Many years ago in a business studies class, the teacher told all of the students to begin everything with the end in mind.
The teacher even gave us the seemingly morbid assignment of writing our own eulogy and vividly imagining what people would be saying at our funerals. He said that we should really visualise and imagine the detailed conversation about us and all the good things we would like people to say.
The next step was to work backwards to the present day to make it happen. He asked, “Now how are you going to make those things come true?”
It was definitely food for thought and I mulled over it for quite some time.
“Live in such a way that when you die, even the undertaker will be sorry!”
Mark Twain
At a later point in life, when I had just started my electrical business I was tasked with a large challenge. A customer needed a block of five residential apartments re-wired over a one week period.
I remember panicking at the thought of such a big job, which overwhelmed my mind at the thought of this insurmountable schedule of tight timing. The head contractor, seeing my apprehension, took me aside and told me to focus on one electrical circuit at a time and ignore all the other tasks.
I did just that and at the end of the week, I suddenly realised that I had done everything needed and the job was complete.
It appears that many of the great achievers started with the desired outcome in mind and broke the tasks down into ‘bite-size chunks that they could chew’ and worked towards the goal.
I have never forgotten those wise words and have achieved great things in my life because I did not concentrate on the large outcome which often would panic me.
I just continue to break each point into small steps and this strategy has paid off many times for me and my clients in changing their career goals and outcomes.
Remember that being different is your biggest asset and you don’t have to be like everyone else. If you need a career coach, drop me an email or private message today to get you on the right track.
Dave Brebner.
About the Author:
Dave is an Adult Educator, Speaker and Youth leader living in Western Sydney, Australia where he teaches the Electrical Trades at the Western Sydney Institute. He has Diplomas in Business and Training, a Bachelors Degree in Adult Education, Vocational and Workplace Training and a Masters of Education with a major in Career Development. He has lived with Tourette’s Syndrome, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Anxiety Disorders since an early age, you can read his story online. He is married with 6 children. He is a passionate coach and mentor to young people especially in the vocational guidance and career development areas. Dave is a professional member of the Career Development Association of Australia and has authored a course on Living with Tourette’s which you can study and purchase online through his website – www.davebrebner.com.
2 Replies to “Small Steps”