10 Ways to Make Today Great

By Dr. Nels Lindberg, Production Animal Consultation

“Long vision of time” is a topic I routinely speak about as we grow as human beings. Long vision of time is simply how far out we are looking or planning. As kids we are often planning for the next day or the next test. As we get to high school, maybe we are planning for college. As adults, some may be planning for the next day, living day to day, while some are planning out through retirement. Are you planning for a month from now?

Look for the good. Tell one person each day they did a good job on something you saw them do.

Are you planning for a year from now? Or maybe you are planning for 10 to 20 years from now. Whatever length of time your vision includes, I always push people to go longer and double that length of time. The longer we plan out, the more focus we place on that length of vision and the more likely we are to take action and initiate the right habits to achieve those goals. I routinely discuss these subjects when I meet with cowboy crews, pushing them as individuals to plan further out in their lives.

However, there are times when we need to be present and live day by day. Recently I was speaking to a great group of people at a leadership workshop, and after the event, a good, solid young man emailed me about his life and some of his experiences. Spe ci fically, he talked about the day, about six months ago, which he tried to commit suicide. The great news is he is still alive and now thriving in life. At the workshop, he asked me, “What is your definition of success?” In his email, he shared what success looked like for him. He talked about focusing on the day. He went on to tell me, even though he is a highly accomplished young man, he does not necessarily plan for the long term; he focuses on winning each day.

In his email, he taught me a valuable lesson. I focus on the long term, and I was teaching others to focus on extending their long vision of time no matter what. As tragedy struck our family last year, I truly began to focus on winning each day, living each day with the attitude of being grateful for where we were, embracing our renewed and strengthened purpose, and moving forward each day. This young man taught me that as I teach and preach extending your long vision of time, I must also teach that we must win each day. We must embrace each day and make forward progress as best we can. When we face our daily challenges, sometimes just getting through the day is a victory. As we battle in the daily grind of feedyard life, farm life, or ranch life, we are well aware of the insane curveballs we swing at routinely. We all have life challenges that humble us and give us opportunity to bring direct focus to that day and situation. We can’t live or plan beyond that day, and that is okay.

As we look at winning today, we all have opportunities which we can embrace. The following are ten ways to make today great, based on teaching from Jon Gordon1. As you read them, I want you to think about how you can implement one of these each day. If you are leading a crew, my challenge to you is to have each person on your crew execute one of these daily for 30 days. Take a look!

1. Replace “have to” with “get to”.

2. Be grateful. Tell several people “thank you” each day.

3. Be open to new possibilities. Ask the person next to you, “What is something you think I need to work on?”

4. Look for the good. Tell one person each day they did a good job on something you saw them do.

5. Take action. Do these things routinely!

Chuckles from Down Under

This is Buddy. I bought him as a surprise present for my husband, but it turns out he’s allergic to dogs. So unfortunately, I’m going to have to find a new home for him and I’m just wondering if anyone out there can help?

His name is Alan. He is 61, great at DIY, drives a nice car, and plans wonderful holidays.

6. Maintain hope. Look for people that inspire you and go have a conversation with them.

7. Believe in yourself.

8. Encourage at least 2 people.

9. Be kind (to yourself and others).

10. Smile!

These 10 opportunities to make today great are things I have to work on. We all have to work on them because for most of us, they just do not come naturally. But, if you do them daily for 90 days or more, progress will be made, and you will become a different person. Your life will change because taking these actions to make today great will make other people’s days great. When you do these things, you will find yourself leading people, advancing in your professional world, growing yourself and everyone around you. We often get caught up focusing on and worrying about our lives, our family’s lives, or our businesses. In those very moments, we cannot change a thing about the future. The gentleman who emailed me after the leadership workshop is very successful in his career and he still felt life was not worth living at one point. He endured a life-changing event that made him realize he is able to get through life by focusing on winning each day and not by concerning himself greatly with the long term. He taught me, and I thank him for his lesson!

Again, my challenge to you is to do at least one of these ten things to make today great each day for the next 90 days! When the 90 days are over, assess, reflect, and resolve to make it a part of your daily life! If you do, I promise you will find yourself enjoying levels of success you have never experienced before!

1 @JonGordon11 (Jon Gordon). Twitter, June 11, 2020, https://twitter.com/jongordon11/status/127104449449502720 0?lang=en. Italics added.

Dr. Nels Lindberg is a people coach, team coach, business coach, and a keynote speaker, all virtually or in person. If you have any interest in these opportunities, please reach out to his office at 620-792-1265 and visit with his right-hand lady, Jill.