Leap Challenge Day 3: Choose Your One Thing

On February 3, 2012 · 16 Comments

leadershipI have roughly 1,268 things vying for my attention at any given moment. Worse than the sheer volume, is that most of these things are good things.

If I don’t act deliberately, I’ll start a project only to be interrupted by a shiny new idea. But I only get a few inches into that new endeavor before I’m lured into something else. Before I know it, I’m exhausted—and I haven’t done anything useful at all. The mirage of multitasking has swallowed me whole.

The same thing can happen with our big goals. We can have so many ideas we don’t know where to start—so we don’t.

That’s why today we’re going to narrow down our list of 50 dreams.

Leap Task #3: Choose ONE of your dreams to focus on for the remainder of the challenge.

Not that you can’t apply the lessons and techniques you learn over the next few weeks to other dreams, goals or projects. But for the sake of this challenge, we’re going to focus our efforts on one single dream.

You can choose a dream from any category (short-term, mid-term, or long-term). Even if you have a long-term dream of visiting Antarctica or owning your own home, there are things you can—and must—do now to make that dream come true.

The dream you choose doesn’t need to be the biggest or the have the highest profile, but it does need to extremely important to you. Finally, it should be a dream that stretches you. One that goes beyond anything you’ve ever done, but is still within the realm of possibility.

How did you narrow your dream list down to the one big dream you’re going to pursue?

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  • Carl d

    Geoff

    1st thanks for putting together. I know it takes a lot of effort and it shows.
    I will be using brackettology to determine “my one Things”
    This method also is know as tournaments. A simple example of this is
    Who would you prefer “Ginger or Maryann”

    So I will run 10 category tournaments to find out what the top thing isin each catogorry.
    Then a final Round to find the top category.

    • http://geoffreywebb.wordpress.com/ Geoff Webb

      Neat idea, Carl. It’s like March Madness—just a month early. Ensure you make allowance for some “wildcards” in case you have one category packed with a lot of really important dreams.

      • Carl d

        You are right about the wild cards. Like all tournaments seading is important. So a catigory could overall get higher or lower rank, and earn more seats on the final rounds.

        Also I like to use a litmus test. Goes like this, if I achieve or don’t achieve that dream how will effect the other dreams.

        One tournament I had a few years ago was to get to a healthy weight. I found that if I didn’t achive that dream/goal. It would impact all the others for the worst. While achiving it would give me more of a chance to make an impact with my other dreams

  • http://juliebird.ca/ Juli Frayn

    I knew coming into the challenge which dream I wanted to pursue first.  I chose it because it follows hot on the heels of a dream I’m on the verge of realizing (finishing my first novel).  I also chose it because reaching this dream will facilitate, or at least give a shot in the arm towards, realizing a couple of other dreams on the list.  It’s like a linchpin dream.  Or maybe a launching pad.  

    I think it is achievable, but it definitely is outside the normal scope of my life so far.  It is the thing that seven years ago froze me in my tracks out of fear of failure.  I want to sign on with a literary agent. 

    • http://juliebird.ca/ Julie Frayn

      Nothing like misspelling your own name first thing in the morning…. :)

      • http://geoffreywebb.wordpress.com/ Geoff Webb

        Ha! Didn’t even see the name :-)

        Great reasoning on the choice of your dream. Not only will success on that one generate a deeper confidence, it’ll also produce tangible ripples in other areas. Well done!

  • http://www.jeffrandleman.com Jeff Randleman

    With some of the issues my family has faced in the past few years, I knew immediately that my health/fitness is the area I need to focus on.  I’ve been mulling it over in the back of my mind for several years now.  It’s time to do something about it.

    • http://geoffreywebb.wordpress.com/ Geoff Webb

      Inspiring—and insightful, Jeff. If we don’t achieve a healthy lifestyle, we won’t be around to achieve anything else.

      • http://www.jeffrandleman.com Jeff Randleman

        I agree completely. And with 5 kids, I want to make sure I’m around them for as long as possible.

  • http://www.struggletovictory.com/ Kari Scare

    The focus I chose is one my husband has been encouraging me to delve into for a while. He’s a wise man, so I decided to listen to him. Not only that, but my spirit is confirming this choice.

    • http://geoffreywebb.wordpress.com/ Geoff Webb

      Very cool. Advice and encouragement from those who know us best can be a great help in choosing where to focus.

      • http://www.struggletovictory.com/ Kari Scare

        Because of him, I am able to live my dream. I only hope I can return the favor.

  • Kali Orkin

    I picked the thing I’ve wanted to do the longest, that also will not require any immediate investment, as I am flat broke.
    I really relate to the “shiny new idea” distraction you wrote about. I find my biggest struggle is not lack of motivation or inspiration, but rather a fear of commitment to an idea.  I let my mind fill with too many possibilities and it keeps me from being productive.

    • http://geoffreywebb.wordpress.com/ Geoff Webb

      I know what it’s like to be paralyzed by options for years at a time. It seemed like I was working hard, but looking back I wasn’t going anywhere. Sounds like you’ve picked a good one there.

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