One thing that I learned from bicycle racing (actually, I am not much of a bicycle racer but I do triathlons – biking needs work) is the power of momentum. In bicycle racing the way to do better and use less energy is to pedal very, very fast and powerfully to start with, give it 120% and once you are up to speed, you can simply maintain a good even cadence.

I have often used this technique even with my car which tracks my Km per L (of course I don’t do major jack rabbit starts but I do get up to speed quickly and then go easy on the accelerator). I find this technique is the best way to maximize mileage. Save energy and get ahead faster.

I use this same technique to getting projects and tasks done. I find if I can simply start the project fast, I can often use the momentum to carry me through to its completion. So the key is to get started fast. Some techniques I use for this are:

1 – Ask someone to help start. Often just having someone else help gets things moving.

2 – Know your high energy times and start projects with a burst during one of those periods.

3 – Avoid distraction. Focus 100% on the task or priority that you are trying to get started on. Turn off email and the phone. Close your door. Get rid of papers on your desk.

4 – Know your outcome. The clearer you know what you want to accomplish, the more likely you are to accomplish it.

5 – Set a time limit. I know I can do almost anything for a short period of time. By setting a time limit like 15 or 20 minutes to work diligently on a project then give myself permission to quit, I often develop momentum.

6 – Be prepared. It is easier to develop and maintain momentum if you have all the tools and information ready.

7 – Finally, just do it. Dig in hard. Push hard. Remember the bicycle. A few hard pushes to start make things much easier to finish with less energy.

Using these techniques for gaining momentum can help you move any project forward faster and more easily.

So, you have a problem or projects that has you stumped? Or you are not quite satisfied with some of your solutions? Try these ideas:

1.Gather Information: you might not have enough information about your project/problem to come up with a great creative solution. Exercise: Go to a source of information you don’t typically use. When is the last time you went to a library? Is there a government agency that has related information? How about a local community college, is there an instructor that teaches something connected to your subject? Clerks at bookstores are often very helpful. There may be trade magazines addressing your area of interest.

2. Be Active: yes, you read correctly. Your brain uses a lot of oxygen and does not work well when undernourished. Exercise: Go do something active and FUN! This will get the blood flowing and when you have fun, your creative juices start flowing. Do something that you haven’t done in long time: dance, roller skate, hike, ride horseback, garden, or ride a bike.

3. Change your viewpoint: As Einstein is quoted as saying: “We can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.” Your perception determines the path to a problem’s solution. Exercise: Look at your problem from another point of view. What would your problem look like if you were a different person? Imagine…from the viewpoint of a child, a co-worker, your dog, a gambler, a professional athlete, etc. This may sound silly, the point is to shake up your normal routine and help your brain create new pathways of thought.

4. Compare and Contrast: Compare your problem/issue/project to something very different; an object or a concept. Through juxtaposition, you may find combinations you never saw before. Exercise: Grab a blank sheet of paper. Write your problem at the top. Next to it write an unrelated idea such as “shoe”, “the national highway system”, “a candy bar”, “cat litter”….you get the idea! Underneath write every way you can think that these two things are alike. Remember to have fun. This is simply another method of changing your viewpoint as well as generating more ideas.

5. Be Visual: Thinking is very fluid and visual, making use of symbols and pictures instead of words. Give your problem a color…even a smell! What shape is it? What does it feel like to the touch? Exercise: This is best done with a large sheet of paper or a white board. Use a regular piece of paper if that’s all you have. Draw a rectangle in the center and label it with your problem/project. Draw at least 5-6 radiating lines coming out from the box. Label these lines as different aspects of your project. For instance, if the problem is Planning a Wedding on a Tight Budget, some of the radiating lines could be Food, Entertainment, and Wedding Dress. If the problem is Building a Team at work, some of the lines could be Collaboration, Productivity, and Communication. At the end of each line write whatever you think needs to happen with that area. This exercise can help you see the big picture as well as prioritize all the parts of your project.

6. Generate LOTS of ideas: You have gathered information, pumped up your enthusiasm and reviewed your problem from many angles. It’s time to really let loose with ideas. Exercise: Brainstorm! I mean REALLY brainstorm. Don’t just toss out a handful of ideas and call it quits. Put some energy into it. Collaboration is good for this as everyone will get some different ideas. Hand everyone a piece of paper (preferably large, that you can stick to the wall). Set a time limit. Allow enough time to get plenty of ideas but not so much time that you judge the ideas coming out of you (5-10 minutes). Also set a goal for the number ideas, a goal that will force you to work fast. Speed is important as well as reserving any judgment.

7. Give it to your subconscious: Let you subconscious mind have another crack at it. You have plenty of information and ideas. It may be challenging to pick the best course of action. Exercise: Sleep on it! Let your mind have it while you are resting. For this to really work you must do a review just before going to bed and place a notebook by your bed so you can jot down ideas if you wake up during the night and first thing in the morning. Intend that you will have some answers when you wake up. As you wake up, you may have to catch the ideas in the half-awake state. The notebook is right beside you so you won’t lose any good thoughts.

Congratulations! You came up with some very creative solutions to your project. You can repeat this process with any subject.

Are you a person with fears? Hey you are not alone! Everybody is frightened of something. Some fears are good for you they stop you doing bad or dangerous things. But other fears are bad for you they stop you doing things you would really like to do, or stop you being the person you would really like to be.

They say that fear is only a state of mind. Great, but how do you stop your fear when you are “shivering in your shoes” at the thought of something that frightens you.

Well I think there is a way to rid your self of any fear. It worked for me and for the person who first showed me the method. If you follow the steps below, I guarantee you will, with practice, be able to handle any fear that comes at you.

The method consists of just 7 steps but you have got to take each step in order and you may have to practice some of the steps over and over but if you do I guarantee you will succeed in riding yourself of your fears whatever they may be. So here we go.

Step1

Get yourself a nice big legal pad and a ball- point pen. Now find yourself a place where you can be alone. Make sure you are nice and comfortable because you may want to be there for some time.

Step 2

Now take your nice big pad and with your pen draw a line down the middle of the page. On the left hand side of the page write in big capital letters “MY FEAR/S” On the right hand side of the page write in big capital letters “WHY AM I AFRAID?”

Step 3

On the left hand side of the page underneath the heading write down what you are afraid of. If you have more than one fear put a number in front of each but write ’em all down and if you have to go on to the next page go to the next page.

Step 4

Now pick your worst fear and on the right hand side of your page write down your reasons why this thing, or person or whatever frightens you. What does your fear consist of? How do you feel? Why is it preventing you from doing what you want to do or be?

Step 5

Next take a new sheet of paper and write down what you would really and truly like to do/be if only you weren’t afraid. You have to be absolutely honest with yourself here or this step won’t work.

Step 6

Now sit back, relax and close your eyes and imagine how you would feel if you could kill your fear stone dead. Imagine doing the thing you wanted to do or being the person you wanted to be without any fear. Pretend your fear is all gone. Now this step doesn’t come easy to everyone and you may have to practice it a bit. But it’s the most important step in the whole program and I assure you that if you practice and practice it will pay off!

Step 7

Take your pad again and write down how you felt when you were imagining your success. Did you feel nice and warm and confident? Did you still feel a little frightened? Write it down. Spend time thinking imagining and writing.

And that’s it! That’s the method. It works for me and it works for the person who first showed it to me and it has worked for many of our friends. It will work for you too, if you let it. But you must follow the 7 steps. One last thing remember Step 6 is the most important and you may need to practice it a bit.