Are You a “Greatness Project?” December 2006
While reviewing four years of articles, we’ve noticed how we’ve focused primarily on presenting current research about great individual or organizational successes. As this year ends, we return to our root inquiry about greatness and ask: what about us? How do we foster our own personal growth and development?
At ASGMC we encounter many, many people who are trying to succeed. They tell us about all the projects they’re working on in their professional life and perhaps even at home. Mostly these projects are things to accomplish. Occasionally, we’ll meet someone who balances outside projects with “inner” projects. They work toward becoming a better person, parent, lover, boss, etc., focusing not on what they do, but on who they are.
While reading this we hope many of you immediately think, “I do that!” Our question is this: do you develop for yourself the same kind of process, time frame, and sequence that you’d use in a work or home project?
For many of us, ideas for developing ourselves are haphazard at best. At New Year’s we create resolutions — that we keep for a while. Usually they fade out in a month or so, only to be replaced by spasms of guilt when we realize how far we’ve fallen from our personal goal.
We suggest creating a plan of action for personal growth and development similar to project plans we create elsewhere. This would include starting with a specific and well articulated goal. What do you want to be, learn, or become better at? What, for example, would it mean to become a better friend? It might mean better communication, since it’s easy to lose touch with friends. The specificity of this goal will help you attain it. You can make the goal be even more specific by enumerating the times a month you’ll try contacting someone. You might say, “this is artificial.” We agree, but all practice feels artificial until it becomes part of us.
Next, create a timeline. When can you accomplish your stated goal? If it’s a lifelong goal, at which points along the way will you check to see if you’re on target? Establishing a timeline will help you hold yourself accountable; don’t wish your life away on “someday.”
Finally, don’t forget to use the proper tools. Depending on your focus, your tools could be anything from books, to classes, to friends and counselors, to spirituality or faith (embodied in participating at a house of worship or not), to practice and development with a teacher or mentor.
Many of us are good at finishing whatever work is presented to us, but what about the work you want to do on yourself? Greatness is not only about doing great things for others, it’s also about doing great things to enhance your best self.
Have you made yourself a “greatness project?”
The Greatness ProjectTM is researched and written by:
Scott Asalone & Jan Sparrow
Copyright © ASGMC, Inc. 2006