Week 9

Dear Friends,

::That little urge that drives us...

This week is about transformation and it starts within; deep in the realm of the intangible.  The urge to change may appear as a thought, a feeling, or an inclination towards something different; something better.   However small the urge, it resonates throughout our entire being and reminds us that we do have control over we bring to the future.  Listen to that little urge, follow that little urge, and standup for that little urge because it will lead you to the future you want::

I encourage you -this week- not to ignore that one little thing that you feel the urge to change.

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Goal 1: To change 30 lives
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What have you done for me lately?: 

Last week's action plan was to research community service programs.  Even with my small win strategy last week, I did not prevail.  I’ve planned to complete my action plan this weekend with a friend so am excited to share my progress with you all next week.

Weekly Action Plan (WAP)!:

Notes / sandwiches for less fortunate

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Goal 2: To gain 10 lbs of muscle
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What have you done for me lately?: 
  I love working on this goal every day.  Week 7’s action plan was to lift 5 days and Eat 5 meals.  I lifted 5 days, ate 5 times each day, walked every morning, played basketball at the gym, and did yoga. 

Weekly Action Plan (WAP)!:

Lift heavy 5 days this week, Eat 5 meals

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Goal 3: to save an extra $2,000

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What have you done for me lately?:

It's now been THREE full weeks with no cigarettes.  I feel absolutely amazing now that I don’t have to choke myself every day.  I think it’s important to keep the no nicotine goal moving forward for one more week.  If I had continued to smoke, I would have spent close to $90 by now.  Now I can put that money towards things that I actually need :).

Weekly Action Plan (WAP)!:

No nicotine. 

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Goal 4: To develop and present a business plan to FIVE investors

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What have you done for me lately?:

Last week was to do something//ANYTHING.  Apparently it wasn’t specific enough because I didn’t do something or anything.  An exercise in visualization this week will build some fortitude for the goal.

Weekly Action Plan (WAP)!:

Imagine my future-self accomplishing this goal.  Write one page about what it feel like//how it will affect my life.

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Goal 5: To spend 200 hours learning and/or practicing Spanish

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What have you done for me lately?:

Last week's action plan was to read a minimum of five articles on Nulu.  I reached goal!  This week’s WAP will be more challenging, but I made sure to include a small win (read one page of the textbook lol).
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Weekly Action Plan (WAP)!:

Read a minimum of five articles on Nulu//schedule tutor lesson//read one page of the textbook.

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Goal 6: To read 12 books

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What have you done for me lately?:

Last week's action plan was read at least 100 pages.  I read about 75 pages last week and listened to 2 hours of audio book.  

Weekly Action Plan (WAP)!:
Read 100 pages.  Listen to two hours of audiobook. 

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W  o  r  d  s   to   p  o  n  d  e  r

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"When patterns are broken, new worlds emerge."
- Tuli Kupferberg

"If nothing ever changed, there'd be no butterflies."
- Author Unknown

 Michael Love

Week 8

Dear Friends,

::They’re alive! – Talking about the six goals of course.  It has now been SEVEN WEEKS and most of them have a pulse like a drum!  There comes a point when pursuing a goal that commitment meets progress making that goal REAL.  I’ve caused these goals to exist in my head and by working them, I bring them into being; Dr. Frankenstein ain’t got nothing on me (I had to make this reference since it’s almost Halloween. LOL).  It really is a great feeling:

Last week, I made it my mission to adjust my focus towards the goals on my list that don’t yet have a pumping heart.  It didn't work.  In fact, all my attempts to invoke life into these goals so far have been unsuccessful.  However, now is the time to do something about it... ANYTHING.  My strategy this week is to create easy action plans for those neglected goals.  I want to create these small wins, because small wins can create an environment where change is not overwhelming and therefore more likely to happen.  

I encourage you to worktowards a small win for yourself this week.

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Goal 1: To change 30 lives
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What have you done for me lately?: 

 Last week's action plan was make sandwiches for homeless, which I didn't do... again.  
I will create a small win this week by changing the focus to thinking about fulfilling community service choices.  

Weekly Action Plan (WAP)!:

Research community service programs in San Diego I can get involved with. 

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Goal 2: To gain 10 lbs of muscle
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What have you done for me lately?: 
  Last week's action plan was eat 3000 calories everyday/Lift 4 days this week.  Welp -- I lifted five days, ran, walked, yoga, and kept calories high.  Great momentum moving on this goal.  The only hold-up is that I despise counting calories.  I find that if I’m eating 5 times per day, I’m usually getting all the calories and nutrients needed.  At minimum, I’ve been eating three big meals everyday with supplemental protein and I plan to add two more eats during my breaks at work.  OLAY! 

Weekly Action Plan (WAP)!:
Lift 5 days this week, Eat 5 meals

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Goal 3: to save an extra $2,000

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What have you done for me lately?:

It's now been two weeks smoke-free-for-me.  Believe it or not, I would have spent $60 on cigarettes by now not to mention the tax on my health and well-being.  I'm keeping no tobacco as my goal for next week.

Weekly Action Plan (WAP)!:

No nicotine. 

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Goal 4: To develop and present a business plan to FIVE investors

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What have you done for me lately?:

I need to get back in the race for this goal.  It had an accelerated start, but now all progress has stalled.  Getting something done this week to get the cylinders firing again will be the way to go. 

Weekly Action Plan (WAP)!:

Do something//ANYTHING

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Goal 5: To spend 200 hours learning and/or practicing Spanish

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What have you done for me lately?:

Last week's action plan was read one chapter in my Spanish tutor textbook, schedule my next tutor lesson, and read a minimum of seven Spanish articles on Nulu.  I read three Spanish articles on Nulu which was far below my aim.  Sticking with my theme this week, I'm going to make this goal more obtainable to create small-win-inertia.
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Weekly Action Plan (WAP)!:

Read a minimum of five articles on Nulu.

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Goal 6: To read 12 books

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What have you done for me lately?:

Last week's action plan was read at least 100 pages.  I read over 200 pages last week finishing my third book!  I've now started reading Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind by Shunryu Suzuki.  This book was next on my list after starting a meditation practice two weeks ago.  I'm also still listening to the audiobook I started two weeks ago.

Weekly Action Plan (WAP)!:
Read 100 pages.  Listen to one hour of audiobook. 

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W  o  r  d  s   to   p  o  n  d  e  r

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The science of small wins:

""A small win is a concrete, complete, implemented outcome of moderate importance.  By itself, one small win may seem unimportant.  A series of wins at small but significant tasks, however, reveals a pattern that may attract allies, deter opponents, and lower resistance to subsequent proposals.  Small wins are controllable opportunities that produce visible results.
Once a small win has been accomplished, forces are set in motion that favor another small win.  When a solution is put in place, the next solvable problem often becomes more visible.  This occurs because new allies bring new solutions with them and old opponents change their habits.  Additional resources also flow toward winners, which means that slightly larger wins can be attempted.""

– Karl Weick from “Small Wins: Redefining the Scale of Social Problems”

 Michael Love

Week 7

Dear Friends,

::The more progress I make on these goals, the more time I spend on them.  It's actually addicting people.  This whole experience has been greatly positive for me but with six hefty goals, it is a professional juggling act.

I literally learned how to juggle last year when I bought a pool table.  I taught myself to juggle three pool balls in less than an hour.  When I tried to do four, it took me a couple of days practice.  The more I tried to juggle, the more planning, practice, and patience it took.  However, when I got a rhythm going it was easy.  Trying to work on every goal, every week is such a juggling act, that l will need to apply the same juggler's heart from now one to achieve my aim. 

Tell me how you make the most out of your time in the comments.

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Goal 1: To change 30 lives
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What have you done for me lately?: 

 Last week's action plan was to make sandwiches for homeless which I didn't do. This is one the goals I've been neglecting lately so I will commit now to setting aside time in my calendar for this.  

Weekly Action Plan (WAP)!:

Make sandwiches for homeless and hungry 

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Goal 2: To gain 10 lbs of muscle
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What have you done for me lately?: 
  Last week's action plan was to eat 3000 calories everyday/Lift 4 days this week.  I lifted 6 days, went on a long walk, and ate a lot of good food often.  It was a great week!  Didn't track calories though.  I will save that for a different week.

Weekly Action Plan (WAP)!:
 Eat 3,000 calories everyday/Lift 4 days this week

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Goal 3: to save an extra $2,000

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What have you done for me lately?:

Last week's action plan was no cigarettes.  I'm proud to announce that I'm a non-smoker and it's been one week so far.  I'm so happy to escape the nicotine trap.  Quitting smoking SHOULD HAVE been one of my goals all along.

Weekly Action Plan (WAP)!:

No cigarettes. 
 

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Goal 4: To develop and present a business plan to FIVE investors

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What have you done for me lately?:

Last week's action plan was to work on market research.  It's been weeks now without any activity on this goal.  This is the next ball I need to juggle.  So I am working on a mental map of how and when I will find the time to get started on the business I've always dreamed about.

Weekly Action Plan (WAP)!:

Market research

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Goal 5: To spend 200 hours learning and/or practicing Spanish

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What have you done for me lately?:

Last week's action plan was to read 1 Chapter in my Spanish tutor textbook, schedule my next tutor lesson, and read a minimum of seven articles on Nulu.  I did none of this so it remains my goal for next week.    

Weekly Action Plan (WAP)!:

Read one chapter in my Spanish tutor textbook, schedule my next tutor lesson, and read a minimum of seven articles on Nulu.

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Goal 6: To read 12 books

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What have you done for me lately?:

Last week's action plan was to read at least 100 pages.  I ended up reading 177 pages and did 2 hours of listening on a new audiobook.  I'm starting to wonder why I wasn't always reading something.

Weekly Action Plan (WAP)!:
Read 100 pages.  Listen to one hour of audiobook. 

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W  o  r  d  s   to   p  o  n  d  e  r

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 “Most of us spend too much time on what is urgent and not enough time on what is important.”
  ― Stephen Covey 

 Michael Love