Some time ago an excellent Social Media Coach (Ben Croft) pointed out that my blogs tend to come in waves. It seems this is not ideal for subscribers – who may not want several posts in a few days – and I briefly considered used a plug-in that drip feeds my articles. Then I realized that the blogs I write do come in waves, and generally this is how life happens for most of us – “waves”. I like waves. It allows for surfing, and for the great sound of waves crashing, and the smell of ozone and seaweed….
In Trimtab part one I spoke about the Theory of Constraints or TOC. The premise is that if the goal is improving performance [eg in the lifting rating of a chain], resources need to be focused on the literal ‘weakest link’. Making the other link stronger will not allow the chain to lift more weight – as it will still break at the weakest link. This is a powerful metaphor for creating improvements in any area you choose.
One of the things that I find keeps me moving is finding metaphors to layer over one another. (like this)
For example – I am working on a “life tapestry” for my life. A map of “art” that will give me the sense that I have created a “work of art” with life when my life is over. This map will be a daily undertaking that alters my state when I consider it – as it will take my focus to the things of beauty done and to be done. We all know from the hammering we have had from the “Secret” is that our lives follow our focus. Predetermining our focus on a daily basis – using the metaphor of a Life Time Art Map – can only move us toward the beauty [or whatever the chosen purpose of the map eg Freedom, excitement, success, whatever you choose].
So the “Lifetime Art Map” is my tool. You are welcome to borrow it.
To tie this to your “probable constraint” – comes another model. It is one that I first came across in Napoleon Hill’s Laws of Success. His definition of Power – was organized knowledge used intelligently. The components are
– Organized – ie simple and easy to access
– Used – knowing about it and organizing it does not do anything unless there is action
– Intelligently. This third component is where I believe most of us hide our constraints.
For me, intelligently means for a purpose. Strategically. Having a specific outcome in mind. And it is in the “specifics” that real power lives. To be able to apply power effectively – we need to know the purpose of it. The power from the motor of car is not useful until we know that the purpose is to turn the wheels to take us somewhere.
The statement that comes just before Hill’s description of Power is that of Success. Success being the getting what you want without harming others, he says. And I like it.
Now – here is my proposition.
For most of the people in the world – who are not getting what they want from their businesses (or other areas of life), the constraint is that they have not created a SPECIFIC enough definition of success. Remember that in the definition of power – there is the need for ‘intelligent application’. Just attempting to apply organized knowledge ‘higgledy-piggledy’ is unlikely to give you what you want.
I know this because I did it for decades. With the awareness of it – I can see it in others – and it is everywhere.
How to “fix” the problem – if that is what it is? Well you could go to any of the vast multitude of “goal setting” structures. Anything we do to increase specificity will help (usually).
For me – this is where my General Unifying Theory of Life Time Art Maps comes in. For each area and planned event of my life – the question will now come: “Is this ___________ a work of art?” If the answer is “no” – then the next question is “well what needs to change to make it into a work of art?”
The answer to that gives me “an ideal” that is a “goal” – and the steps to that new position are the action steps to taken.
Even the way and order that I choose the areas to put on my map must answer the Art question. Is the way that I am now creating my Map a work of art? No? How would I know if it was, and what are the steps to complete that condition?
A different analogy from many years ago was “How would your actions, thoughts and words be different if you knew that everyone in the world could see you doing them?”
More on this soon. In the meantime – consider the level of specificity of your goals. Is it high enough for you to apply power? And what metaphors do you currently apply across your life to guide you? eg do you go ‘into battle’, ‘run a race’ or ‘deal with things’ or just ‘see what happens’? And how are those metaphors working for you?
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James Hooper
Townsville Business Coach