There are many ways to live life. One approach is to focus on control, clarity and concrete results. It is also to sometimes add that touch of class.
This is an approach that can be used in daily life, education, sports, business and many other fields. It enables people to shape their futures and work towards achieving their picture of success.
Different people follow this approach in different situations. Some do it by focusing on the following themes.
Control
People who have a positive attitude often follow the well-known principle of focusing on controlling the controllables. They build on what they can control and manage what they can’t control. This sometimes involves taking the following steps.
They Clarify What They Can
Control In The Situation
Such people start by clarifying what they can control. Much depends on the situation, of course, but here are some of the things they may be able to control.
They can control their attitude and emotions. They can control how they apply themselves. They can control how they set specific goals. They can control how they work towards achieving their picture of success.
They cannot control other people. They cannot control what people think of them. They cannot control the total environment.
People like to feel in control. Bearing this in mind, they therefore focus on the next theme.
They Clarify How They Can Build
On What They Can Control
People who have a positive attitude aim: a) to build on the things they can control; b) to manage what they can’t control in a situation. Bearing in mind what they can control, they sometimes take the following steps.
They clarify how to stay positive. They clarify how to prepare properly and set specific goals. They clarify how to encourage themselves and, if appropriate, encourage other people on the journey.
They clarify how to manage their emotions. They clarify how they can, when appropriate, buy time to recentre, refocus and get back on track towards achieving their goals.
People often feel better when they build on what they can control and find ways to manage what they can’t. They may then focus on the next theme.
They Clarify How They Can
Build On Their Strengths
People who take this approach often build on their strengths and have a sense of perspective. Bearing this in mind, they may focus on the following themes before setting specific goals.
They clarify their strengths. They may focus on: a) the specific times when they perform at their best; b) the specific principles they follow then; c) the specific things they can do to follow these principles in the future.
They clarify their personal and professional assets. For example, they may be resilient and creative. They may also have supportive relationships, practical resources and other things they can use to achieve their goals.
They may also have a sense of perspective. They may have a sense of gratitude and count their blessings rather than their burdens. They may also see the challenge in perspective and how relates to their long-term life goals.
Let’s return to your own life. Looking ahead, can you think of a situation where you may want to follow elements of this approach? What may be the things you can control in the situation?
If you wish, try tackling the exercise on this theme. This invites you to complete the following sentences.
Clarity
People who have a positive attitude often aim to establish clarity. They clarify the real results to achieve and the strategies most likely to achieve success. They also clarify how they can follow these strategies and manage any challenges. Let’s explore these themes.
They Clarify The Real
Results To Achieve
Such people start by clarifying their picture of success. Bearing in mind what they can control in the situation, they sometimes ask themselves the following questions.
What are the real results I want to achieve? What is the picture of success? What may be the benefits of achieving these goals? What will be happening that will show I have achieved the picture of success.
Imagine that a person has clarified the real results they want to achieve. They may then focus on the next theme.
They Clarify The Strategies They
Can Follow To Give Themselves
The Greatest Chance Of Success
People who take this approach focus on strategies that work. They then translate these into action plans they can follow to achieve their goals. Bearing in mind the situation, they explore the following themes.
Looking back, when have I tackled a similar situation successfully? What did I do right then? What are the principles I followed? How did I translate these into action? What happened as a result?
When have other people tackled a similar situation successfully? What did they do right then? What were the principles they followed? How can I follow some of these principles in my own way?
Let’s refocus on the real results to achieve. What are the key strategies I can follow to give myself the greatest chance of success? How can I translate these into a clear action plan?
Imagine that a person has settled on their chosen way forwards. They may then move on to exploring the next theme.
They Clarify How They Can Follow
The Strategies To Achieve Success
Such people prepare properly before moving into action. This often involves them gathering lots of information and then taking the following steps.
They do lots of mental rehearsal. Looking ahead, they rehearse following the strategies and translating these into action. They also rehearse tackling challenges along the way.
There are many models for taking this step. One approach is for people to work through the following stages.
Such people also do their due diligence. They aim: a) to clarify the pluses and minuses involved in working towards the goals; b) to clarify how they can build on the pluses and manage any minuses.
Some may also rate their motivation. Bearing in mind the pluses and minuses involved, they rate their motivation to do what is required on a scale 0-10. They make sure it is at least 7+/10. They also focus on how to maintain or improve the rating.
Let’s return to your own life. Imagine that you are focusing on a specific situation. How can you clarify the real results you want to achieve and the strategies you want to follow?
If you wish, try tackling the exercise on this theme. This invites you to complete the following sentences.
Concrete Results
Some people take the following steps before working towards the desired concrete results. They pause, collect their thoughts and rehearse what they are going to do next.
They follow their ritual for moving into action and aim to get a quick success. They then aim to follow their chosen strategies and deliver consistently high standards.
Such people also aim to find solutions to challenges and achieve the desired concrete results. They also sometimes add that touch of class. They focus on the following themes.
They Deliver Consistently High Standards
They aim to follow good habits. They build on their strengths and manage the consequences of any weaknesses. Some do this by focusing on the following themes.
They keep following their chosen strategies and deliver high standards.
They keep reading reality and focusing on continuous improvement by aiming: a) to build on what is going well; b) to tackle areas for improvement.
They then implement these ideas on the way towards achieving their goals.
Imagine that a person is delivering high standards. They may then move on to exploring the next theme.
They Find Creative
Solutions To Challenges
People who take this approach are good at managing challenges in their chosen area. When possible, they aim to buy time to think and find creative solutions. Such people may then take the following steps.
They look ahead and clarify the real results they want to achieve.
They clarify the possible options going forward and the pluses and minuses of each option.
They settle on the route they want to follow when tackling the challenge.
Such people rehearse following their chosen option. They click into action, are fully present and aim to get positive results. They may then move on to exploring the final theme.
They Do Their Best To Achieve
The Desired Concrete Results
People who take this approach aim to be good finishers. They often find and follow their successful pattern for finishing. Bearing this in mind, they may then focus on the following themes.
They aim to do their best to achieve the desired results.
They aim to flow, focus and aim to finish successfully.
They reach their goal and sometimes add that touch of class.
There are many ways to live life. One approach is for a person to focus what they can control, clarify the real results they want to achieve and aim to deliver the desired concrete results.
Let’s return to your own life. Looking ahead, imagine you are focusing on a specific situation. How can you do your best to work towards achieving the picture of success? What may happen as a result?
If you wish, try tackling the exercise on this final theme. This invites you to complete the following sentences.
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