Below is a link to my Amazon Associates page and the new book by Michael Hyatt – PLATFORM: Get Noticed in a Noisy World.

Click on the image above to buy this book (I paid less than $15) by 5/25/2012, then go to http://michaelhyatt.com/platform to claim $375.98 worth of bonus materials, including eight products shown below. I got it all, and it’s good stuff! 

What was so inspiring to me, though, was the fact that a high school student made it all happen. All the vision, energy, planning and execution of the event originated with Abi Martin, a senior who lost her cousin (Katelyn, pictured below) to CHD last fall. Katelyn was very dear to our family, so when we heard about a run that would honor her memory, we signed on right away.

All the details of the event were thought through and it was very well done in every way. Abi, with the help of many supportive friends and family, not only honored her cousin – she also facilitated a wonderful experience that raised a bunch of money for the cause. Even though it meant a ton of work, Abi had a great vision and carried it out. We were blessed, honored and greatly inspired. As I reflect on this event, I wonder: what great visions are inside of the rest of us, just waiting to be planned and brought to reality?

SWOT works well as a starting point for organizational planning because everyone participates in creating the lists in each category I listed. The lists create a snap-shot of where the organization stands in present-tense. Strengths and Weaknesses tell what’s going on inside the enterprise, while Opportunities and Threats describe what’s going on out in the world.

As you make your own personal plans, I encourage you to make use of the SWOT model to self-evaluate. Personalize the analysis: SWOT yourself! Sounds painful, right? It can be. But it can also be freeing, enlightening, and motivating. Here’s how to do it:

Strengths: 
Start here (it’s more fun) and list your strongest personal assets. What’s working for you? Some categories to explore might be character, skills and abilities, relationships and finances.

Weaknesses:
You’re normal if you find it easier to list your faults and limitations – what you’d like to change in all the categories above. Just focus on the biggies and try to keep the list concise.

Opportunities:
This might be hard. You can phone a friend if you want. The idea is to look around and ask what’s possible for you right now, if you choose to engage. Education? Relationships? Skill-building?  For example, Toastmasters is an opportunity to build speaking and leadership skills.

Threats:
What are the real obstacles? Not what’s scary – what’s really in the way of your progress? Job instability? Financial challenges? Negative relationships? Not so fun to think about, but I bet it’s a short list.

Now it’s time to ruminate. Look over your SWOT lists. What patterns do you see? Are some items related – sort of a theme? Do some items have the potential to interact in positive or negative ways? For example, is there an opportunity that addresses a weakness? These observations inform how you plan for your future and set goals. When you SWOT yourself, you know where you stand. From that point, you’re much more likely to set goals that are motivating and make sense because they’re more realistic and relevant.

Go ahead – SWOT yourself!

This quote encapsulates the heart of Hidden Springs Coaching better than any I’ve yet found. As a coach, I help people to do four things – four elements of a process that leads to accomplishment. The end result is a “win” – a goal achieved.

A winner is someone who recognizes his or her God-given talents. I coach people to harness their gifts by discovering their personal style and strength. Where do your gifts lie? Maybe in leadership and influence? Or perhaps for you it’s communication and persuasion. For some, their strength is in analysis and detail-management. Others are valued for their ability to listen, nurture and give care. Yet others are champions of consistency and stability. To win, you need to know how you’re wired and what you do best.

A winner is someone who chooses a definite direction. I call it charting your course, and it’s really just about making choices that steer you. Remember that encouraging passage from Dr. Seuss? “You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You’re on your own, and you know what you know. And you are the guy who’ll decide where to go.” Where would you like to be next year, in five years or in twenty years? To win, you’ll want to decide that direction and begin taking steps to get there.

A winner is someone who works his or her tail off to develop talents into skills. Building skills in any area will take work, and lots of it. But if you’re working in an area of God-given talent already, you may discover that your skills ramp up quickly. As an introvert who enjoyed playing with words, I was comfortable with writing, but not speaking. Once I got into a program to build speaking skills, however, I found out that I was a natural. I still had to “work my tail off” to be really good at it, but the talent was there. To win, you need to focus your energy on putting your talents to work in a skillful way.

A winner is someone who uses his or her skills to accomplish important goals. As a coach, I notice when talented, skilled people get stuck. It’s a sad sight to behold! The reason these folks can’t get traction is that they haven’t created an action plan that will move them forward. Many well-intentioned people have set lovely goals but haven’t taken a single step toward their achievement. To win, you start with a picture of where you’d like to be “someday,” then do a realistic assessment of where you are right now. Next, think through all your options to get from here to there. Pick one path, commit to it, and get started. Soon you’ll be moving toward your goal.

As Hall of Famer Larry Bird’s quote reminds us, winning is a process. It consists of taking action by harnessing your gifts, charting your course, building your skills and achieving your goals. Are you ready to get started?

Are you adrift in your life or career? Every day, the world’s breezes push upon us – if we don’t resist, it will move us in aimless progression toward nothing in particular. If we want to get somewhere and achieve our purpose in life, it helps to chart our own course. Here are some coaching questions to help:

• What do you envision as a great outcome? This is your goal – it’s a picture of where you’d like to be someday in your career or life?
• What’s happening now in this area? Become aware of where you are; this is your starting point. Are you being honest with yourself?
• Name your options. What could you do to get from here to there – to the place, status or situation you picture for yourself?
• What’s your plan? This will map out your actual route and describe what you’ll do.
• What are the chances you’ll follow through with this plan? What changes to the plan could you make to increase your motivation?

Answer these questions (in writing) and wander no more. Move ahead in your life and career with the boldness, and enthusiasm that comes from having a clear plan of action!

I’ve been fascinated with the AT since I accidentally found myself walking on it, years ago, near Dartmouth College in New Hampshire. A grad student, I was burned out and ready to return home to Virginia. Standing on the trail, I realized that if I wanted to, I could face south and just start walking – homeward bound.

Every spring, thousands of hikers begin their attempt to walk the whole trail in one trip. While those guys grunt and struggle through the high hills of Georgia, many thousands of other would-be hikers are thinking about doing a thru-hike – someday. I’m one of those guys. The trail captures my imagination year after year. I’ve even written “thru-hike the AT” in my list of life goals. Unfortunately, statistics say that only one in four of this year’s “thru-hikers” will make it all the way. Pretty tough odds! But what about those of us who are still just “thinking about” a thru-hike? Not one of us is going to finish something we’ve never started.

French author and aviator Antoine de Saint-Exupéry once said that “a goal without a plan is just a wish.” If we’re ever going to achieve our aim – whether it’s a college degree, a business of our own, or even just a long, long walk – we need to make a plan. Here’s what seems to work for me and the people I with whom I work.

• Set your goal, then learn all you can about ways to achieve it. Read. Talk to others who’ve already done what you want to do.
• Once you’ve explored your options, make a choice. There are many ways to get from here to your destination. Choose one and chart your course. Put it in writing.
• Get started. Take the first step.
• As you move ahead, make course corrections as needed.

About that goal of mine to hike the AT…. Without a plan, it really is just a wish. Is that all it will ever be? This week I am going to get serious, explore my options, and make a decision. I’ll let you know what I decide.

• What kinds of situations energize you? Which ones drain you? For someone who is task-oriented – the Dominant (D) and Compliant (C) styles on the DISC – time spent in small talk feels like it’s wasted. A mental to-do list is forming in this person’s mind as they wade through the exchange of pleasantries. In contrast, relationship-oriented styles – Steady (S) and Influencing (I) – gain a sense of stability and camaraderie from chatting with coworkers, partners and friends.
• What pace is most comfortable for you? For the S and C styles, it feels better to move slowly into new territory. For them, it’s important to spend time planning and thinking through the steps that need to be taken. In this way, they’re sure things are done correctly and everyone’s had an opportunity for input. For the D and I personality styles, a quicker pace is much preferred. They are motivated for results and action. For the Dominant style, the impetus is to get it done. Influencing styles are energized by a desire to get moving.

Think about the demands of your life and work situation. If you’re experiencing stress, does some of it come from misalignment between your activity and your preferred style? When I worked in a research laboratory, the environment was strictly task-oriented. Much needed to be accomplished, and there was little room for error. My personality craves at least some level of warmth, fun and relationship; thus, I was considered a bit too talkative and not quite serious enough. I wasn’t happy there. For my wife, a highly motivated and task-oriented person, a situation that stresses her out is shopping. She derives very little pleasure from the browsing and chatting aspect of a girls-day-out shopping trip. Give her a list and she’s in and out of the stores, ready to move on to the next thing. These preferences aren’t binding for either me or my wife – I’m very capable of detailed work under the pressure of a deadline, and she enjoys going out for coffee and conversation with friends. They’re preferences, not requirements. If, however, a person is continuously subjected to an atmosphere contrary to their preference, they’re eventually going to experience stress and feel out of place. If that’s where you are, it’s important to recognize it and make a change.

What kills or builds motivation will be different for different personality styles. See where you fit in the list below:

• Delighted by Details – if this describes you, then one major drain on your motivation is being put in a position where you have to act before you completely understand the situation. You enjoy getting all the facts and comprehending all the implications. Until you’re satisfied that you know precisely what will happen as a result of an action, you’re not ready to make a move.
• Like to Take it Slow – if you’d prefer a steady, even pace, then sudden changes in direction will sap your motivational energy. Interruptions and pressure cause you to shut down. You need an environment in which you’re allowed to take time to adapt to change. If change is forced on you, you may react with passive negativity.
• Driven to Achieve – for you, the least motivational atmosphere is one in which you’re given direct orders without getting a “say.” You much prefer to be in control and in charge, especially in situations where your leadership can be recognized and appreciated. When you feel pushed and bossed around, you don’t shut down. Instead, you push back. The conflict quickly drains any positive motivation.
• Loving the Social Life – if you’re a talkative, relational person, then what messes with your motivation is the feeling that you’ve been rejected. You enjoy developing rapport with others, giving and receiving affirmation in equal measure. The unexpected sting of being criticized or put down will deplete your positive energy.

 If you can relate to one or more of the behavioral styles above, watch out for the motivation-busters listed. If you can, try to insulate yourself from the negative influences that consistently weaken your resolve. Choose to spend time with people whose positivity has an uplifting effect on you. If possible, express your desire for a change in the environment. If you’d like more time to think through a problem, ask for it. Want more control and responsibility in a project? Volunteer to lead it. Sometimes you can’t escape or change the difficult atmosphere. In those cases, try to take the long view – remember that the pressure can’t last forever. Hang in there!