First published 4 January 2021 on Your Best Year Starts Here with Nigel Risner.
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Nigel had promised last week to share the one word that explains why most plans never happen. When I asked him for it, he wasn't sure he could be arsed. The word was procrastination. He gave us his Latin take on where it comes from (forward, plus tomorrow) and talked about everyone going on holiday to Someday Isle. Lovely place, apparently. Nobody ever quite gets there.
Then he owned up. He still runs his email through the same AOL address he's always had, when he could be chiefmonkey@nigelrisner.com. He did get the Mac in the end. But when I went round this week we had to open the green screen box for him, because it had never come out of it. He also thought OBS stood for "one button system" (I know what it is, I couldn't tell you what it stands for either).
His answer for 2021 is three goals and no more. He called himself the anti-motivational speaker for it. I brought in Leo Babauta, who writes the Zen Habits blog, and his idea of starting one new habit a month instead of all of them on New Year's Day. Do that for three years and it's 36 habits. Nigel pointed out Stephen Covey wrote Seven Habits, not 449.
And I had a lost in translation moment to share. Someone close to me from the US had heard me say "can't be arsed" plenty of times, and it turned out she'd been hearing "can't be asked". Which got us onto asking for help. Nigel is making a list of what he can't do versus what he won't, and finding someone else for the won'ts.
My big one was getting my book out. I also said I don't want my online stuff to be a recording from the back of a training room. It needs making for the screen. Nigel finished by getting me to put my hands in the air and shout "yay", which is how he wants us celebrating the first goal ticked off.
Worth remembering
- A long New Year list is exhausting before you start. Pick three.
- One new habit a month. Let it bed in, then add the next.
- Split your list into can't and won't. Get help with the won'ts.
- Break a big outcome down to this month, this week, today. Ten minutes still counts.
I'm gonna be the anti-motivational speaker that says, "You've got too many things on your list."
Nigel Risner
For me, a goal you aim at and outcome you achieve.
Neil Martin
