Change Equation
There are 111 days left in 2024.
How does that make you feel? If you're anything like me, it makes me a little anxious. Because I still have a lot of progress I want to make this year. If that sounds like you, read on.
“Without vision, the people perish. Without vision, (hope of what the future could be) the people become hopeless.”
Many of us fall off the rails of our goals because we lose sight of the vision we set for our lives.
The day-to-day starts to take over and we forget the WHY behind our daily intentions and actions.
If you want to keep the fire burning in your life, and in the lives of those you lead, you have to create a strong vision.
Step #1: Let’s revisit your vision.
The Vision Test:
Let’s take a subjective vision test to see how strong your vision is.
First, do you feel like you have a vision for the rest of 2024?
Do you know what you want to achieve?
Have you set any goals yet in your personal life or business?
Second, how strong is your vision? Score it from 1-10, with 10 being the strongest.
Did you just write it down to feel better about it? Or are you fully committed to doing everything in your power to turn your vision into a reality? To do what it takes to make that number a 10?
If you scored below 5 then you need to do some significant work on your vision, the red zone we call it.
If it’s between 5–7 then you are in a yellow zone, which needs more focus.
And, if you are from 7–10 then it may help to restate your vision and help other people get to their next vision level.
To strengthen your vision, start by looking at what you’re dissatisfied with in your life.
Because if you’re not hungry for change and improvement, you’ll never become the person you’re supposed to be.
Let me introduce you to The Change Equation
D x V x N > R (B, H, G)
I know it looks daunting, but please don’t check out… This formula, once understood, has led to many people completely changing the trajectory of their lives (even in just a 111 days).
Here’s what it means…
D = Dissatisfaction
What do you not like about your life and the direction you are heading right now? Where are you not satisfied as it relates to your future?
V = Vision
The best example I know of vision comes from a girl’s group that might date me as I share it…
The Spice Girls do a good job of explaining vision in one of their songs “What do you want, do you really, really want?”
If your end of 2024 vision is to lose a few pounds and look good with your clothes off, then that is what you really, really want.
If your vision for the next 111 days is to take your business from X to Y, then that is what you really, really want.
Or, maybe, just maybe your vision is to grow your Leader Toolkit within the next 111 days.
So let’s practice. Answer this question by filling in the last portion.
For the rest of 2024, I really, really want…
Do another. Within the next 111 days, I want…
Now, summarize it by saying, “My vision for the last 111 days of 2024 is to…” and fill in the blanks.
Boom! There you go. You’re on your way.
Now that we have tackled Dissatisfaction and Vision, it’s time to put the plan together to see that vision come to life.
This is where most people start when thinking about progress— goal setting…
However, in order for goals to have meaning, they need to fit within the vision, which is why vision must come before goal setting.
Next in the equation…
N = Natural Next Steps
Natural, meaning the next steps to getting to what you really, really want.
The easiest way to do this is to make a list of whatever comes to mind.
For example, if your dissatisfaction is with your weight and your historical lack of success in managing it; and your vision is to create a new mindset as it relates to a healthy lifestyle by changing patterns and losing X number of pounds, then your next steps could look like:
Stop drinking carbs
Partner with a friend to exercise
Spend 10 minutes each morning getting my mindset right on what I will and won’t do today.
You get the gist.
The goal is to write down 3–5 tasks to accomplish your vision and get rid of your dissatisfaction.
It could be a Natural Next Step list for learning a skill, or restoring a relationship, or growing your business, or whatever your vision is.
Time to Check in
How are you feeling so far?
Don’t stop now. It’s time to confront the very things or people that could or will be the resistance to getting to what you really, really want for the rest of 2024.
R = Resistance
The resistance always shows up when you start to make progress.
Resistance is everywhere, and its main goal is to stop you from achieving your vision.
It’s either a something (what) or a person (who) that might stop you from getting to where you want to go.
And resistance is made up of either Barriers, Hurdles, or Gaps, the final three letters in the equation.
A Barrier is something that can’t be moved. It could be a government regulation or an actual law that you will need to work around in order to get to your vision.
A Hurdle is something that you will have to jump over to get to where you want to go. You can totally do it, but it takes energy and effort to hurdle it and can be very frustrating to deal with. This could be trying to get together with someone you are trying to restore a relationship with or carving out time to work on your personal development.
A Gap is a hole that needs to be filled before you can go on. This could be a training you need or maybe a certification you need to get to the level you want.
And there you have it. That is the change equation.
To summarize, here it is below:
Dissatisfaction x Vision x Natural Next Step > Resistance (Barriers/Hurdles/Gaps)
And remember to start with vision… without vision, life becomes negative.
The goal for you is to preserve and clearly define what you really, really want for the next 111 days, and go after it with everything you have.
Then maybe, just maybe, you can help someone else deal with their dissatisfaction and get to their vision, too.
Keep fighting to get clarity and destroy any negativity. Do the hard work and once you do you will become more effective to those around you.
