I know this doesn’t sound like the kind of thing an IT guy would do—in fact, every time I suggest it during one of my speeches, I get a few snickers from the audience—but it’s one of the most powerful things I’ve ever done.
When I first started working in information technology, I decided to keep a journal. Since I was just starting out, I wanted to understand what created success. I wanted to remember what thoughts, actions, and efforts actually got positive results. I was equally interested in the things that didn’t get results—the “failures,” if you will. I figured that if I kept doing what worked and avoided what didn’t, I would have more successes.
I was right. My journal did all I had hoped it would and more. It improved my success rate, and it also fed my passion. Each entry I made in it was like putting more fuel on the fire. Each time Iwent back to read what I had written, I got more excited about where I was going. My journal became a way of tracking my career and my life.
We all tend to fall into ruts if we don’t examine our lives. Taking a few minutes to write down the important events and thoughts of the day is a great way to keep growing and learning. As students in high school and college, we were always taking notes and absorbing new ideas and information. Why not continue that habit of learning on a smaller scale? It only takes a moment, and every page is priceless in terms of the success it will bring you.
What Should I Write?
What should you write in your journal? Anything that's important to you. The first thing I put down is the question: “Why am I doing what I do?” I come back to that question again and again. It’s like a beacon, and the answer is the guiding principle of my professional life: “I want to help people with technology and put a smile on their faces.” It’s that simple; that’s my personal mission statement. That’s what I was passionate about fifteen years ago, and that’s what lights me up today.
What's your purpose? What are you passionate about? Write it down. Then write down your new ideas and your plans to communicate and execute them. Always try to connect what you write with why you're doing it. Also ask yourself, “Is this something I really want to pursue, or is there something else I would rather be doing?” It's amazing the fresh focus and energy these questions will bring you.
Beyond Success and Failure
It's also amazing what journaling successes and failures will do for your career. Over the years, I've routinely taken notes on projects, assignments, and positions I’ve been given. I’ve then written down the expectations for those projects and roles, what my plans are, and what the final results were. This activity has guided me each year in my growth. It has also had a huge impact on my personal and professional success. Even when I had failures on a project, I wrote them down so that I would later understand why they happened and how I might avoid them next time. If I noticed I had made the same mistake more than twice, I underlined it and resolved not to repeat it. You can do the same. In this way, you will create more positive habits each week, and those new habits will really add up over the years.
"But I Don't Have Time"
Even after all my ranting about this, you might still be thinking, “But Steve, I don’t have time to keep a journal.” It’s true that our lives are very busy. Every day, new challenges come up. We’re constantly rushing from one thing to another, and we have a thousand things on our to-do lists. Why add one more?
Because you can’t afford not to! No ship captain would set sail on the ocean without a destination in mind. No football coach would go into another game without analyzing his team, his opponents, and what had succeeded or failed in previous games. It’s the same with us. With all the built-in chaos and uncertainty in our lives, we need a compass to steer by, something to help keep us on track. My journal is that compass.
Just a Few Minutes a Day
I’ve also found it helpful to keep a journal I enjoy looking at—one with a cover, binding, and interior design that inspires regular writing. I keep mine at home and usually write in the evening. It’s beautifully designed so that I want to open it and write in it. Each time I look at it, it’s like a warm invitation. And each time I open it, I feel like I’m opening a magical portal to success. And so I am.
By now, I hope I’ve gotten my point across about the power of journaling. If so, I invite you to go to your local bookstore or office supply shop and choose an empty book that suits you. Better yet, pick up your copy of the specially designed Blue Lizard business journal available on our website at www.bluelizardpress.com. For more details on business success, you can purchase The New Technology Paradigm by clicking on one of the book covers on this page.
