Just Say Yes

Survival in today’s workforce culture heavily suggests turning your personal passions into action. One must equip one’s self with a “chock-full” of “yes” responses to numerous charges from questions, insights, opinions and attitudes stemming from matters relative to performance, accountability, self-awareness, subordination and well-being.

This outlook was not always in my front windshield. As the driver of my career path, I did not immediately determine my federal role to be a “plus.” It was at the twenty-year pivotal point where I began to draw the timeline to create this “plus” into an asset.

How does one travel from point to point on their created career path timeline? My 40+ years of self-empowerment propelled me to undergo a “charge to myself,” hence, increase my rate of success. Let me share some healthy work habits that I learned from professionals in the field that truly work:

• What over why: When I am charged with an action, I don’t ask “why.” Internalize for yourself what you can do to generate a success on your path timeline. If I focus on the “why,” I won’t move forward. I remain stuck on non-important matters that don’t lift me. Disregard the “why.”
• Customize your feedback: Pay personal attention to your feedback. Attract readers to your feedback. You will be remembered. You will be afforded a higher level of complexity actions. Start your feedback from the top.
• Blow your own mind! Design a system for providing responses to actions that equate to “yes,” without needing to always remark “yes.” Do the research if you are uncertain. Create a partner community. Profile perfect comments. Trust that someone has already provided the answers to your asks.
• Employ personal habits of a healthy lifestyle: If you can say “Yes” to yourself in the morning mirror when you awake, charge yourself with responding “yes” for the remainder of the day. I write on the mirrors throughout my home, “Best Day Ever,” “Be Great Today,” “Light and Love Only,” and a few others. Saying “Yes” begins within.

In closing, take an “in-charge and control role over the outcomes of the day.” Declutter your house, bedroom, office, office cubicle, desk and social network. Always leave your mind open for the new! Self-manage! If you can control how much clutter you collect around you, you are at an advantage point with control over your life.

I learned about these habits from professionals in the field of self -management. I re-invent meeting notes into self- taught lessons by infusing my personal stories into the notes I have taken. Then I execute!

Credits to:  Dr. Tarsha Eurich and Danielle Leslie

Alice Boone is a GovLoop Featured Contributor. She has 40+ years of distinguished service in the federal government. Ms. “M” began her career in 1979, with the Department of Transportation, D.C. In 1984, Ms. “M” accepted a position with the Department of Defense. In 1993, she accepted a position with the National Science Foundation (NSF). Ms. “M” joined Veterans Affairs in 2008. In 2009, Ms. “M” volunteered at the White House under President Obama for three years. As of February 2020. Ms. “M” continues to display treasured skillsets as a Program Analyst.