how overachievers can get ‘unstuck’

here’s your new process.

by bill reeb
succession institute

i was looking for a process that was logical, yet would be dynamic enough to respond to life as it unfolds around us.

for example, when i am hired to help an organization create a strategy and then implement it, i call upon a formal process to get us from vision through execution. however, often the reason i am called in the first place is that someone or some organization realizes they are stuck.

when this is the case, i first take a look at

• where they are,
• what they have already done and/or attempted
• and where they want to go,

and then help them see for themselves what next action will likely unstick them so they can continue moving again in the direction of their choice. the steps in this system follow a logical flow.

in the following paragraphs, i will introduce the techniques and concepts within the process that are designed to help you find whatever success or happiness you are looking for. the following paragraphs outline all of this from a 30,000-foot level.

the first step is to identify what it is that you desire. desire is at the core of the process. being stuck, or for that matter getting unstuck, will require you to cycle back to it.

zig ziglar once said, “if you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time.”

so, this question is straightforward … “what are you aiming at?” while this question might seem simple, what we believe we are willing to do to achieve our desire is often far from what we are actually willing to do. so, we have to sift through a  lot of chaos and clutter to find that truth.  after giving some thought to what you want, the next step is to think about your plan, tactics for that plan (with a realistic timeline) and reasonable expectations. by putting together this level of detail, you will be able to better frame the effort you are about to make and compare that against the gains you expect to receive.

if you find yourself unwilling to put together your plan, your identified desire is likely just a “wish” and the process stalls out until you either (1) actually become ready to put your plan and tactics together, or (2) redefine your desire into something that is in line with the effort you are willing to make. there is nothing wrong with wishes, but i aim to help overachievers focus their talent and energy so they can get more of what they really want.

once you have a plan outlined to accomplish what you want, then the next step is to start doing the work. the work is about putting in the required consistent, sustained self-motivated effort to achieve whatever you are trying to accomplish. many people have an idyllic or a romanticized view of what it takes to get better, faster and stronger, or get “more,” and they won’t mentally or physically “chop the wood” necessary to get it done.

when you reach an evaluation point and find

• you are no longer willing to do the required work, or
• you become dissatisfied with your progress or priorities, or
• you determine that the gains you are achieving no longer justify the effort,

you will either be stuck or will be starting to get stuck. at this juncture, when you realize that you are either feeling unsuccessful or unhappy about the progress or direction you are heading, it is time for you to reassess what you are thinking and what you are doing to position yourself to make the necessary adjustments so that you can get back on course and regain your momentum.

in many simple cases or situations, the overachiever is fully committed, ready and capable of staying focused until the success or happiness sought after is achieved. if that is where you are, identifying a desire (which includes planning, plan tactics, and expectations) and doing the work is all there is to the process. but as all overachievers know, we get distracted by the many conflicting demands and unrealistic expectations we put on ourselves, so simple situations can become complex very quickly. therefore, when we take on too much, or we find ourselves running like hamsters on a wheel to nowhere, it is time to determine which actions are necessary to effect any change in the way we think or what we do.

john blankenship, my mentor, and i have identified three actions that can help you get unstuck. they are

1. replan: we can change the desire (which might mean changing some aspect of the plan or its tactics, timeline, and expectations) to align with what we now know that we want.
2. reprioritize: we can reprioritize what is important to us in order to remove any conflict in ideas, values, beliefs that are getting in the way of our making progress.
3. reaffirm: we can disconnect the emotional link between our desire and progress so that even when a negative evaluation occurs, our feelings don’t get in our way of working toward our goals.

each of these actions can be taken to resolve the dissatisfaction you are experiencing and allow you to start moving again. by identifying your desires and doing the work – and, when necessary, replanning, reprioritizing or reaffirming – you will find this process to be a very powerful tool to help you achieve. it provides you with an arsenal of techniques at your disposal to propel you forward toward your objective, whether that is

• achieving a goal,
• progressing in your ability or understanding,
• enjoying greater satisfaction,
• finding a new level of happiness or
• getting “more” out of your life.

the summary graphic shown at the top represents an overview of the process.