2006: The Year I STOP DOING Stuff...

OR: Making the Right Kinds of Resolutions

I read an incredibly powerful article in early 2005, and it had a huge impact on they way that I live my life. I have kept it filed away in the archives for sometime now, but I think it's time to share it with all of you.

You can find it here: http://jimcollins.com/lib/articles.html#, the article you are looking for is called "Best New Year's resolution? A 'stop doing' list." In this article, Jim Collins (management guru) talks about his experience as he learns that he leads a "busy life" and not a disciplined one. In other words, Jim was told -- and acknowledges himself -- that he has a genetic disposition to working like a madman. Unfortunately, it also meant that he was working circles around himself...and not making a great deal of headway either. The challenge was this, if you got two consecutive phone calls, one saying, "You just won 20M dollars!" and the other saying, "You have less than 10 years to live!" what would you do?

Well, after freaking out (we all would), you would undoubtedly get focused. If I have learned anything in coaching athletes over the last five years, it's that the ones who are focused...positively focused...are the most successful. Hands down. They are committed, they have priorities, they know where multisport fits in their lives (first, second, third, last) and they live with no regrets. Because they are focused.

In the article, Collins identifies three main questions to ask oneself:

1) What are you deeply passionate about?
2) What are you are genetically encoded for -- what activities do you feel just "made to do"?
3) What makes economic sense -- what can you make a living at?

It is at the intersection of these three points that folks find the most success...and the most rewarding lives. These three points are meant to be used as guidance through the difficult times...so you can make sure that you are staying the course. As he concludes in another anecdote, Collins notes that a great life is like a great piece of art...it is great both for what it is and for what it is not.

As you enter 2006, I encourage you to do the same. Whether you are looking for athletic, professional or personal success, use this simple framework to prioritize your efforts and be amazed at the results. I for one am cursed with way too much energy, and I am taking huge steps to cut things out of my life.

First in 2006? My job. Done, gone, buh bye. PTS will go full time live coaching and training as of 3/1/2006. My three circles coalesce around coaching, training and working with others...and I was only doing one of the three at my job.

What's on your list???

Patrick