Do you remember my story about celebrating my 50th Birthday by taking racecar driving lessons at Portland International Raceway? It was perhaps the most fun thing I’ve ever done and I learned several lessons, including a life lesson I’ll never forget: Look into the Turns. My driving instructor told me to take my eyes off the pavement in front of me, lift my eyes, and look into the turns because, “Where your eyes lead, your car will follow.”
What are you focusing on, what turns are you looking into? In our busy lives, it’s easy to look immediately in front of ourselves, at the tasks we need to complete today, this week. It requires intention to look up and think about the future. What do you want to accomplish in the coming year or years? Set aside time to think about it, envision it and plan for it.
Implement your plan and measure your progress routinely, so you don’t become lost again in your daily work and lose sight of your larger goals and aspirations. Look into the turns!
Practice-Building Roadmap to Success
My June News and Insights included steps to Start Your Engine and in July I sent steps to Rev Your Engine. Following are steps to Look into the Turns:
- Learn continuously. Never stop learning. Learning keeps us energized and relevant throughout our lives.
- Develop new business. You must develop new business to grow. Developing new business requires building relationships, both internally and externally. How are you growing your existing relationships? Who are you building new relationships with? What are you doing, asking and saying to build meaningful, productive relationships?
- Grow your leadership. The biggest resistance I hear to delegation is, “I don’t have time. I can do it faster myself.” It’s true that delegation initially requires more time, but it’s an investment in your team and your growth. As you build trust in your team and learn to delegate masterfully, it will require less time and you’ll accomplish more both individually and collectively.
- Make your best contribution. Masterful delegation includes prioritizing your work, using your Highest Talents™ and helping your team use and develop their talents. When you use your Highest Talents™, in all likelihood, you’re making your greatest contributions to your organization, clients and community.
- Live your best life NOW! When you prioritize your work, use your Highest Talents™ and delegate masterfully, you will enjoy your professional life more. Add personal goals to your professional goals to enjoy your personal life more, as well. Don’t wait! Live your best life NOW!