Page 6 - NBIZ February 2021

goal. Overcoming each obstacle moves healthy immune systems. This recom- One of the tools to focus on what
the individual closer to achieving his/ mendation has been echoed by other one can control is using Socrates three
her goals. doctors and health organizations. filters of truth. The first filter is “What
Positive affirmations also support Time management also helps keep you say truthful?” Filter number two
successful goal achievement from a one from “running on empty.” Firstly, is “What you say kind?” And, the final
mental perspective and are similar time management is an oxymoron filter is “What you say necessary?”
to a fuel additive for a car. When one because no one can manage a constant. When we can say “Yes” to each filter,
reaffirms what he/she wants to be in Self-leadership and having a mental those “Yeses” keep us on track. For
the present tense, one strengthens his/ planning attitude helps one handle myself, the third filter is the one that
her existing fuel (think energy) and time management. “Running behind” I usually have the greatest difficulty
works towards his/her vision. leads people to incorrectly manage saying “yes” to. By saying unnecessary
During times of uncertainty, there themselves efficiently (doing things things, I am on the hamster’s wheel of
is a tendency to not listen to one’s right) and effectively (doing the right “beyond my control.” This wheel adds
body. One’s physical health can con- thing). Again, one’s values come into to my stress and keeps me from being
tribute to truly “running on empty.” If play because one chooses to not leading focused on what I need to get done.
this happens, one may want to assess with his/her values, and instead might This leads me to the result of “running
his/her sleeping habits. The National be responding to the values or influ- into the sun, but running blind.”
Sleep Foundation suggests those ence of others. Through my self-analysis, what
between the ages of 26-64 should How often are people “running on I have learned is that “running on
sleep for 7-9 hours while those 65 plus empty” because they ran out of time? empty” many times is the result of not
require 7-8 hours. These recommenda- Even those who appear to have their knowing what individuals do well.
tions are based on research from other time under control may still have gaps. Human beings are for the most part
organizations including the American Focusing on what one cannot control negatively conditioned from early
Neurological Association and the can lead to one of these gaps. When one childhood. The “Don’ts” lead people to
American Physiological Society. feels there is nothing he/she can do, it think he/she can’t. Then one will try
With the COVID pandemic, main- drains one’s physical, emotional, and to overcome what one can’t do and, in
taining strong immune systems has mental energies. One needs to focus on turn, fail to see what one can do.
resurfaced as a priority. An Associate what one can control such as physical, From my executive coaching
Professor of Dietetics and Nutrition mental, and spiritual well-being. Also fo- practice, I can accurately state over
from Florida International University cusing on what one cannot control adds 97% of my clients know what they can’t
suggested these two (2) vitamins of C to one’s stress levels and works against do well and less than 25% of my clients
and D and the mineral of zinc support the desired result of “running on full.” know with crystal clarity what they
can do well. Think about the impact
of those numbers. If we are running
on empty, what will energize us, get
us back on track? What we don’t do
well or what we do well? For me and
<25% my clients, knowing our talents and

know what working with those talents instead of
turning our non-talents into weak-
they
CAN do well nesses makes far more sense. With
some of my clients, this knowledge
>97% of what they do well was a dramatic
know what they turning point and they saw a positive
change in just 24 to 48 hours.
CAN’T do well Yes, running on empty is no fun.
However, the words of Henry Ford
may light the spark to get you to
“running on full.” “Whether you think
From my executive coaching practice, I can you can, or you think you cannot, you
accurately state over 97% of my clients know what are right.” N
they can’t do well and less than 25% of my clients Leanne Hoagland-Smith is a clarity

know with crystal clarity what they can do well. strategist, solving people and process
problems. As a thought leader who
Think about the impact of those numbers. challenges the status quo, she turns
tomorrow’s goals into today’s results.
Follow her on Twitter @CoachLee.

6 NBIZ ■ February 2021