10 Ways to Change the Future Today
Those who wait for the future to change repeat the present. The only way to change tomorrow is to change today.
The future changes today.
“If you do what you’ve always done,
you’ll get what you’ve always gotten.”
People:
Break the isolation that solidifies the present. The future is people. Find your future by connecting and serving people today.
Thirty minutes:
I reach out to people I don’t know every week. I tell them I’d like to learn more about them and what they do. Could we talk on the phone or skype? They usually say yes.
Thirty minutes on the phone learning about someone changes me. Sometimes it changes them, too.
10 ways to change the future today:
- Send a thank you email with no strings attached.
- Two minute drill – Take out a notepad, make two columns and write down your joys and frustrations.
- Give something away.
- Identify one thing that would make this day better and do it.
- Rather than meeting one-on-one in the office, schedule a walking meeting.
- Ask someone from another department to join your meetings.
- Make a “NOT to-do list” – Things you won’t do today – For example: complain.
- Take an alternate path or road to common destinations or use the stairs.
- Rearrange your office.
- Pick up the phone and call someone you haven’t connected with for ages.
Now:
Disdain for small change leaves you stuck today. The “giant leap” approach often lands face down in the mud.
Forget about changing the future. The future is now.
What keeps people stuck?
What other suggestions do you have for getting out of ruts?
Great stuff Dan!
My first suggestion is turn your focus inward. Instead of focusing on what is wrong with the world and its peoples…..I look inward to find what is off with me and my attitudes. Look to find what needs to be changed in me.
Realize changing ME is changing the world, ok just a little bit but, changing still!!!
Second, a BIGGIE for me and took decades for me to understand this and I am still working everyday to progress in this area……be a magnet to those who believe what I believe and as repulsive to those who don’t as humanly possible. Why? I finally “almost” get I am not going to change people’s core beliefs. It is a TOTAL waste of time to try. Mine and theirs AND that wasted time will be better used chilling and grilling with people who believe what I believe.
If I do not get this, do this, I am taking time away from those I can be effective with and annoying the ones who are not listening to me anyway. No emotional animosity, just a logical decision where to make best use of everyone’s time.
As an Effectiveness Coach I could as you know Dan go on for days!!! Hey I am longwinded cause I care!!!! Lol
Instead I will stop here except to suggest two other things:
1. What you want to learn, to teach yourself…….read and listen to whatever it is. AT THE SAME TIME. Your comprehension will soar.
2. Right before you go to sleep write down three epic awesome things you did during the day. Till you do this 21 one days in a row you will never understand how important what the last thoughts of the day you choose to repeat to yourself are.
So for now no mo bloviating!
Have a good one Dan!!
SP back to epic oxy production!!! Ain’t life Grand!!!!!
Thanks Scott. Yes, life is grand.
Few things are more frustrating than trying to change others. The best leaders can do, after working on themselves, is create environments where people can change themselves.
The reason it is frustrating to try to change others is……..it cannot be done.
Change, personal change is an internal decision.
Cannot, will not be intimidated, coerced, YES temporary compliance, YES, absolutely.
NOT enduring, long lasting, honest to goodness change.
That only happens deep within oneself when the individual decides they are sick and tired of being sick and tired and are ready to go to any length…..for different.
Just been my experience.
SP. Effectiveness Coach
Good morning Dan; You’ve mentioned before how hard it is at times to come up with a picture that somehow correlates with your blogs message. I believe todays picture does just that. One thing in todays message is perfectly clear, “Leadership is ALL about people”. The railroad tracks, (of leadership), go in all directions. The destination of any successful leadership endeavor is paved with the relationships we build with ‘People’. Yes this means “the good, the bad, and the ugly”, for we can, and should, learn from them all. The people you surround yourself with will ultimatley play a role in the level of ones success, or, the lack thereof. If you surround yourself with negative thinking\acting people, you expose yourself to negativity. Surround yourself with positive people, and the impact will most certainly be postive. “It’s human nature”. Do something good for someone with no alterior motive, it’s what our maker put us on this earth for. Leading is all about doing what is best forpeople, not policies or programs and protocall, people. I really like the idea of asking folks outside your circle to join the conversation. The diverse nature that others bring to the table broaden our horizons and result in diversified thinking, opening a new and different approach to leading and problem solving. If you show me someone who’s NOT a people person, I’ll show you someone who walks a lonely isolated path down the road to leadership. People, it’s all about people. Cheer Dan. It’s a Winter Wonderland in good ole Lewistown!!!!
Thanks SGT. Snowed here too. I like the white but prefer the warm. 🙂
YOur comment reminds me of a Craig Groschel quote:
“Show me your friends and I’ll show you your future.”
Your post reminded me of this short video that I like…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVkAGTJq_-Q
it reflects a attitude and mode that -I think- reflects the changes the Internet is enabling.
Thanks Ken. Interesting reflections on the changing nature of work in that video.
Another good post, Dan!
We spend too much of our time trying to change other people, when the only person we can change is ourself.
By changing myself, I changed my world. That is the only part of the whole world that I can change.
It is enough to make a difference.
Jimmy Collins
Thanks Jimmy. There’s something so much easier about focusing on others. I can let myself off the hook. At the same time I can get mad at them because they aren’t changing. That makes me feel important. (sarcasm intended)
BTW: I quoted you in yesterday’s post.
Thanks, Dan! I missed yesterday’s.
I appreciate you quoting me. It is what worked for me.
Jimmy
Ditto Jimmy.
The “Not-To-Do” list!! I love this concept!
This is so often an overlooked skill (or tool) we need to keep in our toolbox. People I work with (including myself) gravitate towards more, shiny, and new. I believe this is an amazing character of our human nature and as such it takes real effort to implement this effectively. Clarifying what “not to do” helps me focus in on the task at hand and is much easier to define and/or recognize success and failure down the road.
Thanks Dan! Keep up the good work.
Thanks Thomas. In a “to-do” culture, a not-to-do list takes real courage! First time I saw this idea was in Marshall Goldsmith’s book: “What Got You Here Won’t Get You There“
Yet another set of ideas arriving at a propitious time for me. The One Word concept (Jan 4) was transformational in both my life and work, and in this past week more than any. I’m still working with that one every day. This list suggests ways to plant additional seeds each day that might sprout unexpectedly down the road. Thanks, Dan.
Thanks Steven. “Propitious” — love that word.
BTW… I’m using the “One Word” idea as well. It’s very helpful and seems to be taking on a life of it’s own.
Yeah, funny about that. It kept me from making a true blunder last week. Cheers!
Love this post Dan. Make a NOT to-do list – brilliant!
Diana
Thanks Diana. One of my favorites also.
I’m saving this one!
-Jerry
Thanks Jerry. Best wishes
This post hit home personally for me. I love my simple, “re-tired” life. However, to a guy who has worked all of his life, re-tired really means “re-treaded,” as I probably worked more now than ever before even though it’s pro bono on things I’ve always wanted to do.
My daughters, though, believe my regimented daily activities don’t change and as a result I’m decaying away. My capitalistic daughter, the attorney, recently told me: “When you’re finished changing, you’re finished!” My academic daughter, the school principal, quoted
Michelangelo: “Dad, you’ve got to see your ‘angel in the marble and chisel until you set him free.”
They want me to change…to see with new eyes…new landscapes… a new future…a bettered life, living, being, and doing. I’ve already sent them a thank you note. First thing Monday morning, I’m going to apply for a part-time job outside of my field at a nearby institution.
And I’m going to try with all of my heart to rearrange my home office to include my messy book cases–save for this one corner where I have my favorite reference books of authors I love and use regularly. How about that for immediate change?
Thanks book. Wow! I’m exhausted. 🙂
Seriously, it can be hard to listen to people around us. If you’d like an interesting book that is connected to this idea, check out, Leap Frogging.
I like the idea of a not-to-do list!
Enjoyed the blog
Thanks
Thanks susipet. One reason life gets more chaotic is we keep putting stuff in the bucket but we never take anything out. Best wishes
Yes I agree…
Today I’m not going to check my work blackberry!
Me to
this post was a wonderful way for me to start the morning thank you for the inspiration I truly believe that most people have no idea what they want to do in life so they have no road map for the future wonderful picture in this post as well sometimes I worry so much about the future we don’t put the first step towards it great post this morning thank you
Thanks Beneath. It sure helps to know what we want. Sometimes we find out what we want by stepping toward something today. You take a step and think, That doesn’t seem right. Or, we take a step and we realize it is what we really want. In either case, moving vs. standing still helps us find our way.
Dan,
Great post!! I especially like the idea of a “NOT to-do list”. We focus on making a list of the tasks we have to accomplish during the day but forget about paying attention to our actions/behaviors. As we work to complete our task, we can get out of emotional focus as we engage in negative actions. Making it a point to begin using my “NOT to-do list” this week.
Thanks for the encouragement!!
I, too, especially like the idea of a NOT to-do list. Some of those NOT to-do items can be even more important than some of our to-do’s.
I am doing a “NOT to-do list” for next week. My to-do-lists make me feel stresses – I will pick one thing and do that and ignore all the other things until I am done. Thank you!
Best wishes Sofie.
How can I get some materials to use, I train young people on leadership in Africa Kenya Nairobi and would love to find someone that can mentor me. How would you help me mentor this young people from the Slums.
Am very happy to read through your articles. Thank you again
Benson
Hi Benson, The best I can offer you these days is the the blogs I write. Use them for the good of yourself and others.
Hi Dan. Change the future? Forgive someone and/or ask to be forgiven. Amazing results..
I hope all is well with you.
What a cool thing to add Roberta. Thank you for a practical and challenging approaching to changing the future.
Reblogged this on Movers, Shakers, Leadership Makers.
#7 struck a chord with me. There are enough people complaining, negative, obstructive, indecisive … or whatever. Doing the opposite get’s noticed for the right reasons and makes change more likely.