Michael Hyatt
Author of New York Times bestseller, Platform
Discussion
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Michael Hyatt
@michaelhyatt · New York Times Bestselling Author
Hi, I’m Michael Hyatt, author of the new book, Living Forward: A Proven Plan to Stop Drifting and Get the Life You Want. I help over-whelmed high achievers get the clarity, courage, and resources they need to win at work and succeed at life. I’m delighted to be here. Feel free to ask me anything!
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CF Creative
@cfcreative1 · Senior Creative Director, Christ Fellows
Michael I just finished Living Forward and my first draft of my life plan. The beginning of this year I completed 5 Days to the Best Year. How does each work together? Should I go back and rework some goals to align?
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Michael Hyatt
@michaelhyatt · New York Times Bestselling Author
@cfcreative1 Great question. Life Plan is the 30,000 foot view of your life. Annual Goals (BYE) is the 10,000 foot view. Once you have a life plan, you can begin creating annual goals that move you in the direction of your Envisioned Future.
Nik Sharma
@mrsharma · Stealth Ad Agency CEO
Hi Michael - thanks for doing the PH LIVE! On your site you have an example of someone who's stressed, and busy with their daily events going on in life. How would you combat that, and encourage them to continue doing what they're doing, in a stress-free manner? Thanks!
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Michael Hyatt
@michaelhyatt · New York Times Bestselling Author
@mrsharma You have to get clear on what you want out of life in each of the major categories of life and then begin to make decisions and arrange your calendar to get you there. This is what we cover in depth in Living Forward.
Cass McCrory
@cass_mccrory
@mrsharma I found the Ideal Week exercise SO helpful. I was the definition of "overwhelmed" and I had heard other thought leaders recommend this exercise but I had never been pulled to do it in line with my priorities the way it is in the book. I HIGHLY recommend doing that ideal week and then seeing if you can make this week fit into that mold. I didn't think I could...but when I tried it was possible and I'm day 2.5 in living my "ideal week" and it's awesome.
Nik Sharma
@mrsharma · Stealth Ad Agency CEO
@cass_mccrory Thanks Cass, will def try it out!
Emily Hodgins
@ems_hodge · Community and Marketing, Product Hunt
Hi Michael, what's one thing that you often find yourself telling to people help them be more courageous?
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Michael Hyatt
@michaelhyatt · New York Times Bestselling Author
@ems_hodge I often tell people, “Do it scared.” Courage is not the absence of fear but the willingness to act in spite of your fear.
Adam Owen
@adamowenit · Search Engine Marketing Consultant
Hi Michael! I listen to your podcast every week while I'm driving, and I love it.
My question would be - what's your view on focus? Do you think we should all focus on a single career path/business idea/project etc., or is it okay to spread ourselves across a few things (even though understandably we'll have to spend less time on each)?
I'm 20 - not sure if that'd change your answer. Thanks
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Michael Hyatt
@michaelhyatt · New York Times Bestselling Author
@adamowenit I think when you are young, you have to experiment to find out what you like (passion), what you are good at (proficiency) and what you can make a living doing (profit). Those three constitute your calling.
Brian Yamabe
@byamabe
Going through "Living Forward" and wondering about writing your own eulogy. It says that it should be done in the present, but does that mean it shouldn't include future goals or things you plan to accomplish?
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Michael Hyatt
@michaelhyatt · New York Times Bestselling Author
@byamabe The Eulogy should be written in the present. We didn't make that as clear as we should have, so we are revising for the next edition. Your Legacy Statements are all about the future.
David Edwards
@dave_edwards · Ministry Specialist, Southpointe
@michaelhyatt @byamabe I put this very question in my post! So the point is that it's as if it's given in the future, but we're imagining it as if we're there RIGHT NOW so we can immerse ourselves in that experience, correct?
Jonathan Domeck
@jdomeck
How do you overcome the paralysis of reality when you start to think forward. It sometime feels overwhelming to think I have a limit amount of time on earth and enjoy the sense of adventure by not focusing on the future and focusing on the now (today). How does living forward help one maintain some sense of wonder and adventure when you have your life "planned" in a structured format/pattern? Thanks for writing living forward, its inspiring.
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Michael Hyatt
@michaelhyatt · New York Times Bestselling Author
@jdomeck Once you get clear on the future (Envisioned Future) and then acknowledge where you are (Current Reality), you can chart the course (Specific Commitments). But this process will leave plenty of margin for doing things spontaneously. More than any tool I have ever encountered, a life plan will help you be PRESENT in every situation.
Harry Stebbings
@harrystebbings · Podcast Host @ The Twenty Minute VC
Huge fan of yours Michael and thanks so much for joining us today, I would love to hear how you approach audience expansion? When you feel you have proliferated one audience, say early stage entrepreneurs, how do you seek to expand the audience to later stage entrepreneurs without alienating the core group of listeners you already have? Would love to hear your thoughts on this and would be a pleasure to have you on @twentyminutevc
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Michael Hyatt
@michaelhyatt · New York Times Bestselling Author
@harrystebbings @twentyminutevc I am a big believer in Facebook ads. I typically find audiences that are already similar to mine and advertise to them. I offer a free, compelling giveaway and use that to get them into a product promotion funnel. I literally doubled the size of my email list last year doing this.
Susan Curtis
@all_social · Pres., All Social: WordofMouth Amplified
@harrystebbings @twentyminutevc Look forward to reading Michael's response. I would recommend list segmentation -- the more specifically you can talk to your followers, the more they will feel you are addressing their exact needs.
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Michael Hyatt
@michaelhyatt · New York Times Bestselling Author
@all_social @harrystebbings @twentyminutevc Yep, we practice that, too. If you go to michaelhyatt.com/welcome you will see my Welcome Mat and how we segment.
Susan Scott
@susan_scott · Successful Homeschool Mom
@michaelhyatt I love the Welcome Mat concept!
Susan Curtis
@all_social · Pres., All Social: WordofMouth Amplified
@michaelhyatt @harrystebbings @twentyminutevc Very well done!
Donald Newman
@donald_newman · Director of Acquisitions at Xulon Press
What kind of daily rituals can I choose to help me live forward? Do you have any?
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Michael Hyatt
@michaelhyatt · New York Times Bestselling Author
@donald_newman Yes, I have plenty. You are your habits. In fact, my current podcast is on this topic. http://michaelhyatt.com/season-7...
Donald Newman
@donald_newman · Director of Acquisitions at Xulon Press
@michaelhyatt that is awesome, I will check it out. Love your podcast, books and the content you produce. We recommend Platform all the time. I am 52 with two beautiful granddaughters and your book was right on time for helping me make the most of my "Second Half". Just lost 55 lbs and I am getting ready to train for a Triathlon this summer, it will be my fifth one. Michael, there are a lot of us Christian business leaders that receive a lot from you. Thank you for your leadership!
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Michael Hyatt
@michaelhyatt · New York Times Bestselling Author
@donald_newman Awesome, Don. Thanks.
Lea Delazer
@leadelazer · Digital designer based in Munich
Hi Michael! First of all I want to say that in amazed and impressed by Living Forward. It's such a wonderful thing to work with! I've got a question about life accounts. As I understand we want every single account to get into the "gift state". But what should we do with accounts that make us struggle? For me it's my parents. Our relationship is complicated and it is constantly draining energy, although we do not see each other often. I had a hard time thinking about them when writing my eulogy. So what does it mean? How can we integrate the difficult parts - shall we work them out? Or is it better to make them less important and focus on the accounts that help us thrive?
Susan Scott
@susan_scott · Successful Homeschool Mom
@leadelazer I'm in much the same boat. Do you minimize toxic relationships or strive to improve them? When it comes to people like our parents, there is only so much we can control. I'm going for seeking to be the best person I can be when in their presence, not responding to the usual anger or manipulative behaviors, simply modeling grace and empathy. I do it so I know down the road, I will not have any regrets over what I wish I may have said, or ways I should have tried harder.
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Michael Hyatt
@michaelhyatt · New York Times Bestselling Author
@leadelazer Great question. I think there are probably some relationships where you do the best you can, but it is never going to be great because “it takes two to tango.” I think you do the best you can but focus most of your resources on those relationships where you can really make a difference.