Tag: timing
Timing In Goal-Setting
When most of us set goals, we hold an expectation that everything will work out as planned. We have this picture in our minds of a smooth process from start to finish, easily achieving our goals without a hitch. This is especially true when it comes to the timing of our desired results!
Let’s face it; we wouldn’t be setting goals in the first place if we didn’t believe they were possible to achieve. Even if we expect a fair amount of difficulty in reaching our goals, we usually don’t expect to encounter major delays and setbacks.
Early in the game an optimistic mind-set can be a strong benefit because it gives us high confidence and strength to push through any preliminary obstacles that appear before us.
However, as more and more time passes and our desired results aren’t showing up – or worse, we continue to experience problem after problem, our determination begins to wane. We wonder what we’ve gotten ourselves into. We wonder if we were crazy to think we could accomplish something so difficult!
Most importantly, we forget that there is one little aspect to any goal that is often beyond our control: timing.
As much as we might like our results to show up quickly and easily, that is not always how it happens. When we find ourselves stuck, we have three choices: We can strengthen our focus and put forth a stronger quality of energy toward our desired outcome; we can build up our resolve to work through obstacles more persistently, or we can wait patiently for the timing to be exactly right.
That last one is the stickler! We don’t like to feel out of control, especially where our own lives are concerned. We don’t like feeling that there is some mysterious “force out there” controlling what happens to us.
There is no easy answer for why results don’t appear when we expect them to. Each situation is different, as is each goal and the person setting it.
When this happens to you, the important question to ask is not WHY it happens but what you will do when it does.
Will you shove through obstacles with vicious determination? Will you find an easier path to your goal? Or will you wait patiently for obstacles to dissolve in their own time?
There are no right or wrong answers to these questions; only what you choose for yourself.
Like most people, you may find that certain outcomes cannot be rushed. No matter how hard you push, you will not be able to move forward until the timing is right.
In situations like these, hindsight usually reveals clear reasons why you could not move ahead until the timing was exactly right.
Perhaps you needed to wait for the assistance of someone who could provide the right opportunity to move ahead. Maybe you weren’t emotionally ready to handle the responsibilities of your desired outcome and once you did some more work on your personal development, all obstacles simply melted away.
There are endless possibilities for why the timing may not be right, but what can you do when you find yourself stuck?
Two of the most beneficial steps have proven to be:
1) Do what you can. Remain open to the possibilities, re-evaluate your plans and see if you can make improvements or adjustments.
2) At the same time, be willing to detach from the exact timing of the outcome. This is not easy, but it can open up many doors for you!
When you let go of trying to force something into being, you automatically decrease the pressure that deadlines place upon you. Because you feel more relaxed, you are better able to focus and awaken your creative thinking process. Through this creative insight, you may accidentally discover the perfect solution to your problem, or at least have more fun exploring possible workarounds.
In the end, the length of time needed to achieve your goals is not nearly as important as the delicious satisfaction you get from seeing them through to the end.
And when that day arrives, you’ll believe only one thing: it was well worth the wait.
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Public Speaking Dilemma: What To Do When You Don't Have Enough Time
Do you have a standard hour-length presentation, but your host can only spare a half hour? Are you in the middle of a presentation when you realize that, due to a late start or abundant questions, you are running out of time?
No matter what your topic, always be flexible and ready to cut short your session (or ready to lengthen, as the case may be). Here are some ways to make sure your presentation always fits the time slot.
<b>Pointer #1: Use a timed outline</b>
When you create your presentation outline, include time estimates next to each section (I like to add mine in red to make them easier to spot on the page).
A brief, one-page bulleted outline (or two pages double-sided) will be easier to time than a long, rambling novel written in paragraphs.
Practice your presentation and jot down time estimates as you go (two minutes for opening, five minutes for section I, seven minutes for section II, etc.) When you get to the end, add up all the time and determine whether you should add to or subtract from any sections to make it all fit into the allotted time slot.
If you have to edit severely to fit into a different time frame and your presentation will be adversely affected, you might want to develop separate self-contained presentations for short, medium and long time slots.
(If you are a PowerPoint user, see the book “Beyond Bullet Points” for instruction on creating a PowerPoint that serves different timing needs.)
<b>Pointer #2: Shift information depending on its priority</b>
If you notice that you are running out of time while in the middle of a presentation, you may have to shift some of your content around. If you have important points at the end of the presentation, now is the time to bring them forward. As soon as you notice the time crunch, start changing the order of your sections.
When creating and practicing your presentation, it’s always a good idea to think ahead about how you would handle this situation. The layout of your bulleted outline should make it easy to see which sections to leave out, move up or move down.
If you have to leave out something that you feel is important, gather business cards from the audience and offer to e-mail them additional content.
<b>Pointer #3: Supplement with handouts</b>
There’s usually some information that we want to share, but that we don’t necessarily want to include in our live presentation. You might have some relevant articles to supplement your workshop, or you might have charts and graphs that you didn’t have time for or the technology to project.
Use handouts wisely. If the material does not need to be reviewed during your presentation, then leave handouts at the back of the room for the audience to pick up on the way out. If you choose to put them on seats before you begin, be aware that your audience may spend half the time reading and not listening to you.
Your handouts should always include your contact information and a link to your website, if you have one. Make sure all resources and references are clear and easy to read; use graphics if appropriate and leave a lot of white space on the page. Don’t overload handouts with text; make them concise and relevant to your presentation. Otherwise, they will end up in the recycling bin!
Follow these suggestions, and you will always be prepared, no matter how much (or little) time you have.
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