Success Coach Extrodinare Kathy Zimmer on The 2 Crucial Elements of Achievement

Your DMP and OATS

Posted on October 7, 2010 by kathyzimmer

Is there anyone who knows Kathy and is not a big fan?  I sure am……and thrilled to run a recent post of hers.

Kathy writes:

I want to begin with two foundational items that you will need to have before you as you begin your journey to success. Too often, even well-intentioned and talented people leave success to chance. They may know what they want, but it isn’t truly clearly defined on paper. Much of what they want and the plan of action to acquire it, is still in their head. You may have written down your goals numerous times in different forms, but do you have a well-defined and written “definite major purpose” (DMP) as mentioned in the previous post? Let’s begin with that. Search your own heart and determine what you really want or need. Not what someone else wants for you, what you truly want. That item or items is your DMP. Next, you must decide what you will give in return to acquire this, as there is no such thing as “something for nothing.” Is TV taking too much of your time? Maybe you should remove it from your bedroom. If you have a home-based business, are you truly being consistent working your business in the hours per week that you have allotted? The last step in defining your DMP is to write out the date that you intend to achieve your need or desire, date it, write it in the present tense, and emotionalize it.

An example: I feel terrific that I’m well able to provide for my family by earning $10,000 a month in my business on or before December 31, 2013. I have such a feeling of security knowing that we are debt-free and already have the money for our children’s college education. I’m truly happy that I can now tithe and give to the charities of my choice. In return for the money, I work my business 15 hours per week. I will not watch TV during this time or use it for non-income producing activities. My family fully supports me and they know they come first because I always make time for them during the week.

Read your DMP out loud – 3 times per day – once just after rising, once during the day, and just before going to bed. This is KEY: As you read out loud, see, feel and believe yourself ALREADY in possession of the $10,000 a month income (or whatever). Read it with emotion! You don’t have to be loud on the back porch so your neighbors can hear you. (Unless your DMP is to live on Kauai & you really do want your neighbors to know).

The second foundational item that you need is your OATS. Your OATS is your action plan to acquire your DMP. It is important to get into action right away, whether you feel like it or not, whether you’re ready or not. Just begin, take action, make a mess of it the first couple of days, if you will. Don’t ask yourself if you “feel” like making the calls (or whatever). Of course you don’t feel like it, if it’s out of your comfort zone (which is directly tied to your “internal blueprint.”) But also in your comfort zone there may be debt, inadequate income, no money for college, no time for your family, etc.  So is it really a “comfort zone?” Just get into action.

OATS is your weekly (written) action plan to obtain your DMP. Here is an example:

O = Objective I will bring 3 new people into my business this week.

A = Action I will make 50 prospect calls per day.

T = Time 3 hours to make the dials (includes 15% extra time for unexpected delays)

S = Schedule I will make the calls Monday – Friday from 9am – 12noon and I will spend Saturday with my family.

Again, the key here is ACTION. Like A. L. “Art” Williams, Jr. , the billionaire insurance executive taught, “Just do it!” (See it at Kathys Blog).

“Create a definite plan for carrying out your desire and begin at once, whether you’re ready or not, to put this plan into action.” ~ Napoleon Hill

To your success,

Kathy