Start Something Today

Lessons From ‘The Break’

I was thinking this morning what I’ve learnt from the Christmas break – so here goes.

• Fact – In Florida 24% of all mortgages are in default and 44% of mortgages are more than the homes are worth. What should I do with that stunning information?
• That the work we’ve been doing on almost every website has resulted in an improved Google Page Rank – some now as high as PR3.
• Tools – If you are operating in a niche then a very useful tool to monitor some of what’s going on around the world is a new tool by Google – It’s called Google Alerts -  http://www.google.co.uk/alerts?
• Ponder – That Global warming doesn’t mean everyone will get warmer – at the moment it’s between – 8C and – 2C in the UK and yet again the cold weather is exceeding all records

So that brings me back to an eternal question – two actually.

• How can I play my part in being responsible on this planet so that everyone gets a fair crack at life?
• Where are the opportunities in life that these changes will bring – how can we spot them? By the way many of these opportunities are not commercial but that doesn’t mean they are not worth pursuing.

Forming New Habits

As we near the end of 2009 and look forward to 2010 I thought it was appropriate to look at how we might form new habits to replace old ones. My inspiration this morning comes from reading a book called the seven habits of highly effective people by Stephen Covey. This book has become a staple reference for me over the years as it contains such wisdom. If this book isn’t in your library yet treat yourself and buy it and read over the Christmas period.

For our purposes, we will define the habit is the intersection of knowledge, skill and desire.

Knowledge is the theoretical paradigm, the what to do and why. Skill is the how to do. And desire is the motivation, the want to do. In order to make something a habit in our lives, we have to have all three.

For example I may be effective in my interactions with my work Associates, my spouse, or my children to such constantly tell them what I think, I may not even know I need to listen.

Even if I didn’t know that in order to interact effectively others I really need to listen to them, I may not have the skill. I may not know how to really listen deeply to another human being.

But knowing I need to listen and then have to listen is not enough. Unless I want to listen, unless I have the desire, it won’t be the habit in my life. Creating a habit requires work in all three dimensions.