By Linda Feinholz

It takes two things to become successful: Motivation and An Action Plan. You proved that you have the first crucial element: motivation. You showed it in the steps you’ve taken that got you this far.

Sometimes, motivation creates a momentum of it’s own… until one day we look up and realize we actually are stalled in place. Now I’m not a maniac about that phrase everyone trots out, “Grow or Die!” I’ve found that phrase driving business leaders into actions that create all sorts of time, energy and resources just for the glory of appearing to be in motion. What a waste!

Is it purposeful action? I am a hard nose about making a clear distinction: Are you marking time, standing still, holding a constant place because this is the destination you were aiming for? Or are you here because you hadn’t noticed you’re “here?” You may even be repeating yourself, doing the same old same old out of habit, with not an ounce of motivation driving it at all.

Over the past 20 yYou know that commercial, the one with the cell phone guy wandering the world, pausing every few feet to ask if the person on the other end of the phone can hear him? Well, sometimes those brilliant creative guys in the Advertising agencies come up with an icon, an image, an idea that has life beyond its original purpose.

In this particular instance, my long time clients and I have a tool we use often during our discussions about results they’re trying to accomplish.

When my client’s attention is wandering during our discussions, it can be for several reasons. Distraction, anxiety, competing priorities. The phrase I use snaps everything back into focus. I use it with everyone of my clients on occasion. It’s a phrase I use with them so often that they report using it on their own as they prepare for meetings with me and with others.

When they sit down to discuss a topic we’re working on and everything they put in the conversation is about other issues, I ask them “Are you here, now?”

When their mind is on stories about what went wrong in the past, even a year ago, I ask them “Are you here, now?”

When their pages full of plans get long and complicated and involved and full of steps and inter-connecting activities, I ask them, “Are you here, now?”

That phrase is our shorthand for the 5 Simple Questions that every professional needs to keep in mind daily.

1.    Will this get me closer to my goals?
This is the basic, Number One High Payoff question. Too often we get caught in our own momentum, following a path, committing resources, and spending our time on activities that are off track. We do it because the actions are familiar. We do it because they’re habits. Or we do it because they’re easier than the activities that are really needed to move us towards success. The first step is to be honest about how you’re using your time, intelligence and energy. Right Here. Right Now.

2.    How and WHEN will it get that result?
You’ll notice I worded that nicely. I used the word result. But let’s get honest here. I’d rather be in the Swiss Alps. You’d rather be skiing, or snorkeling, or even sitting on a beach. Everybody in your business has someplace they’d ‘rather’ be. The reason you’re reading this article is because your real question is “When will it make me money?” That’s the whole point of this time you’re spending and the attention you’re using, and the cash you’re investing. It’s to make more money. Even my clients who are inside organizations learn that I have them tie the question back to goals that are bottom line and quantifiable. And then show me HOW each thing they put their effort behind will build the money engine to make it all worthwhile. Right Here. Right Now.

3.    Will it position me as an expert?
Few of us get pleasure out of just marking time. If we’re putting in 500 hours, 1,000 hours, 2,000 hours in the foreseeable year, we want to know it was worth it. That means that if you or I devote so many of our weekday, daylight hours to an endeavor, we want to actually grow! So ask yourself whether the actions you’re putting time into will position you as an expert, a go-to resource, in your field, in your team, in your town. The answer should be a resounding “Yes!” Right Here. Right Now.

4.    Will others benefit from it?
My ideal clients experience my own personal and professional results. As I learn how to produce greater results, I take those tools, simplify them and teach them to the folks I work with who want to improve their results professionally or personally. So when you look at the questions you ask, the actions you take, are you clear about the wider value it has? Right Here. Right Now.

5.    How will it help me have more time/energy/freedom, etc.?
Remember how I said our momentum can get us stuck in actions that are ‘easy’? Well, when you ask yourself this last question, you’ll be forced to look that issue straight on. Now is the time to decide whether you’re dodging stepping into new actions that have a High Payoff return. Right Here. Right Now.

You may not have an answer to all 5 of these questions right off the bat. But when you take the time to answer them, you’ll find the five to ten minutes spent checking before taking action will make your activities 20-30-40 percent more productive every single day.

© 2008 Linda Feinholz  Management expert, consultant, and coach Linda Feinholz is "Your High Payoff Catalyst" If you're ready to focus on your High Payoff activities, boost your professional and personal results and have more fun, get her FREE audio mini-course "7 Quick & Simple Steps to Increase Your Focus, Ease Your Effort & Accelerate Your Results" and the free weekly newsletter The Spark! Visit http://www.YourHighPayoffCatalyst.com