The fastest man in the world is Usain Bolt. In 2009, the Jamaican sprinter set record for the 100 meter dash with a time of 9.58 seconds.
The fastest woman in the world is American Florence Griffith-Joyner; she ran the 100 meter dash in 10.49 seconds, a 1988 record yet to be broken.
The fastest train in the world is Shanghai Maglev, with a maximum operating speed of 267.8 mph. 
The fastest year is this one right now. It just started a minute ago and now it’s halfway over. Right?
Before I blink and it’s all over, I thought it would be good to take a time out and take a little inventory. Consider what you want to accelerate and what to reassess….and what to drop off your plate.
You’re invited to answer these questions in your journal, discuss with your team, your mentor, your BFF or even with your family at dinner (as horrifying as that prospect may be).
- In January, what were your top goals for this year? Are these still important?
2. Of these goals, which one do you want to accelerate? What can you do to accelerate in this direction?
Here are some of my “goal acceleration” tools:
- Ask people, “How can I help?“
“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” Helen Keller
I challenge you to ask that as frequently as possible for the next 30 days and see what happens. Ask your boss, your reports, your Significant Other, your colleague. Even with your career trajectory and your goals, you can’t achieve them all by yourself. Accelerate your help to others and see how it boomerangs back to you.
- Make sure you’re getting enough sleep. Overachieving takes so much energy. Many professional athletes, like LeBron James and Roger Federer try to get 12 hours of sleep. You can cut out rest temporarily, but your performance drops if you don’t take care of yourself. The body (and your brain) renew during sleep.
- 10 X your goal. If you want to make $150k a year, what if you aimed for $1.5 million? Or what if you take a 10-year goal and try to achieve it in one year?
If you feel resistance just reading this (like I sure did!), consider entertaining the idea temporarily. You may think of a tactic or person that can move you forward. It’s a great creative-idea generator.
- If you’re interested in eating better for health, try my friend, Joanne’s Nourished Body and Mind. She has helped me eat more healthy veggies and yummy salads.
3. Who is someone you’d really like to meet this year? Why? How can you start connection with this person? (hint: start on LinkedIn if relevant, if not, write a fan letter.)
4. What is something you’re doing that you want to stop doing or working on? How can you take a sabbatical from something you feel enslaved to?
5. What’s something you definitely want to create, achieve, or experience before the end of this year?
Want to climb the corporate ladder? Read this or this.
Want to chat with a top-notch culture-driven recruiter? Contact Lee-Anne Scalley at One In A Mil Recruiting.
Is there that thing you keep thinking about? Or what about those special people you wish you were more like?
For more useful questions: 29 Coaching Questions that Can Help Increase Success from inc.com. Find a question or two that strikes your fancy, more than that overwhelms.
If you decide to stay put or put up with something, at least for now, embrace that. Maybe the obstacle is the way. (I do recommend the book, The Obstacle is the Way by Ryan Holiday…even if it was written by a 26-year old!)
Whether you make a change, try something new, pick up the phone, write that letter or go take a nap….that decision is shaping your future. Every decision you make, shapes the future you. You, and only you, have that power.
