Apply 10 secrets to make every moment count
by Dr. Jim Steffen, president and founder of SSA International
The elegant simplicity of implementing the secrets of aligned thinking goes back to the answers to Bob Bauress’ questions referred to at the beginning of this series. He said that if we want an outstanding time management program we need to answer two questions:
- Question 1: What do we control? Answer 1: Just this action right now.
- Question 2: How to optimize it? Answer 2: Align it to the greatest value — what you REALLY cherish.
Here is the elegant simplicity: Since we control only this action, we need to totally focus on just this action. When the next moment comes, we need to focus on just that action.
By successfully optimizing one action at a time, we move from:
Just this action to each future action.
Current and future actions, in turn, lead to every action.
Within a reasonable time, you’ll convince yourself that you have accomplished what many believe impossible — one action, one decision at a time. You’ll be aligning every action to the riches, the value and the life you really cherish.
You will be adding life to your years because you will be optimizing your time, life and career.
And with each decision of what to do next that’s grounded in what you really cherish, you will be reinforcing your reason for getting up each morning, reducing stress and supporting many of the characteristics of the Blue Zones. You will be adding years to your life >>> one action at a time.
A practical challenge
The good news
- You know the common sense of living each secret.
- You know how to implement each secret.
- You know the benefits you can expect when you live each secret.
The bad news
The bad news is that knowing and understanding the good news gives you no benefits. The only time you receive benefits is when this common sense becomes your common practice.
This is the last article in a 12-part series on aligned thinking to help you make every moment count. In reading the series, you’ve learned about each secret and how it flows from common sense, how to implement the secret, and about the benefits from implementing it. Now go put the secrets to work!
10 Secrets of Aligned Thinking series
- Introduction.
- Secret 1. Start with a clear purpose and mission.
- Secret 2. Ensure your purpose and mission support your personal and professional lives.
- Secret 3. Feel free in all you do.
- Secret 4. Have a five-minute regular focus period.
- Secret 5. Review critical info on a regular basis.
- Secret 6. Drop the to-do list for the holding pen and priority list.
- Secret 7. Include at least one personal priority when setting priorities.
- Secret 8. Plan without overplanning or overscheduling.
- Secret 9. Select the most important now based on cherished values.
- Secret 10. Stay away from multitasking and be completely involved in MIN
