Forget the Resolutions — Write Your
Personal Manifesto
It’s
that time of year again. The pressure is on to make New Year’s resolutions:
Lose weight. Get to meetings on time. Interact more with your direct reports. A
few goals are put on a list…and are forgotten by January 3rd. While this annual
ritual of reflection is well intentioned, it rarely changes behavior because it
focuses on what you do (or should do), not the deeper question
of why you do it.
I’ve
discovered an alternative to New Year’s resolutions, one that addresses that
disconnect between the what and the why and
can spark real change. It’s the personal manifesto, and it particularly
valuable for those who aspire to lead.
Michael Hess, founder of sales management firm Core 6 Advisors,
introduced me to the idea. The manifesto is a tool that he uses with sales
managers and salespeople to help them focus on their true personal and professional
aspirations as well as what it will take to achieve success.
The genesis for Hess was a collection of quotes and thoughts he
had written on Post-its and stuck on his computer monitor. As Hess began to
spend less time at his desk, he put all those notes on a sheet of paper, kept
folded in his wallet, so that could reflect on them wherever he was. Along the
way, he realized what an essential compass these scribbled words had become.
They weren’t just notes, they were the fodder for his personal manifesto.
A manifesto is a rigorous written account of where you are, where
you would like to be, and why. Unlike New Year’s resolutions, the personal
manifesto isn’t tied to the time of year or to specific acts. It is a way to
keep yourself focused, thoughtful, and on-track through the ups-and-downs of a
busy life. And it can be amended as needed.
A personal manifesto begins with an honest conversation with
yourself. That’s not as easy as it sounds; honesty takes work — and guts. It
also takes time.
“A manifesto doesn't just pour out in 20 minutes,” Hess says.
“Being honest with yourself is a process. You sit, think, write, and edit. Put
it aside. Come back to it and revise until the words are exactly what you want.
A good manifesto requires a depth of introspection that exposes vulnerabilities
and helps you address them.” This is something for you and by you. It is not
intended to be shared with anyone.
Start, as Hess did, by capturing quotes from others that resonate
with you. Ask yourself why you find them compelling. Note your own thoughts
about where you are, where you want to go, and what’s most important to you.
Hess suggests beginning sentences with phrases that provoke honesty: “I am
afraid that…,” “I am worried that…,” or “I feel vulnerable when…” to spark
deeper reflection.
Then, articulate the principles that are most important to you and
how you intend to act on them. For example, “My family is the most important
thing in my life, therefore I will be home for dinner each night that I am not
traveling.” The “therefore” statement is what brings the intention to life.
These core principles are enduring guideposts of your life. They serve to
explain what you wish to do, and also why you do it.
Next, reflect on the ideal life to which you aspire, what you want
your life to look like. “These aspirations should be emotional, spiritual, and
yes, materialistic if that’s the case,” Hess says. “Name what you want your
life to be. So if you want to drive a Tesla, say it. If you want to retire
early, put it down.” Most important, don’t include something because you think
that you are “supposed to” want it. “We shackle ourselves with external
expectations,” he notes. “The manifesto is a place to be totally, brutally
candid about the personal and professional aspects of your life. It should be
something you fight through.” This part of your manifesto helps keep you
accountable to yourself.
Physically writing down the
manifesto is critical. Hess feels that putting pen to paper engages the brain
differently than typing, and a notepad doesn’t distract you with email notifications and other information
clutter. Studies
have shown that writing by hand helps you generate
more ideas, reflect on them, and encode them in memory more effectively than
typing.
Hess is on the eighth major revision of his
own manifesto since he started about 10 years ago. “Keep the old versions when
you make a major update,” he advises. “It helps you chart your growth.”
Just as writing the manifesto is a process, so too is living into
it. “It has to be part of a regular diet,” Hess says. “You need to return to it
and make it a habit, like going to church or attending Alcoholics Anonymous
meetings. Find a way to make it part of your routine.” He recommends reading it
every two or three days, sometimes reading it aloud to provide a different
sensory experience.
I also think that a manifesto is a valuable resource when you are
confronted with a major decision. Read it to help you frame how you consider
your options. Hess noted that the manifesto has been valuable to him through
several life transitions. For clients, it has helped center them on deeper
considerations and consequences when confronting a range of issues, including a
job change and dealing with a difficult boss.
I’ve begun the process of creating my personal manifesto. As Hess
predicted, it has not happened instantly. As a writer, words come easily for
me. However, I am learning that the manifesto is less about getting the syntax
right than using words to delve way below the surface. I now discard phrases
and thoughts that come too easily. Each one is just a springboard to another
with more significance. Being real is different than being perfect.
I encourage you to create your own personal manifesto as a way to
illuminate the journey into the New Year and beyond.
Eric J.
McNulty
http://www.strategy-business.com/blog/Forget-the-Resolutions-Write-Your-Personal-Manifesto?gko=d24dc&utm_source=itw&utm_medium=20170103&utm_campaign=resp
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