The Pulse System: How to start the New Year Differently

We’ve started another New Year! Many of you may have taken some time to think about your plans for this year. What do you want to make happen for yourself and your business in the upcoming year? 

Perhaps you took some time to pull out a full year calendar and plan in the important activities (like business launches and VACATIONS!) Which means that it’s time to start taking some action towards your plans! So, let’s get focused!

I’m going to tell you something that you may not have heard from others… stop the scattershot approach to productivity! In the past several years of dedicating myself to working with clients around planning, goals, and execution I’ve learned one crucial lesson that will help you start this new year differently that past ones. So, let’s dive in and talk about that lesson.

We suck at doing 5 things at once

The myth of multi-tasking has been scientifically debunked. More people are beginning to understand that multi-tasking doesn’t work at an immediate task level. In other words, we really can’t do two things at once in any given moment. Our brain is constantly task-switching to keep multiple things going which has significant costs.

I now believe that we really suck at working toward multiple major projects at once. In other words, perhaps you’ve created your plan for the New Year, and it includes launching your new website, creating a program or service, and hiring new team members. Here’s what I’ve seen… if you try to do all three of them at once it will take longer and feel significantly more exhausting than working on each new project one at a time.

We end up making minor progress in various directions, but we never feel like we’re really making a big impact. That’s why we have to let go of this old approach to taking action on our plans and get even more focused.

’Tis the Season

What do we do instead? We think in shorter terms about what’s most important this season. Rather like the creators of the 12-Week Year have suggested, I agree that we need to throw out annualized thinking and focus in on the current season. With too much time we lose all momentum. So, instead ask yourself which of your projects is top priority this season? We need to make the hard choices about what comes first.

So, here’s my suggestion to you: Choose only ONE professional project and ONE personal project to focus on right now. Everything else will either be on the metaphorical back burner or completely on hold.

Then, because it’s virtually impossible to maintain a high level of focused performance for months on end… Embrace the Pulse. 

The Pulse is a new model that I’ve recently started developing an implementing into my work which uses a 5-week cycle to create a wave of intensity to your work and focus that both creates powerful execution and honors our human need for cycles of energy, intensity, and rest.

Every pulse has three sections: Planning (1 week), Action (3 weeks), and Reflection (1 week), which allows you to make powerful, intentional, and consistent progress.

Therefore here’s the breakdown:

If you haven’t created a plan, then you really don’t know where you’re going or how to get there. Your plan is the foundation, the earth from which your project will grow.  Every big project benefits from starting with some thinking time to figure out what specifically needs to happen, what resources you might need to use, and get the appropriate team members on board. So, the first week of every pulse cycle starts with planning out the project, getting your mind fully engaged into it, and getting your team members on board.

Now it’s time to hit the gas. With your plan in hand and in mind, you can start taking powerful action to get your project moving. During this week it’s important to rev your energy and dedicate your time as much as possible to building momentum on your project. Ignite the fire of passion and excitement for your project and commit yourself fully to it. A strong start will make the next couple weeks much easier.

With the fires stoked last week and progress underway, this week aims to flowingly continue the momentum you started building last week. Get more comfortable with the tasks and habits that might be necessary for this project and learn how to make them even easier to complete.

This final week of action is about bringing work to fruition, finishing what you’ve started, and gliding toward a momentary resting place. Your project may or may not be complete, but after three weeks of dedicated work it should be dramatically further along. Think of this week as the tail end of a long exhale right before you start to recharge with your next inhale.

The last week of your pulse cycle is about rest and reflection on the work you’ve completed so far. This built-in break allows you to metaphorically inhale, gather lessons learned, consider what you might want to do differently in the future, and specifically shift into lower gear for a brief rest. That doesn’t mean check-out or leave for vacation. Those full breaks should happen between Pulse cycles. However, this is the time to give your mind and body a break from being in high gear and the space to recharge before the next Pulse begins.

With so many people returning from their holiday breaks, now is the perfect time to try out this Pulse system for yourself. Consider this Week 1, choose your top priority project for this Pulse cycle, and start planning! 

If you realize that you might want help or accountability in implementing this Pulse cycle for yourself, then I encourage you to apply for a Strategy Session, and let’s figure out how I can help you install this powerful system into your life.