April 06, 2006
Thanks to all who joined in on yesterday’s teleconference! I always enjoy talking with bright, motivated folks… It was a pleasure.
We walked through the Lawyer’s LifePosts (available to subscribers of the free Life at the Bar Survival Kit) and discussed how the aspirations are playing out in our lives now. (And I say “we” because I work with the LifePosts as well.)  Most participants who spoke mentioned consistency as an issue, that they’ve often started certain of these habits and that it works well for a while, but it’s all too easy to let it slide when things get busy. That resonates with me, too.
I think the key for developing these habits is to be aware that it’s possible to keep them going consistently — perhaps an obvious statement, but also an important recognition. It’s comparable to dental hygiene for me: I brush my teeth twice a day every single day. Period. I never miss a day, and even when I’m dog-tired, if I go to bed without brushing I’ll get up and do it. That’s my baseline for brushing. I floss almost every single day. Occasionally, I’ll forget, but I don’t think I ever miss two days in a row. That’s my baseline. And here’s the key: when I started flossing, I would forget pretty often, especially when I heard of a dentist (not my dentist, of course) who said it’s good enough to start at age 30. Super, there’s my out, it’s not a big deal. But as time went on, it became something that I decided was important to do, and so I started building it into my habits even though it isn’t fun or especially pleasant. But I never decided to quit just because I let a day or two days go by without doing it.
The LifePosts are a living document. Although I’ve drafted the instructions to give credit only for statements that are consistently true, I also recognize that “consistently” may mean different things at different times. I use the LifePosts as a check-in every other month or so, and my score is always going up. Sometimes in fits and starts, but it does go up. With only a few exceptions, these are not statement to be checked off and then left behind. They’re guiding principles to be reviewed often, so we can remember to implement them on a regular basis.
Based on your comments, I’ll arrange another teleconference in the near future for problem-solving around the aspirations that people have trouble meeting. This will be a great opportunity for some laser coaching. Keep your eye on the “What’s new” page at Life At The Bar for the announcement on the time.
Again, thanks to everyone for participating! Feel free to email me via Life At The Bar or to call me at 404.374.7500 or 407.765.8230 if you’d like to delve further into the LifePosts on a one-on-one basis.
Welcome back!
