What WON'T You Do To Get The Job Done?

I am a member of a business Mastermind Group. We're a small group of coaches and business people who meet weekly to check in with each other, ask questions, and set the goals we'd like to be held accountable for.

In last week's meeting, I complained that I was once again setting the same goal for myself that I had set the week before. Despite wanting to complete that goal very badly, I just couldn't find the time to get it done.

That's when fellow Masterminder Doug Emerson, aka The Profitable Horseman, asked one of the best coaching questions I've ever heard:

In order to reach your goal this week, what WON'T you do?

He knows me well...and I think he's gotten to know ADD well, too!

Asking me that one little question forced me to articulate exactly what was getting in the way of my progress. It will come as no surprise that I was allowing myself to follow distractions that were new and more interesting than my original goal.

Simply articulating this problem forced me to be aware of it, which allowed me to consciously avoid the distraction. This proved to be an excellent tool for achieving my short-term goal.

So let's take this out of the business context and move it into the general scope of ADD management. Let's use a common example of a short-term goal that adults with ADD frequently get tripped up on: financial management. (Substitute organization or running errands or any other goals that you have trouble meeting.)

Let's say you set a goal for yourself this weekend to manage your finances and balance your accounts. When you set out to do this, what usually gets in the way? These are the things you can commit to NOT doing when you set out to achieve your goal this weekend.

A great example of what might get in your way (not matter what your goal) is getting caught up in your computer or getting sucked into television. So before beginning to get to work this weekend, you can commit to NOT watching TV or turning on the computer until you've met your goal.

By making this commitment, you make yourself aware of potential pitfalls and plan to deal with them before they become problems. Deciding what NOT to do is an excellent way to avoid the typical distraction that keep you from getting the job done.

I'd love to hear your thoughts about this topic! What short term goals do you usually get tripped up on? What will you NOT do in order to achieve your goal? Please share your thoughts!

Comments

[Jodi Sue]

Great idea. I am going to start with exactly that which you have suggested and not turn my computer on until I pay my bills Saturday morning.

[Liz]

I avoid making important calls sometimes by calling a friend/family member first.

I'm going to commit to not making any personal calls until my important phone call is completed.

[Keith]

Jennifer,

You have just reinforced what my ADD counselor told me a month ago. I have trouble staying committed to an exercise program, even something as simple as "walk for 30 minutes 3 times per week". There are always other things way more interesting than going for a walk (and walking is way more appealing than the gym). The distractions vary from wanting to run an errand at lunch time, to dealing work that is piled up on my desk, or trying to get home as early as possible and see my wife and kids...it is so easy to talk yourself out of doing something you know you should do, but don't really want to do.

[Smokey]

Taking care of myself comes in last on the list of things to get done.