Recently I started a search for a new associate for my office. I put the feelers out. I reached-out to various organizations. I got the ball rolling. Then, I sat back and waited for the calls and the CVs to start coming in. I’m good, so I thought. A few weeks have passed and I have gotten no calls, no real leads, no real responses.
I kept wondering why this wasn’t working the way I envisioned it. “It must be that everyone else is too busy to follow-up, or the market is thin, or blah, blah, blah.” That last blah struck me with great concern. I was missing something in this equation – I just couldn’t figure it out. My mind raced night after night and my body began to suffer from the lack of sleep.
After a week of this chaos I was about to abandon the entire idea. Then one morning, after another long night, I was standing in front of my mirror shaving and I nicked myself – something I haven’t done in quite a while. My first thought was that the razor was dull, but no, it was a new blade. My next thought was I not paying attention. And there it was! I wasn’t paying attention: attention to what I was doing, what I was trying to accomplish. I shave everyday and it became a mindless habit. But the first time or the first dozen times I shaved, I had to pay attention. I had to make a point of doing it with the intention of succeeding. In the beginning I made a contract with myself to shave with attention.
I quickly realized that we all make contracts with ourselves to do tasks every day. So what contract did I neglect to make for finding an associate? I started the ball rolling and then I dropped that ball. I didn’t follow up, get creative or put my heart into it.
I needed an agreement that I could adhere to consistently. Like all of you, my work days are filled without much wiggle room for one more task. I decided to look at my work schedule on a weekly and daily basis. Success takes commitment and work. I realized that I could commit part of each Wednesday to looking for my new associate.
I created what I call my “Contact Contract”.
What does that mean to me? It’s an agreement to pay attention to see my intention:
- I check in with me: How am I feeling? What is my frame of mind? What is my energy level? Am I truly in contact with me?
- What is my goal for today’s associate search? Do I know who I’m looking for? Am I paying attention? Am I in contact with what I am doing?
- Who am I reaching out to today? Am I clearly communicating with them, verbally and energetically?
- Who am I following up with today? What am I reviewing today?
Sometimes this takes ten minutes and sometimes it takes me over an hour. But the key point I have learned in implementing this “Contact Contract” is that the most important contact I make is with myself. The time I spend at work is more productive. There is more play time. And finally, sleep time has returned.
Using a “Contact Contract” works for me. I’m more creative and happy. My search goes on, if you’re wondering, and the rewards are coming in.
Create your own “Contact Contract”
Are you paying attention to you and the intentions you are putting out there?