December 2021 – Typical ZS

Mindset Monday – Intention and Purpose – December 6, 2021

Hi Team,

This week I am cultivating a mindset of purpose-driven intention. It sounds straightforward, and it is, but it is also multi-layered. To operate with intention, we must focus on our planning for the week ahead. To plan and enable intent, we must have a defined purpose. I go back to my Just Purpose when setting my intentions.

Recently we’ve been discussing a monthly objective and key result schedule. We think evaluating progress towards our OKRs monthly and setting next months helps keep us nimble while also providing the clarity to keep us creating intentional plans on purpose each week.

We have a lot of things going on every day. However, each of those things is furthering us in our pursuit of our individual Just Purpose. We know none of it is in vain. Still, to make incremental progress towards realizing our sizeable long-term goals, we must become more adept at progressing with intention.

I know that understanding my Just Purpose helps me make more intentional decisions from moment to moment. For example, being patient gives me more space to create a deliberate choice free from reactionary pressure and fear. I have also found that leading a collaborative problem-solving effort with a high-performing team requires a consistent process-driven approach.

We identify the problem, and we define the scope. We recognize the solutions and steps to implementation. Then we have the path to create a plan and identify the key deliverables. As with any program, the enemy gets a vote. We know that each day will present new challenges, and we will have to adapt. We will always need to build confidence in our ability to thrive in chaos. The better we do at planning, the more variables we account for, the more processes we can automate, the easier it becomes to ride the eddies of chaos in the direction of our purpose.

This week, let us integrate a mindset of purpose-driven intention into our identity. Creating meaning is about a tactical plan for meeting our objectives. It can be hard to get started, and it can be exhausting. We often tend to focus on the laundry list or build up too many goals for the week, making it impossible to feel successful.

We will keep the focus on the key results each week. We will not consistently achieve one hundred percent of our key results, which is okay. That is necessary because our key results should push us. However, we will make continuous progress towards our objectives because we will plan with intent.

Stay Safe Out There!
~Zach

Mindset Monday November 29, 2021

Hi Team,

This week I’m looking to hold onto the gratitude from this past week. It is easy to say, but this past week has not been easy to maintain a grateful mindset. We have been challenged with a short week to accomplish our business, potentially extra food preparation, and even increased face time. There is additional pressure to maximize family time and be present. We also have to attempt to recharge, and we also try to sneak in clean-up and preparation for the next holiday.

No, this past week has not been an easy one, but we’re still here. I am grateful for the time and the opportunity to be my best last week. I know I did not succeed in every moment, but overall it was a great week. Not everything worked out, and there were some stressful moments where I reacted less gracefully than I would have liked. However, folks were patient with me, and I did my best to be patient with everyone else.

This week, my focus is on patience and keeping my mind on happily waiting for the right time. Timing is everything, I’ve heard it said. The longer I live, the more I do; it only becomes more and more authentic. But, unfortunately, the perfect idea too early or too late is not nearly as good and often seems to backfire.

We don’t benefit from rushing, but we don’t benefit from waiting too long either. The right timing can only happen when we’re clear on the data that is driving our decision. The purpose, the scope, and the process require patience to work through. Sometimes we feel like we’re in a hurry to get to the end. Sometimes we feel like we’re going to miss out. We get impatient, frustrated, fearful, and then we try to force the universe to act on our timetable.

When we get into this mode of forcing, the things we want start to recoil. Maybe we will find some of the things we hope for, but the things we need will be out of reach. At least, that is how it seems to work for me. When I try too hard, it all becomes counterproductive and self-defeating.

This week, I will be mindful of maintaining my patience. Whether I’m working through a challenge at work, helping the kids resolve a conflict, or even waiting for conditions to be correct for a trade entry or exit.

I am patiently following my process to lose body fat. I am patiently tending to my communication development process. I am patiently developing my trading process. I am patiently creating business streams. I am patiently helping the kids build their skills. I am patiently waiting for my trades to develop. I am patient while waiting for others to be ready. I am patient with myself when I don’t live up to my expectations.

It’s going to be a great week. I am grateful for the time I had with my favorite people this past week. I am looking forward to getting back to a regular workflow this week. I am patiently waiting for all of the opportunities. And I am patiently doing all of the work that I know needs doing to prepare myself for those opportunities as they present themselves.

This week is going to be a great week. So stay patient and do the work, my friends.

Stay Safe Out There!
~Zach