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Catch Problems Early 

Grasp Issues Quickly

Take Action Decisively

 

2 minutes each week to help you execute on your goals

from Jean Moroney

Issue #66
I. Tip: Three Ways to Counter “I Don’t Wanna”
II. Freebie Teleclass: Jump Start Your Project
        Tuesday, January 20, 2015
        Two sessions: 3:00 p.m. ET, 8:00 p.m. ET
III. Recent Posts on the Blog
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I. Tip: Three Ways to Counter “I Don’t Wanna”

You have work to do. Hopefully most of it is interesting, and some of it is fulfilling. But there are always some tasks that are not fun, not interesting, and maybe even mildly unpleasant. You just “have” to do these, If you just don’t “wanna” do them, here are three ways you can find a “Yes, I am willing” to substitute for that “No, I don’t wanna”:

Wish for motivation. Just taking a moment to wish you were motivated to do the task can change your attitude. If you were motivated, the task would be easy, you’d get it done faster, you would feel satisfied doing it. Sometimes just imagining what that would be like can suggest how to defuse your resistance and leave you willing to do the task.

Mourn what you can’t have. Sometimes the resistance arises because you have to do this task as opposed to something you prefer. When this happens, mourn a little for what you can’t have. A pause and a sigh is all it takes. When you switch from fighting the conflict to acknowledging it, the resistance lessens. (And of course, if you really could do what you want, then by all means, do so!)

Ask what you are willing to do. Accept that you aren’t willing to do this particular task as originally specified. If so, what would you be willing to do? Maybe you are willing to take one step. Maybe you are willing to get help. There are many ways to take a step forward. Accepting that you don’t want to do a particular task in a particular way leaves you open to find a more congenial approach.

There’s a lot that you can do with goal-setting and attitude-setting to help avoid that “I don’t wanna” reaction in the first place. But if it happens, you do not have to treat yourself like a child, forcing yourself to take medicine. You get more done with less effort when you ask yourself, “would you be willing to…?” and you hear, “yes, I will.”

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II. Freebie Teleclass: Jump Start Your Project

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

3:00 p.m. & 8:00 p.m. Eastern (Two Sessions)

(12 noon & 5:00 p.m. Pacific, 1:00 p.m. & 6:00 p.m. Mountain, 2:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m. Central)

When a task or project is languishing, it needs to be jump started to get the momentum back.

What’s getting in the way? There is always something. In this class, you will learn a 3-step process to identify the holdup and get the project moving again.

You will learn:

  • A quick, 3-question process to zero in on what’s stopping you
  • The #1 tactic that helps you take next steps
  • What to do when the problem is motivation

This is an interactive teleclass consisting of lecture, exercises, and discussion. Come to class with a project you need to jump start, and have paper and pencil ready.

Sign up for the FREE teleclass here:
http://thinkingdirections.com/jumpstart.htm

III. Recent Posts on the Blog
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(c) Jean Moroney
Thinking Directions

Jean Moroney

Jean Moroney

About Jean Moroney: Ms. Moroney, President of Thinking Directions, teaches managers, small business owners, and other professionals how to be smarter as they execute on their goals by catching problems early, grasping issues quickly, and taking action decisively. Ms. Moroney received a BS and MS in Electrical Engineering from MIT, and worked as a system engineer, project manager, and software consultant for 10 years. She has an MS in Psychology from Carnegie-Mellon, and has been coaching and speaking on thinking skills since 1998. She has given her all- day flagship course, “Thinking Tactics” all over North America. Her corporate clients include Microsoft, Amazon.com, BB&T, and Canadian Bank Note Company. Thousands of people have benefited from her methods. Find out more at http://www.thinkingdirections.com and sign up for her freebie class: Jump Start Your Project: http://www.thinkingdirections.com/jumpstart.htm.