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The train that could


Photo by Jamison Wieser on Flickr


Do you remember the golden story of the Little Engine that Could? A locomotive breaks down and other engines are asked to pull the train over the mountain but they have excuses for not doing it: One is broken down, one is too pompous, one is too self important, and one lacks the strength and determination. Finally a little switch engine is asked to pull the train and she decides to give it a go. So off she goes, repeating the phrase 'I think I can - I think I can - I think I can. Anyway she makes it over the mountain and then uses the phrase I thought I could - I thought I could - I thought I could. The moral of the story is to teach children about optimism and hard work. So using the idea of a train we are going to see how to manage projects and achieve goals. First:

Plan your trip. 

Decide on your project. Choose something you've been meaning to do to work on. It should challenge you just enough to interest you and not so much that's it's too hard. You can use project management to plan how long the project will take and what resources you need to get there. 

Have a destination

Name your goal. Write the goal down. Use visualisation, have a purpose and a mission statement and off we go! Dare to dream big!

See how long it will take to get there

Ascertain how long it will take to reach your goal. Rope in some extra time because of Murphy's law. Sometimes things go wrong , there are delays and track work. 

Get ready.

Get the right tools and resources for your project. Decide on what clothes you will wear. Create a ritual such as having a coffee just before starting work. 

Leave on time. 

Start straight away. Don't procrastinate. Procrastination is the thief of time. Don't put off 'till tomorrow what you can do today. Try to start work at 9 am or a set time everyday. 

Stop at selected stations. 

Plan sub-goals along the way. Go back to your project management and decide on some milestones along the way. Give yourself a reward when you reach each milestone. 

Changing tracks

Re-align your goals accordingly. If you decide you no longer want to do the project you will need to change tracks. Be careful you aren't just throwing the towel in. Success takes commitment. But at the same time you need to be flexible. 

Deal with delays.

Sometimes things go wrong, technology fails, people get sick, things come up. Be flexible and patient. Get back on track as soon as possible. 


Add fuel

Seek encouragement, read positive literature, get up and motivate yourself, remind yourself of your purpose and reasons for doing things. Meditate and repeat positive affirmations. Set intentions for example: 'I will get up at first call'. 

Look after the engine

Make sure your exercise, diet and sleep are under control. Exercise is excellent for both mind and body. A healthy diet with a low glycemic index will keep you nourished and help your moods to be more stable. Giving up sugar will help. A good nights sleep helps you feel rejuvenated and alert. You can't do much if you're over-tired all the time. Also try not to drink and smoke and don't do drugs, that stuff exhausts you and is unhealthy. . 

Be aware of the other passengers

Try to surround yourself with positive people. Apart from being tolerant and understanding, forgiving and supportive, sometimes you just need to cut people off because they're toxic and negative and hang out with people who are upbeat and supportive. 

Travel first class. 

Be professional, do things properly, invest in quality. Make sure your customer service is top-notch! 

Document your trip. 

Keep a log of how you are going. Mark what is going well and what needs improvement. Keep a gratitude journal. Log things you learn along the way. Learn from your mistakes.


Locomotion 

Keep going and don't give up! Stay focused and try to be upbeat! Don't lose your balance, keep on the move. 


The Journey

As you go along, don't forget to enjoy the scenery. It's not all about the goal that you want to reach, although that is important. Stay in the present and do things out of intrinsic motivation. "They who obtain perfections are those who take joy in their work'. (Bhagavat Gita). Keep a work life balance with time for friends, family and self-care. 


When faced with a task just say 'I think I can, I think I can, I think I can'. When you've finished just say 'I thought I could, I thought I could, I thought I could' Be the little engine that could. I wish you every success with your journey. 

References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Little_Engine_That_Could

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