For years I worked countless hours, and no matter how much I got done, I always went home feeling as though it was never enough.

My “To-Do List” read more like a wish list of all the things I would accomplish if I could freeze time.

Then I made a few small changes that yielded massive results:

#1. Break your list into two. Place no more than 5 Must Get Done (MGD) items at the top of the list. Draw a line.

#2. Write your list at the END OF THE DAY (the night before). Finishing your day strong by planning the next allows you to get out of the gate strong each day.

#3. Estimate a time for each task on your MGD list. Is it a 10-minute task or a 3-hour one?

#4. Name names! Write down the names of the people you need to help you complete this task.

#5. Tick each item off as you go. This brings a feeling of accomplishment.

As simple as this sounds, it was a game changer for me. I hope it is for you as well!

Keep on ticking!,

I was in California last week to attend The Wooden Leadership Program. For those of you who don’t know Coach Wooden, he is well known for winning 10 NCAA national championships in a 12-year period as a basketball coach at UCLA. More importantly, he positively impacted the lives of thousands of people through his mentorship and an example of a life well lived. He passed away last year at 99 years of age.

We learned how Coach Wooden held that the passer was EQUALLY responsible for the success of a pass as the receiver. Whenever a receiver dropped the ball, regardless of how “PERFECT” the pass was, the passer was conditioned to say, “My fault, bad pass.”

The thinking here is that YOU (the passer) are responsible for adjusting your technique (or teaching style) to keep the receiver ON BALANCE and, therefore, set up for success by throwing them a pass (or assignment) that they can catch. A great passer adjusts their passing to suit the receiver.

It forced me to analyze how many times I felt as though I had given “perfect instructions” only to see my team member drop the ball, sometimes over and over again. I can be quick to criticize the person who has just dropped the ball, but in the future I will say, “My fault, bad pass” and look first at my responsibility in the failure.

To your success,

One of the greatest managers I ever worked for had a HABIT that defined him. Twice a week, he would take a break with a random member of the company (a cook, dishwasher, waiter, etc.).

These meetings never lasted more than 10 minutes and they were held on sidewalks, flipped over milk cartons in the kitchen, and in neighboring cafes.

He often opened with: “My #1 job is to make this a better place to work, and to do so I need your help. Tell me, what is the ONE THING you would fix if you were me?”

I distinctly remember when he pulled me out during a lull in the shift.  He listened thoughtfully to my response and then asked, “Why is that important to you? Who else does that effect? How would you go about fixing that?”

I can’t tell you that he “fixed” everything, but I can tell you that he connected, listened, and made things happen!

Did I mention that this area manager had over 1000 staff under his command? If he could find the time, maybe you could too!

Get outside your comfort zone,

It’s the habit that sets the managers with good intentions apart from the few with great results.

Without question, the one thing that changed my career – and life – more than anything else was SETTING and WRITING DOWN BIG GOALS.

Most people don’t ever write out their goals. It requires you to “put yourself out there.” What if you don’t succeed?

A better question is: What if you don’t try?

I challenge each of you to have at least ONE BIG written goal for 2011. Make it an achievement that will not occur unless you LEAN INTO IT. Something meaningful. Something remarkable!

OK… got your goal? Now take these 4 steps:

#1. Clearly articulate the goal - if you can’t explain your goal to a stranger in 20 seconds, you don’t have one.

#2. Make it a SMART Goal (Specific, Measurable, Aligned, Realistic and Time bound) - they say a goal is a dream with a deadline!

#3. Post it in public - email it to friends/colleagues. Put it up on the wall in your office.

#4. Tell as many people as you can - doing so will enlist partners, managers, staff, suppliers, customers and friends to help you achieve your goals.

Make this your year to take the leap. Adopt this habit and see it through.

Great things will happen!,