Building A Great Past
In the maelstrom of a busy week, I was reminded of a concept I heard on Dan Sullivan’s podcast (he credits someone else with it). The concept is this: Instead of being focused on building a great future, shift to creating a great past.
The challenge of being future-centric is that, like the horizon, the future never really arrives. But the past is always there to appreciate.
This switch puts me more in the present - what can I do right now, today, that I know I will look back on favorably?
I just set my Q4 goals. Every weekend when I look back on the previous week, I know there are a certain number of business development actions I want to have taken. I know how many times I want to have gone to the gym.
There’s always more to do, but what have you already done? Taking stock of what you’ve already done connects to another Dan Sullivan idea: The Gap And The Gain. Looking toward the future, where our dreams have not yet been fully realized, we focus on the gap between where we are and where we want to be. This can create a sense of scarcity. Looking at the past allows us to see how far we have come, which feels more abundant.
This switch in orientation shows up in my work, too. In the EOS sessions that I lead, I often tell the teams I coach that the quarterly goals they set (we call them “Rocks”) are gifts to their future selves. Upon leaving the session, I want them to focus solely on executing against these goals, trusting their past selves to have done a thorough job of crafting them. Both orientations have their place; the trick is knowing which one serves us best at any given time.
These may just be “head games,” but head games might be the entire ball game. You’re allowed to choose whichever mindsets that serve you best.
This coming Friday, take a few minutes to review your week, and make note of the good things you have accomplished. Let me know how it makes you feel.
I wish you a constantly improving past.
Sunday Supper
Tahini Banana Oatmeal w/ Maple Syrup and Sesame Seeds
Sunday Music
Ana Pshokina & Taras Kuznetsov
Sienna Spiro on Austin City Limits
Stevie Wonder Songs In The Key of Life
Enjoy!
If you know anyone who might like this essay, please share it with them.
Have a great week ahead! You can do anything you set your mind to. Let me know how I can help.
Peace & Love,