40 January 10 • 2019
jn

I

t’
s always great to close out a year 
and start a fresh, new one. The 
same can be said with a fiscal 
year, a quarter or a month in any 
business. Regardless which of these 
you are beginning — including a 
new and, most likely, improved goal 
— we must remember that what got 
us to where we are will not get us to 
where we want to go. This is a sim-
ple concept many people have a hard time grasping 
because with new comes an increase in discipline, 
resilience and seeing things through new lenses. 
 Here are three ways we can make sure our new 
lenses bring us the clarity we need to thrive and 
achieve our goals. 

INCREASE OUR AWARENESS 
We must take a hard look at the limiting beliefs that 
continually get us stuck in our business, with our 
people and our ability to grow our own leadership 
skills. This requires us to look introspectively and 
evaluate ourselves first, not just those around us. 
Studies show that we need 7-16 minutes a day 
where we turn off all external stimuli and tune 
internally for deep thinking and/or to think about 
nothing. Our brain needs time to process and sim-
ply not be so overworked all the time. We must pay 

attention to keeping our brain healthy. 

A Monthly Challenge:
Take 7-16 minutes each day to do nothing. Go for a 
walk without your iPhone, sit in a chair daydream-
ing without your phone nearby and/or make up 
your own routine that allows you to unplug. This 
may also be great to incorporate into your compa-
ny’
s culture. Show your people you really care about 
them by paying them to daydream and take care of 
their internal world. I think you may be surprised by 
the results! 

UNDERSTANDING AND OVERCOMING
YOUR LIMITING BELIEFS
We all have them, yet many of us don’
t even know 
what they are, nor do we want to know what they 
are. That being said, if we want to grow, we must 
know what our limiting beliefs are. 
According to Body, Mind and Mouth, we have 
nearly 50,000 thoughts a day and most of them are 
negative. How are we supposed to grow our business 
when our own thoughts and mindset are holding us 
back? This is unacceptable. 

A Monthly Challenge: 
Every time you think, say or hear yourself saying 
or echoing a negative thought, I want you to say to 

yourself or quietly, “shhhh.
” The thought process 
here is simple: If you are the one filling your own 
brain with these negative beliefs, then you are the 
one that needs to tell yourself to be quiet. A simple 
“shhh” will get that started and begin to stop you 
in your tracks. You can even say to yourself: “Shhh, 
say/think something positive right now and release 
the negative thoughts.
” I know this exercise is not 
easy, but you need to start somewhere. 

GET UNSTUCK
It’
s common for most people to not even know if 
or where they are stuck. How many times do you 
feel like the Dunkin’
 Donuts guy and say or think to 
yourself: “Time to make the donuts!” 
Research shows that 80 percent of Americans see 
themselves as “creatures of habit” and many have 
not changed their schedules in more than 10 years. 
I’
m a big believer in habits that work in the growth 
of your business, life and mindset. That being said, 
what habits and schedules have not changed for you, 
but should? This is an important question to know 
where you may be stuck and need to get unstuck. 

A Monthly Challenge: 
Take 15 minutes this week and do the following: 
• Make a list of three areas in your 
 business where you may be stuck. 
• Write about what you do. 
• Write about what you believe you 
 should be doing.
• Highlight the areas where you 
 need to grow.
• Once you highlight those areas, 
 create three specific and measur-
 able leading activities to begin 
 your journey of getting unstuck.
• Create a 30-day plan and begin 
 taking action today .

Tap into your hunger, drive and courage to have 
a year of significant growth. In order to do this, you 
must: 
• Spend time increasing your 
 awareness. 
• Don’
t let your own mind get in 
 your way.
• Pay attention to where you are 
 stuck and the action steps needed 
 to create change. 

None of this is easy, but it’
s important for the 
growth of your mind, your business and your soul. 
When you do the work internally, the external work 
gets easier because you and your business matter. ■

Jon Dwoskin is a business coach and executive adviser 
who grows businesses. He is the author of “The Think Big 
Movement.” Visit jondwoskin.com for more or email him at jon@
jondwoskin.com. 

Jon Dwoskin

Monthly challenges 
help keep our brains 
healthy and aware.
Being 
Mindful 
of Your
Mindfulness

