Start with Small Steps

9 - The Serenity Prayer

Today, we're going to talk about something that affects all of us - how to deal with life's problems when they come our way. Now, I know it can be tough, but don't worry, we've got some great tips and techniques to help you out.

First up, we're going to introduce you to the Serenity Prayer. This powerful prayer involves accepting the things we cannot change, changing the things we can, and having the wisdom to know the difference. We'll share how this prayer helped one of our speakers as a child growing up in a chaotic situation, and we'll also share other examples of similar wisdom throughout history.

Then, we'll delve into different techniques to reframe problems and make them solvable. You'll learn about the elevator problem and how it was transformed into a solution by adding mirrors and elevator music to distract people while they wait. We'll also discuss using the five whys technique to get to the root problem and reframe it into a solvable one. The goal is to generate more options for solving the problem.

Now, it's important to distinguish between what is possible and what is not possible. We'll encourage you to put every problem you encounter into one of two buckets: things you can solve and things you can't. For the things you can't solve, we'll suggest finding things you can solve about it. We'll also discuss the importance of understanding your motivations and how you can use the five whys technique to bolster your motivation and dig deeper to reframe the problem.

https://startwithsmallsteps.com/?p=2297

https://hbr.org/2017/01/are-you-solving-the-right-problems

https://leadingbd.com/2016/05/the-five-whys-of-purpose

https://alexchiri.com/2018/12/02/accept-gravity-and-let-go-of-your-anchors

https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newTMC_5W.htm

Jill’s Links
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/startwithsmallsteps

Twitter startwithsmallsteps

Email the podcast at [email protected]

8 - Pychological Halloweenism for Goals

We explore the intriguing concept of pretending to be someone else to gain new perspectives and achieve goals. Did you know that research indicates that imagining how someone else would feel or act in a given situation can influence our perception and behavior in that situation? It’s a fascinating idea that we’ll be diving into today.

But that’s not all! We’ll also be discussing how play-acting can be beneficial for individuals struggling with shame, abuse, and chronic rheumatoid arthritis. By stepping into the shoes of someone else, individuals can gain new insights into their situations and achieve their goals.

We’ll be sharing some personal rules and guidelines that you can use to achieve your goals and find an alter ego that can provide encouragement and support. And let’s not forget the importance of pretending to have fun, just like in the famous quote from Batman Begins: “It’s not who I am underneath, but what I do that defines me.”

https://startwithsmallsteps.com/?p=2286

https://digest.bps.org.uk/2019/11/20/simply-imagining-other-people-can-change-our-own-sense-of-self/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4749277/

https://www.bustle.com/p/acting-out-a-character-can-change-your-brain-a-new-study-says-it-helps-explain-why-this-kind-of-therapy-works-16966396

https://www.forbes.com/sites/kimelsesser/2018/04/03/power-posing-is-back-amy-cuddy-successfully-refutes-criticism

 Jill’s Links
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/startwithsmallsteps

Twitter startwithsmallsteps

Email the podcast at [email protected]

7 - Plan Your Possible Lives

Today we are talking about designing your life based on your talents and values.

We all know that life can be unpredictable, and sometimes we find ourselves falling into things or lucking into opportunities. But what if we took a more intentional approach? That’s where assessments like StrengthsFinder 2.0 come in. By identifying your unique talents and strengths, you can start to design a life that plays to those strengths and brings you joy.

Of course, it’s not just about identifying your talents - it’s also important to think about what you value most in life. Maybe you value creativity, flexibility, or community. Whatever it is, keeping those values in mind as you design your life can help ensure that you’re living in alignment with your true self.

Then we discuss the book Designing Your Life. But here’s the thing - designing your life isn’t a one-time event. It’s an ongoing process that requires experimentation and adaptation. That’s why we encourage you to try out small changes in your life and see what works best for you. Maybe it’s trying out a new hobby or taking a class in something you’re interested in. Whatever it is, don’t be afraid to take risks and try new things.

So, if you’re feeling stuck or unsure about your life’s path, we hope this episode has given you some inspiration and motivation to take control of your destiny. Remember - you have the power to design a life that’s joyful, fulfilling, and uniquely yours.

https://startwithsmallsteps.com/?p=2278

https://store.gallup.com/c/en-us/assessments

https://designingyour.life/

https://www.outsideonline.com/2373876/three-steps-happiness

Jill’s Links
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/startwithsmallsteps

Twitter startwithsmallsteps

Email the podcast at [email protected]

Show Notes

6 - Challenge The Rider and The Elephant

I review “Switch” by Chip and Dan Heath. It’s all about understanding how our brains work when it comes to creating new habits and making changes in our lives. The authors break it down into two parts: the emotional elephant and the rational rider.

We dive into the different steps the book recommends for bringing these two parts of our brain together. We talk about finding the feeling, shrinking the change, growing your people, directing the rider, scripting the critical moves, and pointing to the destination. But that’s not all! We also explore how to shape the path by tweaking the environment, building habits, and rallying the herd.

I share personal tips and examples of how to apply these principles to achieve your personal goals.

https://startwithsmallsteps.com/?p=2264

https://www.happinesshypothesis.com/

https://heathbrothers.com/books/switch/

Jill’s Links
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/startwithsmallsteps

Twitter startwithsmallsteps

Email the podcast at [email protected]

5 - Prevent Mistakes and Look Upstream

I talk about the book “Upstream” by Dan Heath. It’s all about taking a proactive approach to avoid mistakes and achieve your goals. Instead of just reacting to problems downstream, the book suggests a pre-mortem strategy that involves identifying likely mistakes ahead of time, involving all stakeholders in the discussion, and making it difficult to fail.

But that’s not all. Heath also warns against over-preparing and rewarding failure and recommends building a system that tolerates errors. By following these principles, individuals and organizations can anticipate and prevent problems before they occur, ultimately leading to greater success and productivity.

So if you’re tired of constantly putting out fires and want to get ahead of potential issues, this episode is for you.

https://startwithsmallsteps.com/?p=2255

Poka-Yoke

https://kanbanize.com/lean-management/improvement/what-is-poka-yoke

Upstream by Dan Heath

https://heathbrothers.com/books/upstream/

https://www.entreleadership.com/blog/podcasts/dan-heath-upstream

Moral Hazards

https://www.lemonade.com/insuropedia/dictionary/moral-hazard/

Over Preparation

https://www.nbcnews.com/better/health/how-stop-over-preparing-actually-get-things-done-ncna810126
 
Jill’s Links
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/startwithsmallsteps

Twitter startwithsmallsteps

Email the podcast at [email protected]

4 - Use Personality Tests to Achieve Goals

In this episode, we’re diving into the fascinating world of personality tests. We all have unique personalities, motivations, and ways of working, but have you ever stopped to think about what makes you tick? Well, today’s article explores how personality tests like the Four Tendencies and the Enneagram can give us valuable insights into our inner workings.

We’ll be discussing the importance of knowing ourselves and matching our goals to our schedules, taking into account whether we’re larks or owls. We’ll also touch upon the concept of chronotypes and how they can impact our ability to achieve our goals.

Personality tests can be informative and help us pick apart our personalities to find what triggers work for us. By understanding our tendencies, we can set up situations that make it more likely for us to achieve our aims, make better decisions, meet deadlines, and engage more deeply with others.

So, whether you’re a morning person or a night owl, a Type A or a Type B personality, this episode is for you. After all, the ultimate goal is to learn more about ourselves and use that knowledge to succeed.

https://gretchenrubin.com/books/the-four-tendencies/intro/

https://www.enneagraminstitute.com/type-descriptions

https://www.truity.com/test/enneagram-personality-test

https://www.bbc.com/news/health-25777978

https://www.bulletproof.com/sleep/sleep-hacks/sleep-chronotype-circadian-rhythm/

Links

https://startwithsmallsteps.com/why-small-steps/

Jill’s Links
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/startwithsmallsteps

Twitter startwithsmallsteps

Email the podcast at [email protected]

3 – Ruthlessly Eliminate Noise

In this podcast episode, I dive into the topic of eliminating noise in life and the significance of focusing on what truly matters. The episode stresses the need to prioritize tasks that have the most impact and eliminate low-value distractions that consume a lot of time and energy. To achieve this, the episode introduces the Pareto principle, which helps identify the 20% of tasks that cause 80% of problems. By concentrating on these high-impact tasks, individuals can make the most of their time and effort.

In addition, the podcast suggests reading Essentialism by Greg McKeown, which is an excellent resource for anyone looking to eliminate noise and focus on what’s essential. McKeown’s book emphasizes channeling energy and resources toward the most significant tasks while eliminating low-value distractions. It also urges readers to prioritize their goals and make space for what matters most. This podcast episode also offers practical tips for prioritizing and eliminating tasks, including writing down goals and ranking them in order of importance, identifying the tasks that contribute most to problems, and removing tasks that don’t help overall progress. By adopting these strategies, individuals can focus on the tasks that matter most and progress toward their goals.

Overall, this podcast episode is packed with valuable insights into the significance of eliminating noise and prioritizing what really matters in life. Individuals can optimize their efforts and make the most of their time by focusing on high-impact tasks and eliminating low-value distractions.

https://startwithsmallsteps.com/?p=2223

https://gregmckeown.com/book/

https://jamesclear.com/buffett-focus

https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/331703

https://www.podfeet.com/blog/

 Jill’s Links
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/startwithsmallsteps

Twitter startwithsmallsteps

Email the podcast at [email protected]

2 - Why Small Steps for Success and Change

Are you ready to achieve your dreams? Today, we dive into the world of Alice in Wonderland, the Full Focus Planner, and The ONE Thing. With insights from author Gary Keller, you’ll learn how to set achievable goals, pinpoint the key areas of your life, and assess your available resources. Plus, we’ll introduce you to the Full Focus Planner and Gary’s own One Thing planner and system. Get ready to take your first step towards success!

https://startwithsmallsteps.com/?p=2214

https://fullfocusplanner.com

https://focusonthispodcast.com

https://www.the1thing.com/blog/the-one-thing/66-day-challenge-tip-1-set-bigger-goals-focus-on-smaller-habits/

https://www.the1thing.com/thank-you/?resource=3917

Jill’s Links
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/startwithsmallsteps

Twitter startwithsmallsteps

Email the podcast at [email protected]

As I listened to the Queen’s 2019 Christmas speech, I was struck by the power of small steps and how they can lead to significant change. I learned that even when faced with obstacles and setbacks, it’s important to keep going and focus on rebuilding relationships and achieving our goals.

One particularly powerful idea was the concept of getting 1 percent better each day. It may seem like a small improvement, but over a year, it can lead to incredible results - thirty-seven times better, in fact!

The key is to break down our goals into tiny, manageable steps that we cannot fail. By creating a connected trigger, naming the tiny habit, and celebrating our successes, we can build momentum and achieve great things.

So, here’s my challenge to you: pick one thing that you can break into a small, tiny action that you know for sure you can do. Let’s take that first step towards lasting change together.

Links and Resources:

The Queen’s Speech on Small Steps to Change the World
https://www.townandcountrymag.com/society/tradition/a30260865/queen-elizabeth-christmas-message-transcript-2019/

James Clear on Being One Percent Better
https://jamesclear.com/marginal-gains
https://jamesclear.com/atomic-habits

BJ Fogg on Tiny Habits
https://www.tinyhabits.com/300recipes
https://www.tinyhabits.com/

Stephen Duneier on Small Decisions
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQMbvJNRpLE

Half Sized Me on Slowing Down
https://www.halfsizeme.com/why-you-need-to-slow-down/

Business Insider on Saving $1 a Day
https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/how-much-youd-have-if-you-saved-1-a-day-for-the-rest-of-your-life-2017-7

Links

https://startwithsmallsteps.com/why-small-steps/

Jill’s Links
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/startwithsmallsteps

Twitter startwithsmallsteps

Email the podcast at [email protected]

Trailer

I will help you start with small steps in categories like productivity, self-help, health, technology or best practices. Each episode of my podcast will be posted in a blog format on my webpage, so you’ll always have the resources and links.