Fair and Firm Discipline

Fair and firm discipline isn't a catch phrase type of discipline. It is simply you, the parent, creating a discipline plan for your children that are fair to both of you and sticking to it using a firm and loving approach. Here are three reasons why you should:

· Fair and firm discipline teaches respect for adults and those in authority. Teens who do not have any, little or the wrong type of discipline in the home often are those who get in trouble at school and/or with the law.

 

· Fair and firm discipline allows your teen to feel safe. When you set clear expectations and limits you are showing your teen the safe route through the maze of dos and don'ts in their daily lives. You are giving them a map to follow where they get to make choices for themselves. This is a very safe feeling and helps with building confidence. Older teens will eventually learn how to set their own expectations and limits when you follow this type of discipline.

· Fair and firm discipline allows your teen to take responsibility for their actions. When your teen understands the rules and the consequences and knows that they are expected to follow the rules then they are ready and often willing to take consequences – whether they are positive or negative. This means you can’t forget to remember to praise your teen’s good behavior as well as stand by the consequences you have set for poor behavior.

Be A Problem Solver

I’m recently flew from Austin to Seattle. While waiting for us to get past 10,000 feet so I could turn on my IPAD, I picked up the ever-present SkyMall catalog.

If you’ve never seen one of these, they’re really quite amazing.  Everything you can imagine to solve a problem or make life more convenient is offered for sale.  Just scanning through the pages, I found the following “can’t miss” items:

The Thundershirt (a compression garment to put on your dog so they won’t freak out during thunderstorms)

Gravity Defyer – shoes with springs built into the heel so you can stand up longer without hurting your back.

MeshWerx – a small board with spandex straps that holds all of your pens, nail files, keys, etc. and keeps them organized inside your purse or carry-on bag.

LitterKwitter – a system for toilet training your cat

The FastFinger Alphabetical keyboard – for those dinosaurs who still “hunt and peck” when typing.

The Sand-Free Multi-Mat – so you won’t have to deal with sand getting all over your towel at the beach.

What’s interesting about the SkyMall catalog is that somebody somewhere came up with these ideas.  It’s the innovation of it all that really impresses me.  It’s as if somebody is thinking about what annoys me now and what might annoy me in the future.  Powerful stuff.

I wonder if that’s something all of us could do?  If so, wouldn’t it really improve your value and make you irreplaceable at work?  Think about it:

What problems are we facing right now at work that could be solved by something that nobody’s ever thought of before?

What are others doing right now that we could improve on?

What problem isn’t even an issue now but could become one in the next 3-5 years?  What could we do to solve it?

What are we doing really well right now that could be made even better or more relevant?

I’m sure these are the same kinds of questions the innovators who have their products in the SkyMall Catalog have thought of.  If you think everything that can be invented is already done, think again.  After all, the SkyMall Catalog is updated nearly every month and there is always new products in addition to the old ones.

All of us can add value to our organizations by becoming strategic, out-of-the-box problem-solvers.  It just means asking “why” more often and putting ourselves in the minds of those we serve for.

Take some time this week to look at what you’re doing and think of ways to make it better and more efficient.  Creative and more valuable.  Innovative and more affordable.  It’s the best way to build and maintain your place and your job security!

Now if only I could invent a system to automatically smack the person sitting behind you on an airplane that pulls himself up out of the seat by grabbing onto your headrest!

How to Become a Better Leader on the Job

I have been asked by several of my colleagues if I have any advice on how to become a leader, or a more effective leader. After I put some thought to the matter, I came up with several recommendations.

First of all, if you’re aiming for a leadership position, you can’t be shy. Overcome any potential inhibitions, or passivity. You have to have initiative, perseverance and drive.  I don’t remember who said it, but one of my favorite quotes on leadership is: “Leaders don’t wait. They shape their own frontiers.”

I offer these strategies for shaping your own future:

Absorb knowledge. Gain expertise in all business functions of your organization — including procurement, human resources, contracting, information technology, budgeting, and project management— even if these topics don’t interest you. You then will be prepared to make sound  judgments about all operations.

Identify your knowledge gaps and then fill them by seeking appropriate projects, detail assignments and volunteer experience. Exploit training opportunities offered by your agency and professional organizations.

Toughen your skin.  It’s lonely at the top; you have to be prepared for that. Being a strong leader sometimes requires making unpopular decisions, and even sometimes making decisions that you might not necessarily agree with yourself. You must be prepared to take the bull by the horns, and bear criticism and negative responses from others.

Remember the importance of providing a clear, strong rationale for decisions after the fact.  Be prepared to explain the consequences of your actions and inactions.

Listen to the objectors. Try to respond in a positive, professional manner.  Always thank others for their different points of view.

Create a safe environment for colleagues, staffers and others to provide honest feedback — including opposing arguments — on your decisions, speeches and strategies.

Go for the long haul. Don’t let occasional defeats paralyze you. You don’t need a 100 percent success rate to maintain a leadership position.

Leaders, especially political leaders, don’t win every election and might not be on the winning side of every vote. But you have to stay in the game, and have a generally good win-loss record. Most importantly, persistence with integrity pays off.

Get beyond flattery. Get outside of insulated bubbles filled by ego-boosting yes people and aggressively solicit candor from advisers.

Reward others. Part of being a benevolent and popular leader is to publicly thank hard-working staffers for their contributions.

Acknowledge milestones in the lives of your staff. A congratulation   on a staffers promotion, anniversary, or birthday, may make big, lasting impressions on those whose support you need.

What’s your motivation?

I absolutely HATE cleaning house so to motivate myself, I put in my Alice Cooper “The Alice Cooper Show” CD from 1977 and listen to the concert.  While listening to music, I couldn’t help but think about Alice Cooper in his sixties, still out there performing. Interestingly enough, you can watch the same band today and he attacks the stage and with the same energy.   It’s almost as if he’s playing to people who have never seen them live and he wants to make the experience unforgettable, AND to those who’ve seen them many times before.  In both cases, the concerts are outstanding. Alice Cooper plays like it’s the first time anyone has seen them.

It became very clear to me that the music is infectious and my motivation.  What’s yours?  Is there something that you do routinely and are finding yourself getting bored with?  If so, remember, the routine you do might be the first experience somebody has with you.  For them, they would expect to see you performing with the enthusiasm of it being your first time “on stage.”  If people have dealt with your or your organization before, they expect you to top the last performance.

Jimmy Buffet must be absolutely SICK of singing Margaritaville, but it’s his signature song.  He needs to perform it as if the audience has never heard it before.  For them, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience to see him.  If I ever get to see Alice Cooper in concert, I’ll expect to hear all the classics performed with the energy I see in my 1977 CD, anything less would be a letdown.  You can’t afford any of the people you contact to have a letdown either.  What’s your motivation?

This week, think about what you can do to treat your job, audience, task, or performance as if it’s the first in front of a new audience or in front of someone who’s seen it numerous times.  It will definitely cause you to ramp up your game.  I’m up for it.  Are you?

Are You on Top of the Foodchain?

Last week, after surfing the channels looking for something interesting to watch, I stumbled upon a very interesting documentary on the Smithsonian channel.  Apparently, some whale watchers captured video of a Killer Whale eating a Great White Shark.

Now everything we’ve ever seen or heard about Great Whites suggests they sit on top of the food chain.  Nothing preys on them and they have their run of the ocean.  In this video clip however, the Great White was no match for the Orca.

Every success story begins by somebody having a dream or goal and then working hard, against many odds, to achieve it.  Attaining success is just part of the battle though.  Retailers and products experience rags-to-riches-to-rags stories. Even “Bad Bad Leroy Brown” was the “baddest man in the whole damn town” until somebody left him “looking like a jigsaw puzzle with a couple of pieces gone.”  Please forgive the old song quote. I could not help myself.

So how to do you stay on top of the food chain?  Here are some suggestions:

Remember what got you there.  There is a tendency, after a long-drawn-out climb to the top, to relax and enjoy the view.  I’ve experienced periods like this where I don’t seem to have the same motivation to keep up the grind, I’ve had several setbacks at work as punishment to keep me from slacking off again.  Just keep in mind, when you’re on top, there’s somebody else, even hungrier than you were, waiting to take your place.

Don’t get complacent.  Just because nobody can challenge you now doesn’t mean they can’t in the future.  In the documentary I watched, the Great White cruised over to take on the Orca (which was not native to this particular part of the ocean) not realizing it wouldn’t be intimidated.  Keep one eye on the prize and the other one looking over your shoulder (I know that’s anatomically impossible but you know what I mean…)

Don’t be arrogant.  Quiet confidence always wins the day over overt arrogance.  I’ve heard that it’s not the roaring lion you ought to fear – they’re the old, toothless ones who roar to keep you away.  Fear the young ones that creep up on you… Don’t ever give up on pursuing your dreams.  It’s healthy and a key to total career success.  In the same, don’t give up on holding on to your dreams.  The top of the food chain is certainly the BEST place to be, but don’t let anyone take you off of it willingly.

Oh and just some food for thought.  Even the Orca isn’t on top of the food chain.  After all, haven’t you seen Shamu at Sea World obediently jumping over a pole for a few little fish as a reward?  Do you get the feeling they’re just humoring the trainers?  If they really wanted to, they could easily reestablish their place on top of the food chain…

Assertiveness or Persistence

What’s the opposite of assertiveness and persistence? Aggressiveness and demanding.  One works and the other doesn’t.  Do one and you’ll get taken seriously, do the other and you’ll be laughed at.

Assertiveness is stating what you want in a respectful, but no-nonsense tone.  Assertiveness doesn’t demand, it states strongly.  Aggressiveness demands emotionally with an implied threat if demands aren’t met.  It certainly works, but usually with damage done.  Be aggressive long enough and you’ll be avoided at all cost.

Persistence is the act of sticking with a request by using different approaches to achieve the desired end-state.  There is a fine balance between persistence and annoyance.  Persistence is a series of gentle reminders.  Done with the right tone and variety, they will achieve their goal.  Demanding has the subtlety of a jackhammer.  It often works (just as you’d do most anything to shut the noise of a jackhammer off) but results are short-lived and pretty much guarantees that it’s a one-time victory.

People who are aggressive and demanding get what they want, but will never be taken seriously.  Using a tactful mix of assertiveness and persistence is the strategy of any successful salesperson or business person.  The tools take less emotion, use less fear, and build up confidence.  Learned early enough, they are your ticket to success in school, relationships, and in the beginning stages of work life.  Applied consistently, they are the building blocks of successful careers.   Ultimately, they’ll send the message that you’re mature and should be taken seriously. 

Little Things are Important

If you think about it, most of the major issues we face all begin with a small problem.  The Titanic was sunk by an iceberg just grazing its side, scratching out the rivets that made the hull separate.  Most airplane crashes happen as a result of several small issues culminating into one big catastrophe.

When I was in the Army, one of the first phrases we learned in basic training was “pay attention to detail.”  Paying attention to detail means that we proactively look at all the little things that could have a big impact.  Obviously in the Army it’s important when you’re on an important mission and lives and cost are at stake.  I think it’s important for all of us on a daily basis.

One small miscommunication can expand into a major misunderstanding and conflict.  A small detail left out of a project plan can cause the entire process to break down.  On missing ingredient can turn that perfect recipe into something your dog wouldn’t eat.

We often tell people not to “sweat the small stuff” but in reality, paying attention to the “small stuff” might prevent a much bigger problem.  Just like a small mechanical issue on your car can turn into a large bill, your small issue can cost time, money, and sometimes relationships.

This week, I’m going to make a concerted effort to really look at the details of stuff that I’m planning.  Maybe this attempt to “sweat the small stuff” will pay big dividends for me.  Will you join me?

This past week those of us in Texas and other states faced the prospect of having a chance to win one of the largest Mega Millions jackpots of all time – a whopping $656 million.  In the days leading up each drawing, people began lining up for tickets, optimistic in their chances for winning.  Just on my Facebook page alone, several of my friends said things like:

“Don’t bother buying one, I have the winning ticket.”

“I won’t be going to work on Monday”

Amazing the optimism since the estimated odds at winning the jackpot stood at 1 in 176 million. By Friday night, after it had grown for more than nine weeks, Americans had spent nearly $1.5 billion on Mega Millions tickets — the equivalent of nearly $5 for every man, woman and child in the USA. They spent more than $429 million on Friday alone.  The average purchase was four tickets per person.

Large jackpots also bring forth the requisite comparisons on the odds of winning.  Here are a few:

You are 18 to 120 times more likely to die from a flesh-eating bacteria than to win the lottery (1 chance in 1 million).

What are the chances that if you’re playing with a group of four that two of you will get a hole-in-one on the exact same hole? At 17 million to 1, they’re better than the chances of you winning the lottery.

What about dying from a snake bite or bee sting? You’re 180 to 1,200 times more likely to die from one of these incidents than win the lottery. That’s because the probability of dying from a snake bite or bee sting is about 100,000 to 1.

You are 30,000% to 200,000% more likely to die in a legal execution than to win the lottery.

Here’s an interesting thought:  Aside from winning the Mega Millions, your chance of doing most anything else productive and fun in your life is actually 1 in 3.  How does this work?

For every request, there are three possible answers:

Yes

No

Let me think about it/maybe

So, if that holds true, here are some interesting things to consider:

You want a raise at work?  Your odds are 1 in 3.

Want that certain somebody to go out on a date with you?  Your odds are 1 in 3.

Want to get that college degree?  Your odds of success are 1 in 2.

Want to lose weight this year?  Your chance of success is 1 in 2.

Need to get over your fear of public speaking?  Odds of success are 1 in 2.

For most anything in life we really need, the odds are actually pretty good.  Dreamers hope a lottery ticket will solve all of their problems. Doers do a series of small things, each day, to ensure success.  Doers aren’t afraid to ask for something because the odds of success are either 1 in 2 or 1 in 3.  If that’s the case, why would anyone sit back and depend on a Mega Millions ticket to save the day?

Sure it’s fun to dream.  I wouldn’t mind getting a chunk of $656 million.  Realistically though, I know my potential for success is in my own hands.  I’ll take those odds any day.

This week, ask yourself: Am I a dreamer or a doer?  If you’re a doer, then get busy doing!  If you’re a dreamer?  Well….pleasant dreams….

Do You Have Credibility?

More and more lately I realize that in many cases, a lot of folks don’t really carry a lot of credibility.  With that in mind, I thought I’d offer up some suggestions on how to be taken seriously.  This might be helpful advice if you’re trying to influence someone and might be very beneficial to young people who are trying to find their place in the world. 

1.      Be Current on Current Events.  I know most folks don’t care much for the news.  Frankly, with all of the UNFAIR and UNBALANCED views of ALL TV news (yes, this includes FOX news), I can’t blame them.  Regardless, having knowledge of current events gives you something to reference when you talk to people.

2.      Be Reliable.  More and more, I’m impressed with people, events, and services that actually start on time.  When someone I book an appointment with shows up on time, it’s more of the anomaly and not the norm.  Mediocrity seems to be the standard and anything slightly above seems amazing.  To be taken seriously, be EARLY and ready to go at the appointed time.  I guarantee you’ll make a great impression.

3.      Be Assertive.  Assertive is not to be confused with aggressive.  Assertive means that you take the lead in any type of interaction.  Introduce yourself rather than wait to be introduced.  Offer a firm handshake instead of accepting one.  Ask others their name and ask them questions about what they do rather than ask for a favor first.  Be an extravert in an introverted world and you’ll be taken seriously.  On another note though, if you’re already assertive, be prepared to tone it down if you typically intimidate and annoy others.  Assertiveness needs to be practiced with the right amount of balance

The Pygmalion Effect

I recently read an interesting article about San Francisco 49rs quarterback Alex Smith.  For those of you who don’t know, Alex Smith and Jim Harbaugh, Smith was the first overall draft pick in the 2005 draft.  For the first six years of his career, he failed to live up to his own billing, not to mention the great tradition of 49rs quarterbacks like Joe Montana and Steve Young.

Until this year.

What happened?  Smith found himself with a new coach, Jim Harbaugh, who believed in him.

Last season Smith finally lived up to what he was always projected to be. That was evidence of him having confidence in himself and his coach having confidence in him. That was a big step in showing the team and showing the fans, who had been calling for him to be out of there for a long time, that they can be successful with him.

Without probably knowing it, Harbaugh brought Smith back by creating The Pygmalion Effect which refers to the phenomenon in which the greater the expectation placed upon people, often children or students and employees, the better they perform. The effect is named after Pygmalion, a Cypriot sculptor in a narrative by Ovid in Greek mythology, who fell in love with a female statue he had carved out of ivory.

Have you ever had someone who really believed in you?  Did their belief instill a new sense of confidence in you?  It’s happened to me several times, most notably when a commander I worked for way back, believed in my ability so much he put me on the road to education. Without him I probably would still be a high school dropout who couldn’t get into college. The confidence he built in me enabled me to go on and have the career I have now.

On the other hand, have you ever had someone either verbally or non-verbally remove confidence in you?  If so, you probably felt discouraged, unmotivated, and lost any sense of creativity.  I’ve had that happen too!

What should we do?

First of all, if you’re working hard to develop personally and/or professionally, surround yourself with people who believe in you.  I’m not suggesting you get people who just accentuate the positive – I mean people who will build you up but also push you hard and won’t accept less than your full effort.

Second, if you’re in any position of influence (boss, parent, etc.) are you making every effort to call attention to a person’s strengths?  If you see any potential for greatness, are you identifying that and building on that?  Your encouragement might be just what they need to break through a personal or professional barrier.  It’s a great experience to see someone you care about achieve their goals or set new and exciting ones.

The Harbaugh/Smith connection will continue to play out through the next season.  I’ll be curious to see just how the second half of Smith’s career pans out next season.  No matter what, I’m sure he’ll play it with a renewed sense of energy and confidence.

What will you do this week to create The Pygmalion Effect with someone in your life?

Grace Under Fire

I might have to turn in my "man card", but sometimes I watch figure skating . A friend of mine use to make fun of me. He said, "it might be more fun to watch if someone periodically tossed handfuls of ball bearings on the ice during the routines". Every once in a while you come across a couple who are really good.  The guy skates all around flipping the girl up and around but at no time does either one show the slightest sign of stress.  If "grace under pressure" needed an example, it is in a well executed routine. A routine last about three minutes or so. When its flawless, its excellent.

When I think back on people who impressed me the most, they usually were the ones who didn't panic when times got tough.  I've worked for many bosses in the Army who would "sweat the load" anytime something stressful happened.

I've dealt with employees who panicked when faced with challenging situations.  I've coached supervisors who either scream at troublesome employees or hide in their offices afraid to confront them.  There is something to be said for people who assertively face a crisis head-on and make it look like it's routine. 

How you do that varies by individual of course, but I've found a couple ways to help handle pressure with grace:

1.  Breath deep.  I've heard that breathing deeply increases the oxygen flow to your brain. When you're brain is firing on all cylinders, you'll be able to make a better decision when things are falling apart.

2.  Resist the urge to panic.  Several years ago, I was buying a snack at a 7-11 store.  I heard a woman screaming from the back of the store.  When I ran back to investigate, it was an old lady who was trapped in the beer cooler.  I opened the door and she hugged me proclaiming that I saved her life.  Turns out she panicked back there and rather than push on the door handle, kept pulling it toward her giving her the feeling she was trapped.  Don't be the old lady in the freezer.

3.  Put on a stiff upper lip.  Making the choice to be cool under stress means that you're gearing up for it and will be more equipped to handle it.  Wipe the "drama" off your face and make something happen.  The people around you will feed off of your confidence.

4.  Realize that nobody's going to die.  How bad is the crisis?  If there's not a chance of death, you can recover.  If death is a possible outcome, you have my permission to panic a little, but not until after the crisis is averted. Just don't let anyone see you do it.That's grace under pressure.

Got grace?  I hope so.

Are People Too Stupid to Govern Themselves?

I have never written about politics, but when you feel like you should, you probably should. Though I am registered as a republican, I have always voted for the person I felt was right for the job. I feel it is a travesty we are normally stuck with choosing one of the two major parties.  

You know, the most troubling argument in our national life these days isn’t about economics, or policy at all. It’s about us, as a free people. From a world view, the contention is that we Americans just can’t cut it anymore. Can this be true? Are people too stupid to govern themselves?

Our politicians tell us that we just can’t handle ourselves in this intricate, hazardous world without their kindly protection. Left to ourselves, we might pick the wrong health insurance, the wrong mortgage, the wrong school for our kids; unless they stop us, we might pick the wrong light bulb!

Some contend we Americans are no longer up to the job of self-government. We can’t do the simple math that proves the tremendous cost of today’s safety net programs, or all the government we now have. We always fall for the con job that says we can just plow ahead and someone else will pick up the tab. We will allow ourselves to be pitted one against the other, blaming our neighbor for troubles worldwide trends or our own government has caused.

2012 must be the year we prove the doubters wrong. This is the year we strike out fearlessly not merely to ward off national bankruptcy, but to say to a new generation that America is still the world’s foremost land of opportunity. At the polls speak for those who believe in the dignity and capacity of the individual citizen; who believe that government is meant to serve the people rather than supervise them; who trust Americans enough to tell them the plain truth about the fix we are in, and to lay before them a specific, credible program of change big enough to meet the emergency we are facing.

The record by President Obama is a joke. No American should stand for the things done to them. Does the current administration only rely on those who are too stupid not to vote for them?  Is the message one only stupid people will believe? And while there are too many of those, most Americans shouldn’t be fooled into thinking the country can stand another four years.

Are People Too Stupid to Govern Themselves?

I have never written about politics, but when you feel like you should, you probably should. Though I am registered as a republican, I have always voted for the person I felt was right for the job. I feel it is a travesty we are normally stuck with choosing one of the two major parties.  

You know, the most troubling argument in our national life these days isn’t about economics, or policy at all. It’s about us, as a free people. From a world view, the contention is that we Americans just can’t cut it anymore. Can this be true? Are people too stupid to govern themselves?

Our politicians tell us that we just can’t handle ourselves in this intricate, hazardous world without their kindly protection. Left to ourselves, we might pick the wrong health insurance, the wrong mortgage, the wrong school for our kids; unless they stop us, we might pick the wrong light bulb!

Some contend we Americans are no longer up to the job of self-government. We can’t do the simple math that proves the tremendous cost of today’s safety net programs, or all the government we now have. We always fall for the con job that says we can just plow ahead and someone else will pick up the tab. We will allow ourselves to be pitted one against the other, blaming our neighbor for troubles worldwide trends or our own government has caused.

2012 must be the year we prove the doubters wrong. This is the year we strike out fearlessly not merely to ward off national bankruptcy, but to say to a new generation that America is still the world’s foremost land of opportunity. At the polls speak for those who believe in the dignity and capacity of the individual citizen; who believe that government is meant to serve the people rather than supervise them; who trust Americans enough to tell them the plain truth about the fix we are in, and to lay before them a specific, credible program of change big enough to meet the emergency we are facing.

The record by the administration and congress is a joke. No American should stand for the things done to them. Does the current administration only rely on those who are too stupid not to vote for them?  Is the message one only stupid people will believe? And while there are too many of those, most Americans shouldn’t be fooled into thinking the country can stand another four years.

Getting off your butt and taking charge.

Leadership: Getting off your butt and taking charge.

Saturday you probably saw the story unfolding down in Italy where the cruise ship Costa Concordia ran aground.  Early accounts talked about the ship's Captain, Francesco Schettino abandoning ship with passengers still aboard.  This morning. official transcripts from the port authority show a terrified ship commander that had no interest in re-boarding the stricken ship.  When the time for taking charge came along, he bailed out.

A friend of mine told me a story about attending a local rodeo. They parked the car in a cramped dirt lot across the street from the Convention Center and when they went to the get the car, it was parked in the corner with five cars stacked around it. The two Middle Eastern men who ran the lot were trying to park cars, remove cars, fix a flat which meant that him and the family were standing around for quite a while waiting for their car.  Finally, stressed out, both men just stood around, paralyzed while they stood out in the hot sun.  My friend yelled at them out of frustration, telling them that the cars won't move by just staring at them.  That seemed to shake them up and they got busy.  Finally they managed to get their car.  Nobody took charge and without that, nobody got anything done.

Leadership is a combination of knowing what you need to do, but the most important part is the actual doing!  Having knowledge and experience does nothing without taking charge and implementing it.

I'm starting to realize that the amount of people taking charge anymore is pretty small. Maybe people are searching in vain for that "leader."  I wonder if maybe this is your chance to step up?

Look for opportunities to take charge when there seems to be apathy or lethargy.  When the outcome is uncertain and people are paralyzed by it, it's your chance to jump in and take control.  Maybe there is a hidden leader inside that you'll finally get to awaken.

This is two incidents. Who knows how many you come across.  There is power in taking charge. Why not tap into that power?

Beware of "The Creep"

We're just a few days into the new year and for many folks, their well-intended resolutions (we've decided to call them goals) are already on the path to failure.

The scary part is that they have no idea.  For now everything seems right on track.  The diet's going well.  They've made it to the gym four of the past five days.  What ever your resolution. You're taking proactive steps.  What they haven't been tracking is the "creep." "Creep" is a word used in the consulting field when the original scope of the project is slowly and subtly increased.  It happens benignly enough but before it's too late to change course, the new changes are locked in.

The danger of the "creep" is that it starts so innocently and changes our thinking from "no way" to "it's OK, just this once."  From "scope creep" in a project to "brass creep" at the Pentagon, no one and no thing is immune to it.

This week, take another look at your goal and look for potential opportunities to "creep."  Make yourself aware so you can avoid those situations. Don't let your progress for this year get sidetracked from the beginning!