In college, one of my speech instructors taught us to speak with bullets, not buckshot. He said that we needed to communicate clearly what we were trying to say vs. just saying lots of interesting things. That was a real learning point for me because it taught me to communicate clearly as well as act with purpose instead of just filling my life with activity.
Buckshot spreads everywhere and hits many things, barely. Bullets go directly toward a target and hit with more power, specifically. When you think of your goal, are you aiming with buckshot or bullets? Here’s an example.
I recently went to a networking type of event where I didn’t know anyone. Sure, I met a few people, took some names and numbers and went on my way. But the impact was minimal. It was like buckshot.
However, let’s contrast the networking event with a time when I knew someone well in a company. I was there eating lunch with their leaders. I was interacting with them regularly in other contexts too. When I had a new initiative I wanted to push forward, I told them. This resulted in payoff. Why? Because I focused in the place where I had relationships and buy-in already. My efforts worked like a bullet hitting the center of my target.
What about you? Are you aiming at accomplishing your goal with a bullet or buckshot? Here’s some steps for you to take if you want to hit it like a bullet.
- What’s your goal?
- Think back to a time when you were as focused as a bullet. How might you apply what you did back then to your current goal?
- Plan a time to do your focused action.
- What might get in your way?
- How will you overcome that obstacle?
- Take action.
- Celebrate the way that effort moved you forward.
Your goal is too important to barely hit. What’s it going to take for you to hit it right on?
This is day nine of an exercise I’m engaging in called, 40 days of action, how to generate momentum on your most important goals. If you’d like to read the original blog, click here. If you’d like to participate in 40 days of action, click here to email me.