Think Huge by Mark Arnold

Breaking Through Plateaus

“If you always put limit on everything you do, physical or anything else. It will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them.”

—Bruce Lee

 

 

 

Do you ever hit a plateau in your professional or personal life? Odds are, you have. I recently hit a plateau with one of my hobbies (or addiction, depending on your perspective!): running. My workouts were routine, my race results were down, my times were not improving. I had plateaued. To break through my running rut, I had to do different things (yoga, more running, additional stretching, etc.).

 

If you’ve plateaued in certain areas, here are a few steps you can take to break through:

 

(1)    Talk to experts

 

There are experts in every field, industry, hobby or any area you need help with. For example, when I didn’t perform well in the White Rock Marathon, I posted some questions on a Runners World forum and e-mailed some questions to a running program. The guys I reached out to were experts.

If you’re not hitting your sales numbers, ask a top-notch sales person for tricks and tips. If you’re kids are giving you headaches, talk to fellow parents who’ve raised great kids.

But seek out some advice.

 

(2)    Read and research

 

Talking to experts helps, but so does doing your own research. Google offers a wealth of knowledge. There are blogs for everything and everyone. Spending some time on the Internet can give you new perspectives on old subjects.

 

If you’re not reading, you’re not growing. When is the last time you read a business, motivation or self help book? If the answer is longer than two months you probably are hitting a plateau. No matter what area you’re experiencing “plateau-ism” pick up a book on the subject for fresh ideas.

 

(3)    Shadow someone from another industry

 

This point may not apply to personal issues, but it certainly does on the business front. For example, if you’re in the marketing profession but practice it in the non-profit area you might benefit by spending a day with someone who does marketing in a large corporation.

 

Sticking with the running analogy, not only should I talk to other runners but I should also visit with triathletes. Learning about their training and eating habits could improve my training as well.

 

(4)    Brainstorm tasks

 

Another effective technique for breaking through plateaus is to spend time brainstorming new ideas to implement. In other words, take some time to think. Too many times we get caught with the day-to-day rush of task completion.  The key there is “day-to-day.” If we just keep doing the day-to-day then we will get stuck in ruts and reach plateaus.

 

So get away from the rut and the plateau. Find a quite place and bring a notepad. Clear your thoughts. Then at the top of a piece of paper write, “Ways to Improve ____________________.” Then spend the next 15 minutes or so putting down everything you can think that could help.

 

(5)    Practice

 

I recently read Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell (you can check out my book review here). One of the key points he makes is that anyone who experiences true success practices. And not just any amount of time practicing—10,000 hours of practice. That’s a ton of time.

 

Of course, you may not be able to spend 10,000 hours to get to a point of improvement. However, if you do want to attain a higher level then you’re going to have spend time seeking ways to get better. Practice the sales pitch, practice writing, practice making phone calls, practice teaching, etc. Wanting to improve won’t happen unless you put the time into practicing.

 

 

Breaking through a plateau doesn’t just happen: you have to be intentional. Hopefully these five tips will help you breakthrough any plateau you might have hit.

 

 

Think Huge!

Discomfort is a Function of Growth

“You will either step forward into growth, or you will step back into safety.”

—Abraham Maslow

To think huge—and certainly to think learning—you must grow professionally and personally. Some of that growth could be uncomfortable, but discomfort is a function of growth. It is human nature to do what is easiest. But if you are thinking huge, you gravitate to that which is hardest.

It is so easy to get stuck in a rut. I know I’m guilty of doing that: just going through life and doing the same things. The same things at work. The same things at home. Instead of going through life comfortable, allow yourself to be pushed and challenged. That’s hard but it’s a necessity. Some of the best coaches and mentors you’ve probably had in your life are ones that pushed you the most. We all need to be challenged from time to time. That’s a good thing.

Laurie Hayes, founder of The HBB Source (a company that helps home-based business owners), noted in an online article, “One of the biggest obstacles to succeeding in business or achieving what you want in life is setting the bar too low. Most people don't like feeling uncomfortable and as soon as they're required to step it up a notch, self-doubt creeps in, turns into fear and they back away.

“In order to reach your goals, there must be discomfort, otherwise you will just stay where you've always been. When you come up with a new, big idea, it will not be in harmony with your existing way of thinking and will create a conflict in your internal vibration.”

Hayes is right—we should push ourselves beyond what we think we can do. That means growing in areas that might make us uncomfortable. You can check out Hayes’ work on her website.

So what are going to do this year that is uncomfortable for you personally or professionally? Let me give you two examples, one from work and one from home. Each year I do one “Think Huge” experience with each of my daughters. This year, my oldest daughter and are going to go zip lining. You know, the thing where you hang from a rope hundreds of feet above the ground and slide from point to point. I can guarantee you that will stretch both of us! Will we be uncomfortable? Sure, but we’re going to stretch ourselves anyway.

On the business front, I’m taking a more active approach with how I spend my lunch time. Because I’m so task oriented and try to  do so much each day I tend to eat at my desk and work through lunch. While I might cross off an extra “To Do” item I’m not getting up from my desk, getting out and taking time for something more important than tasks: people. So I’m stretching myself by setting up more lunches with colleagues and friends. Not just meeting someone to talk about an agenda, but truly spending time and getting to know each other (by the way, if you’re ever in the Dallas area and want to go to lunch or meet for coffee, e-mail me and let’s arrange a time to get together).

What about you? What things will you do professionally and personally to get away from your comfort zone this year?

Think Huge!

Patrick Henry Hughes is Thinking Huge

Note: Thanks to Tom McWilliams for sending the video link to this inspiring story.

Below is a video that illustrates how one young man is a living example of someone who is thinking huge; he has persevered more than most folks could possibly endure to live his passion. Both father and son are amazing.

Note that of his disability, Patrick says, “It’s more ability than disability.”

 

Think Huge!

Start New Year by Thinking Huge

Welcome to 2010!

 

As the New Year begins, there is no better time to Think Huge. We’re already several days into January and many of us are off and running. Activity and business, however, does not always mean success.

 

As we said in the book, Think Huge means, “Going many steps beyond where you are today and pushing past your comfort zone. In other words, not limiting yourself. We sometimes put an invisible ceiling on what we can accomplish in life. Thinking huge means removing those barriers and accomplishing our dreams and ambitions. Maybe you want to be the teacher of the year. Or the top salesperson. Or the CEO. Or a more involved parent. Or a more loving spouse. Or _______. You fill in the blank with what areas you want to think huge.”

 

You are probably thinking (or have already set) your goals for 2010. One way to set goals this year is to break them into the six Think Huge areas:

 

• Vision
• People
• Passion
• Time
• Perseverance
• Learning

 

Here are some questions to consider in each area and then examples you can use for your 2010 goals:

 

(1)    Vision

 

Do you have a vision statement for your life, department, organization, etc.? One goal might be to write your six word personal and/or professional vision statement.

 

(2)    People

 

Who do you want to be close to or get to know this year? For example, there may be a family member you want to reach out to, an old friend to reconnect with, or a child you want to hang out with more.

 

(3)    Passion

 

Is there a particular hobby or interest you want to develop more this year? Maybe this is the year you buy the Harley! One of my passions is to speaking so one of my 2010 passion goals is to do multiple Think Huge presentations (if you want to book me, click here—how’s that for a shameless self-plug!).

 

(4)    Time

 

How can you maximize your time in 2010? Maybe it’s to reduce the number of meetings you are in or to better streamline your meetings. Other time goal examples could include spending “x” number of hours a week for yourself, spending less hours at work, or improving a particular skill you have by practicing it more.

 

(5)    Perseverance

 

Is there some area of your life you are discouraged and want to quit? Don’t give up—persevere. Perseverance goal examples could be running a marathon or half marathon, finishing school, changing your job if you’re unhappy, improving your marriage, etc.

 

(6)    Learning

 

If you’re not learning, you’re not growing. What are you going to learn this year? Examples include taking a college class, reading one business book per month, attending a conference, etc.

 

 

You probably have multiple goals for 2010. Hopefully you have some in all six Think Huge areas. What Think Huge goals have you set for 2010? Please share yours in the comments section below.

 

Think Huge!

Think Huge Lessons From UT's Championship Loss

Note: I am a University of Texas Longhorn alumnus so this post is written from that viewpoint (no offense to you Alabama folks, who deserve many congratulations on your great win)

I was all decked out in my burnt orange UT gear for the national championship game: burnt orange pants, two burnt orange shirts (it was cold!), UT socks and even burnt orange slippers. Then five plays into the game, disaster struck when Colt McCoy went out with a game-ending shoulder injury.

As I watched the rest of the national championship game (and Colt’s interview after the game) in agony, I realized there were several  Think Huge lessons the game illustrated:

Think Perseverance

One of the six Think Huge principles is “think perseverance.” In the book, we note that “thinking huge is not a ‘name it and claim it’ gospel. You will encounter trials in your life and that chapter helps with tools for overcoming those obstacles.”

Last night, the ‘Horns encountered a major early obstacle: the loss of the quarterback with the most wins in college football history. But they didn’t give up. They could have easily rolled over and quit. A lot of teams would. Instead they fought and fought and fought. Even with a true freshman quarterback, UT closed the score to 24-21 with under five minutes to go. But then Alabama’s defense took over the game.

As commentator Kirk Herbstreit said after the game, “They never gave up.”

That is thinking huge. Sure they were deflated after the McCoy injury but they continued to persevere. And that’s what you will have to do in life as you think huge. There are going to be times when you’re going to get knocked out (lose your job, family member get sick, have a mean boss, etc.). But you have a choice: you can fight through those difficulties or rollover and quit. If you think huge, then you’ll never give up.

Think Passion

I hope you stayed up after the game to see Colt’s interview. He said some amazing things that are “Think Huge” principles.

“I love this game,” McCoy said. “I have a passion for this game….I would have given everything I had to been out there.”

Click here to see the full interview:

 

 

Is there anything you would give everything to do? Then that’s your passion. Whatever it is, go do it. Don’t wait. Time is precious.

How do you think Colt feels today? Some may think he feels sad that his college career is over and ended on such a down note. But I’m also betting he has a sense of joy: that for four years he lived his dream by doing his passion of playing college football.

Are you doing your passion? Think Huge offers a passion quiz to help you determine if you’re in the your passion spot or just bidding time.

While losing the  game was disappointing as a fan, it reminded me to think perseverance and think passion.

 

Think Huge!

What To Do During "Dead" Week

Do you remember “dead” week in college? That’s the time between when classes end and finals begin. In theory, you’re supposed to spend that week studying (or cramming!) for your upcoming exams. Of course, it probably didn’t always work that way.

The week between Christmas and New Year’s has also become a “dead week” in some cases. Lots of businesses close or certainly work with a skeleton crew. Whether you are in the office or hanging with your family, here are some suggestions for how best to spend this week:

Home and Personal

(1)    Reconnect with your family

Odds are, work takes you away from family time throughout the year. That’s just the way work works (so to speak). Now is the perfect time to give back some of that missed time with your spouse, significant other and children. Play a game, go to the park, do something that doesn’t involve watching TV, etc.

(2)    Read a book

Too tired to read when you get home from work? If that’s the case, this is the perfect week to catch up on your reading. While I’m a big proponent of reading business books, this is also a good time to enjoy some pleasure reading as well. Read just for the fun of reading.

(3)    Get some extra sleep

Most days you are probably rushing to the office on less sleep than you need. If you can, take this “off” week to sleep late. That may be “pie in the sky” for most of us but do your best to play catch-up with your ZZs.

(4)    Express gratitude to your loved ones

Take a few minutes to give a heart-felt “thank you” to those closest to you. Maybe write them a note or card. Of course, telling them in your own words, face-to-face is also good. While we love those closest to us,  in the day to day rat race it’s important to slow down and tell your kids, your spouse, your family how much you love them. Yes, they probably know you love them. But tell them anyway.

Work

(1)    Reflect on 2009

Take some time this week to think. Many of us are task oriented and go from action item to action item. That’s good, but sometimes we need to pause and take stock of all that’s happened this past year. Slow down. Think. Reflect. What did you accomplish this year? What areas can you improve?

(2)    Prepare for 2010

January 4, 2010 (the first business day of the year) will be here before you know it. And you will need to have your track shoes ready that day. You know there will be a ton of e-mails and projects waiting for you. With that being the case, take an hour or two (or even more) during this slower paced week and make sure you have everything in order for 2010. What projects need highest priority? What is your top goal that absolutely, positively has to be accomplished in 2010?

(3)    Organize your office

Confession time: my office is an absolute mess. I let dust pile up and stacks accumulate. Why? Mostly because I just don’t take the time to organize my office. With fewer interruptions this week now could be the perfect time to devote a few hours to your office. Another plus: you don’t want to start the new year with old files. So be sure to clean out things you won’t need for next year.

(4)    Leave early or take a long lunch with a friend

If you can, try to take some time for people this week. Have a coffee date with a friend. If you can’t get out of the office then have an extended conversation with a co-worker. And don’t always talk about work—get to know them as a person.

What other ideas do you have for how to spend this “dead” week? Post a comment and suggestion and share your thoughts.

Think Huge!

Vision Leaks

“The very essence of leadership is that you have to have a vision.”
—Theodore Hesburgh

 

 

If you are in a leadership position (whether at work, home, volunteer area or all three) your role requires vision. And your vision leaks.

 

The vision you have as a leader leaks to those around you. In other words, people follow the cues their leaders give. There can be positive or negative leaks. There can be motivating or de-motivating leaks. The vision leaking principle applies both at home and at the office.

 

Here are some quick questions to ask yourself about your vision leaking:

 

(1)    Can you quickly articulate your vision for your company, your family and your life?

 

I always recommend using six words or less. For example, my vision is “helping others elevate their life & business.” (Yes, that is the subtitle to Think Huge).

 

When day to day life hits at home and when tactical issues strike at work, it’s important that everyone understand why we do what we do. A strong vision helps those around us stay focused.

 

Leaking a strong vision for those around you is a sign of a true leader. Don’t wander aimlessly. Know what you want from your home and work life. Know what you want your team to accomplish.

 

If you have no vision, then you are leaking nothing. And your followers will notice that there is nothing coming from your vision.

 

 

(2)    Is your vision leaking positive or negative images?

 

Are you optimistic the next six months will be better or do you have a pessimistic approach? The best leaders tend to be more optimistic in their attitude and approach on life (not necessarily Pollyanna but positive).

 

Whatever you are mulling over in your head leaks to others. If you thinking positive thoughts, then positive things come out.

 

For example, I struggled the past few years with what I call “negative self talk.” If something went wrong at home or work I took it really hard and beat myself up. I blamed myself and felt like I was a total failure. I was setting perfection as a standard (which of course I couldn’t reach).

 

And then one day I heard one of my daughters doing the exact same thing (talking negatively about herself). I wonder where she learned that habit? You guessed it—her father. I realized then that my negative tendencies has “leaked” to her.

 

So now I’m focusing on the positive. I’m trying not to lose sight of the bigger picture when little failures occur. In other words, I’m trying to leak positive.

 

(3)    What is the size of your vision?

 

Is it huge or is it tiny? What do you expect—from yourself and those that work for you? Too often we only focus on incremental goals and thus limit ourselves. Someone is going to make the big sale, why shouldn’t it be you? Someone is going accomplish one of their lifelong goals this year, why shouldn’t it be you?

 

If you don’t expect much from your employees or your family, then that’s probably what you’re going to get—not much. However, if you expect greatness from those around you, then you’re far more likely to see greatness as well.

 

Don’t limit your vision. Your vision should be awe-inspiring and challenging. In other words, don’t set the bar so low that anyone could reach it. People are more inspired when they feel you want them to make a difference in life.

 

 

In some ways leaders are like a full cup of coffee. When you tip the coffee mug, something usually comes out. It’s the same way with your vision: when your followers (kids, employees, spouses, etc.) tip you something comes out—and hopefully it’s a strong vision.

 

So what are you leaking?

 

Think Huge

First Impression is Not Always the Last Impression

When you meet someone, do you automatically assume and form opinions about who they are? Do you make assumptions in your head about that person and set expectations for them? This is true for most people (even though we may deny it); we are guilty of preconceived notions upon a first impression. Do these first impressions change over time or are they set in stone for you?

If you saw a guy in old, dingy jeans and a t-shirt, would a CEO of a successful, international company come to mind? This Whole Foods Market CEO dresses in his own style, but the bottom line is that he rules the market. Or maybe there has been a time that a person looks absolutely charming until they open their mouth? We tend to jump to conclusions too quickly, which may not be the best route to take in our personal and professional lives. A famous idiom often used is “do not judge a book by its cover.” It is very important to be able to give the person a chance to prove themselves and not develop an impression.  We were taught this lesson as children, yet we tend to forget the wisdom learned at that age. Taking the time to force yourself to dismiss your immediate assumption not only allows you to see someone with new eyes, it also opens the door to a new experience.  Having the vision to recognize these situations and reroute the usual assumptions is a great way to Think Huge.

Sometimes, forming impressions lead to a form of discrimination that we as individuals may not even realize. We have certain misconceptions of various people and as human beings, we tend to identify one individual’s doing to their race, age, gender, religion or beliefs. Forming opinions according to the misconceptions keeps us from treating each other equally. By keeping your renewed vision of fairness in mind, you allow each person the opportunity to prove themselves.

 Developing impressions and assigning expectations according to them can be quite unpredictable. You may form high expectations of someone, but when they are not able to meet those expectations, it causes you frustration. This also goes for people forming expectations about you. Always under promise and over fulfill to exceed others’ satisfaction. When you are hiring someone, looking to do business, meeting for a date or even just dealing with a stranger, Think Huge about others’ possible potential. Maybe these people will return the favor and not make first impression assumptions about who you are.

 Do you believe that first impressions are lasting impressions? If so, why? Leave a comment and let’s find out!

 

Adjusting Your Goals

I recently completed the White Rock Marathon in just under four hours. There is good news and bad news in that statement: the good news is I finished; the bad news is it took me four hours (which is 30 minutes slower than what I trained for and was expecting).

Here are some lessons I learned about goals (and missing them) during my fourth marathon:

Adjust Your Goals on the Fly

I was cruising and ahead of my goal pace all the way until mile 17. Then disaster struck. I felt a sharp pain in my right knee and my legs began to feel like mush. It was pretty obvious that a 3:30 marathon was not going to happen.

Let’s be honest: there will be times in your life that you will not reach your goals. So what do you do? Do you get depressed and feel like a failure? Do you quit? No—you adjust your goals.

It may not even be a matter of adjusting your goals. It could be layering your goals. For example, my number one goal for the White Rock Marathon was to not wind up in the medical tent (which happened at the Austin Marathon last year); the second goal was to finish; the third target was to run it in 3:30. So with the layered approach I actually attained my first two goals; it was only the third and final “stretch” goal that I missed.

Let’s be clear: it’s important to set goals for you, your family and your employees. And those goals need to stretch you. However, don’t be a slave to the goal: give yourself some flexibility and adjust if you run into problems outside your control.

Analyze Why You Missed Your Goals

Immediately after finishing the marathon and missing my target time I began to ask questions. What went wrong? What mistakes did I make? What could I have done differently?

If you missed a goal, you should analyze why you didn’t reach it. That involves a lot of questions (both to you and others). For example, I went to multiple online running groups and posted questions about what went wrong. I received a great deal of advice from fellow runners.
If your goal is work related or family oriented and things didn’t go the way you wanted it to, ask others for their thoughts. There are probably others that have walked similar paths you are currently undertaking. Pick their brains. Don’t just sit back and settle for a missed goal: research what you can improve.

Never Give Up

After the knee injury at mile 17 I hit the proverbial marathon wall at mile 20. Not only was my knee hurting, my legs absolutely left me. I had a choice to make: quit or keep going. There will be times in your personal and professional life you’ll have a similar choice to make.

Even if you aren’t able to hit your goal, you should never give up. That is a key Think Huge principle. No matter what is happening, don’t quit. Even if you can’t make your target, finish the task. If you don’t finish a marathon, there is a “DNF” on the results next to your name. That stands for “did not finish.” Don’t ever let there be a “DNF” next to your name with any life goal you set.

Life is like a marathon—there will be times when you don’t hit your goals. But instead of just stopping and feeling sorry for yourself, adjust your goals; analyze why you missed your goals; and never give up.

Think Huge!

Allow Time for the Unexpected

Note: This is an excerpt from the book Think Huge: Elevating Your Life and Your Business

Let’s be honest with each other: stuff happens. We get so busy with our jobs or daily tasks that we don’t leave enough time for people. We have to allow time for the unexpected.

I tend to struggle with this. I come to work with a “To Do” list that is 20 items deep. I immediately check my e-mails and voicemails, get entranced by the computer and start working on marking off those tasks. Then two hours later I look up and realize I haven’t even said “hello” to my employees! Ouch—what kind of leader is that?

Heaven forbid we’re in the middle of one of our all important tasks and one of our employees walks in and needs a few minutes of our time to talk. That’s hard. But it is reality.

In Massage Today, author Perry Isenberg noted, “You need to leave some time available for when the unexpected or ‘unplanned’ happens—and it will, more often than you think. I believe it’s important to be flexible and ‘pad’ some time in your schedule for the unexpected.”

We are all juggling a great deal. We tend to not leave time for interruptions. And many of these interruptions are necessary. Don’t juggle so much that you don’t take time for the unexpected and for people.

People can sense when they’re “bothering” us or when they don’t have our full attention. If a person interrupts one of the tasks you are doing, put aside that task and give them your undivided attention. The project will be there when they’re gone. It’s not going anywhere. Will you accomplish it faster because of the interruption? No, but you will communicate to that person that they are more important.

As you are putting your task list together, give yourself wiggle room for those interruptions. If your list is so long you will need every minute to accomplish it, then you may need to cut back on your list. You can’t make your task list so long that you don’t have time for people.

Think Huge!