This year, instead of making a New Year’s Resolution, Start a New Year’s REVOLUTION. TURN things around for yourself, FIGHT against the tides of life, so that you can shape your own. (Get it, revolution, turn, fight… sigh… I’m so clever).
The nerds I know are smart, creative people. They constantly want to build, create, invent and re-imagine things in their lives.
But sometimes our plans don’t go according to plan. Actually, many people (nerds and others alike) don’t have a plan at all. We just know that we want to get from A to B. And even when we do plan something out, we sometimes miss the mark.
Recently, a business person I was listening to was asked what 3 things get in the way of success. After a moment of thought, she answered the following:
1. Lack of Focus
2. Not Learning to say NO!
3. Not Pulling the Trigger.
FOCUS (Like a JEDI)- You want to do something this year? Write it down and start thinking how you are going to get there. I’m a big believer in writing an outline. Breaking down a goal into steps makes it easier for me to see how I will achieve my goal. It doesn’t mean that I plan every little thing out in my life, but seeing the road to success is a lot easier than driving in the dark.
SAY NO – Caesar wasn’t going to take it anymore. People and things in our life constantly pull us here and there and in every which direction. Learning to say NO helps to stave off doing things for other people so that we can get our own ‘stuff’ done. I used to think it was selfish of me to tell somebody ‘Nah, I can’t do that right now.’ But if you practice this, people realize that you are busy also. They will understand and they won’t hate you (much). You’re not being selfish, you’re just trying to live your life too.
PULL THE TRIGGER (or Phaser if it suits you) – Kirk knew how to Pull the Trigger. He had to take out his old friend because dude was becoming a psychic nuisance. Unfortunately he hesitated, and it almost cost him his life. But I don’t want to you shoot anybody out there. No, Pull the Trigger means that if you want to do something, don’t hesitate. If it’s a wise decision, jump in and do it. There is nothing wrong with planning things out like I said before, but sometimes we geeks plan things out to death, and research something so much, that we never get around to really starting. It mostly comes from Fear of something not coming out right. Don’t worry about that. There is no guarantee that it will come out right anyway. And you should give yourself a chance to mess up, so that you can get better at what you’re trying to do. I had to adopt this mind-set to start this very blog. Pull The Trigger!
There you go geek brothers and sisters. Maybe these Nerd Couch tips will help you in achieving your goals in 2012. Don’t make a New Year’s Resolution (you know it won’t last anyway). Stage a NEW YEAR’S REVOLUTION!
Images – modernjediknight.com / thefilmsmith.com
