Diagram of the method for pwning life.
Don’t you hate it when you buy a book designed to help with something and you feel like the whole thing could have been explained in ten pages? Forget ten pages! How about one image!
I’m still beta testing the system and when it’s complete, I’ll have the whole thing available for free right here on this page in the form of a PDF. Put your name and email address in the form to the right and you’ll be notified when the complete system is ready (you’ll also get updates to the blog).
Here are more details (the finalized PDF will have a more complete set of exercises and success stories).
1) Confusion
Whether your Bill Gates or a kid just entering high school, we all run into times when we’re confused and aren’t sure what our “next move” should be. If you notice yourself feeling like this, move on to step 2. If you feel cool like a cucumber… stay cool. 
2) Goal Writing
This process is used to help figure out what your main focus should be. There are probably hundreds of methods that could be inserted here, I’m going to share the one I use.
Get a piece of paper and a pen. Ready? Write the date at the top, then write ten goals that you’d like to complete within 12 months in the first person present. Example:
I make enough money each month to live and save comfortably.
Ten seems easy and it gets easier with time, but don’t be surprised if you get stuck at five or six. Also, don’t think about it too much. The goals can be large or small. Some goals might seem like they’re pretty much the same. Don’t worry. Just get ten.
If this is your first time using the system, you might want to repeat this step every day for one or two weeks straight. I tell people to do this to give their goals time to “normalize.” The first time you write your goals they’ll be influenced by what you were thinking about during that day (this is true every day). After two weeks of goal writing your “true” goals will start to shine through.
Done with your goals? On to the next step…
3) Goal Selection
Which one goal will have the greatest positive impact on your life? Circle it.
Feel the need to circle more than one? That’s OK. It’s your system not mine.
This is the foundation, feel free to remix it to your hearts content! One thing I’ve noticed during testing is that sometimes there’s a “passion” goal that can’t be shaken. Logic sometimes tells you the goal you “should” circle is something like “find a job,” but passion tells you to start your tai chi school. Don’t be afraid to listen to your heart, but make sure you make progress towards what’s logical (balance ).
4) Brain Storming
The brainstorming can be done a number of ways, one way was listed in the video. Take your goal, turn it into a question with a set date and list 20 answers. Example:
How can I make enough money each month to live and save comfortably by September 30, 2011?
Answering the question 20 times really forces you to think outside of the box and often times you’ll come up with really good answers after 15. Other ways the brainstorming could be done is mind-mapping or by getting a group of friends together to brainstorm (start a local group!).
I’ve had the most success using the question and occasionally mind-mapping.
5) Create An Action Plan
Going back to the Brian Tracy video, using the “1 thing every day” method has been very effective. This takes away unnecessary pressure to make things happen NOW and instead instills the reality that things take time. This doesn’t mean you can’t have UBER productive days where you do 10 things that take you closer to the goal. Just always make sure you do one thing every day.
Your action plan will be based on your brainstorming. Take any one idea that you think is worth pursuing and break it down into the smallest bite sized chunks possible. For example, if “redo resume” was on your list, you might want to break it down like this:
- Rewrite objective.
- Update new positions
- Change formatting
- Update skills
- Have John read/edit it
- etc.
Never EVER make a large task the thing you’ll get done for the day. Break it up into the smallest pieces possible. This will highly increase the chances of you doing your one thing for the day. “Redo resume” makes you go “UUUUUGGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!” “Rewrite objective” is like “Meh, but OK.”
Making your to-do list (even if it’s a “list” of one item) should be the first thing you do in the morning, or something you do at night so you know exactly what needs to get done to move you closer to your main goal. Sometimes your to-do list will last you for a few days (or weeks). Sometimes your goal is one that, once set it in motion, is something you just need to do every day in order to make it a habit (note: if you’re trying to make a new habit 30 days usually isn’t enough, go for something like 90 days).
Once you complete one of the items on your brainstorming list, start working on another.
6) ACTION!
Pretty self explanatory right? I even mentioned it in the last step. It’s worth mentioning again. Do something EVERYDAY that’s taking you closer to your goal. Write down what that something is going to be. Do it. And cross it off.
7) The Fork
Regardless of how you fork, you end up back at goal writing, but it’s worth talking about how you get back there.
A) It’s good to write your goals at least once a week (once a day is even better). This will help you stay focused, will help you keep a nice “action/to-do” list and will also give you early warnings that…
B) It’s time to change your goal. You’re not a machine so don’t treat yourself like one. Things change and what you want to focus on will change with them. You obviously don’t want to flip-flop too early and often, but on the other hand you don’t want to stay to rigidly focused on a goal that no longer makes sense for you to complete (for whatever reason). Balance.
C) ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED! Congratulations! You completed the goal you’ve been striving towards for so long! Reward yourself! Actual… you should be rewarding yourself at milestones on your way up to completing the goal. Remember, this should be fun!
The Circle Is Now Complete
That’s it. It’s cyclical. You’re never “finished.” This is life! This is what makes it fun! Whatever your current challenge is, it’s a challenge and you’re trying to figure out how to overcome it. We all are. Doing the steps above will naturally lead you to the right resources, books and people to help you with your quest. Joining or starting a community of people who are always pwning life will accelerate the speed at which you complete cycles. The more you practice pwning life the more you will accelerate the speed at which you complete cycles.
This “system” isn’t new. It’s how you’ve done everything from learning to walk to getting your first job. The only difference is making a regular habit of writing down your goals and plans (for clarity) and tracking your progress (to know you’re making progress!)
Final Thoughts
This is the basic system I’ve been testing for almost a year. When I create the PDF/eBook I’d like there to be a little more detail and it be designed like a workbook so you could print it out and work through each step with the notes right there. I’d also like to include a list of resources I’ve found helpful (books, audios, DVDs, websites, etc.)
If you’re like me and have a lot of things you want to work on at once, this is REALLY helpful at getting you focused. If you’re not like me and aren’t sure about what to do next, this will help you figure that out. The more you do this, the better you get at “it” (pwning life).
I recommend getting 3 things. A 3 hole punch. A nice pen (or set of pens) and 2 binders (a large one a a smaller one). The large binder is the archive and I carry the smaller binder with me. I do my goals on the left and my brainstorming on the right. You could obviously do this a number of ways (a notebook, digitally, etc.), but this is how I do it. Key point is having that archive of where you’ve been (to help see where you’re going).
Also remember, DON’T rigidly stick to this system! Make it your own! I have a lot of friends who have been successfully using this system and every single one of them has modified some aspect of it (usually small changes). Take it as it is. Test it, then make modifications so it fits you perfectly. You might like doing your goals everyday. Do it! You might like doing them once every 3 months. Do that! Maybe you want to choose 3 goals to work on. Just do it! As you grow, this system should grow with you. I’m sure this same basic system would apply to Bill Gates as much as it does to you or I, but instead of only having a list of things HE has to do, he most likely also has a list of things to delegate to others.
That’s enough rambling from me. If you found this guide useful, please use the sharing buttons to pass it on to friends and or subscribe to the blog to get updates (so you can give me feedback!) Comments are always welcome. 
Thanks for stop by and…
HAPPY PWNING!
