Thursday, November 22, 2007

Establish Benchmarks To Track Your Progress

by Tim Connor

There is one way to ensure success in the future and that is to reduce or eliminate the number of mistakes, poor decisions and failures in your life. Keep in mind that each of these can be very positive for the person who routinely examines their life decisions and actions. The problem is most people don’t. The vast majority of people just truck along not connecting today’s issues or challenges with yesterday’s poor judgment or choices.
If it isn't measured, it isn't happening. As a member of my mastermind group for over 12 years, Master Speakers Int'l, I have had the privilege to learn from some of the great minds in the speaking, training and consulting business. At a recent quarterly meeting, one of our members shared a concept that is often overlooked as many of us move toward the success we all desire (regardless of the definition of success).
Establish benchmarks in your life to guide you consistently toward your goals. Benchmarks can give you a number of critical advantages as you move from one day to the next on your journey. Some of them are:
1. Accountability.
2. Re-commitment.
3. Re-evaluation.
4. Proper direction.
5. A measuring device.
6. Renewed belief.
7. Growing passion.
8. Integrity of purpose.
9. A warning sign.
Lofty benefits? Maybe, but essential if you want to achieve any measure of continued future success while enjoying the success you achieve?
A benchmark can be analogous to the road signs while driving on a long distance vacation to an area you have never been. It can also be a warning signal that something is amiss. If you are not careful, you may never make it to your destination. Or you may spend extra hours lost looking for the right road.
Here are a few benchmarks to consider as you begin your career, relationships and life 2004.
1. What are you going to do differently this year to accelerate your progress?
2. What measurement guidelines do you have in place to ensure you are heading in the right direction?
3. What records do you need to keep to ensure you stay on track?
4. To whom can you give permission - to hold you accountable?
5. Do you have a plan B if plan A doesn't seem to be working?
6. Are you going to spend regular programmed time in reflection and re-evaluation?
7. Do you know where you want to go and WHY?
8. Do you know what you will do when you get there?
I believe that regularly measuring activity and learning which activities generate the greatest degree of success with the least amount of pain and stress is one of the best ways to ensure that the time and effort you put into your career, business or life will yield outstanding positive outcomes.

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