Thinking BIG

You have to think anyway, so why not think big? These famous words of real estate mogul, Donald Trump, somehow rings in my head.

Thinking. When we think, we are actually putting words together in our head and trying to make sense of it. And it depends on how many different perspectives we can see it from, it will also determine our choices. In other words, how we string our thoughts together will determine what kind of choices we make. For instance, when we are upset about a particular person, whatever the person says, we will tend to take it negatively and hence choose not to believe or agree with that person. Therefore, getting the sequence (or syntax) right in the first instance is really critical, as the choices we make will determine the kind of results we get.

Remember this: TO MAKE MAKE BETTER CHOICES, YOU MUST CHANGE YOUR MINDSET!

There are many reasons why thinking big works. At the individual level, what will cause you jump out of bed every morning, a BIG goal or a tiny goal? Still at the individual level, will you be more creative and innovative when your goal is BIG or small? Will you be disciplined enough to make sure that you stay on your path, if you know that your goal is BIG or small?

Let's move to the team level. When you work in a team, will you be more excited if the goal of your team is BIG or small? Will the number of benefits or spring-offs be larger if your team's goal is BIG or small? And if we move up to the organisational level, will you be more excited to work for an organisation that has a BIG goal or one that has a small goal?

What about your kids? Do you think they will be more excited if you tell them you'll take them to Disneyland or if you'll take them to the playground in the neighbourhood?

Now, don't get me wrong by linking BIG goals to material things or being greedy. BIG goals have the energy to create synergy. BIG goals inspire you to work on your action plans. BIG goals keep you going. BIG goals keep you energised. Of course your goals can be, "I want a BIG house". Or, "I want a BIG car". However, when you do achieve those goals, the next question you'll ask is, "what's next?" If you can get a 20,000 sqft house, you may start wanting a 30,000 sqft house. And it never ends.

So, here when we talk about BIG goals, we are referring to goals that will not only bring about benefit for your good self, but also the well-being of those around you, those working with you, those whose lives you impacted.

Now, let me offer you this challenge: See how many of your original goals are BIG, as in it brings about benefits beyond yourself.

Love and Respect,
Melvyn Tan

The Power of Discipline

One of the major traits that separates the successful from the rest is, without a doubt, discipline. Being disciplined is so important for, say, a boxer who wants to win in the ring, he'll need to strictly observe the discipline of right diet, no booze, no cigrattes, getting up early in the morning to run so as to keep lean and fit. Someone who is training for the marathon, for example, will need to adhere to a strict exercise regime to gear her to be ready for the big day.

I once asked a business owner, let's say you are extremely disciplined by getting up at 6am everyday. However, if you do not have a purpose, or a reason why you are getting up that early for, then what is the use of being disciplined? He agreed that discipline by itselt will not produce great results. In fact, he quipped, that you can be disciplined and have the wrong thinking, you'll be a disaster. And that's exactly what Jim Collins said in his book, Good to Great, where he mentioned that disciplined action without discipline thought is a receipe for disaster.

In fact, as Stephen Covey outlined in 8th Habit, he mentioned that having a vision is just one part of the equation. The ability to see the current reality as it is is just as important. Very often, people see their current reality and then compromise on their vision (see Peter Senge's The Fifth Discipline). While staying true to our vision, we must also cultivate the discipline to see the current situation as it is and decide what needs to be done to move forward.

In my pursuit towards my personal vision, I have indeed sometimes slipped into a lower standard or not fully following through with some of the activities that I've set out to do. I could have just stopped doing it altogether, forget about, or lower my personal vision. However, as I believed in my personal vision so much, I have came back and restart afresh. Relooked at what has happened that caused me to lose focus or slipped into a lower standard.

And instead of seeing these events as failures or evidences to convince myself that this is hard stuff, I chose to see the learning points from these events. What can I learn from these events, which can help me move forward? Sometimes I realise that there are other issues involved. So I take these into account during my next attempt.

Or, perhaps sometimes certain events might not offer you any learning points from the perspective that you have looked at it. Then I'll ask myself a different question, and usually I will get curious about the situation. And ask myself, what is it about this event that if I see it will be an empowering one for me? It has worked for me. When that happens, I go into a different state altogether and it generates different emotions for me.

So, being disciplined to your 'cause', be it your personal vision or personal goal; or being disciplined in your 'approach' about certain things will bring you great results. Of course the qualifier here is that, you must have a purpose or a personal mission that is.

Love and respect,
Melvyn Tan