Welcome to the No Should Zone – Success Happens Here!

Hi, this is Shawn Ellis, and welcome to This Moment Matters. Today's program is titled "Welcome to the No Should Zone: Where Success Happens." And that title may sound familiar because last week I wrote about the need to get the shoulds out out of our lives, referring to those should-do items that weigh us down because we keep thinking about them but not doing them. So as a remedy, I said we either need to delete them, file them away for another day, or get them done. And just a few minutes ago, actually, I avoided putting another should-do on my list when I got an email from a friend with a great idea, and my immediate thought was, yeah, I should do that. But I know I couldn't get to it right now, and I know it's not something I really need to do right now. So I just filed the email away, and, and I'll tackle that project down the road if I decide it's important. But what about the should-dos you keep thinking about that are important? I'm talking about those things, whether they're tasks or projects or endeavors, that are standing between you and the life or work or business that you dream about. Those are should-dos that need to become must-dos, and that's what I'd like to help you with this week. So think about your own life right now. What is one thing that keeps calling to you that you know if you did it would have a dramatic impact on your life? Is it a training program you need to go through in order to be eligible for a promotion at work? Is it some research you need to do before you can start your own business? Or is it hiring a staff member or outsourcing some work in your current business? Maybe it's something personal like losing weight or communicating better in your marriage. Identify that thing in your life that you feel is very important, and I want you to think about it as we continue here, because I'm going to share 5 simple steps that have helped me on my own journey to create the life, work, and business of my dreams by getting rid of the should-dos and focusing on must-dos. So here's step 1: ask yourself and answer why. Why is it that you want to do this thing, whatever it is? Or why do you feel that you should do it? I want you to dig deep here and think about your passion and purpose in life, and why is it that this thing really matters to you? Is there something really great you'll experience when you get to the other side? Is it some severe pain that will be alleviated if you can do this thing? If you want to lose weight, for example, it's surely not just to see the number change on the scale. There's something more meaningful behind it. Is it your health? Your self-esteem? What is it that's really driving this desire? Because until you're clear about this, you'll keep saying, "I should do..." blank. And by the way, it is perfectly acceptable if you ask this question and come to the conclusion that, you know what, this really doesn't matter that much to me. In that case, you move on. You either delete the should-do, file it away. Then that's not a should-do, that becomes a must-do. But if you dig deep and you find that meaningful connection to this thing, and then if you let yourself really feel what you'll experience on the other side when you get it done, then you'll find the fuel to turn this should-do into a must-do and get it done. So once you connect with this, what this should-do thing means to you, and then why you must do it, then step 2 is to make a decision and commit to yourself, I must do this, I will do this, Now. Napoleon Hill wrote in his classic book, Think and Grow Rich, that accurate analysis of over 25,000 men and women who had experienced failure disclosed the fact that lack of decision was near the head of the list of the 30 major causes of failure. Until you make the decision, you've still got a should-do on your hands. You are the only one who can decide that you're going to move forward with this. Step 3, set aside time and make a plan to do this thing. You've gotta put it on your schedule, make it a priority. Don't let it keep getting pushed to the bottom of the list. Don't let other circumstances keep getting in the way and, and derailing you. Make this a priority. Step 4 then is to take the first step. Take action. And then you take the next step and then the next. And at this point, you know, it's possible to get yourself psyched up. So you're, you're jumping up and down, pumping your fist. You've, you've determined why you've got to do this. You've made the decision that you're going to move forward. You've got a plan. So you feel like you can just make it all happen right now. And then you quickly realize that you can't get from point A to point B in just one leap. And then that's a slippery slope right into frustration and depression and ultimately giving up. But most likely it's going to take several steps to get to the finish line with this thing, whatever it is. And baby steps are just fine. So then you have to pace yourself. The theme here of this podcast is This Moment Matters, after all. So here you are in this moment. What one step toward your goal can you take right now? Don't worry if you're moving a millimeter or an inch or a foot. Just move. Take that first step. If it's that training program we talked about, enroll now. If it's a new exercise routine, well, don't try to jump in and do an hour a day. Just start with 10 minutes or even 5. If it's improving your communication skills, how about you just start with a smile? Number 5, step 5: persist until you get there. Second to starting, this is the hardest of the 5 steps because lots of people start but few finish. And as I look back over my life, I realize that, that this is something that plagued me even going back to when I was a kid. I quit on basketball in 5th grade. I quit on soccer. I quit on karate. Quitting becomes a habit and you have to break it. Persistence is the opposite. To quote Napoleon Hill again, he said, there's no substitute for persistence. The persistent person discovers that old man failure finally becomes tired and goes away. Failure cannot cope with persistence. So how do you persist? Well, here's the good news. You already know. You go back through the process we just outlined. Revisit step 1. When you're tempted to quit, go back to step 1 and remind yourself why, why have you committed to this thing in the first place? Why is it that you've got to do it? Let yourself feel and experience where you'll be when you get to the other side, when you get this thing done. And then remind yourself of that commitment that you made. To yourself. You made a deal with yourself. You said, "I'm going to do this." And then get back to your schedule or the plan you made. Look at that. And now all you have to do is win this one moment by taking one more baby step. It's all about the moments. This is the formula for persistence and ultimately for success. So are you ready to enter the no-should zone? Which of your should-dos are you going to escalate to a must-do right now? Let me know what else I can do to help you along the way, and I look forward to hearing your victory report. Thanks for listening, and I'll see you next time.