Stress (3)

What is one change you made in your life because you thought it would help manage, minimize, or avoid stress?

Time (3)

How often do you find yourself rushing through tasks because you just don't have enough time to do a careful and thorough job?

Hard work (1)

Some people spend long minutes hunting for the perfect parking space, just to save walking an extra 100 feet. What is one favorite "shortcut" of yours that sometimes takes more effort than it saves?

Success (2)

Yesterday you identified one key obstacle or handicap that limits your success. Now, think about this question: Who else has had to face that same obstacle or handicap?  Think of people past and present, people you know and also people you've heard about indirectly, who've struggled with difficulties similar to the one you face. Are some of these people considered successful?  What were their strategies for dealing with this obstacle? 

Things that can't be seen (4)

"Out of sight, out of mind" is a folk saying that tells us we rely on our eyes to keep track of things. It's easy to forget about something invisible, no matter how important it is. What are some everyday examples of visible reminders that help you remember the things you have to do? What do you do to make your important priorities more visible? 

Feeling stuck (4)

Think of a few different times in your life when you had felt stuck and then managed to get unstuck.  In each of those cases, what ingredient made the critical difference that got you moving again?  Did you follow the same pattern every time you got yourself unstuck, or was it different every time? 

Feeling stuck (2)

What is your typical response to being stuck?  Do you wait and hope for things to change?  Do you try harder and harder, hoping to break free?  Do you try lots of different things, hoping that you will chance upon something that works? 

Try and try again

What is something where you tried and failed a few times before you finally got a good result?  Did you finally succeed by applying the lessons from your earlier attempts, or was it simply luck that brought you to a successful outcome? 

Twofer

It's a beautiful thing when the same action can solve two separate problems at the same time.  Is there an example from your own life where a solution took care of two problems at once?

Think of two problems you have right now.  If there were a solution that addressed both problems (however fanciful or unlikely it might be), what would that solution look like?

This week's theme is problems and solutions.

Patience

What is one example of a situation where patience definitely paid off for you?

Wellsprings of inspiration

There are many different ways to come up with new ideas and fresh approaches when you need them. What is your most familiar technique for finding new ideas? What are some other idea-generating techniques that you could try?

This week's theme is new ideas.

Research or experimentation

Which is your typical pattern in trying something new: do you try the first thing you find and see what happens, or do you first gather a list of options and pick the best-looking one?

This week's theme is new ideas.

Early symptoms

Think of one of the recent problems that erupted in your life and suddenly required a lot of your time and attention. What warning signs could have alerted you to the problem ahead of time, if you had known what to look for?

This week's theme is pointing the way.

The winter season

A maple tree abandons its leaves as it pulls energy into its center to survive the cold winter. Is there something that you similarly let go of or set aside with the changing of the seasons?

Tell us a story: stubborn

What was one time when you wouldn't accept defeat — when you kept trying again, after any reasonable person would have given up?

Your first reaction

Some people seek out advice. Some try to research and analyze the situation. Some complain loudly to whoever seems to be in charge. What is the tactic that you typically turn to first when things slip out of control?

This week's theme is control.

Getting out of sync

The roads here are crowded at 8 a.m., but much less crowded for people willing to drive at 7 a.m. You can pay full price for new clothing today, or wait 8 weeks and perhaps get the exact same items at half price.

In both of these examples, you gain an advantage just by doing things at a different time from most other people. What are some examples from your own life, where you sometimes choose to do things on your own timing, getting yourself out of sync with the crowd?

This week's theme is timing.

Tell us a story: up before dawn

What was the longest time you willingly waited in line, or the earliest you got up in the morning, just to make sure that you could be there for some very special event?

What was the event? And did your extra effort pay off?

Caught you off guard

Surprise is often a tactic used by someone who wants to win by defeating someone else—for example, in battle, in sports, and in sales. What are some people or situations in your own life that prompt you to be wary against possible surprises?

This week's theme is surprises.

Tell us a story: unstoppable force

What is a contest you won, a goal you reached, or an obstacle you defeated by sheer will, relentless persistence, or overwhelming force?

Did you buy up every available raffle ticket, sit up all night to be first in line, or painstakingly memorize every possible test answer? What was your successful strategy, and what was the prize you won?