I know you have dreams or visions of what you want for your life, your family, your work, and your community. But making those dreams a reality comes at the cost of change, of doing something different.
Real change comes from focusing on what we can actually influence. Let me introduce a simple way of breaking down our level of influence.
There are 5 areas of focus:
Self
Family
Team
Organization
Community
Self: This is where you have the most control because you are the only person you can make do anything. You bear the most responsibility for yourself. Your habits, choices, and mindset shape your outcomes. For example, if you’re not getting enough sleep, eating a proper diet, or making time for what truly matters, those are all within your direct control.
When it comes to your personal goals, those are the ones you have the most control over. Your behavior and choices are the most influential factor in whether or not you achieve what you want.
Family: The second most powerful influence is your family. Of course, you can’t control your family, but you do influence them, and they influence you. So, you carry your family interactions – whether healthy or troublesome – throughout your day.
Team: You have some influence here, but not complete control. Your team impacts your success and vice versa. The key is being intentional in how we show up.
Organization: The farther you move away from ‘yourself’, the less direct control you have. Nevertheless, you are not powerless and have some influence over progress, but it requires other people’s involvement before making significant change.
Community: People often have more influence here than they realize, but it’s still less than in the family, team, or workplace areas. That doesn’t mean you’re off the hook. Showing up and making a difference still matters.
Your influence decreases as you move outward, but your responsibility to be intentional in each area doesn’t. When you set goals, be clear-eyed about where you can take charge and where you need to collaborate, adapt, and move on.
A few years ago, I realized I was putting unrealistic expectations on other people to advance my goals. I was disappointed all the time! My goals were not getting accomplished. I was spending too much time in the wrong area of my life, resulting in not much movement towards my dreams. Once I took more control of MYSELF, my perspective shifted to focusing on my actions and mindset. I stopped blaming others for my lack of success.
Focus on what you can do and lead from there.
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