UNWRAPPED: The Ultimate Guide to Get Where You Want to Go - FAST! Part 5 - Check & Adapt Your Course

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This is a series of 5 practical articles, which will teach you my method of achieving any goal in record time.

We are now coming to an end in our method of achieving your goals. Let's recap.

In Step 1 I told you about the importance and power of setting a vision and precisely defining a goal.

In Step 2 I told you about the difference between your internal goals (your motivation) and external goals and why you need to define both.

In Step 3 we were talking about creating a map with detailed steps and milestones while at the same time ensuring that you consider your internal and your external focus.

Step 4 was all about moving your butt and taking action. We also discussed how you need to shift your focus towards taking care of your action steps to be present in the Now!

Now once you are on the road taking and caring about the necessary steps towards your goal being in that Zen-like state of focus on your action in the now you only need to check once in a while that you don't get lost. Let's talk about being off course, errors, failures & adapting to changes.

Step 5. Control You Progress: Check Your Map & Adjust Your Course

Being Off Course Is Normal

As much as I like that state of being fully aware of my doing and being present, I also know that l need to check frequently whether I am still on course.

Did you know that an airplane is most of the time of course? It doesn't matter whether it is on autopilot or whether on manual-flight, wind changes are resulting in slight deviations from the original course. So what a pilot (or an autopilot system) constantly has to do is to compare the current location with the planned route. Since the plane will be off course 99% of the time, the pilot needs to adjust to get back on course.

And it is the same with you while driving, that's why you keep your hands on the wheel and are correcting every slight deviation immediately.

The Two Categories Of Deviation

With our human nature, there are several reasons why we can deviate from the course. However, we can, of course, separate them into two categories - external and internal.

External Caused Deviation

This is comparable to the wind changes of an airplane or the road bumps of a car drive. No matter how much good visualization you put into, the road towards any goal will bring you in contact with the outside world. You will meet and need people and resources.

Let's assume you need a computer and some people to reach your goal. Both have the tendency to behave slightly different than in your imagined world - i.e. the computer could crash and people could misunderstand your communication. No matter what - things do get wrong on the way. You could bang your head against the wall, but that rarely changes anything (except your doctor’s bill if you do it too hard).

The problem we have when it comes to our goals is that we get connected too much emotionally during the travel. We are afraid of not getting it. This fear leads us into a panic reaction once there is something not running the way we planned.

What we need to develop is the emotion-free, cold-blooded reaction scheme of an airplane pilot. You need to become as cold-blooded as Chesley Sullenberger who was able to splash land safely in the Hudson River. All that counts is :

  1. Where are you now?

  2. Where do you want to go?

  3. Are you off or on course?

  4. If you are off the course, what changes have to be made to get you on course again? Especially what can YOU change to become the necessary change?

These are the only 4 questions you need to ask once something has gone wrong.

Internal Caused Deviation

This is the more tricky part of getting off course. Even if you have a great plan, started with good motivation, are able to communicate well with other involved people and your computer is stable, you can still get sidetracked easily - simply because you stop to follow through. Here we come to a big problem in most projects - procrastination and destructive behaviors.

What Is Procrastination And Why It Is Not Your Enemy?

Procrastination is a pain in the ass - excuse my direct language, but that's what most people feel about. There are hundreds or thousands of books, tapes, etc. out there who want to help you with that problem, but most of them miss the root cause of your procrastination habit.

Procrastination is not your enemy - it is your friend!

“What? Me being lazy is a good thing?" No, it's not a good thing, but it isn't bad either. It is just a learned behavior pattern that kicks in to protect you.

You need to understand that procrastination is a protection pattern.

Procrastination wants to protect you from being overwhelmed, from that feeling of being out of control. Well, it might not be the best or the most clever strategy, but let's face it - it is a strategy that works sometimes. How often have you procrastinated and the problem went away? Often enough (especially in your early years) that your brain linked that behavior as a possible and effective strategy for coping with the pain of feeling overwhelmed.

Since you now understand that procrastination is not about you being defective with your will power there is a much better way of tackling that behavior. Again think of Chesley Sullenberger. Don't get emotional now - not even about yourself. Analyze the situation and adapt to it. Your procrastination is comparable to your fuel gauge. If it lightens up you don't beat up the gauge or cover it with tape to not see it anymore - no you correct the underlying problem by driving straight to a gas station. You can do the same with your procrastination gauge.

Ask yourself: "What does my procrastination pattern wants to protect me from?" That is the thing you need to change.

Let's assume some possible answers to this question and possible solutions you might come up with.

You might be procrastinating because:

  • You don't like the associated action (maybe filing a tax report). Then ask yourself how you can make this step more enjoyable. Can you combine it with something you enjoy? Maybe changing the ambiance is sufficient. Can you delegate it? If not and you still cannot move yourself to like it, then write down what good things will come out of you doing it anyway. There is a positive reason why you wanted to do it in the first place. Reconnect with that reason, experience and intensify it in your mind.

  • Your next step might feel too big for you. Then consider how to break it down. Alternatively, get other people in the boat to help you with that jump.

  • Your next step could lead to a conflict with another person. Then find out why this could lead to conflict? Could you come up with an alternative solution to turn it into a Win/Win situation, or use the sandwich technique to bring up the topic?

No matter what you come up with, find out why you are uncomfortable about this step and get possible solutions to the real, underlying problem.

Again let's get the method for course correction clear.

  1. Check where you are now.

  2. Check where you should be on your map.

  3. If there is a deviation, check whether it is due to internal or external causes.

  4. If it is caused by external factors, find out what needs to be changed AND how you need to change to correct the course.

  5. If it is caused by internal behavior, then find out what the real problem is that made your procrastination pattern kick in. Solve that problem.

  6. Make a schedule to recheck your course frequently. You might need to check your progress monthly, weekly or daily depending on your goal.

Power Questions for Step 5

  1. Where am I now?

  2. Where should I be?

  3. What needs to change?

  4. How do I need to change?

  5. What does my procrastination pattern want to protect me from?

  6. How can I make the step easier and more enjoyable?

  7. Do I need other people or resources to make a jump?

Other Parts

UNWRAPPED: The Ultimate Guide to Get Where You Want to Go – FAST! Part 1 – Vision & Reality

UNWRAPPED: The Ultimate Guide to Get Where You Want to Go – FAST! Part 2 – Motivation

UNWRAPPED: The Ultimate Guide to Get Where You Want to Go – FAST! Part 3 – Building A Map

UNWRAPPED: The Ultimate Guide to Get Where You Want to Go – FAST! Part 4 – Taking Care of Your Action