Using The Power Of ONE To Reach Goals
Episode 1
The Power Of ONE Strategy
When I was an undergraduate studying Architecture, our curriculum consisted of design projects. We would be given the specific parameters and design criteria and the date when the project was due.
It always happened that no matter how far in advance the deadline was, the biggest progress on our project always occurred in the last 48 hours before the project was due. Even then, the last 8-10 hours was the most productive.
There was literally this point in time where the switch occurred. At midnight we would have music playing, someone would make a fast food run, there was talking and laughing, we have paper airplane contests from the 4th floor atrium. But at 2 am, the design studio was a very different place. It was quiet. Everyone would wear headphones and no one would talk. And in those last few hours, ideas became reality. Concepts and sketches became physical models and presentation drawings. Looking back years later, I began to wonder what changed as the deadline loomed closer.
Why does productivity surge to such an extent that more work is completed in those last few hours before a deadline than in all the days leading up to it?
Deadline Motivation Increases Focus And Productivity
Many people will tell you that they do their best work when up against a deadline. That there’s something about waiting until the last moment that gives them clarity and energy to get across the finish line.
I don't think that tells the whole story.
When we come up against a deadline we allow ourselves to cut out all of the mental b.s. that normally slows us down. The hours of research, learning how to do something the “Right” way, exploring all of the possible options. We eliminate everything that does not take us closer to completion. We are forced by the deadline to focus all of our thoughts and efforts to the ONE task at hand. We have to make decisions quickly, take imperfect action, and do whatever is required to reach our goal.
We are forced by the deadline to focus all of our thoughts and efforts to the one task at hand. We have to make decisions quickly, and take imperfect action, and do whatever is required to reach our goal.
What they’re really experiencing is the Power of ONE. And it’s what I used to launch this podcast from 0 to launched in 30 days working an average of 1 hour a day, 5 days a week.
When it comes to Entrepreneurs changing the way they pursue and achieve their goals, the Power of ONE is one of the best concepts to understand and implement.
Small Goals Help Us Achieve Our Big Goals
What exactly is the Power Of ONE and how can you use it in your business? Before I get into it, I need to zoom out and have a brief discussion about goals and planning. As an online Entrepreneur, you undoubtedly have some big picture goals for your business. Maybe you want to hit the six figure mark this year by filling up your coaching calendar or maybe you want to grow your audience and launch a course. Whatever it is, you have a big picture goal that you’re working towards.
From there, you probably have several smaller goals that need to be accomplished in order to achieve your big picture goal. They may include finishing your website, or running Facebook ads, or networking with people who are your ideal client.
If you’re like most Entrepreneurs, you spend your available time working on all of the smaller goals in bits and pieces, slowly moving everything forward at the same pace, giving it all equal importance. And I don’t blame you, because it all feels important. We try to multi-task our way to success. that’s where we go wrong.
See, we cannot multi-task our way to success.
See our mental clarity, energy and creativity ebbs and flows throughout the day, week and month. When we pursue many goals at once, what’s really happening is we are giving the best parts of ourselves to many tasks rather inconsistently. This ultimately takes us longer to reach our goals. They are all in various stages of completion. We’re doing a lot of work but have very little to show for it.
This brings us to the power of ONE.
When we pursue many goals at once, we are giving the best parts of ourselves to many tasks rather inconsistently
Understanding The Power Of ONE Success Strategy
The Power of One is how we can maximize productivity and efficiency in our pursuit of any goal. And it looks like this: we constrain ourselves to ONE focus on ONE goal for a set amount of time each and every work day.
ONE goal.
ONE focus.
ONE empowered action at a time.
It’s the exact strategy I used to launch this podcast from nothing to completion in 30 days working an average of 1 hour a day and taking weekends off. The power of one works.
Let me walk you through how I did it.
4 Step Process to Achieve Any Business Goal
Step 1: Set A SMART Goal
I set the goal, using the SMART method. Smart is an acronym that stands for Specific, Measurable Achievable, Relevant and Timely.
Here's how my goal looked:
Specific - Launch a podcast in 30 days working no more than 1 hour a day.
Measurable - Track my progress to see if I’m setting up the accounts, creating the artwork and outlines, etc.
Actionable - Knowing my comfort level with technology, I know that if I am decisive and efficient I can make it happen.
Relevant - A podcast to help Entrepreneurs is part of the marketing strategy for my business.
Timely - I set 2 deadlines, a daily deadline and and final launch date deadline. It doesn’t get more timely than that!.
Step 2: Hire A Mentor
My second step to make sure I met my SMART goal was to hire a mentor.
We don't know what we don’t know. I could have tried to figure it out on my own but that takes time, and I wanted the fast-pass. 30 days is both a lot of time and not much time. I knew hiring a Mentore would help set myself up for success.
Sidenote: this is the one thing I did in advance. Launching a podcast was on my annual goals so I asked my network for recommendations earlier in the year. I followed up on the suggestions and picked one. I didn't start working with her until I kicked off my 30-day goal.
Step 3: Make A Plan
As a Success Coach, I see many ambitious Entrepreneurs unintentionally limit their own success by not having a plan that is well thought out and easy to execute. For Step 3, I got out of my own way by making a procrastination-proof plan.
I decided to make a detailed plan in advance when I was still in the energy of excitement around the goal of launching a podcast. I also decided, in advance, that in the everyday moments I would honor my plan even when I had every logical reason not to. It means I have to let go of perfectionism and also allow the emotions that come in the moments when I don't want to follow the plan.
Step 4: Take Empowered Action
Ah, and here's where it all begins. Now that I have a plan, it's time to get to work.
I took my procrastination-proof plan and followed it to a T. I worked consistently on the tasks that actually moved me closer to my goal of launching the podcast in 30 days. Don’t get me wrong, l make this sound simple and easy. It wasn’t.
I joked with my friends that I spend 1 hour a day working on the podcast and 7 hours a day coaching myself through the mind drama.
My workaholic, perfectionist self battled me every step of the way. What about the show notes? What about the SEO? The website’s joke. The podcast graphics are awful…..every step was a battle with my own inner critic. I came into this knowing she would show up and be my co-pilot the whole way.
Rather than trying to push my inner-critic aside and pretend like she wasn't there, I invited her to hang out and see what I am capable of.
Rather than trying to push my inner-critic aside and pretend like she wasn't there, I invited her to hang out and see what I am capable of.
Here’s the thing, it’s now the last week of October and I did it. I went from 0 to launched in 30 days using the Power of One.
ONE goal.
ONE focus.
ONE empowered action at a time.
In future episodes I’ll talk about all of the emotions and mind drama I faced along the way. And I’ll share how I overcame them.
For now, I hope you’ll take a moment to think about your business. Your goals. What do you want to achieve? What do you want to create in the next 30 days? How can you use the Power of ONE to get you across that finish line?
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING...
Danielle's message is spot on with achieving goals. Not only does she practice what she preaches, but she's your guide to help YOU achieve the best version of yourself! A must listen!
KRYSTAL PROFFIT
Grow a biz & feel good! Danielle is really skilled at bringing both the actionable steps plus the mindset work so we can feel good as we grow our businesses while being present for our families. I look forward to listening every week!
JEAN MILLER
© daniellenapoliocox.com | privacy | TERMS & CONDITIONS | disclaimer