Goal-Setting: The BigWIG Lecture
| EDITDavid (Learner, Strategic, Individualization, Input, Connectedness/ENFJ/I)8 Days Ago
I want to register my pain today. There are actually three. As a pastor, there’s a lot of contemplation on what we call “the calling.” In 1973, I decided that this related to the parable of the talents – Matthew 25. I decided that my calling was to be responsible for the good investment of all that I received … my talents … and absolutely not to bury it in the ground, unused, wasted. My talents, of course, include writing.
#2. My second pain is that, when writing became “too difficult” – I began to make changes in my systems of writing to make writing simpler and easier. I shifted from long form, lots of hard work for little reward projects, to blogging – perhaps TLDR will work for TLDW (“Too long, didn’t write”). I developed a workflow for blogging using templates which should make writing incredibly easy. Here is an example of the QNQS template – Quote, Note (Learner-> Strategy), Question (Application), Sources: https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=6012656168774367&set=a.104450252928351¬if_id=1625860828746741…
After simplifying writing to be what I enjoy doing, find very rewarding, and to be as simple as possible, removing all barriers to writing, instead of returning to productivity, I lost all enjoyment and motivation to write anything. While this could be a form of writer’s block, I wonder if I’m dealing with systemic resistance. (Barbara Sher is my go to resource for resistance.) I’m completely stuck.
Plus, given my “calling” to do something responsible with what I’ve been given, I’m now feeling responsible to write something beneficial about every single thing I’ve learned. (I have more than 74,000 ideas clipped into Evernote.) This is also overwhelming.
Becca Syme8 Days Ago
I’m going to pull one of these quotes: “Perhaps writing is my attempt to resolve my own problems … and now being happily married, perhaps I have different problems.”
I do think this is very true. I’m going to make a note for your one-on-one to discuss this, and also, I want you to think about a couple of things as you move through class.
1) Sometimes the purpose of Input/Learner is just to gather. (Ideas, information, etc.) Sometimes, what we’re doing with that gathering is actually fulfilling the purpose of the gathering itself, which is to build that Learner/Input capacity. Speaking as a fellow Connectedness… when the correct idea presents itself, you will not struggle to write it. (More on this in the coaching call, but for now, let me just say:) Sometimes the purpose of the gathering is literally to gather. To prepare for the future. And this is the truth of Input/Learner. Sometimes the purpose of the gathering is to make energy pennies to get us through whatever we need to get through.
2) Start making some notes for your one-on-one about “resolve my own problems.” Think granularly. If all the previous ideating about writing was to solve problems you don’t have anymore, then what are the problems you have now? And how might writing solve those?
Also, do you happen to have your Full34? If you do, please send those to Annette. If not, no worries. Just checking!
David (Learner, Strategic, Individualization, Input, Connectedness/ENFJ/I)8 Days Ago | EDIT
Thanks. I sent the PDF report that I have.
If anyone else is interested, they are listed here:
https://realitydisciplines.com/2021/06/22/david-kueker-cliftonstrengths-34/
David (Learner, Strategic, Individualization, Input, Connectedness/ENFJ/I)10 Days Ago | EDIT
“I seem to move into avoidance when every blessed possible task seems equally pressing.”
Me, too. Oh, yes.
If only the world would end if I didn’t buckle down to do the work on a specific task … so that this crisis would motivate me. But as the world won’t end, I find it so easy to drift, procrastinate and avoid. Oh, wow, has the NCIS marathon started yet?
The other form this takes with me is to polish a task for a few minutes, then move to another, and then another, such that I’ve been writing for hours … but nothing got finished.
David (Learner, Strategic, Individualization, Input, Connectedness/ENFJ/I)10 Days Ago | EDIT
I really appreciate how you explained your need for structure and your desire to experience a system that runs smoothly … on cruise control … with a template … a workbook handed to you to run your life on.
I’ve yearned for the same my whole life.
Jim Collins called this the Flywheel in the book, Good to Great, and I’ve adopted that name for my yearning.
Mo (Context/Intellection/Discipline/Deliberative/Connectedness | INTJ | Stability)10 Days Ago
Hi David, Oh my God. I missed that in my reading of Good to Great. That is exactly the state I am aspiring to. Thank you for sharing and giving me a concrete conceptual framework.
Mo (Context/Intellection/Discipline/Deliberative/Connectedness | INTJ | Stability)9 Days Ago
I just had an epiphany. What I am
essentially desiring is a life operating system and my mission is to essentially
install it into my life – which August Bradley already actually covers in his
Life Operating System course called Pillars, Pipelines and Vaults.
@David, I am re-listening to August Bradley
and his Emergence principle is very similar the flywheel concept.
Exciting stuff.
David (Learner, Strategic, Individualization, Input, Connectedness/ENFJ/I)9 Days Ago | EDIT
I am very interested in exactly the same thing … but have never heard of August Bradley, or his Life Operating System course called Pillars, Pipelines and Vaults … thanks for the connection!
David (Learner, Strategic, Individualization, Input, Connectedness/ENFJ/I)10 Days Ago | EDIT
“…but when they finish the book they want to reexamine their lives.” Love how you said this.
I also very much desire to do the same.
Chautona10 Days Ago
There are days when I work very similarly to how you do here. I hate those days but I keep telling myself that those little sprints are better than nothing
I don’t always believe me.
Becca Syme9 Days Ago
Chelsea (and others), if you are dominant in Green (Strategic Thinking) Strengths (Context, Input, Ideation, Intellection, Learner, Futuristic, Analytical, etc.), then it’s common that the first 1k will be “pump-priming.” So let’s make a note to make sure we talk about this in your coaching call.
Chelsea (Strategic, Individualization, Learner, Achiever, Competition)9 Days Ago
Chautona – I figure progress is progress, but I just want it to flow more quickly, you know?
Chelsea (Strategic, Individualization, Learner, Achiever, Competition)9 Days Ago
Becca – Definitely noted! Thanks.
David (Learner, Strategic, Individualization, Input, Connectedness/ENFJ/I)9 Days Ago | EDIT
Green: 7 out of my top ten are “green” aka Strategic.
David (Learner, Strategic, Individualization, Input, Connectedness/ENFJ/I)10 Days Ago | EDIT
“I also like having time to get invested in and infatuated with the story I’m writing.”
It’s been a very long time since I’ve loved what I’m writing to the level of a crush, or even affection. You really named it for me.
David (Learner, Strategic, Individualization, Input, Connectedness/ENFJ/I)10 Days Ago | EDIT
Yes, me, too! “There is always another new and shiny thing that I want to focus my time and energy on (thanks a lot Activator, lol), and suddenly I’m rethinking my whole strategy for the 100th time …” I do this a lot.
David (Learner, Strategic, Individualization, Input, Connectedness/ENFJ/I)9 Days Ago | EDIT
“New and shiny syndrome is a familiar siren call. 😉 “
This so very true for me, but backwards. I have a great fear and anxiety about boredom, as if yielding to it will lead to sliding into depression and then drop into the pit of what Becca describes as burnout. Skipping the slide, just dropping right in.
It’s like a fix … relief … but also like medicine. I need me some shiny. To survive.
QUOTE
[1]
NOTE
MY STRATEGY: (Application)
DISCERNMENT QUESTIONS
What gets my attention?
Do I understand the need or problem?
Do I understand the potential solution?
Do I understand how to apply that strategy?
What questions do I have for the experts? What might be the answers?
Who needs to hear this?
What do I do next?
SOURCES – Footnotes:
[1]
RESOURCES
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Key: Blogging 201 Last Revision: 07/20/2021.