A couple things to think about . . .
First of all: Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
We’ve all seen this quotation from Albert Einstein. It has fascinated me for years. I’ve observed it in others and experienced in myself.
But how do you actually go about doing something in a different manner so you get different results? How do you know what results you want? And since the sheer act of a journey may change the destination, how do you know when get “there”?
It has always occurred to me that people always say (even to themselves), “if only it were different, things would be better.” The problem with this statement is that no one ever tells you how to define what needs to be different, what it should look like when it is different and how one should know how to make the journey to different-ness. Where does it start – what is the pathway – what is the destination?
I’ve learned over the years that reaching a goal often begins with making a list. A pros-and-cons list. A list of resources. A list of complaints. A list of desired outcomes. Things to accomplish, to finish, to start, to share – everything from mundane household tasks to answering life’s major questions.
Like most people I know, I have often sat down to make a list. Sometimes, the words just pour out of me. Holiday gift lists or party tasks are accomplished fairly easily once I make myself take the time to do them. Other lists seem overwhelming. The sheer size or complexity of the outcome – or my perception of Its importance – stops me after I write “1.” I’ve tried using bullet points instead of numbers. After all, I may want to re-number later in the exercise, right?
I’ve recently come across two concepts that are helping me in my own effort to change the results I get in 2019. I don’t want to be in the same place next year, wishing things were different. I want things to BE different – to have accomplished certain goals for myself and my family and my business.
Stay tuned for The Bucket List Guy and A New Look at New Year’s Resolutions.
By the way, Einstein apparently did not say exactly the above. Something close, and equally insightful. The real quote was actually:
It is not insanity if you repeat the same thing over and over again. It’s insanity if you want different results,but you don’t change your methods.
Remember, Einstein was a scientist and scientists often repeat experiments to establish consistency. So obviously, it isn’t insane to do the same things over and over again.
Just something else to consider as you think about what’s going on in your life.
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