GETTING IN THE ZONE IN 2012

Getting in the Zone

 Does your life have a beat? Is your life moving rhythmatically? All successful Urban Networkers have a rhythm to their lives. Like the Bass player sets the beat; the quarterback calls the play; the drill sergeant bellows a cadence; the Urban Networker sets a rhythm in his or her life.

Once you establish a rhythm, things move swiftly and easily. Your life will have a beat. When you are really flowing with the beat of life, you are in the Zone. Is your life out of sync? When you lack rhythm in your life, some things may become confusing and chaotic. Things will seem to go wrong when your life is out of sync. Your team members, associates and family members may not be able to assist in balancing your life once it has become inconsistent and out of sync.

 My days were filled with rhythm during my early military days in boot camp. We marched to a cadence daily. We marched to breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The cadence made it easier for all of us to move as one. One person would yell out the cadence in order to keep us together.

Your rhythm is a management tool

Developing a rhythm can help you manage your contacts, your team and your organization. Once a common rhythm is developed everyone can move as a unit. Common goals equal common direction.

Consistent Action creates Momentum

The Urban Networker schedules regular team meetings and sends out informational e-mails, thereby creating a steady beat of communication. It puts everyone in step with one another. Stuart R. Levine, author of The Six fundamentals of Success states, “The manager sets the pace and the team keeps the rhythm.”

The Mind-Body Connection

Getting into your zone is more than just establishing a rhythm - although it is a start. The zone is defined in Sports Medicine as “…a state of maximum physical, mental and psychological performance achieved by star athletes…”

When you are in your zone, you flow with life. There is a mind to body connection that puts you in your groove and some things in life become easy and effortless.

 We have all seen people in their zone. Michael Jordan was unstoppable once in his zone on the basketball court. Bill Gates got in his zone and became a multi-billionaire. Tiger Woods was unbeatable in his zone on the golf course. Barack Obama became President of the United States in his zone. Highly successful people find their inner beat and get in their zone.

 Being in the zone is an awesome state of mind, body and spirit; whether you are on the basketball court, the golf course, playing the market, networking or campaigning for office. You just keep hitting shot after shot; making the right choices; and meeting the right people.

When you are in the zone, you become magnetic. You are empowered to seize and attract opportunities.

How to get into your zone

1. Practice your craft. (Only through constant repetition do you achieve peak performance) Practice mentally, physically and spiritually. (Set aside practice time daily)

2. Meditate and visualize yourself achieving your goals several times a day. (Make sure you incorporate not only the visual image, but the emotional joy, the confidence and feeling of victory you experience reaching your goals.)

3. Make it a habit of making phone calls and sending updates via email. (This will help you establish your rhythm and your co-workers and colleagues will appreciate the flow of information and your consistency. You will appear dependable, resourceful and supportive.)

 4. Create rituals and systems in your life. (Put things on a schedule. Set up a routine. Random meetings upset the flow. Regular meetings help people know what to expect. Regular scheduling will help you manage your time and the time of others.)

Be the Ball

The more consistent you are in your actions, the closer you get to your zone. Urban Networkers are consistent in their actions and it translates to consistent outcomes. The player who practices going to the hoop becomes better and better in each game. After consistent practice, they stop thinking about the shot. Like the slogan from Nike, “Just do it”, infers an instinctive action that does not require analysis, just correct action. You can train your mind and body to act as one. Whether you are on the court or in the office, your actions become the ball and your goals are the hoop. Be the Ball and you will be on your way to your Zone.

Michael Rice, Editor of the Connector Internet resource guide. The Connector provides business, social and personal development information beneficial to individuals, non-profit organizations and businesses seeking to develop better relationships. For information regarding personal development training workshops, cds, and events go to www.theconnectornetwork.com or call 215-339-8208