Here we are in the final 44 days of the year. Well over 300 days down and we’ve all invested a massive amount of energy and dedication to put ourselves in the position we are in, and we want to finish strong.
Wherever you stand with your property goals, what can you do to make sure you have that final big sprint to finish the year strong and go into 2019 with confidence and momentum?
I looked back at my 2017 posts and realised that I wrote a similar one around the same time last year, just using a different reference. Clearly it’s something I think about around this time each year and I’m sure I’m not the only one. This time round I was prompted by a recent message I heard from Darren Hardy who referenced the true story of a runner who was able to consistently lead the field but who always lost in the final stretch of the race. His coach, who had observed and analysed the runner’s race habits and results, pinpointed the problem – in the final stretch he was always looking over his shoulder at the competition and in those moments would be overtaken.
The coach’s advice that proved successful was to ‘fixate on breaking the tape’ and ‘don’t look over your shoulder. You can’t be afraid when you are out in front and alone. When you look over your shoulder you switch focus from the positive goal of winning to the possibility of someone overtaking you.’
This same thinking is what we all need to apply to our respective business situations in the final weeks of the year, if we want to finish with a winning feeling. In other words, to really focus on our goals and protect ourselves from distractions.
In a quick google search I found an article looking at the science and technique in the 100m sprint race. To the very point I’m highlighting, here was the same message,
‘One important aspect of the 100m is to always stay focused on yourself and the track ahead of you. Glancing to your left or right to see where your competitors are will only slow you down.
“You should be able to run 100 meters like a horse in the Kentucky Derby with blinders on,” Ato Boldon says. “Nothing in the 100 should ever cause a sprinter to look to his left or right.”
Ato Boldon knows that full well. He glanced over to Namibia’s Frankie Fredericks in the 1996 Olympics and fell behind him, which got him bronze rather than silver.
“I know more than most that you can do it,” Boldon says, “but you have to spend the rest of your life telling people why it cost you a medal in the Olympic Games.”
And here are a couple more fitting analogies about the ‘final stretch’ i.e. in the NFL, the most points are scored in the final 2 minutes of each half; and in the retail industry 25-40% of annual sales happen in the final 45 days of the year. In other words, the race for the year is won or lost in the final push.
So if you want to finish 2018 strong, focus on breaking the tape and don’t let the hysteria of the upcoming Christmas season break your focus.
Here are 5 STEPS TO MAXIMISE THE END OF THE YEAR:
(This is a shortened extract from last year’s post and you can read the full post here: http://adaeroproperty.com/week-48-breaking-the-2017-finish-line-tape-with-massive-momentum/ )
Step #1 AWARENESS
*Have full awareness with what you’re doing and how you’re operating in the final stretch of the year.
*Do the opposite of others i.e. at this time of year, most people are starting to eat unhealthy, drink more, take the foot of the work pedal but if we want to differentiate ourselves we have to do the opposite – step up the exercise, keep the diet in check, plan effectively, don’t sell yourself short
STEP #2- STACK UP MOTIVATION WITH WHYS
*Figure out WHY you want to have an amazing end to the year AND build MASSIVE MOMENTUM going into 2019, and write the reasons down.
*Look at these reasons regularly and use them to push you through while others are easing off.
STEP #3- WRITE DOWN EVERYTHING AND PRIORITISE
*Best way to get rid of the overwhelm and fuzzy thinking is to write everything down. Get it out of your head and onto paper.
*What GETS SCHEDULED GETS DONE
*Write out clear expectations for your business for end of the year and clear tasks for each person, whether it’s just you or if you have a team – it’s about working more strategically and intentionally rather than doing loads of hours so we can all be more present with our family.
STEP #4- CELEBRATE WEEKLY PROGRESS
*Celebrate weekly progress rather than focusing on perfection or living in ‘the gap’ i.e. focus on what completed or how far you’ve come in the last year, be grateful what done rather than living in the gap of where you think you should be”.
*This next bit of advice is gold, and my favourite quote of the podcast – “You are exactly where you need to be, to learn exactly what you need to learn, to get the lessons that you need to get to build an amazing future”. Don’t beat yourself up, bet on yourself.
STEP #5- WHAT IS YOUR GAME CHANGING HOLIDAY ROUTINE
*The ritual you create to solidify getting back in the zone.
*It’s hard to build momentum when you take breaks, but at this time of year you need to, and when you do you’ll want to be fully present. So to allow yourself to be fully present during down time, maximise what you do leading up to the break. You’ll then feel amazing taking time off with your family.
*In advance of taking your time off, think about and write down a ritual to get you back in the zone.
What are you doing to keep your focus on breaking the tape?