Daily Archives: August 3, 2023

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7 Things To Keep In Mind While You Pursue Your Dreams



You want to pursue your dreams. You have lots of dreams and things you want to do. But for some reason, you're hesitating—even though no one is holding you back.

You are the only one that is responsible for what you can and cannot do. So, how do you pursue your dreams? Here are a few things to keep in mind:

1. Create Impact.


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You are a gift to the world. There are things the world would like to see, hear, and feel from you. You are an artist regardless of what you do because the world wants your craft. Do not deny the world this craft.

In this day and age, you do not have the excuse of no money, no time, and barriers. Everything you dream of, you can start with the device in your pocket. Start now.

2. Don't Just Think, Do.


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To create impact, the union of thinking and doing is a necessity. To pursue your dreams, don't just think. You need to DO. That means to act upon what you have been thinking.

Doing is easy. Thinking makes it hard. The more you think, the more resistance rears its head.

3. Realize There Are No Formulas.


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People think those who achieve their dreams are special people who have a certain formula. The truth is, when you pursue your dreams, sometimes formulas work. Sometimes they don't. That's how new formulas are created. That's how you improve.

Create your own formula to achieve your dreams.

4. Know That Execution Is Priceless.


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People tell you that ideas are important. But you already have an idea of what your dreams are. You want to pursue your dreams. Your dreams are your ideas. Ideas are worthless. An idea brought to life is priceless.

If that is so, execute those ideas. Go and really pursue your dreams—to breathe life into an idea, act, execute, and, as Seth Godin says, "ship."

5. Stop Asking Questions.


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There are no whys or maybes. There is a time to ask questions. There is a time to stop. Now is the time to feel the fear and do it anyway. The more you do, the better you get.

This website is an example of how I am pursuing one of my dreams. Sure, it isn't something big—a lot of people own websites and successful blogs. However, it's a step in the right direction. I did not sit, think, and dream. I pursued my dream. It's a step in the right direction—sharing my experience. I did not ask if I will make a fool of myself. If I did, then so be it.

6. Practice Your Way To Perfection.


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Execution breeds excellence. Practice is the growth to perfection. The more you do, the better you become. Everything takes practice including pursuing your dreams.

If you want to achieve your dreams, start. Then learn from the experience and adjust.

7. Understand That Anxiety Is Not Risk.


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People often tell you your dreams are too risky. But having a dream and not pursuing it is even riskier. What you feel is not risk. What you feel is anxiety. Anxiety is not risk. Risk can be calculated. Anxiety cannot.

You delay because you fear. You are afraid to pursue your dreams because you don't know. You fear the unknown. You will only know when you do. It's time, don't you think? Do. Don't talk. Go!

Want to pursue your dreams with confidence?

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This article was originally published at an earlier date.

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7 Things To Keep In Mind While …



Has your organization been affected by a ransomware attack or some other type of disaster? If so, you quickly figured out that time is of the essence! Did the organization have a comprehensive and well-thought-out business continuity planning (BCP) plan defining how to handle the disruption? Or did each line of business muscle through, with some areas faring better than others?

Disasters are chaotic so you want to minimize stress as much as you can. If your organization doesn’t have a written BCP plan you can commit to starting one today. The BCP plan documents how the organization will continue to operate (who, what, where, when, and why) during a disaster. Also, how to get back to “normal” operations after the disaster.

Creating A BCP Plan


Business continuity concept

Some of the key steps to create a BCP plan are:

1. Identify the key risks and perform a risk assessment of the different types of disasters. From natural disasters, major power outages, cyber threats, and other potential risks. What is the likelihood of the disaster and the subsequent impact (enterprise-wide, regional, department-specific, etc.) for your organization? You can create a basic chart such as the following:

2. Perform business impact analysis (BIA). I typically create a BIA questionnaire wherein each department identifies its processes, resources, etc. Since you probably don’t have enough resources to recover everything immediately, you’ll need to prioritize and assign criticality (e.g., mission-critical, essential, and non-essential). Make sure you consider financial, regulatory, and/or legal impacts. Additional BIA info on the Ready.gov site.

3. Create a detailed BCP plan. It should contain information such as potential alternate locations, equipment/supplies needed, and contact information for critical employees as well as key vendors and customers. You may need copies of documents such as procedures, insurance policies, blank paper forms, and even a hard copy of the plan. Additional BCP info on the Ready.gov site.

There are multiple tools to create the plan ranging from Word to specific BCP software solutions. Even if you use Word, creating templates for all departments to use will keep the document consistent and facilitate collaboration. The plan needs to be easy to read and use to facilitate communications.


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4. One of the most important steps is to review and test the plan regularly (at least annually). When testing, tabletop testing is good but more rigorous testing such as a simulation is better. If certain departments have more “mission critical” processes, they want to be confident that they can continue during an interruption. Testing is critical and has multiple benefits including:

  • Testing helps you identify gaps, weaknesses, or missing/unclear information. Update the plan based on the lessons learned from testing. This is particularly important if some primary individuals are unavailable, and other “backup” individuals who don’t know the process(es) as well are required to do the work.
  • Business is continually impacted by changes—some major and others seemingly minor. For example, do you have a sound process to maintain accurate contact information for your employees (especially when you have turnover)? Regular reviews of your plan such as quarterly self-certifications can help you make sure your plan is current and reflects business, regulatory, and other changes.
  • Regularly reviewing the plan will help employees maintain awareness and increase familiarity with the plan (which is important during an already chaotic and stressful situation).
  • Depending on your organization’s industry, you may be subject to BCP-related compliance requirements. You want to mitigate compliance risk from oversight by regulators and/or government agencies.

You will be affected by some type of disaster—yes, it’s when (and not if) the next disaster occurs. If you have a comprehensive and well-thought-out BCP plan, you’ll be poised to pivot and get through the disruption more effectively.

For more information on the benefits of having a comprehensive business continuity planning (BCP) plan, follow me on LinkedIn!

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Executive Spotlight: How To Set Realistic Goals And Deadlines During The Summer



During the summer, it can be difficult to set realistic goals and deadlines in the workplace when most employees, including upper management, use their PTO to travel, spend time with family, and take a much-needed vacation. So, how can leaders build practical strategies for prioritizing tasks, managing expectations, and maintaining a healthy work-life balance to ensure successful goal attainment amidst the unique dynamics of the summer season?

We recently asked our leading executives for their best tips on how to set realistic goals and deadlines during the summer.

Here are their responses...

Ana Smith, Leadership Development & Learning Strategist


Here are some tips on how to set realistic goals and deadlines during the summer:

  • Be specific. What exactly do you want to achieve? Instead of saying "I want to learn more," say "I want to read 10 books by the end of the summer."
  • Make them measurable. How will you know if you've achieved your goal? For example, if your goal is to read 10 books, you could track how many pages you read each day or week.
  • Make them achievable. Don't set yourself up for failure by setting goals that are too ambitious. Start with small, achievable goals and gradually increase them as you get closer to the end of the summer.
  • Set deadlines. Having deadlines will help you stay on track and avoid procrastination. When setting deadlines, be realistic and make sure you have enough time to complete your goals.
  • Break down large goals into smaller ones. If your goal is to learn a new language, you could break it down into smaller goals, such as learning 10 new words each week or being able to hold a simple conversation by the end of the summer.
  • Be flexible. Things don't always go according to plan, so it's important to be flexible with your goals and deadlines. If you have to miss a day or two of work, don't beat yourself up about it. Just pick up where you left off and keep moving forward.
  • Reward yourself. When you achieve a goal, be sure to reward yourself. This will help you stay motivated and on track.

Here are some examples of realistic goals and deadlines for the summer:

  • Read 10 books by the end of the summer.
  • Learn 10 new words in a new language each week.
  • Complete a summer internship.
  • Volunteer at a local animal shelter.
  • Take a summer class.
  • Travel to a new place.
  • Write a short story or poem.
  • Learn how to cook a new dish.
  • Start a new hobby.

No matter what your goals are, setting realistic deadlines and sticking to them will help you make the most of your summer break.

Ana Smith helps people & organizations achieve their full talent potential by developing and co-creating people strategies and customized solutions, and turning them into impactful outcomes and collaborative relationships, using coaching as the "red thread."

Michael Willis, Sports Business Operations Executive


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​I love talking about how the NFL spends the summer season. A large chunk of the summer months in NFL football is known as the “dark period.” From right after the Super Bowl until the beginning of July, the NFL front office cannot communicate with the players, team staff, or game officials when they should be taking their time away from football.

1. Deep Planning

Following the Super Bowl, NFL league office executives, team owners, and select coaches meet as a competition committee to review the previous season. As a result of these meetings, new rules are born as part of player safety or ways to make the game more competitive and safer.

While working at the NFL, I have been trained to think and work as far into the future as possible. For example, the special events staff works on Super Bowls at least five years into the future. So, for me working in financial operations, budgets and other front office matters have been done for months. Game day staff have been hired for the upcoming season. I take my time off when pre-season is about to start (early August).

2. Execution and Forecasting

During the latter part of July and through August, I focus on setting up new files and Excel spreadsheets, getting ready for the kick-off.

My budget worksheets are set up for multiple years, so I begin to update the following year's budget with the information I know will change based on the already approved collective bargaining agreement (CBA). The deadline for the budget is late November.

3. In Closing – In football, the summer months are downtime mixed with energized excitement for kick-off.

  • Adapt and be flexible.
  • Prioritize and focus.
  • Getting ready to do what we all love.

Michael Willis has 18+ years of experience working with accounting & sports organizations and has managed P&Ls of $10M - $125M+ with budgets of $3M-$50M+. He worked for the NFL for 22 1/2 years, mainly with the game officials working on the financial/accounting side of the business.

Lisa Perry, Global Marketing Executive


Professional woman writes down her goals

Summer is a time for relaxation and enjoyment, but it can also be a productive season for setting and achieving personal and professional goals. Whether you're a student, a working professional, or simply looking to make the most of your summer months, setting realistic goals and deadlines can help you stay focused and make meaningful progress.

Here are some tips I've used this summer to set achievable goals and establish effective deadlines to ensure a productive and fulfilling summer:

  1. Take Time to Reflect: As the summer kicked off, I took some time to reflect on my aspirations, considering both short and long-term goals, as well as my ongoing projects and commitments for the upcoming months. This type of reflection empowered me to look at meaningful and motivating goals aligned with my values and ambitions.
  2. Define Specific & Measurable Goals: At the end of summer, I want to reflect on my accomplishments. Clear, specific, and measurable targets are essential for tracking progress. For instance, my goal of staying physically active involves engaging in 15-20 minutes of physical activity at least four times a week.
  3. Set Realistic Goals: While I desire to be physically fit, I acknowledge the risk of frustration and burnout with unrealistic expectations. To ensure success, I consider all factors impacting my goals, including current circumstances, time availability, resources, and mood. I’d rather achieve several realistic goals than struggle with one overly ambitious one.
  4. Break Down Goals Into Smaller Steps: I take my goals and divide them into manageable, bite-sized tasks on a weekly or even daily basis. This approach makes my goals more manageable and enables effective progress tracking. With a clear roadmap, I can stay focused and motivated on my journey to success.
  5. Set Deadlines: Deadlines are a powerful motivator to keep me on track toward achieving my goals. However, I recognize the importance of setting realistic deadlines to ensure commitment and avoid overwhelming myself. Striking the right balance empowers me to stay focused and driven throughout my journey.
  6. Prioritize Wisely: With my kids off school and numerous activities during the summer, I ruthlessly prioritize goals that truly make a difference. I cherish the time spent with my family, so I avoid overcommitting myself and spreading myself too thin. Focusing on what truly matters allows me to balance productivity and enjoying precious moments with my loved ones.
  7. Be Flexible & Kind to Yourself: Life is full of surprises and unpredictability. Embrace flexibility and avoid self-criticism if you can’t achieve your weekly goals. The bigger picture is your accomplishment over three or four months. Don’t let a bad day deter you, and then give up on your goal altogether. Instead, refocus and continue moving forward. The key is to be proud of your overall progress, appreciating the journey rather than fixating on occasion setbacks.
  8. Celebrate Achievements: Above all, take the time to celebrate even the seemingly minor accomplishments. Each milestone represents progress, and celebrating them fuels motivation to achieve, pursue, and do more. Embrace the joy of your achievements, for it is the essence of personal growth and fulfillment.

Summer presents a unique opportunity to set and achieve meaningful goals that bring you one step closer to your dreams and aspirations.

Lisa Perry helps companies build leadership brands, driving loyal customers & delivering profitability. She does this through a process that builds brands consumers love. Her goal is to help companies develop, monetize, and grow their brands.

How do you set realistic goals and deadlines during the summer? Join the conversation inside Work It Daily's Executive Program.

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Executive Spotlight: How To Set Realistic Goals …