Coffee Talk #193: Empty Your Bucket

It’s Tuesday! Grab your cup and let’s start chattin’.

If we were having coffee together today, I’d tell you that we’re DEEP into summer, and I don’t want it to end! I love the warm sun, the long days, the bright early mornings. Even though I work all summer, there’s a different energy. I can take my work to the deck and, under the shade of my umbrella, craft content strategies or analyze data to the peaceful humming of birds and the croaking of bull frogs in our creek. I adore seasons, but I’m eager to hold onto this one for just a little longer.

If we were having coffee together today, I’d tell you that one thing I love to do while performing necessary house chores is listen to or watch a fun show. My show of choice has been (don’t judge) Making the Team (DCC). I just love the energy, creativity, drama, and power from that show, and nothing delights me more than folding laundry to the sounds of Kelli Finglass’s voice saying “more style! more power!” It also gives me ideas for fitness routines, so win-win-win.

While I was listening/vaguely watching one of the episodes, owner Jerry Jones gave the DCC this piece of advice: Empty Your Bucket. I keep coming back to this statement.

What he meant was this — if you’re working toward a goal, you want to give it your ALL. Don’t hold anything back – don’t leave anything in your ‘bucket.’ You get one shot, one opportunity, to seize everything you’ve ever wanted, and you want to go all in, go hard.

In general, this is the approach I take to most tasks or duties. Why host classes at one location when I can try 6 (met my goal!!!!), why teach one class when I can teach 10 different varieties. Why have one job when I can juggle three? It’s a BIG way to live, and it can get overwhelming if you’re not focused or careful.

How to Go ALL IN with your Goals

1. Make a List – Put pen to paper or open a doc or note and write all that stuff down! It’s important to keep focused and make a list if you want to achieve big things. Include EVERYTHING, big or small.

2. Prioritize – Look at that list, scrutinize it. Delete things. Rearrange things. Put the most important at the top (hint: what you REALLY want is almost always item 1, 2, or 3 on your list).

3. Set an End Date – Give yourself a deadline to achieve your goals. Even give yourself deadlines to achieve layers in your goals. I like to work backwards — I’ll pick an end date and give myself mini deadlines to reach that goal.

4. Seek Feedback – Share your goals! This one is hard. It’s really difficult to put yourself out there, especially when your goals are big and scary. Seek the advice of a trusted friend. Tip: don’t go to your “yes! you’re AMAZING!” friend – they will always have your back. Go to someone who can look at your goals critically.

5. Motivate Someone Else – A little trick of the fitness trade — need help getting motivated to achieve YOUR goals? Help someone else! It’s gratifying to help others, and it will encourage you to keep on track with your own goals. There’s nothing like the energy of seeing someone else achieve their goals!

6. Show Up Every Day – Every single day. Goals don’t get holidays or breaks. Goals are an every single day commitment.

7. One Day at a Time – I like to set mini deadlines and an end date, but only look at these items one day at a time. You won’t achieve your goals overnight, but it will take daily, constant vigilance to go big and all in with your goals.

8. Evaluate – This is the part that I think so many skip. It’s OK to alter your goals! Sometimes, you’ll start working toward something, and realize it’s not for you. Go back to step one. It’s ok! Now, if you’re constantly going back to the drawing board, it might be a good idea to have a little conference with yourself to determine what you REALLY want.