January 2012 Newsletter

When was the last time you got to the end of the day and thought, "Wow, I ran out of things to do?" That has probably never happened. If your schedule is full already, how you can you make big changes and achieve more of your goals? Read on to learn more about kaizen, a simple and easy way to create lasting change.

Make BIG Changes by Starting SMALL with Kaizen

The beginning of the New Year is a natural time to decide to make some changes. Still, the number one question my coaching clients ask is, “How can I add anything else to my schedule when I’m already so busy?” Many people feel too overwhelmed to even get started. There is a simple way to avoid those problems and make big changes: start small.

The Japanese principle of making small, continuous improvements to create dramatic and lasting change is called kaizen (pronounced ky-zin). Businesses around the world use kaizen and can it can work in your personal and professional life as well.

Look at the goal you want to achieve or the change you want to make and then ask yourself, “What is the smallest step I could take?” Then build on that first step with other small steps. Starting small helps for a few reasons.

• You won’t feel overwhelmed because small tasks feel “doable.”
• You won’t procrastinate if your next step feels too easy to put off.
• You won’t feel afraid because you know you can do something small.

Kaizen works. You are reading proof of it right now. This is the 29^th issue of my newsletter. After years of thinking about writing a newsletter, I took the first step of brainstorming article topics. Then I selected a service to distribute the newsletter. Finally, I wrote a few articles and in September 2009, “Newton’s Laws of Influence” was born. But Kaizen isn’t just about starting, it’s about continuing. Each month, I take small steps of getting a newsletter out to you and you can do the same thing. Here are three steps to get started:

1. Start where you are. This is one of the simplest and most effective phrases to help stir you to action. I was stalled when I thought of how many dozens of newsletters some of my colleagues had written. I had to start with the first issue and build. Don’t compare yourself to people who have been doing something longer than you have. Learn from them, but don’t expect to reach a lofty goal instantly.

2. Ask small questions. Look at any change you want to create, whether it is becoming a better speaker, attracting more clients or creating more balance in your life and ask a small question. You’ll generate lots of ideas with questions like “What is one small way I can improve?” or “If I was performing at the level that I want, what is one small thing that I would do differently?” You’ll come up with actions that you can feel good about because they will seem easy to accomplish instead of overwhelming.

3. Take small actions. Small actions are what got me off the couch and into running shoes after 15 solid years without exercising. First, I bought running shoes and running clothes.  Then, I downloaded a “First Day to 5K,” a podcast that trains you to run a 5K though small steps. First you walk a lot and run a little. Gradually, you begin to run more than you walk. And now, though I never thought it would happen, I’m a runner.

Using kaizen has helped me create and maintain lasting changes both personally and professionally. It can help you too. Is there a big change waiting for you in 2012? Remember, when you want to make a big change, dare to start small.

p.s. – Check out that first newsletter issue. The articles on “Going from Unknown to Essential” and “Getting Ready for the Recovery” are still helpful 28 issues later.

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 © 2012 Chakisse Newton. All Rights Reserved.