16 Jul Do or die: Make a plan and stick to it

Originally posted July 11, 2014 by Sandy Schussel on https://www.lifehealthpro.com.

My friend and colleague, Steve Chandler, author of Wealth Warrior: The Personal Prosperity Revolution, places professionals into two categories: “Doers” and “Feelers.”

Doers come to work having planned out what needs to be done, and no matter how they’re feeling, they do what needs to be done.

What Feelers do, on the other hand, depends on how they feel at any given moment. They take their emotional temperatures throughout the day, checking in on themselves and figuring out what they feel like doing. Their financial securities, outcomes and lives are dictated by the fluctuation of their feelings. Their feelings will change constantly, of course, so it’s hard for Feelers to follow anything through to a successful conclusion, no matter how passionate they may be.

As Chandler puts it, “The success of Feelers depends on everything that can change their feelings… biorhythms, gastric upset, too strong a cup of coffee, an annoying call from home, a rude waitress at lunch, a cold, or constipation. Those are the dictating forces—the commanders—of a Feeler’s life and of his or her success.”

A Doer, however, has a plan and a system for her success, and she works the plan no matter how she feels. She knows in advance how much time she will spend on the phone and in the field, what new clients she will cultivate and which existing relationships she will strengthen. Regardless of her mood, she looks at any project lacking completion and asks, “What do I need to do?”

A Feeler may have a plan, too, but will only follow it on “sunny” days—when things are going well and she’s in the right mood. She will tell herself she just can’t make those calls right now because she wouldn’t be very effective unless she was feeling good about making them.

As Chandler explains, each of us has a Doer and a Feeler within us. While many of us vacillate between the two types, some may be predisposed to being either a Doer or a Feeler, and over time, some may even unconsciously commit to one type or the other.

If you recognize yourself as a Feeler and you’re not having the success you want, consciously commit to becoming a Doer instead. Set a goal, create a plan to reach it and have a daily system that you follow—no matter which way the wind is blowing.

Sandy Schussel is a speaker, business trainer and coach who helps sales teams develop systems to win clients. He is the author of The High Diving Board and Become a Client Magnet. For more information, go to www.sandyschussel.com.