingontherightthings,therightway,Icantthinkofanystronger
multipliertoyourdaythanusingyourbestenergytoamplifyyourresults.
Basically,youcanthrowmoretimeatsomething,oryoucanchangeyourapproachoryour
technique,oryoucanchangetheenergyoreffortyouapply.Thekeyistospendtheright
time,ontherightthings,therightway,withtherightenergy.Thatsthetruesecretoffaster,
simpler,easierresults.
ThemainreasontoaddPowerHourstoyourweekistogetleveragefromthetimeandenergy
youalreadyspend.Ifyouveeverthrowntimeatyourproblems,orhadyourworkfeellikeit
stretchesonandon,oryouvegonethroughthemotionsbutdidntfeellikeyouweregetting
anywhere,thenyouknowexactlywhyyouneedtoaddmorePowerHourstoyourweek.
WhenIfirstcountedupmyPowerHoursfortheweekseveralyearsback,IfoundIhadaround
four.IwasprettyupsetuntilIcheckedwithotherpeopleandfoundouttheywereluckyifthey
hadthat.IcanhappilysaythatbydeliberatelyfocusingonaddingPowerHourstomyweek,I
haveaminimumoffourPowerHoursperday.Thishelpsmeachievealotmorewithlesstime,
andspendmybestenergywhereIneeditmost.Thiswasmykeyforexponentialresults.
Todays Assignment
1. IdentifyyourcurrentPowerHoursfortheweek.Findtherecurringrhythmsand
patterns.Itmightbejustbeforebreakfastorrightafter,ormaybeitsafterlunch.Lookto
whereyoufeelyourbestduringtheday.
2. Guardyourpowerhours.FindawaytofreethosePowerHoursbackupsothatyoucanuse
themeitherforgettingyourworkdoneormakingyourideashappenorblastingthrough
barriers.
Creativityisallowingyourselftomakemistakes.Artisknowingwhichonestokeep.Scott
Adams
Your Outcome
AddmoreCreativeHourstoyourweek.Letyourideasandimaginationcomeouttoplay,
whileyouuncorkyourcreativegeniusandflexyourcreativemind.
Welcome to Day 18
Welcometoday18of30DaysofGettingResults,basedonmybook,GettingResultstheAgile
Way.Inday17,welearnedhowtoaddPowerHourstoyourweek.
Today,welearnhowtoaddcreativehourstoourweek.Withourcreativehours,wecan
innovateorthinkofnewideasorworkonourcreativeart.
Ifyourethecreativetype,thiswillbeespeciallyimportant.Ifyoudontthinkofyourselfasvery
creative,thensimplythinkoftheseasfreehourstoletyourmindwanderandexploreor
reflect.
YoumightfindthatCreativeHoursareyourperfectbalancetoPowerHours.Youmightalso
findthatyouthrivebestwhenyouaddmoreCreativeHourstoyourweek.Ultimately,you
mightfindthatyourPowerHoursfreeuptimeforyourCreativeHours,orthatyourCreative
HourschangethegameandimproveyourPowerHours.
YourpowerhoursmightalsobehowyouleverageyourideasfromyourCreativeHours.Test
yourresults.
Youcanusethesepatternsasalenstohelpyoubetteridentifywhenyouareinyourmost
creativestate.Keepinmindthatthenatureofyourworkwillinfluenceyourpattern.
Thekeyinallthisissimplybeingmoremindfulofwhenyouareatyourcreativebest,and
findingwaystoexperiencemoreofyourcreativemindsetbydesigninsteadofjustluckinginto
it.Experimentandtesttofindwhatworksforyou.
Todays Assignment
1. IdentifyyourCreativeHours.
2. CreatemorespaceforyourCreativeHours
Day 19 Who are You Doing it For?
Beautyisaltogetherintheeyeofthebeholder.?LewWallace
Your Outcome
Figureoutwhothethingsyoudoarereallyfor.Seehowwhethertheworkyoudoisactually
abovethelineorbelowthelineintermsofwhetheryouregettingahead,orjust
treadingwater.
Welcome to Day 19
Welcometoday19of30DaysofGettingResults.Inday18,welearnedhowtoaddmore
creativehourstoyourweek.
Today,welearnhowtogetclarityonwhotheworkwedoisreallyfor.Withgreatclarity,
comesgreatconviction.Whenyouknowwhoyouareactuallydoingthingsfor,youcancheck
whetherwhatyouredoingisreallyvalued,orifthereissomethinghigherpriority.Youcan
theninvestmoreofyourtimeandenergyinthingsthathavemorevalue.More
importantly,youcanbettermapthevalueyoucreatetowhatpeopleactuallycareabout,
includingyourself.Whensomethingyoudoisactuallyforyou,makesureitswhatyoureally
value.Whensomethingyoudoisforsomethingelse,makesureitswhattheyreallywantor
careabout.
Thisonesimplepracticewillhelpyouavoidcrossedexpectationswithyourselfandothers.
Itwillalsohelpyouavoidfeelingunderappreciated,anditwillalsohelpyouactuallyflowmore
valueforyourselfandothersonaregularbasis.Alittleclaritygoesalongway.
Acommonscenarioonateamiswheresomebodyspendsalotoftimerampingupand
learning.Theyarentactuallydeliveringvaluefortheteamyet.Theygetfrustratedthatthey
dontfeelappreciatedandtheysayhowmuchtimetheyvespentlearningorfiguringthingsout
orworkinghard.Thelenstheyaremissingisthattheyarejustdoingwhatsexpectedwhichis
belowtheline,andtheyhaventrisenabovethelineyet.Theyneedtoseethat,atthat
stageoratthispointintime,thevalueisactuallyforthemandthatitstheirowngrowth.
Theimportantthingisforyoutohaveanappropriateframeofreferenceforthevalueofwhat
youredoing.Ifyoudontfeelappreciatedforwhatyouredoing,itjustmightnotbethat
valuabletosomebodyelse,oritmightjustbeexpected.Youalsomightfindthatyouresobusy
takingcareofeverythingthatyoucantgetyourheadabovewater.
Thefixisusuallyreprioritizingwhatsonyourplate,figuringoutwhattherealvaluesand
expectationsare,andresettingexpectationswithyourselfandothers.Thelastplaceyou
wanttobeisgrindingawayonsomethingthatneitheryounoranyoneelsewillvalue,orworse,
missingbasicexpectationsthatminimizesyouroveralleffectiveness.
Todays Assignment
1. Forthethingsthatareonyourplate,getclarityonwhotheyarereallyfor.Itsfinefor
thingstobebothforyouandotherpeople,butifitsforotherpeople,youmightwantto
checkwhethertheyactuallyvalueitorwouldprefersomethingelse.Dontbesurprisedif
whattheyvalueisnotthesameaswhatyouvalue.However,youcanoftenfindorcreatea
bridge.
2. Figureoutthethingsthatyoureallyneedtodoforyourself.Dothemguiltfree.Remember
thatthebetteryoucantakecareofyourself,thebetteryoucantakecareofothers.Builda
firmfoundationandaplatformforyourself,soyoucandogreatthingsandflowvaluefor
yourselfandothers.Onewaytoremindyourselfofsomeofyourbasicneedsisto
exploreMaslowsHierarchyofNeeds.
Therearenorightanswerstowrongquestions.UrsulaK.LeGuin
Your Outcome
Learnhowtoaskcuttingquestionstoinstantlystarthelpingyouimproveyourresults.By
askingkeyquestions,youcancutthroughthefogorcuttothechaseandfigureoutwhat
reallycounts.
Welcome to Day 20
Welcometoday20of30DaysofGettingResults,basedonmybook,GettingResultstheAgile
Way.Inday19,welearnedtoaskthequestion,Whoareyoudoingitfor?tohelpusget
clarityonwhywearedoingwhatweredoingandwhetheritisreallyvaluedandwhoactually
valuesit.Thisalsohelpsusmapthevaluebetter,whetheritsforourselvesorforsomebody
else.
Today,webuildonthisapproachofaskingquestions,toimproveourresults.
Askingcuttingquestionshelpsyouimproveyourabilitytoworkontherightthings,withthe
rightenergy,attherighttime,therightwayforYOURBESTRESULTS.
Askingbetterquestionsisanongoingprocess.Theonewhogainsthemostisyou.Yourability
toimprovethequestionsyouaskyourselfwillimprovethequalityofyourlifeinallareas.
Asyoucansee,therearelotsofreasonswhyimprovingyourquestionscanimproveyour
everydayexperienceinaverypracticalway.
Category Questions
General Aretherightpeopleworkingontherightthings?
Whatstherightthingtodo?
Whatsthebestplayforthisscenario?
Doesyourcontainerlimitorsupportyou?
Action Whatsthenextbestthingtodo?
Nextsteps?
Whataretheactions?
Whatsthesimplestthingyoucandonow?
Isyourcurrentactionmovingyourforwardsorbackwards?
Efficiency
andEffectiveness
Whatareyouoptimizing?
Isiteffective?
AreyougoingfasterANDintherightdirection?
GoalsandObjectives Whatdoyouwanttoaccomplish?
Whatarethetestsforsuccess?
Arethesereallyyourgoalsorsomeoneelses?
Learning Whocanyoulearnfrom?
Whatare3examplestomodelfrom?
Whatare3thingsgoingwell?
Whatare3thingstoimprove?
Motivation Doyouwanttodoit?
Doyouliketodoit?
Howcanyouenjoytheprocess?
Whatthoughtsaregettinginthewayofyourmotivation?
Canyoumakeadifferentchoicethatismoremotivating?
TimeManagement Howmuchtimedidyouspendonit?
Howmuchtimeshouldyouspendonit?
Isnowtherighttime?
Whatsgoodenoughfornow?
Areyouspending$20ona$5problem?
Howcanyoumanageyourenergytouseyourtimemoreeffectively?
Value Doesitmatter?
Isitsignificant?
Whofeelsithasvalue?You?Others?
Ifothersvalueit,doesitconflictoralignwithwhatyouvalue?
Your Assignment
1. Identifyonequestionyoucanaskyourselfthatcanhelpyougetbetterresults.
2. Identifyonequestionyouneedtostopaskingyourself,soyoucangetbetterresults.Finda
moreeffectivequestionyoucanreplacetheineffectivequestionwith.
WhenIletgoofwhatIam,IbecomewhatImightbe.LaoTzu
Your Outcome
Makethemostofyoursetbacks,failures,andlessons.Takethelessonsyoulearneach
week,carrythegoodforward,andusethemtorefineyourapproach.Lettherestgo.
Welcome to Day 21
Welcometoday21of30DaysofGettingResults,basedonmybook,GettingResultstheAgile
Way.Inday20,welearnedhowtoaskbetterquestionstogetbetterresults.Byaskingbetter
questions,wegetclarityonwhatcountsforourselvesandothers,andwefigureoutwhats
reallyvalued.
Today,welearnhowtofindthelessons,failfast,andfailforward.Thekeystorapidlearning
areturningfailuresintofeedback,carryingthegoodforward,andstayingcurious.Theworst
pitfalltofallintoisastateoflearnedhelplessness,whereyoushutdownorstartthinking
thatnomatterwhatyoutry,itjustwontwork.
Dontdwellonwhatyoudidwrongfigureoutwhatyoucandoright.
Justbecauseyoudontgettheresultsyouexpected,dontloseyourway.Oneofmyfavorite
remindersinPeacefulWarrioristhatawarriordoeswhattheylove,despitethesetbacksand
thechallenges.Theyfindaway.
Thatswhatmakesjudgingandcritiquingsoeasy,sinceyouhaveanewvantagepointandmore
information.Ratherthanusethevantagepointasacritic,turnyourinnercriticintoyour
personalcoachanduseyourfeedbackasawaytopaveapathforward.Youcanusequestions
tofindthelessons:
WhatdidIlearn?
HowcanImakethemostofthis?
HowcanIusethis?
Testyourresultsandfindthequestionsthatworkforyou.Ifyoureinasituationthatdoesnt
seemlikeitwillchange,thenchangeyourselffirstbyaskingthequestion,Ifthissituation
neverweretochange,whatstheonequalityIneedtomakethemostofthis?
Fail Forward
Turnfailuresintolessons.Dontjustask,WhydidIfail?Itsimportanttoalsoask,WhatdidI
learn?Carrythegoodforward.Asyougetintothehabitoffailingforward,youllfinditeasier
andeasiertoturnfailureintofeedback,whilelearningthekeylessonsandinsightthathelpyou
spreadyourwingsorbouncebackfastereachtime.
Get Up to Bat
Thisisoneofmyfavoritemetaphors.Yougetanewchanceatbateachday,eachweek,each
month,eachyear.Aslongasyoukeepgettinguptobat,youhaveanotherchance.
Ifyouregoingthroughchange,thenrememberthatchangeisaprocessandthatitmighttake
multipletimesormultiplechancestogetitright.Allowforthefactthatchangeishard.You
mightfailmultipletimes;justkeepgettingbackonyourhorse,learnfromeachsetback,and
carrythegoodforward.Dontbreakyourselfagainstyourowngoalsbybitingofftoomuchor
beatingyourselfovertheheadwiththem;instead,usethemtoliftyouandguideyourchoices.
Carrythegoodforward,andlettherestgo.
Your Assignment
1. Addthequestion,HowcanIusethis?toyourmentaltoolboxfordealingwithyour
setbacks,mistakes,andfailures.
2. Addthequestion,Ifthissituationneverweretochange,whatstheonequalityIneedto
makethemostofthis?toyourmentaltoolboxfordealingwiththeworstinyourlife.
3. Reframeyourfailuresasfeedback.Treatyourfeedbackasanendlesssupplyof
learningsandlessonsyoucanchoosetoacton,ignore,ormakethemostof.
4. EachFriday,findthethreelessonsyoucancarryforwardfromtheweek,intoyournext
week,tocreateyourmomentumandaspringboardforyoursuccess.
Letyourimaginationreleaseyourimprisonedpossibilities.RobertH.Schuller
Your Outcome
Designyourdaytosupportyouforsuccess.Learnhowtostructureyourdaytomakethe
mostofwhatyouvegot.Chunkupyourdayandavoidbeingoverwhelmed.
Welcome to Day 22
Welcometoday22of30DaysofGettingResults,basedonmybook,GettingResultstheAgile
Way.Inday21,welearnedhowtocarrythegoodforwardandlettherestgotofailforward,
failfast,andimproveaswego.
Today,welearnhowtodesignourdaywithskill.Bydesigningourdayinamindfulway,we
createjustenoughroutinestogiveusafirmfoundationandplatformforsuccess.Whenwere
havingagreatday,thesehabitsamplifyandcatapultoursuccess.Whenwerehavinganoff
day,thisfoundationwillhelpusdealwithwhateverlifethrowsourway,aswellasvaultour
keychallengesorhurdles.Itsallaboutgettingthesystemonourside,bydesign.
Ifeachdayislikeaplay,thenyouhaveabeginning,amiddleandanend,orthreeacts.What
rolesdoyouwanttoplay,andwhatdoyouwantyourdaytobeabout.Whetheritsfromthe
balconyorthedirectorschair,youneedtosetthestageforyoursuccess,onescene,oneact,
oroneplayatatime.
Youdriveyourdayoryourdaydrivesyou.
Unfortunatelyovertime,maybeyoustartedtothinkthatlifeisntasfullofpossibilitiesoras
limitlessasyouoncethought.Butwhatsreallylimitingyou?Youare,andallthelimitsyou
bringtoeachnewday.Baggagebringsyoudown.Dontpickupyourbagstoday.Travellight.
Testyourself.Testyourlimits.Chancesareyoullsurpriseyourselftimeandagain;justgive
yourselfachance.Ifthingsdontworkouttoday,thenyoucanstillwalkawaywithlessonsthat
willhelpyoushapeabettertomorrow.
AsIvebuiltteamsovertheyears,Iveaskedvariousteammembershowtheystarttheir
day.Normally,theywouldtellmewhattheydoatwork.Idsaybackup,startfromwhenyou
wakeupoutofbed.Iwassurprisedtofindhowvariedmanystartedtheirdaywiththenews
andtheiremail,evenbeforetheygottowork.Theywouldalsotellmehowthenewswould
eithermakethemfeelanxiousordepressed.Theywouldalsoberunningthroughtheiremails
intheirmindallthewaytowork.
Thatsthekeyrightthere.Bythetimeyoureatwork,itstoolate.Youreinthelineof
fire.Yourereacting.
ThekeyistouseyourStartupRoutinetocreateafirmfoundationforyourdaybeforeyoueven
gettowork.Itsnotaboutwatchingthenewsorcheckingyouremail.Itsaboutfirstdeciding
whatyouwantyourdaytobeaboutandwhatyouwanttoaccomplish.Nowyouarereadyto
respondinsteadofreacttothebarrageofinputsthroughouttherestofyourday,from
emails,tonews,topeoplestoppingbyandwhateverchangesyourcoursethroughoutthe
day.Becauseyoucreatedaquickminiplanforyourday,youcaneffectivelychoosehowto
respondandmakemoreeffectivetradeoffs,ratherthangetknockedaroundbywhatever
comesyourway.
Theresalotofresearchandopinions,butthemostimportantthingistofindwhatworksfor
you.Itslessaboutthespecificactivityyoudoanditsmoreabouthowitimpactsyouorhow
youreacttoit.Forexample,ifyouwatchacomedywherethemaincharacteralwaysgetsinto
astressfulsituation,andyouhavealotofempathy,maybethisisnotthebestthingforyou
beforebed.Thenagain,maybethehappyendingisjusttheperfecttensionandreleaseyou
needfortheperfectslumber.Testyourresultsandchangeyourapproachifitsnotworking.
Attheendoftheday,yourethemostimportantjudge.
Lastly,inadditiontohowyoufeelattheendofyourday,itsalsoimportanttonoticehowyou
feelwhenyouwakeup.Ifyourenotwakinguprefreshed,chancesarethatitswhatyoudid
thenightbeforethatmakesallthedifference(barringanymedicalconditions,ofcourse).So
goaheadandfindwhatworksforyou.Testsomenewpatterns.Getcreative.Exploreyour
results.
Rememberthatyourthreeoutcomesarenttasks.Youmighthavelotsoftasksthatrollupto
thesethreeoutcomes,butthesearethreeresultsyouwantfortheday.Forexample,fortoday
Iwantseeagoodmovie,haveagreatlunch,andshipapostthathelpspeoplemakethemost
oftheirlife,adayatatime.ThosearethelinesIvedrawninthesandformyday.Theyare
subjecttochange,buttheychartasimplecoursethatIcanchoosetodepartfrom,andtrade
uporscalebackwithskill.EvenifIdecidetodonothing,itstheartofmakingamoremindful
choicethatmatters.
Your Assignment
1. DesignaStartupRoutinethatworksforyou.Ownthewayyoustartyourday.Findthe
simplehabitsorroutinesthatunleashyourinnerTiggeroryourcorporatewarrioror
whateversupportsyouinthemosteffectiveway.
2. DesignaShutdownRoutinethatworksforyou.Ownthewayyouendyourdayandcapthe
night.Thisisoneoflifeslittlemomentsthatyoucanshapeeachdayinawaythatrenews
you.
3. UseTheRuleof3toshapethreestories,outcomes,orresultsforyourday,inaninspiring
way.Ownyourdestiny,astoryatatime.Rememberthatourfavoritecharactersinour
storiesdontalwayschoosetheadventuresorchallengestheyfindthemselvesin,butits
howtheyrespond,especiallywhentheygettested,thatwereallycareabout.
TimeisbutthestreamIgoafishingin.HenryDavidThoreau
Your Outcome
Designaweekthatsupportsyouinasustainableway.Havemoretimeforthethingsyou
want,spendlesstimeinthethingsthatyoudontwant,andaddmorefreetimetoyour
week.
Welcome to Day 23
Welcometoday23of30DaysofGettingResults,basedonmybook,GettingResultstheAgile
Way.Inday22,youlearnedhowtodesignyourdaywithskill.
Today,wetakeastepbackandlookathowtodesignyourweekwithskill.Yourweekisalarge
chunkoftimetogetahandleon.Bydesigningaweekthatsupportsyou,yousetyourselfup
forweeklyresults.Eachweekisafreshstart.Youcancarrythelessonsforwardfromoneweek
intothenext.Allyoureallyhaveistime,sothekeyistomakethemostofit.
Ifyouhaverecurringactivities,youprobablyaddedthemovertimewithoutrealizingit.Thats
aschedulebydefault,notbydesign.Seizetheopportunitynowtodesignaweekwhich
actuallysupportsyou.
Designingyourweekisoneofthesinglemosteffectivewaystoenhanceyourlife.
Imagineaweekwhereyouspendeachdayworkingontherightthingswiththerightpeople
andmakingtherightimpact.Imaginelookingforwardtothestartoftheweek,whetherits
becauseitsafreshstart,oritsachancetoexperiencemoreofwhatyouwant.Imagine
spendingmoretimeeachdayonthethingsthatmakeyoustrong,giveyouenergyandmake
youfeelpowerful.ImagineaweekfilledwithPowerHours,CreativeHours,andenoughfree
timethatyoufeelbalancedandeffective.Imagineaweekwhereyougetenoughsleep,get
enoughmovement,andhaveenoughenergytoaccomplishwhateveryouwant.
Thatisaweekbydesign.Itsnotjustaboutweeklyresultsitsaboutsustainableresultsfor
thelonghaul.
Thekeytorememberhereisthatnobodywillcomealonganddesignyourtimeforyouinthe
bestwaypossible.Youaretheultimatearchitectanddesignerofhowyouspendyourtimeina
waythatworksforyou.
Thishelpsgiveyouabalconyviewofyourweekataglance.
Itsasimple,yetconsistentpatternyoucancounton:
OnMondays,youenvisionwhatyoudliketoaccomplishfortheweek;yousimply
imagineifthiswasFriday,whatthreeresultswouldyoulikeunderyourbelt?
Eachday,youfigureoutthreeresultsforthedaythathelpyoumovetowardsyourthree
resultsfortheweek.Atthesametime,youstayflexiblesothatyourealwaysworkingon
thenextbestthingforyoutodo.
OnFridays,youreflectonyourresultsandyoucarrythegoodforward.
Thekeytorememberinallthisisitsnotaboutbeingaproductivemachine.Itsabout
spendingmoretimeonthethingsyouwant,drivingfromyourlifestyle,beingwhoyouwantto
be,andcreatingtheexperiencesyouwantinyourlife.
Free Yourself Up
Youcantuneandpruneyourweekfromhere,butsteponeissimplyhavingaweeklyschedule
thathassomesimplebuffersandboundariesandfreetime,tohelpyoutakethepressureoff,
andtobeyourmosteffectiveself.Whenyouspendtherightenergyontherightthingsthe
rightway,yougetthemdoneinwaylesstime.Thisfreesyouupinmultipleways,beyondjust
givingyousomehoursback.Itgivesyoupeaceofmindanditgetstimeonyourside.When
timeisonyourside,youareunstoppable.
Todays Assignment
1. Baselineyourschedule.Takethetimetomapoutyourweeklyscheduleandtakealook
fromthebalcony.
2. Scheduleyourfreetime.Ifyoudonthaveenoughfreetime,thesinglemosteffectiveway
youcanaddfreetimeistoaddmorefreetimetoyourschedule.Rememberthebigrocks
story?Firstmakeroomforyourfreetime,ifthatswhatsimportanttoyou,thenadd
thingsaroundthat.
Lifeisnotabouthowfastyourun,orhowhighyouclimb,buthowwellyoubounce.
Anonymous
Your Outcome
Bouncebackwithskillandrollwiththepunches.Learntodrawfrommultiplesourcesof
strengthandenergy,includingyourmind,body,emotions,andspirit.
Welcome to Day 24
Welcometoday24of30DaysofGettingResults,basedonmybook,GettingResultstheAgile
Way.Inday23,youlearnedhowtodesignyourweekwithskilltogetafreshstart,establish
routinesthatsupportandrenewyou,andspendmoretimeonthethingsthatcountforyou.
Today,welearnhowtobouncebackwithskill.Bouncingbackwithskillhelpsusrollwiththe
punches,refuelourbodies,andkeepoursparkalive.Itshowwekeepourenginegoingwhen
therestofussayswecantanditshowweshutdownorturnitoffsowecanbounce
backstronger.
Rememberthatinlife,itsnothowmanytimesyougetknockeddownitshowmanytimes
yougetbackup.
Attheendoftheday,yourabilitytobouncebackisuptoyou.Evenifyouuseacoach,a
therapistoranybodyelse,youstillhavetopairwiththemforyourbestresults.Knowinghow
todrawfromyourmultiplestrengthsiscrucialtoyoursuccess.
The Quantity, the Quality, the Focus, and the Force of Your
Energy
Youcanbetterfocus,shape,andamplifyyourenergywhenyouknowwhereitcomes
from.Youcanthinkofyoursourcesofenergyinasimplebuteffectiveway:bodyisquantity,
emotionsarequality,mindisfocus,andspiritisforce.Youenergyisthecombinationofyour
mind,body,emotions,andspirit.Ratherthandoingnothing,sometimestheanswerisdoing
somethingtoimproveyourenergyandrefuel.Forexample,itmightmeanspendingmoretime
inyourstrengthsordoingmoreofthethingsyouenjoy,orsimplylessofthethingsyou
dont.Sometimesthebestwaytobouncebackistoreallygiveyourselfsome
downtime.Sometimesitsaboutreducingyourexpectationsandgivingyourselfthetimeand
spacetorecover,orplayouttheprocess.
Mind
Yourmindishowyouframeandfocus.Itshowyouchoosewhattofocusonandwhatlensto
lookthrough.Thesameglasscanbehalfempty,orhalffull.Yourmindisyoursourceofself
talkthatcanbeinspiringordeflating.Youmindcanholdthepicturesthatliftyouuporbreak
youdown.Thescenesyousee,thestoriesyoutell,andyourbeliefscanalllimitorenableyou.
Body
Whetheryouthinkofyourbodyasyourtempleoryourfortressoryourmachine,youneedto
takecareofit,soitcantakecareofyou.Thereisastrongmindbodyconnectionandyour
bodyisastrongmultiplierwhenitcomestobouncingbackwithskill.Payattentiontoyour
ownpatterns.Forexample,afriendofminetoldmehesleptbetterwhenhecutdownhis
caffeineafter6pm.ItestedthisandfoundIsleptfaster,easier,anddeepertoo.Oneofthe
guidelinesforyourbodyistopushyourselfpastyourlimitstogrow,restandrecoverforyour
bestgrowth,respectyourcyclesofonandofforupanddown,andfeedyourneeds
(whetherthatsnutrition,hydration,rest,etc.)
Emotions
Emotionalupsanddownscanbetough,especiallyifyouhaveexceptionalemotionallows,or
exceptionalemotionalhighs.Oneofthemostimportantthingstodohereistoavoidlearned
helplessness.MartinSeligmanteachesusthattheworstthingwecandoismakethings
permanent,personal,orpervasive.Thewaytostayoptimisticistomakethebadthingsinlife
notpersonal,notpermanent,andnotpervasive.Thissimplelittlechangetoyourexplanatory
stylecanmakeacrucialdifferenceinyourabilitytobouncebackintheworstsituations.
Spirit
Youcanpracticeyourspiritualintelligenceasawaytofullyengageandliftyourspiritwhenyou
needitmost.ThemostusefulwayIfoundtothinkaboutspiritualintelligenceislivingyour
values,findingyouruniquecontribution,andshapingabetterversionofyourself.
Category Items
Stories 1. TheLittleEngineThatCould
2. TheWizardofOz
3. Rocky
4. TheKarateKid
Metaphors 1. Backonthesaddleagain.
2. Likearock
3. Likearubberball
4. Rollwiththepunches
5. You2.0
Category Items
Sayings 1. Makelikeaduckandletitrolloffyour
back.
2. Finishstrong.
3. Livestrong.
4. Godownswinging.
5. Dontgodownwithoutafight.
6. Takethebullbythehorns.
7. Whenthegoinggetstough,thetoughget
going.
8. Wheretheresawilltheresaway.
9. Ivenotyetbeguntofight.
10. Whateverdoesntkillyoumakesyou
stronger.
11. Standstrongwhentested.
12. Nopain,nogain.
13. Theresnofailure,onlyfeedback.
14. Itsnotoveruntilyougiveup.
15. Imdown,butnotout.
16. Illbeback.
17. Hopeforthebest,butprepareforthe
worst.
Songs 1. SurvivorsEyeoftheTiger
2. OzzysCrazyTrain
3. LincolnParksFaint
4. SteppenWolfsBorntoBeWild
5. QueensWearetheChampions
6. ChumbawambasTubThumping
7. INXSTheDevilInside
8. VanHalensJump
9. TPainsAppleBottomJeans
10. EltonJohnsImStillStanding
11. WhileLionsLittleFighter
Todays Assignment
1. Findoneofyourpastvictoriesinlifeandaddthattoyourmentalflipbookofscenesto
drawfromwhenyouneeditmost.
2. Findonemetaphortohelpyoutorepresenthowyoubouncebackinlife.
3. Findonesongoronesayingtohaveinyourmindthatyoucanuseasaonelinerreminder
totaketherightactionswhenitcounts.Forexample,onethatsomepeoplelikeisStand
strongwhentested.
Workexpandssoastofillthetimeavailableforitscompletion.ParkinsonsLaw
Your Outcome
Learnhowtomastertimemanagementandseteffectivetimelimitsforthingsandthenbite
offwhatyoucanchewwithinthattimelimit.Yourabilitytousetimeboxingandtime
budgetswillhelpyoumanageyourenergy,freeupyourtime,getmorethingsdone,and
achieveworklifebalance.
Welcome to Day 25
Welcometoday25of30DaysofGettingResults,basedonmybookGettingResultstheAgile
Way.Inday24,welearnedhowtobouncebackwithskillandtotodrawfromourfoursources
ofstrength(mind,body,emotions,andspirit.)Today,welearnthesinglemosteffectiveway
tomastertimemanagement.Itstheartoftimeboxing.Timeboxingisasimplewaytotreat
timelikeabudgetandchoosehowmuchtimetospendonthings.Thisishowyouavoid
throwinggoodtime,afterbadorworkingpastthepointofdiminishingreturns,orsimply
put,spending$20ona$5problem.
Ifyoureaprocrastinatororifyouhavestuffyouhatetodo,orifyoufallpreytoineffective
thoughtsorgetstuckinanalysisparalysis,orifyoufindyourselfalwaysrunninglateormissing
windowsofopportunity,thenthispostwillhelpyoutransitiontoamoreeffectiveapproach.
Theoppositepatternistosimplyworkonsomethinguntilyouredone.ThatpatternisFix
Scope,FlexTime.Basically,youkeepthrowingtimeattheproblemuntilyoueventuallydecide
itsdone.Thatpatternhasseveralproblems,includingthefollowing:
1. Younolongerhavethebenefitoftimetohelpyouprioritize
2. Youcannolongercountonhittingyourwindowsofopportunity
3. Youpotentiallyrunoutofsteamorgointoadeathmarchwithnoendinsightbeforeyou
actuallyfinish
4. Youendupthrowingtimeatproblems(timeexpandstofillitscontainer)
5. Youendupwithscopecreepbecauseofyourmovingtimelinethatjustkeepsmovingout
furtherandfurther.
TherightsizedtimeboxlargelydependsonwhatyoudeterminedinStep1.Youmightneedto
groworshrinkyourtimeboxdependingonwhetheryouretryingtobuildmomentum,show
resultsorjustmakeprogressonaproblem.
Irememberacolleaguesaying,WhatImhearingyousayisitsdonewhenitsdone.
Atthetime,thatseemedperfectlyreasonabletome.Afterall,somethingisdonewhenits
done,isntit?Theproblemwasthatnobodywassigneduptobetonsomethingthatdidnt
haveanenddate.Nobodywantedtokeepsupportingsomethingwheretheycouldnotseethe
endinsightandtheycouldnotseeanyresultsuntilafterIshipped,sometimeinthefuture.
Tomakealongstoryshort,Iendeduphavingtosetadateandbrutallycutscopetoshipon
time.MybiggestwakeupcallwasthatIdidntactuallyhavemuchcuttablescope(thingsthatI
couldeasilycutwithoutkillingthequality)andthattryingtowhittlesomethingdownwasfar
worsethanbuildingsomethingupwithatimeframeinmind.
ThatwashowIlearnedtogofromscopedriventotimedrivenandactuallytreattimeasa
firstclasscitizen.
Todays Assignment
1. Pickoneofyourdailyactivitiesthateatstoomuchtimeandsetatimelimitforit.For
example,oneofthebestmovesIdidlongagowasdecidethatIwouldnotspendmorethan
30minutesadayonemail(andIgetatonofemailatMicrosoftthatrequiresmyattention
andactions.)Thisonemoveforcedmetobothruthlesslyprioritizeandfindwaybetter
techniquestomanagemyemail.
2. Pickonethingthatyouvebeenspreadingoutovertoomuchtimeandcreateatimeboxfor
it.Maybeitsapetprojectthatyouwouldloveforittoseethelightofday.Maybeits
writeabook.Decidehowmuchmoretimeisworthspendingonit,atleastforastrawman
orwhateverisgoodenoughfornow.Maybeitsworthspendinganotherday,another
week,oranothermonth,etc.Whateverthetimeboxis,putyourstakeintheground.Then
decidethemostimportantthingstocompleteforyourprojectwithinthattime.Cherrypick
themostimportantvalue,andworkonthatfirst,untilyourunoutoftimeinyourtimebox.
Youdontovercomechallengesbymakingthemsmallerbutbymakingyourselfbigger.John
C.Maxwell
Your Outcome
YourOutcome:Solveyourproblemswithskill.Becomeaskilledproblemsolverandlearna
systematicwayforsolvingyourproblems.Turnevenyourworstlemonsintolemonade.
Welcome to Day 26
Welcometoday26of30DaysofGettingResults,basedonmybookGettingResultstheAgile
Way.Inday25,welearnedhowtofixtime,flexscopetogetthingsdoneontime,sliceour
workdowntosize,achieveworklifebalance,andflowvaluealongthewayversuswaitforabig
bang.
Today,welearnhowtosolveourproblemswithskillandtoframetheminawaythatinspires
action.Itsnotwishingourproblemsawaythatleadstoabetterlife.Itsfindingmoreeffective
waystodealwithwhatevercomesourway.
Ourabilitytosucceedinlifeisdirectlyrelatedtoourabilitytorespondtoourchallenges.
EventuallyIrealized,problemsareapartoflife.Theycomewiththeturf.Yourproblems
change,butyoullneverbefreeofproblems.Andeverybodyhasproblemsinsomeshapeor
form.Insteadoferadicateproblemsfrommylife,Icouldembracethemtakethebullbythe
horns.Atthatpoint,IdecidedthemosteffectivethingIcoulddoisbecomeaskilledproblem
solver.
Byfocusingonsolvingproblems,Ilearnedtotakeonbig,hairychallenges,andtoshapemylife
withmyskillsandabilities.Ialsolearnedhowtohelpothersdrasticallyimprovetheirproblem
solvingability.
Assimplisticasthisprocessmightappear,itscalesupanddownandyoucanuseitforpretty
extremechallenges.
InmyfinaldaysofDeveloperSupport,Ilearnedarecipeforsolvingproblemsinabetter
way.Whenacustomerreportedtheirproblem,ratherthanjustsolveithoweverIcould,I
wouldfirstenumeratethepatternsofsolutionsforthegivenproblem(drawingfromour
internalcollectionofsolutions.)Iwouldthenletthecustomerknowhowmanytimesthis
problemwassolved,identifythevarioussuccessratesforthedifferentpaths,andthen,witha
bettersenseofexpectations,letthemchoosewhichpathtofollow,basedontradeoffs.
Thisapproachhelpedmepairwiththecustomerandcocreatethesolution,andgodown
whateverpathmadesenseforthem,basedonwhattheywereoptimizingfor.More
importantly,bylettingthecustomerknowupfront,howmanytimesaproblemhadbeen
solved,itgavethemhopeandconfidenceversusthinkingtheywereoutonalimbandtheonly
oneintheworldwiththeirspecificproblem.Basically,Ilearnedhowtocastawidenetonthe
problem,enumeratesolutions,evaluatethebestpath,andmakebettertradeoffs,while
increasingmysuccessrate,andreducingtimespentonproblems.
Your Assignment
1. Pickoneofyourproblemsthatyoudliketosolveandwriteitdownashowto(suchas
howtogrowmyblogto10,000subscribers)
2. Findthreeexamplesofpeopleorsolutionsthatyoucanmodelfrom.
3. Pickonesolutiontotestandgetfeedbackasyouapplyit.Usethisfeedbacktohelpyou
shapeyoursolutionsorchangeyourapproach.
Bigdreamscreatethemagicthatstirsmenssoulstogreatness.BillMcCartney
Your Outcome
Immerseyourselfinsomethinggreat.Takeyourlifetothenextlevel.Dosomethinggreat
thatmattersforyouorsomeoneinyourlife.Goaboveandbeyondyourdailycallofduty.
Welcome to Day 27
Welcometoday27of30DaysofGettingResults,basedonmybookGettingResultstheAgile
Way.Inday26,welearnedhowtosolveproblemswithskill.
Today,wedecidetodosomethinggreat.
WhenIfirstjoinedthepatterns&practicesteamatMicrosoft,theyknewIcouldwritearticles,
buttheyquestionedwhetherIcouldwriteabook.WhentheyaskedmeifIcould,Isaid,I
dontknowbutIguessIhavetofigureitoutnowdontIsinceitspartofthejob.Atthat
point,Idecidedthatinsteadoffocusingonwritingabook,Iwouldfocusonsolvingsignificant
problems.IdecidedtowritetheultimateplaybookforbuildingsecureASP.NETapplications.I
decidedIwouldgiveitmyall,assembleateamofrockstars,andtackletheproblemlikeithad
neverbeentackledbefore.Isetmyeyesontheprizeand,asYodasays,ThereisDoordo
not.Thereisnotry.AsmyMomalwayssaid,wheretheresawilltheresawayandthats
howIcreatedtheveryfirstBlueBookforMicrosoft,severalyearsago.
Thelessonformewasthatyoujustdontknowwhatyourecapableof,untilyoupushpast
yourlimits.
Do It For a Month
Makeitamonthlongproject.Startatthestartofthemonth.Endattheendofthe
month.Youcanalsodoasecondrun,butfornow,giveyourselfamonth.Thisisntamarathon
anditsnotadeathmarchoranendlesspursuit.Justforthismonth,youdoputallyour
eggsinthisonebasket.Concentratedeffortamplifiesyourimpact.Becauseitsjustamonth,
youcanprioritizeitoverotherthings.Becauseitsjustamonth,andnotforever,youcangive
ityourall.Bymakingityourthemeforthemonth,ithelpsyoufocusandharnessallofyour
discretionaryenergy,focus,andtime.Thisisyoursecretrecipefordoinggreatthings.
Do It Daily
Todosomethinggreat,doiteveryday.Carveoutalittletimemoretimeeachday,toinvestin
yourgreatthing.Youdontknowwhenyourbreakthroughmighthappen.Serendipityisapart
oflifeandoftenapartofsuccessTeeupmorepossibilitiesinyourlife,adayatatime.
Eachdayisanotherchance.Doingsomethingeveryday,evenjustalittlebit,getseasierasyou
go,andhelpsbuildmomentum.Timeandagain,Ifoundthatdailyaction,evenbabysteps,is
howIconsistentlygotoverhumpsorcreatedbreakthroughs.
Your Tools
Youremakingthingshappenwithskillnow,soletmeremindyouofyourtools:
1. Mindsetsandmetaphors.Youcanswitchyourmindsetsbyswitchinghats.Putonyour
explorerhatoryoursolutionhatoryourthinkerhatoryourdoerhat.Usemetaphors
thatserveyou.Therightmetaphorcanhelpyoumovemountains.
2. AgileResults.Getthesystemonyourside.Byusingthethreestorieseachday,week,and
month,youreconnectingyourewiringyourmind,body,andemotionstoachievegreat
things,aswellasdealwiththesetbacks,andbouncebackstrongerandfastereachtime.
3. Storiesandchoices.Byusingstoriesandmakingmindfulchoicestodriveyourday,week,
andmonth,youbringtogethereverythingyouvegotinaninspirationwaytowriteyour
storyforwardandcarveoutmeaningfulresults.
4. Time.Foronce,timeisreallyonyourside.AgileResultsautomaticallyusestimeasa
foundationforbuildingmomentumandgettingresults.Youautomaticallycreatearhythm
ofresultsbypinningagainsttimeandridingtheday,week,andmonth,likeawaveorrolling
snowball.
5. Action.Takingactioniswhatmakesthingshappen.Actionisyourplaygroundandwhere
youtestyourideasagainstreality.Ifyouwantedtojustthinkyourwayintosomething,
thenyoumisstheride.Itsfinetobeadreamer.Itsfinetobeadoer.Howaboutbeinga
doerwithdreamsoradreamerthatdoes?
6. Reflection.Takethetimetoreflectonyourresults.WithAgileResultsthisisautomatically
bakedintoFridayReflection.Youcanalsodesignyourday,tocapeachdaywithsome
reflectiontime.Learningandrespondingishowyougetclosertoyourdreams.
Thepeoplethatdogreatthings,enjoythejourney,actionandall,theupsanddowns,andthey
enjoythedestination.Thesecrethereistodriveyouractionfromwhoyouwanttobeandthe
experiencesyouwanttocreate.Driveitfromyourlifestyle.
Peoplearentheroes,theydoheroicthings.Thepointis,dontmissthegoodbecauseofthe
bad,anddontgetcaughtupinputtingpeopleonpedestals.Dontputyourselfonapedestal
either.Instead,focusondoingagreatthingandgivingityourbestshot.
Dontletfearrunyourlife.Especiallyfearoffailure.Whatifyoutryandyoufail?So
what.Guesswhat?Ifyouhavetosucceed,thenyoureplayingthegameoflifewrong.Test
yourpossibilities.Growfromit.Embracetheexperience.Thatswhatlifeisallabout.Ifyou
gaveityourbestshot,you.Yougrewyourselfalittlemore,ormaybealot.butthatyoull
giveityourbestshot.
Thatshowtomakegreatthingsordogreatthingsandstayonfire.
Youneverfailunlessyougiveup.
Quotes on Greatness
Hereareafewwordsofwisdomtoaddtoyourmentaltoolboxoflife:
1. Ashumanbeings,ourgreatnessliesnotsomuchinbeingabletoremaketheworldthatis
themythoftheatomicageasinbeingabletoremakeourselves.MohandasGandhi
2. Askyourselfwhetherthedreamofheavenandgreatnessshouldbewaitingforusinour
gravesorwhetheritshouldbeourshereandnowandonthisearth.AynRand
3. Donotdespisethebottomrungsintheascenttogreatness.PubliliusSyrus
4. Donottrustpeople.Theyarecapableofgreatness.StanislawLem
5. Everyday,peoplesettleforlessthantheydeserve.Theyareonlypartiallylivingoratbest
livingapartiallife.Everyhumanbeinghasthepotentialforgreatness.BoBennett
6. Greatheroesneedgreatsorrowsandburdens,orhalftheirgreatnessgoesunnoticed.
PeterS.Beagle
7. Greatmenarerare,poetsarerarer,butthegreatmanwhoisapoet,transfiguringhis
greatness,istherarestofallevents.JohnDrinkwater
8. Greatnessisaroadleadingtowardstheunknown.CharlesdeGaulle
9. Greatnessisnotmeasuredbywhatamanorwomanaccomplishes,butbytheopposition
heorshehasovercometoreachhisgoals.DorothyHeight
10. Greatnesslies,notinbeingstrong,butintherightusingofstrength.HenryWard
Beecher
11. IalwaysknewIwasdestinedforgreatness.OprahWinfrey
12. Ifwecannotseethepossibilityofgreatness,howcanwedreamit?LeeStrasberg
13. Illusionsofgrandeurarenotthesameasvisionsofgreatness.EdwinLouisCole
14. Nooneeverachievedgreatnessbyplayingitsafe.HarryGray
15. Thegreatestthingyoucandointhisworldistomakethemostpossibleoutofthestuff
youvebeengiven.Thisissuccess,andthereisnoother.OrisonSwettMarden
Todays Assignment
1. FindyourEyeoftheTiger.Findoneoldmemoryoronementalpicturetoholdinyour
mindthatgivesyouyourEyeoftheTiger.
2. Picksomethinggreattodonextmonth.Teeyourselfuptostartatthebeginningofthe
monthandendattheendofthemonth.Itwillbeyourthemeorfocusforthe
month.Makesureitsgreatforyouevenifgreatforyou,meansdoingsomething
thatsgreatforsomebodyelse.Putthatfireinyourbellytogooduse.Aboveall,
rememberthatgreatisintheeyeofthebeholder,anditsallrelative.
3. Watchyourfavoritemoviethatalwayshasawayoflightingyourfire.
Ivereallyenjoyedtheemailfolkshavebeensendingmesofarabouttheirbreakthroughsand
theirturnaroundstoriesandevenhowforsomepeople,justtheirordinarydayshavebecome
extraordinary.Imalsowatchingthegoodnessspread.Iseefriendsinspiringotherfriendsand
itscontagious.Asonefriendputittome,theirpilotlightislitagain!Iseepeoplelifting
eachotherup,andthatshowweallstandontheshouldersofgiants.
Getreadytomakenextmonthoneofthemostexcitingchapterinthestoryofyourlife,asyou
continuetowriteyourstoryforward.Itwillbeepic.
Purposeiswhatgiveslifeameaning.CharlesH.Perkhurst
Your Outcome
Findyouronething.Whetheryoucallityourpassion,yourpurpose,yourmission,your
crusade,findingyourWhy,orsimplywhatyouwantyourlifetobeaboutexpressitin
words,asamotto,ortagline,orasimpleoneliner.Thiswillbeyourpathandtorch.
IfyouveseenthemovieCitySlickers,thissceneshouldsoundfamiliar:
Curly:Youknowwhatthesecretoflifeis?
Mitch:No.what?
Curly:This.(holdsuphisfinger)
Mitch:Yourfinger?
Curly:Onething.Justonething.Yousticktothateverythingelsedontmeanshit.
Mitch:Thatsgreat,butwhatstheonething?
Curly:Thatswhatyouvegottofigureout.
Thatsthechallengeinlife,butthekeytoyoursuccessyouhavetofindyouronething.
Welcome to Day 28
Welcometoday28of30DaysofGettingResults,basedonmybookGettingResultstheAgile
Way.Inday27,wesetourselvesuptodosomethinggreatasamonthlongproject.
Today,wefindouronething.Wefindourpurposewithskill.
Itsnotjustdefendingpeopleweakerthanyouthough.EarlyonIsawthemovieTrading
Places.Irememberhowjustbyswappingpeopleslotinlife,everythingchangesWhat
peopleexpectofthemchanges,howpeopletreatthemchanges,andwhatpeopleexpectof
otherschangesevenwhatpeopleexpectofthemselveschanges.Itspowerfulstuff.But
dontexpectanybodytopickyouupandplopyoudown.Youhavetomakeyourown
changes.Imabigbelieverthat
Everybodydeservesachanceattheirbestlife.
Ilearnedearlyonthatitsnotyourlotinlife.Itsnotwhatyouvegotinlife.Itswhatyou
makeofit.Andtheonethingyouhaveyourwholelifeisyou.Youtakeyou,everywhereyou
go.Theonethingyoucaninvestinthatgetsyouexponentialresultsisyouyourbody,your
mind,andyourfoundation.Yourfoundationisntthestuffyouhaveitswhoyouare,its
yourbeliefs,itsyourvalues,itsyourrules,itsyourmindsetsandyourmetaphors,andits
yourstrategiesandtacticsforlifeitsyourtoolkityouusetomakethemostofwhatyouve
got.Thatsthestorybehindmyonelinerpurpose
Exponentialresultsfortheunderdog.
Ileveltheplayingfieldwithsmarts.Andeverybodyisanunderdogatsomepointintheir
life.Maybeitsagame,whereyoudontknowtherulesorhowtoplaythegame.Maybeits
inasituation,whereyoureinthedark.Maybeitsyoureducationcomparedtosomebody
elses.Maybeitsyourmoneycomparedtosomebodyelses.Maybeitsyourstatuscompared
tosomebodyelses.Regardless,wereallunderdogsinsomeway,shape,orform,insome
situation.
Thewaytoleveltheplayingfieldisthroughknowhowandknowledge.IsharethebestskillsI
learnformakingthemostofanysituation.Isharethewisdomoftheagesandmodernsages.I
drawfrombooks,people,andquotes,aswellaswhatIlearninthetrenchesatMicrosoftand
whatIlearnfrommymasterfulmentors.ThatswhatdrivesSourcesofInsight.ThatsmyLittle
EngineThatCould.ImakeothersgreatIenhanceyouwithskillIempowerYOUtobe
YOURbest.
Butenoughaboutmethispostisaboutyou,andfindingyouronelinerpurpose.Ishared
minetohelpyoufindyours.Maybeseeingmineinaction,helpsyouconnectyourdotsand
lightsabulbandyourahhamomentfiresforyouinawayitsneverfiredbefore.
Wherepeoplefalldowniswhentheyignoretheirpassionortheirlustforlifeortheydont
capitalizeonmakingthemostofwhattheyvegot.Bringingyourcallingtothesurface,
ordoingmoreofwhatyoulovetodo,eveninasimplewayorasmallway,onaregularbasis,
ishowyoulightyourfire,getonyourpath,andmakeaworldofdifference,startingwith
you.Itshowyouleadyourlifefromtheinsideout.
Heresatipalotofpeoplefindtheirinnerstrengthbyfindingsomethingtobetonthats
biggerthanthemselves,whetheritsservicetoothers,theircommunity,oranidealintheirlife
Youronething,canbecomeanoverarchingthemeforyourlife,thathelpsyoumakemeaning
andenjoythejourneyasyougo.Thebeautyis,tomakethechange,allyouhavetodoisstart
withthequestion
Whodoyouwanttobe?andwhatdoyouwantyourlifetobeabout?andthenstart
creatingthoseexperiences.
Youretheauthorofyourlife,thearchitect,andthedirectorpointyourcameraatwhatyou
wantmoreof.
TodaysAssignment
1. Findyourtheme.Distillyourstoryintosomethingsimple.Flipbackthroughyourlifeand
findthetheme.Forme,itwashelpingleveltheplayingfieldwithknowhowandhelping
underdogsgetexponentialresults.
2. Findyouronething.Whatdoyouwantyourlifetobeabout?Somepeoplemakelifean
epicadventure.Somepeoplemakelifeatragedy.Somepeoplespendtheirlifeturning
tragedyintotriumph.
3. Createyouronelinerreminder.Letyourproductiveartistcomeouttoplayandturnyour
missionintomagic.Youknowyounaileditwhenyousuddenlyfeellikeyousuddenlyhave
thestrengthofathousandbullsonyourside,andyouareonyourpath,andyourean
unstoppableforceofone.
Thesurpriseisthatwhenyoubecomeapowerfulforceofone,youactuallycreateacoalitionof
thewillingandyoubecomealighteningrodforthosethatshareyourvalues,helpliftyouup,
andspreadyourcauselikewildfire.
Whetheryoubecomeafirestarterforyou,yourfamily,yourneighbors,friends,oryour
community,theworldbecomesabetterplacewhenitsfilledwithpeoplewithalustforlife.
Becarefultheenvironmentyouchooseforitwillshapeyou;becarefulthefriendsyouchoose
foryouwillbecomelikethem.W.ClementStone
Your Outcome
Createanenvironmentthathelpsyouthrive.Youcanbeafishoutofwater,oryoucanbein
yourelement.
Welcome to Day 29
Welcometoday29of30DaysofGettingResults,basedonmybookGettingResultstheAgile
Way.Inday28,youlearnedhowtofindyouronethingtosimplifyyourlife,makemeaning,
andgrowyourlustforlife.
Today,wefindourarenaforourbestresults.
Finding YOUR Best Arena
BeforeIjoinedMicrosoft,Imovedjobsalot.Ikeptbecomingabigfishinasmallpond,and
thenstagnated.IjoinedMicrosofttobealittleguppyinabigocean.Iwantedtosurround
myselfwithexcellenceandpeoplewithapassionformorefromlife.Iwantedtotryandkeep
upwithpeoplewhowantedtochangetheworld.
Growingup,Ilearnedthatyourcontainermakesabigdifference.Whetheritwassports,or
school,Ifoundthatifyouhungwiththerightpeople,yougotbetterfast.WhileIcouldalways
improveonmyown,therightenvironmentacceleratedmygrowth.Everytime.Ivetriedto
usethispatternoflearningfromthebestofthebest,andputtingmyselfintoenvironmentsor
takingonprojectsthatacceleratemysuccess.Igrowmorebychangingmycontainerthanany
otherway.Ithinkofthisasfindinganareaformybestresults.WhenImintherightarena,I
thrive.WhenImnotIdie.Slowly.InYoungGuns,Ithinkoftheline,Youregrowingordying
theresnoinbetween.
Ithinkofmyarenainmultiplelayers,butitseverythingthatswrappedaroundmy
performance.ItstheworkIdo,itstheindustryImin,itsthepeopleIworkwith,itsthe
platformIdoitfrom,etc.Thekeyformeistoalwaysfollowthegrowth,ridethewaves,and
makethemostimpactfrommyarena,orchangearenastounleashmybest.Itsmypersonal
successplatform.
ThelessonIkeeplearningongrowingmysuccessisFillyourheadwithstoriesofsuccess,
hangoutwithinspiringpeople,findtheworkthatbreatheslifeintoyourday,andplayYOUR
bestgame,inYOURbestarena.
Sometimesoneofthemostimportantreasonstochangeacontainerisbecauseyouhitglass
ceilingsintermsoftheimpactyoucanmake.Sometimesyouneedtochangecontainers
becauseofthefinanciallimitsoneindustrymightvalueyourskillswaymorethan
another.Oneindustriesprincecanbeanotherspauper.
Sometimes,thebestthingyoucandoisfindanewtown.
Youknowagoodcontainerorarenawhenyouaregivingyourbest,whereyouhaveyourbest
togive,anditsamplifyingyourimpact,andhelpingyougrowinanacceleratedway.
Design Your Workspace to Support You
Imafanofkeepingmyworkspacesimple,clean,andeffective.IreducedistractionsandIkeep
acleanspacesoIdonthavetofightthroughmystufftogettowhatImworkingonorbattle
forsomeopenarea.Icreatebreathingroom.Fromavisualperspective,itssimple,clean,and
unclutteredandsupportive.Fromanauditoryperspective,Iplaymyfavoritemusic,unlessI
needtohearmyselfthink,thenIfindawaytogetthequiettimeIneed.
Theselittleadjustmentsgoalongwayinhelpingmemakethemostofmyarena.
Rapid Growth
EdwarddeBonosayswecanaccelerateourgrowthbyfindingrapidgrowthfields.Hewrites,
Thecomputerindustryisagrowthindustry,andwithinthatindustrysoftwareisagrowth
field.Hispointisthatyoucanridethesuccessbandwagonorgetcarriedalongwiththe
growth.Forexample,hesaysitseasyforageneraltobecomeasuccessinwarbutrather
moredifficultintimesofpeace,andthatthemostlikelywaytomakeagoodlivingoutof
creativeimaginationmaybetogointoadvertising.
Youdonthavetocompletelychangeyourarena,orchangeitallatonce,butifyoufind
yourselfkeepgettingstuckornotgrowingyoursuccessthewayyouwant,thenlooktoyour
environmentasawaytostructureandaccelerateyoursuccess.
Todays Assignment
1. Fixupyourworkspacetosupportyou.Dowhateveryouneedsothatwhenyougetready
toperform,youfeelgoodaboutthespaceyouworkin.Whetheritsaddplants,addmusic,
orjustdeclutter,setthestageforyourbestresults.
2. Evaluateyourcontainer.Areyouworkingontherightthings,withtherightpeople,forthe
rightmanager,fortherightcompany,makingtherightimpact?Thatsastringofthoughts,
buttheyllhelpyoulookatyourcontainerintermsofhowwellitssupportingyougiving
yourbest,whereyouhaveyourbesttogive.
Thetruemeaningoflifeistogiveourlifemeaning.TateT.Weber
Your Outcome
ReviewthebasicsoftheAgileResultssystemandsetthestagetotakeyourlifetothenext
levelbyexploringmoreoftheAgileResultsprinciples,patterns,andpractices.
Welcome to Day 30
Iwantedtheendtobeagoodbeginningfortherestofyourlife.Well,hereweare.Itsday
30of30DaysofGettingResults,basedonmybookGettingResultstheAgileWay.Itsbeen30
dayssincewestartedandyoucanbrowseallthelessonsat30DaysofGettingResults.Revisit
themwhenyouneedthem,orsharethemwithfriendsandfamilytohelpgivethemtheedge.
Ihopeoneofthemostimportantideasthatcameacrossduringourjourneytogetheristhat
youareyourultimateinvestment,throughoutyourlife.Investinginyourselfishowyouturn
yourworldaroundandhowyouturnotherpeoplesworldaround.Itbreathesspiritintolife
anditscontagious.
Attheendoftheday,youaretheonethatmakesyourlifehappen.Youaretheonethattakes
careofyourbusiness.Whetheryouregettingyourgameonatworkortakingcareofyour
businessoflife,IhopethatAgileresultscanhelpyousucceedfarbeyondyourwildest
dreams.Itstheretoenhanceyouandhelpyouunleashwhatyourealreadycapable
of.Everybodydeservesachanceatthegoodlife,andthisistheultimatetoolkitthatIcan
giveyouthatcanhelpyoumakethemostofwhatyouvegot.
Byusingthreestoriestodriveyourday,yourweek,yourmonth,andyouryear,youtakecharge
ofyourlife,andyoulivelifeonyourterms.Ithelpsyoubewhoyouwanttobeandcreate
moreoftheexperiencesyouwanttocreate.Byspendingtherighttime,ontherightthings,
therightway,withtherightenergy,youunlockapowerfulcombinationforyourlifethat
unleashesyourbestpossibilitiesandhelpsyoumakethemostofwhatyouvegot.The
commonthemebehindthesystemisonesimpleidea:
Betheauthorofyourlifeandwriteyourstoryforward.
Iwantedasystemthatwaseasytoadoptandimmediatelygetthebenefits,andthatifIfelloff,
Iwantedittobeeasytohopbackon.Thesystemissupersimpletogetbackonifyoufall
off.Onanygivenday,simplyaskyourself,whatarethreeoutcomesyouwantfortheday,and
yourebackonsaddleagain.
Herestoyoursuccessonwardandupward.
CalltoAction