The Sticky Note Hack
Summary
I use sticky notes as reminders to help me focus on key behaviors. These notes act as environmental cues to keep important goals top of mind.
At first, I needed to control my facial expressions during conversations. I used a sticky note that said "be neutral" to remind me to maintain a neutral reaction, helping me to listen and understand better.
After a couple of weeks, once I mastered neutrality, I realized I was being too passive. I changed my approach with a new sticky note that said "confront" to encourage me to speak up and express when I disagreed.
It's important to identify one thing to improve at a time. By focusing on a single behavior, I could make noticeable progress without feeling overwhelmed.
Setting up small reminders in your environment can significantly aid in developing new habits and skills gradually.
Video
How To Take Action
I would suggest implementing sticky notes as reminders to help you focus on key behaviors or tasks. These notes work wonders as simple, low-cost environmental cues. Start by identifying the one behavior or skill you want to improve. It could be something as small as maintaining a neutral facial expression or remembering to speak up in meetings.
A good way to begin is to place a sticky note where you see it often, like on your computer screen. Write down the behavior you're focusing on. For instance, if you need to control your facial expressions, a note saying "be neutral" can remind you to keep a calm demeanor. Over time, as you master this, you might find a need to adapt. If you notice you're becoming too passive, swap that note for one that encourages a different behavior, like "confront" to remind you to speak up and express your thoughts.
Always focus on improving one thing at a time. This helps avoid feeling overwhelmed and makes the improvement process more manageable. By keeping these reminders around, you gradually develop new habits and skills, making steady and noticeable progress. This method is low in cost and time but high in effectiveness, perfect for anyone dedicated to personal growth or business success.
Full Transcript
I would have a sticky note that I would put on my computer whatever I was trying to focus on at the time you know in the beginning because I'm very expressive with my face and so someone would say something be like it's like that's not good so I just had a little sticky note that said be neutral I probably had that for about two three weeks until I noticed like I was just like a neutral reaction to everything nothing was good or bad I just was like asking questions right and then at one point I felt like I was too passive and so I had a word that said confront and so someone would say something and I everyone be like okay and like actually no I don't agree let's talk about that and so I think you just have to identify like what's the one thing I can focus on today and if you keep it top of mind and you put environmental cues around for yourself you're going to get better
