Abdul-Jabbar, Kareem, 178
abnormal, goal of becoming, 96–97, 157–175
action tool, 189
examples, 174–175
focusing on what you can’t control and, 164–168
giving in to problem-centric thought and, 168–172
introduction to, 157–159
summary, 173
thriving on adversity and stress and, 158
trap of viable excuse and, 159–164
accountability, viable excuses and, 161, 162
action
focus on single primary task and, 31, 32
information overload and, 28
prioritized list and taking, 7
action tools, 188–189
adversity, rules for dealing with, 177
American Funds Group, xviii, 52, 136, 164
anecdotes, for presentations, 139
anxiety, focus on factors one can control and alleviation of, 183–184
“ask and chop” method, to combat procrastination, 55–57
athletes. See pro athletes; individual sports
attacking open space, 41–42, 44–47
backsliding, habit formation and danger of, 72–76
Bartow, Tom, xviii–xxi, xxiii–xiv
baseball players
example of habit formation, 68–71
example of setting process goals, 96
example of trap of viable excuses, 159–160
example of use of Organize Tomorrow Today, 10–11, 16
See also St. Louis Cardinals
baseball scouting reports, 159–160
basketball players/coaches, 53
communication and, 142–143
example of focus on fundamentals, 85–86
example of self-evaluation, 86
use of visualization, 118
See also Wooden, John
behavior, habit formation and, 64
Berger, Joe, 61–62
Berkman, Lance, 169
Blough, Brian, 179–180
Boll, Randy, 41–42
brain
activity during sleep, 16–17
channel capacity and, xvi
chemical reactions in upon receiving reward, 107
effect of focusing on problem on, 170, 171
habit formation and, 64
information retention and reticular activating system, 4–5
The Brain That Changes Itself (Doidge), 107
breathing
alleviating anxiety and, 184
one-on-one communication and control of, 145, 146
Bryant, Bear, 1
businesspeople, successful athletes and successful, xix–xx
celebration of progress, 187
centering breaths
alleviating anxiety and, 184
one-on-one communication and, 145, 146
channel capacity, xvi–xvii
choosing wisely and, 21–22
corporate training seminars and, 28, 30
overcommitment and, 35–37
skill mastery and, xxii, xxiii
choosing goals wisely, 187
action tool, 188
choosing one goal, 29–31
information addiction, 27–29
introduction to, 21–27
“nailing it,” 37
power of one, 31–34
saying no, 35–37
summary, 38
top 3 takeaways for, 82–83
Churchill, Winston, 135
client meetings, improving efficiency of, 52–54
Clinton, Bill, 132
commitment
to doing, 184
to spending time on most important task, 15
See also Overcommitment
communication, 131–152
action tool, 189
delivering, 139–142
of details, 133–134
examples, 151–152
introduction to, 131–136
one-on-one, 145–149
success and in-person, 8
success triangle and, 142–144
summary, 150
top 3 takeaways for, 154–155
use of repetition in, 141–142
writing script, 136–139
conference calls, running effective, 52
confidence
communication success and, 145, 149
guidelines to maintain, 186–187
performance and, 185–187
process-oriented goals and, 96
successful habit formation and, 77
Success Log and, 102
control, focusing on factors you can, 164–168, 182–184
conversation, successful, 145–149
corporate training seminars, 28
controlling amount of information offered in, 29–30
Covey, Stephen, 2
crunch time, 153
daily success log, 101
“deep practice,” 69
delivery of presentation/speech, 139–142
details
communicating the, 133–134
visualization and focus on, 124
discouragement, habit formation and, 71–72
disruption, habit formation and, 72
distractions
conference calls and, 52
dealing with daily, 24–25
Doidge, Norman, 107
doing, commitment to, 184
done-wells
Duncan, Dave, xiv
Edward Jones, xviii, 34, 133, 181
efficiency
prioritizing priorities and increase in, 48
time maximization and, 43
trimming fact in schedule and increase in, 50–54
Einstein, Albert, 21
emergencies, planning on occurrence of, 14
emotions
viable excuses and, 161–162, 163
visualization and, 123–124
energy level of voice, one-on-one communication and, 145, 146–147
ESPN online, as time waster, 45
Executive Toughness (Selk), xvii
expectations, unattainable, 32–33
Facebook, as time waster, 45
factors you can control
common examples of, 167–168
families, using Organize Tomorrow Today concepts, 178–184
feedback loop, building, 187
fight-thru phase of habit formation, 61–62, 65–71
ask two questions and, 67
life projection and, 67–68
recognition and, 66
ritualization and, 66
financial advisors
example of choosing goals wisely, 39, 190–191
example of commitment to habit formation, 79–80
example of effective communication, 151
example of Mental Workout, 128–129
example of self-evaluation, 105–106, 110
example of setting process goals, 97–98
example of time maximization, 59
example of use of Organize Tomorrow Today, 19
examples of viable excuses, 174
first-person vantage point, for visualization, 123
football players/coaches
example of choosing goals wisely, 26–27
example of focus on fundamental tasks, 1–2
perfectionist pattern and, 89
The Four Agreements (Ruiz), 116–117
Franklin, Benjamin, 187
Freese, David, 169
frustration, focus on factors out of one’s control and, 167, 168
fundamentals, focus on, xxi, 1–2, 85–86
game clock, setting, 50–51
Gassoff, Bobby, 22–23
Gayanski, Jeff, 182–184
goals
choosing wisely (see choosing goals wisely)
choosing wrong, 33–34
establishing process-oriented, 93–98
setting attainable, 34
Goodrich, Gail, 178
Google searches, as time waster, 45
group meetings, improving efficiency of, 51–52
habit, making prioritizing daily list-making a, 12
action tool, 189
examples, 79–80
fight-thru phase, 65–71
honeymoon phase, 64–65
introduction to, 61–64
“puke-a-licious” workouts, 76–77
second nature phase, 71–76
of self-evaluation, 104–106
summary, 78
time required for, 62–63
top 3 takeaways for, 83
Hamilton, Josh, 169
Hayett, Rosey, 180–181
headline news, as time waster, 45
heart rate, centering breath and control of, 120
hockey players, 22
example of performance mentality, 90–91
example of using “ask and chop,” 56
“puke-a-licious” workouts and, 76–77
holding-area lists, 13–14
honeymoon phase of habit formation, 64–65
identity statement, Mental Workout and, 120, 121–122
important, urgent vs., 36
improvement, focus on single, 185–187
information
limiting amount communicated, 142
writing in longhand and retention of, 4–5
information addiction, 27–29
insurance executive, example of self-evaluation, 110
integrity, rules for maintaining, 177
intelligence, five levels of, 21
interruptions
in conversation, 148
dealing with routine, 24–25
inversion tests
of becoming abnormal, 173
of choosing goals wisely, 38
of communication, 150
of fight-thru phase of habit formation, 78
of Organize Tomorrow Today, 18
of overcommitment, 188
of self-evaluation, 109
of self-talk, 126
of time maximization, 58
Jacobi, Carl, 18
James, Lebron, 186
Jobs, Steve, 131–132
Jocketty, Walt, xiii
Kardashians, as time waster, 45
King, Martin Luther King, Jr., 134–135
language of a loser, 178–179
La Russa, Tony, xiii
lawyers
example of backsliding and habit formation, 73–76
example of time maximization, 59
example of viable excuses, 175
learning
embracing continuous, 155
teaching others and, 82
Lewin, Kurt, 16
life projection, habit formation and, 67–68
lists
holding-area, 13–14
prioritizing items on written, 4–8
using open space to accomplish items on, 46
See also Organize Tomorrow Today (OTT)
“Lollapalooza Effect,” xx–xxi
long-term revenue collection activities, 49
Lopez, Marcus, 178–179
loser, language of, 178–179
macro-scale activities, 49
“The Magical Number Seven, Plus or Minus Two” (Miller), xv–xvi
Manning, Peyton, 26–27
Mark, John, 181–182
Mark, Regan, 181–182
Martin, Jean-Pol, 82
measurable goals, 94–95
meetings
client, 52–54
conference calls, 52
group, 51–52
respecting start and end times, 51–52
Men’s Health (magazine), xvii, xix
mental exercise, self-evaluation and self-encouragement and, 86
mental image, replacing established, 62
mental rehearsal, of communication, 142–144
mental toughness/strength
example of building, 180–181
Mental Workouts and increased, 125
self-evaluation and, 102
adoption by youth ski team, 180–181
centering breath and, 120, 121
commitment to, 31–32
example, 179–180
identity statement and, 120, 121–122
personal highlight reel and, 120–121, 122–124
St. Louis Cardinals and, xiii–xv
steps in, 120–121
message, preparing succinct, 138–139
micro-scale activities, 49
Miller, George, xv–xvi
Miller’s Law, xvi
momentum
focus on single primary task and creation of, 31
habit formation and, 66
prioritized list and, 7
motivation, viable excuses and, 162, 163
Mueller, Pam, 4
multitasking, xvii
myth of, 38
Munger, Charlie, xx–xxi, 18, 38, 155
Navy SEALS training, 22–23
NFL draft picks, choosing preparation tasks and, 26–27
no-excuse mentality
children adopting, 178–179
developing, 161–164
“normal,” 157
“1 Must” part of prioritized list, 6–7, 8
one-on-one communication, 145–149
open space, attacking, 41–42, 44–47
Oppenheimer, Dan, 4
organizational-level meetings
choosing goals for, 25
training seminars at, 27–29
“Organize Tomorrow Today” workshops, xx
Organize Tomorrow Today (OTT), 1–19
action tool, 188
committing to routine time for, 12–16
introduction to, 1–4
momentum as catalyst for, 17
parts of list, 6–7
process, 4–8
reasons for success of, 16–17
summary, 18
top 3 takeaways for, 82
overcommitment
channel capacity and, 35–37
counterproductivity of, 38
effect of, 23–24
inaction and, 188
information overload and, 29
pace
of one-on-one conversation, 147–148
of presentation, 139–142
paralysis, procrastination and, 55
Patton, George S., 187
pauses
in one-on-one conversation, 147–148
in presentations/communication, 140
PCT. See Problem-centric thinking (PCT)
perfectionist cycle, 33
avoiding, 187
self-evaluation and, 88–90
performance
confidence and, 185–187
evaluation and, 87
performance mentality, 90–91
personal email, as time waster, 45
personal highlight reel, Mental Workout and, 120–121, 122–124
perspective questions, on habit formation, 67
phone conversations, 148
physicians
example of choosing goals wisely, 39, 191
example of commitment to habit formation, 80
example of effective communication, 152
example of prioritizing priorities, 49–50
example of use of Organize Tomorrow Today, 19
Pippen, Scottie, 86
“+1 solution,” 171
Polian, Ed, 26
positive reinforcement
of progress, 187
self-evaluation and, 107–108
Success Log and, 99–103
practicing, mental rehearsal vs., 144
preparation
communication and, 131–132, 136–144
for one-on-one conversation, 149
presentations
delivery style and impact of, 135
writing script for, 136–139
prioritization
focus on factors out of one’s control and impact on, 167
of items on Success Log for improvement, 102–103
of priorities, 47–50
of process-oriented goals, 181–182
time maximization and, 43
prioritizing day’s activities. See Organize Tomorrow Today (OTT)
pro athletes
confidence and, 186
example of choosing goals wisely, 39, 190
example of commitment to habit formation, 73, 76–77, 79
example of effective communication, 151
example of Mental Workout, 127–128
example of self-evaluation, 110
example of time maximization, 59
example of use of ask and chop method, 56–57
example of use of Organize Tomorrow Today, 19
example of viable excuses, 174
perfectionist mentality and, 89
performance mentality and, 90–91
successful businesspeople and successful, xix–xx
visualization and, 117–118
See also individual sports
problem-centric thinking (PCT), 100
giving in to, 168–172
self-talk and, 115–117
process-oriented goals, 93–98
prioritizing, 181–182
procrastination, 54–57
productive behavior, short-term vs. long-term revenue collection and, 49
productivity
attacking open space and, 47
Organize Tomorrow Today and, 17
product-oriented goals, 93–95
Psycho-Cybernetics (Maltz), 62, 114
Pujols, Albert, xiii
“puke-a-licious” workouts, 76–77
RAS. See Reticular activating system (RAS)
recognition, of barriers to habit formation, 66
reinforcement
of progress, 187
self-evaluation and, 107–108
Success Log and, 99–103
Relentless Solution Focus (RSF), 170–172
repetition
mastery and, 187
use of in communication, 141–142
result-oriented goals, 93–95
reticular activating system (RAS), 4–5
rewards
example of effective, 108
for progress, 187
self-evaluation and, 107–108
for success, 99–103
ritualizing new habits, 66, 185–187
Rousey, Ronda, 186
routinizing self-evaluation, 104–106
RSF. See Relentless Solution Focus (RSF)
Ruiz, Don Miguel, 116–117
Saban, Nick, 1–2
St. Louis Cardinals, 96
Mental Workout and, xiii–xv, 119
World Series and rejection of problem-centric thinking, 168–169
See also baseball players
sales calls, improving efficiency of, 52–53
sales role
example of Mental Workout, 129–130
example of use of Organize Tomorrow Today, 9–10, 15
schedule bloat, 50
scouting reports, 159–160
second nature phase of habit formation, 71–76
discouragement monster and, 71–72
disruption and, 72
seduction of success and, 72–76
self-confidence
communication and projection of, 135
perfectionist mentality and, 89–90
self-doubt, information overload and, 28
self-encouragement, 86
action tool, 189
defining success by effort and, 91–92
examples, 110
introduction to, 85–90
performance mentality and, 90–91
positive reinforcement and, 107–108
reinforcing positive action and, 99–103
routinizing, 104–106
Success Log sample, 98–99
summary, 109
top 3 takeaways for, 153–154
using Success Log for, 92–98
self-image, self-talk and, 114–115, 116–117
self-talk, 111–130
action tool, 189
examples, 127–130
introduction to, 111–115
Mental Workout and, 119–125
problem-centric thinking and, 115–117
self-image and, 114–115, 116–117
summary, 126
top 3 takeaways for, 154
visualization and, 117–119
Selk, Jason, xiii–xv, xvii–xviii, xix–xxi, xxiii–xiv
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People (Covey), 2
Shape (magazine), xvii
shopping sites, as time waster, 45
Short, Dave, xviii
short-term revenue collection activities, 49
skill mastery, xxi–xxii
Skinner, B. F., 6–7
sleeping, completing tasks while, 16–17
slowing down pace
of one-on-one conversation, 147–148
of presentation delivery, 139–142
smartphone
holding-area list on, 13–14
prioritized list on, 18
software salesman, example of Mental Workout, 129–130
solution, focus on finding, 170–172
speed, visualizing at desired, 124
Spieth, Jordan, 186
sports, choosing goals wisely in, 25–27, 30. See also Pro athletes; individual sports
stories, for presentations, 139
success
effort and evaluation of effort and, 92
expectation of continued, 87–90
with habit formation and danger of backsliding, 72–76
in-person communication and, 8
measuring, xx
rewards for, 99–103
Success Log
choosing affirmative statement to improve, 102–103
as reinforcement tool, 100–103
sample, 98–99
using for self-evaluation, 92–98
success stories, 178–184
success triangle, communication and, 142–144
Sutton, Katie, 111–113
Suzuki, 187
tasks
completion of during sleep, 16–17
holding-area list, 13–14
organizing and prioritizing (see Organize Tomorrow Today (OTT))
preparation (see choosing goals wisely)
task-specific tension, 16
10-Minute Toughness (Selk), xvii, xix
test preparation business, 158–159
“3 Most Important” part of prioritized list, 6, 8
time
for accomplishing prioritized list, 14–15
shrinking units of, 44–47
time management
channel capacity and, xvii
time maximization vs., 42–43
time management industry, xv
time maximization, 41–59
action tool, 188–189
attacking open space and, 44–47
examples, 59
introduction to, 41–44
prioritizing priorities and, 47–50
procrastination and, 54–57
summary, 58
time management vs., 42–43
top 3 takeaways for, 83
trimming fat and, 50–54
time wasters, top seven, 45
to-do lists
prioritizing items on (see Organize Tomorrow Today (OTT))
using open space to accomplish, 46
triggering incident, to kick off habit drive, 65
2–1-1 method, for client meetings, 53
Tyson, Mike, 54
Urgent, important vs., 36
van Dyke, Henry, 177
viable excuses
common, 163
examples of, 174–175
trap of, 159–164
visualization
guidelines for, 123–124
personal highlight reel and, 122–124
of presentation, 142–144
self-talk and, 112, 113, 117–119
voice, one-on-one communication and energy level of, 145, 146–147
Walton, Bill, 178
“wholesalers,” 137
winning, establishing as habit, 76
conditioning program and focus on fundamentals, 85–86
continuous learning and, 155
evaluating players during game, 103
father’s advice to, 177–178
focus on factors one can control, 164–165
no excuse mentality, 179
paying attention to details, 133–134
ritualized habits and, 66
starting meetings on time, 54
Wooden, Joshua, 177–178
writing a script, 136–139
written lists, prioritizing items on, 4–8
Zeigarnik, Bluma, 16
Zeigarnik Effect, 16