Janus, Patterns and Success
OK…not the best title, I’m working my way up to “The Saint, The Surfer and CEO” and for now this will have to do, but maybe someday.
I believe we have all heard this phrase before “Don’t look back, look to the direction you want to go, forward” or at least something similar. We’ve also heard that history repeats itself.
So what does this have to the Janus, patterns and success?
Back around 153 B.C. Janus, a mythical king of Rome was placed at the beginning of the calendar (now January). Janus had two heads, one looking back and one looking forward. Janus became symbolic with starting a new and resolutions.
The interesting thing that many don’t realize is that in addition to looking forward (resolutions) Janus is also looking back (history). To many of us we don’t want to look back for fear of what we might see. All the ‘what if’s’ and ‘I should have’s’.
Looking back is essential in helping us move forward. Yes it takes mental strength and if we look back with a questioning mind and a sharp pencil there is a lot to be discovered.
A sharp pencil?
Yes…the pencil is used to record actions and results. The recoding of the actions and results will reveal patterns. It takes mental strength to look back and look at the patterns.
Once patterns are discovered it is easy to understand the “why” around the results. Let’s say that at the beginning of 2008 you swore you were going to get rid of 15 lbs. Well here it is 2009 and you’re swearing the same thing. So instead of beating yourself up, start of 2009 by recording your actions and results, i.e. for the next week, write down your weight, how often you went to the gym and what you did. Also, write down what and when you ate. After a while you will see a pattern emerging and you will know EXACLY why you are getting the results you’re seeing.
OK, let’s take income for another example. You say want more, let’s start recording. For the next week write down all the extra efforts and other income opportunities you have. Then write down the productive time spent on the efforts to generate more income. Oh yea, productive time is time actually communicating to someone about your product or service, social networking does NOT count unless you are engaged in a negation about your offering. Again after a week to 10 days a pattern will emerge.
You see, keeping track of your actions is actually looking back. You are looking back at the trail YOU left. It is in the recognition of the trail (pattern) that your course can be adjusted and the desired results realized.
You’re heard me talk about my mentor Harv Eker, well he has a saying “Correct and continue” And this makes perfect sense. Except people forget, correct from what? From the past! The only way you can correct from the past is to use your mental strength and look back. It is then you will see patterns and will be able to correct and move towards success!
To Your Inner Strength,
Gregg
