There is so much more to living than just being alive. Most of the people we run into during our every day lives are simply going with the flow. They don’t really take advantage of their lives. They think opportunities will come knocking. They think their dreams will be lived if they just get by in their work. They think if they can go out and have enough pleasure that they will be fulfilled. They are wrong.
In my life, I have found that there are three things that I have done to really create the life of my dreams. First, take action. Second, develop resilience. Third, let philosophies guide my life.
Nothing great in this world was ever accomplished without action. Those who accomplish grand plans aren’t those who just think great thoughts, but those who take action and accomplish what they set out to accomplish. Those who are continually great are the ones who take continual action. Are you on the path to becoming continually great? Are you taking continual action?
We all run into obstacles. We all run into roadblocks. Those who endure through the pain, the suffering, the injustice, and the difficulties are the ones who succeed. Those who give up are the ones you see with blank faces as you walk past on the sidewalk. You can tell somebody who has been resilient because it is the person with a grin. There are few greater feelings than persisting through difficulty and ending up at the finish line. Accept the past for what it is; take continual action to create the future of your dreams.
Some people think philosophies have to be overwhelmingly difficult ideas. Synonyms of the word philosophy are attitude, viewpoint, thinking, ideas, and beliefs. We all need philosophies in life. We all need guiding beliefs. Last night, I was reading Perfectly Yourself by Matthew Kelly and he mentioned we all have beliefs. How are your beliefs guiding your life? What do you believe in? How are your philosophies guiding your life? How are your philosophies of life helping you create the life of your dreams?
I hope you can develop these three areas more into your life. As I think of the leaders and people I greatly admire and respect, I realize almost every single one of them has an abundance of each of these areas. They take continual action. They are resilient when they run into obstacles. They have guiding philosophies that will not let them get off course. The reason I put guiding philosophies last is I don’t want people to think they have to spend years developing philosophies, then take action. Develop personal philosophies while you are taking action and while you are being resilient. If we wait for the perfect time to get going, we will be forever stuck at the starting line. Take action today. Don’t wait for "someday" because it will never get here. Develop resilience along the journey. Remember the easy path is easy for a reason. True achievement comes from enduring through the difficult journey. Develop personal philosophies that will guide you to where you want to end up. Strive to become the best version of yourself. Start developing these three areas today. Continue for the rest of your life. Create the life of your dreams.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
DON'T BE JUST INTERESTED
Many of us live our lives through interest. We are interested in success, but not truly ready to put forth the effort. We are interested in losing weight, but not truly willing to do what is necessary. We are interested in getting great grades, but we lose interest when friends with ideas for fun come along. We are interested in being in relationships, but when an argument comes along it sometimes seems easier to just get out. We are all interested in many things. The problem with interest is the fact that we don’t truly succeed in life based on interest alone.
When we run into a wall while we are just interested, many times we give up. When we face difficulties when we are merely interested, we stop giving effort. We need to develop something bigger than a meager interest. Nobody ever became successful in something they were merely interested in. Professional athletes are interested in their sport, but they had something deeper than interest driving them. Teachers are interested in helping others, but they have something more important than interest driving them to succeed. Managers are interested in helping those under them but if they are truly great, they have something more significant than interest driving their success. Interest alone never created success.
We need to develop commitment. True commitment creates success. Anybody that succeeds in his or her field isn’t merely interested; they are fully committed. When we are committed, we endure, we persist, we are resilient, we are patient, and we create our own future. When we are committed, we don’t worry about what has happened, we face challenges with an optimistic and overcoming spirit. When we are committed, quitting is not an option. When we are committed, we will do what’s necessary to overcome any obstacle in our path. I challenge you to develop more commitment in your life. There is a difference between interest and commitment. When we are simply interested, we put forth effort when we feel like it. When we are committed, we put forth effort for a grander sence of accomplishment despite our feelings.
I hope you develop commitment in the areas you truly want to succeed in. I am interested in golfing. It is something I enjoy doing, but I am not committed to becoming the absolute best golfer I can be. I do it for fun. If I wanted to become a pro golfer, I would have to develop that commitment to the game and to improving myself in that area. I strive to improve my golfing skills, but I am not going to take time to improve on something I'm interested in over something I'm committed to. Find the areas in your life where you should be interested and find the areas in your life where you need to develop a deeper commitment. When you know the difference between what you are simply interested in and what you are truly committed to, your life will change. You will realize it's more important to study for the time you committed to than to go hang out with friends. You will realize it's more important to stick to your commitment of working out rather than sitting on the couch. You will realize it's more important to fight through the difficulties at work instead of giving up. When you understand what you are merely interested in, you realize you might be spending too much time on your interests and not enough on what you are committed to. When you develop a deep sense of commitment in your life, you realize what is most important and you realize what you should be spending most of your time on. Develop a deep sense of commitment. Figure out what you are merely interested in. Commit to what you truly want to achieve. Greatness seldom happens without a total commitment to effort and results. Commit to creating the life of your dreams.
When we run into a wall while we are just interested, many times we give up. When we face difficulties when we are merely interested, we stop giving effort. We need to develop something bigger than a meager interest. Nobody ever became successful in something they were merely interested in. Professional athletes are interested in their sport, but they had something deeper than interest driving them. Teachers are interested in helping others, but they have something more important than interest driving them to succeed. Managers are interested in helping those under them but if they are truly great, they have something more significant than interest driving their success. Interest alone never created success.
We need to develop commitment. True commitment creates success. Anybody that succeeds in his or her field isn’t merely interested; they are fully committed. When we are committed, we endure, we persist, we are resilient, we are patient, and we create our own future. When we are committed, we don’t worry about what has happened, we face challenges with an optimistic and overcoming spirit. When we are committed, quitting is not an option. When we are committed, we will do what’s necessary to overcome any obstacle in our path. I challenge you to develop more commitment in your life. There is a difference between interest and commitment. When we are simply interested, we put forth effort when we feel like it. When we are committed, we put forth effort for a grander sence of accomplishment despite our feelings.
I hope you develop commitment in the areas you truly want to succeed in. I am interested in golfing. It is something I enjoy doing, but I am not committed to becoming the absolute best golfer I can be. I do it for fun. If I wanted to become a pro golfer, I would have to develop that commitment to the game and to improving myself in that area. I strive to improve my golfing skills, but I am not going to take time to improve on something I'm interested in over something I'm committed to. Find the areas in your life where you should be interested and find the areas in your life where you need to develop a deeper commitment. When you know the difference between what you are simply interested in and what you are truly committed to, your life will change. You will realize it's more important to study for the time you committed to than to go hang out with friends. You will realize it's more important to stick to your commitment of working out rather than sitting on the couch. You will realize it's more important to fight through the difficulties at work instead of giving up. When you understand what you are merely interested in, you realize you might be spending too much time on your interests and not enough on what you are committed to. When you develop a deep sense of commitment in your life, you realize what is most important and you realize what you should be spending most of your time on. Develop a deep sense of commitment. Figure out what you are merely interested in. Commit to what you truly want to achieve. Greatness seldom happens without a total commitment to effort and results. Commit to creating the life of your dreams.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
YOUR SHIP
If your ship isn’t coming in, swim out to meet it. How many people do you know that wait for their ship to come in, wait for the girl to call, wait for the opportunity to appear, wait for the grades to magically get better, or for their kids to improve? A miniscule amount of significant acts will ever happen in our lives without taking action. People wait for their ship to come to the dock; little do they know it is tendered out in the ocean. People wait their whole lives, in sight of what they want, waiting for life to come to them. We need to take the initiative, go out there, and perform.
Patience is a virtue, but if you wait too long, the virtue might be gone. Patience is great, especially when paired with action. We can’t expect to wait and hope for our life to improve by itself. We can’t wait for our relationships to get better without us doing anything about them. We can’t hope for the phone to ring. We need to take action. We need to either sail or swim out and meet our ship. We need to pickup the phone and do the work to improve our lives daily, and make a consistent effort to become the best we can possibly be.
This is a call to action. People aren’t defined as much by who they are, but by what they do. Name one person who didn’t do anything, yet is a raging success. You can’t think of any can you? Success requires action. Sustained success requires consistent action. What can you do today to move yourself in the direction you most desire? Those who retire early and sit back to enjoy their lives have put in not only the hours but the effort necessary to achieve their success. Those who aren’t able to retire are those who let the hours pass by. Both had the time, only one took the action. Why does one twin succeed and the other fail? Because of action, or the lack of it. Same genes. Same parents, same school, sometimes the same friends and teachers. One took action, and one didn’t. Action will rule your destiny.
I hope you take action. I hope you swim out to meet your ship. Don’t just tread water hoping the ship will come to you. Don’t spend your life waiting for something to happen. Take the first steps today. Continue those steps each day for the rest of your life. The sprinter doesn’t win the marathon, he who takes steady pace wins. The person who spends eighty hours at the office for a month or two will get burned out. He who is able to take consistent action and apply it to his or her daily life will be the person who wins. I hope you can take the daily steps on the road of life to get to the destination of your dreams. Swim out and meet your dreams!
Patience is a virtue, but if you wait too long, the virtue might be gone. Patience is great, especially when paired with action. We can’t expect to wait and hope for our life to improve by itself. We can’t wait for our relationships to get better without us doing anything about them. We can’t hope for the phone to ring. We need to take action. We need to either sail or swim out and meet our ship. We need to pickup the phone and do the work to improve our lives daily, and make a consistent effort to become the best we can possibly be.
This is a call to action. People aren’t defined as much by who they are, but by what they do. Name one person who didn’t do anything, yet is a raging success. You can’t think of any can you? Success requires action. Sustained success requires consistent action. What can you do today to move yourself in the direction you most desire? Those who retire early and sit back to enjoy their lives have put in not only the hours but the effort necessary to achieve their success. Those who aren’t able to retire are those who let the hours pass by. Both had the time, only one took the action. Why does one twin succeed and the other fail? Because of action, or the lack of it. Same genes. Same parents, same school, sometimes the same friends and teachers. One took action, and one didn’t. Action will rule your destiny.
I hope you take action. I hope you swim out to meet your ship. Don’t just tread water hoping the ship will come to you. Don’t spend your life waiting for something to happen. Take the first steps today. Continue those steps each day for the rest of your life. The sprinter doesn’t win the marathon, he who takes steady pace wins. The person who spends eighty hours at the office for a month or two will get burned out. He who is able to take consistent action and apply it to his or her daily life will be the person who wins. I hope you can take the daily steps on the road of life to get to the destination of your dreams. Swim out and meet your dreams!
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
DRIVER OR DRIVEN?
What drives your life? Do you drive your life, or do you let outside forces drive you? Life is like driving a car. You can be either a mindless vehicle going somewhere under somebody else’s direction, or you can direct your own life! You make the turns! You make the decisions! You choose your path!
It is unbelievable the number of vehicles in the form of humans that are out there! People letting their lives be guided by forces either seen or unseen. Don’t be one of those people. Dale Carnegie agreed with this when he said, “Men of age object too much, consult too long, adventure too little, repent too soon, and seldom drive business home to the full period, but content themselves with a mediocrity of success.” Don’t let other drive you to mediocrity. Direct your life! If you feel like your life is being driven, get in the drivers seat and take control of your life!
Finding your purpose and discovering your dreams are the keys to driving your own life. If you know why you are working, why you are making those daily actions, you will be on purpose. Make a list of dreams that you want to achieve! Make a list of what you want to accomplish in your lifetime. Make a list of what you want to accomplish within the next coupe years. Write these in a journal. Keep track of your progress. What steps can you take today to get closer to living your dreams? Drive your life in the direction you want it to go.
I hope you find your purpose. I hope you not only discover your dreams, but Live Your Dreams! Nothing is more exciting that to say, “Today I lived my dreams” or “Today I took steps to make my future dreams possible.” People think their lives are being directed when they aren’t in pursuit of their dreams! Get in the driver’s seat, plan out your route, and set course for the life of your dreams!
It is unbelievable the number of vehicles in the form of humans that are out there! People letting their lives be guided by forces either seen or unseen. Don’t be one of those people. Dale Carnegie agreed with this when he said, “Men of age object too much, consult too long, adventure too little, repent too soon, and seldom drive business home to the full period, but content themselves with a mediocrity of success.” Don’t let other drive you to mediocrity. Direct your life! If you feel like your life is being driven, get in the drivers seat and take control of your life!
Finding your purpose and discovering your dreams are the keys to driving your own life. If you know why you are working, why you are making those daily actions, you will be on purpose. Make a list of dreams that you want to achieve! Make a list of what you want to accomplish in your lifetime. Make a list of what you want to accomplish within the next coupe years. Write these in a journal. Keep track of your progress. What steps can you take today to get closer to living your dreams? Drive your life in the direction you want it to go.
I hope you find your purpose. I hope you not only discover your dreams, but Live Your Dreams! Nothing is more exciting that to say, “Today I lived my dreams” or “Today I took steps to make my future dreams possible.” People think their lives are being directed when they aren’t in pursuit of their dreams! Get in the driver’s seat, plan out your route, and set course for the life of your dreams!
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
I CAN BE BETTER
In the movie Hancock, Will Smith’s character says, “You deserve better from me. I can be better. I will be better.” We should always be reminding ourselves that. I can do my job better. I can be a better father, mother, brother, sister, son or daughter. What can you become better at?
It comes down to willingness. What are you willing to do to become better personally and professionally? Are you willing to take that extra step? Are you willing to make those extra calls? Are you willing to take the time out of your busy schedule and help somebody else out? Are you willing to leave the office earlier to have a better family life?
There are so many ways to improve yourself. There are CDs that you can listen to. There are people that you can call. There are books you can read. Which of these avenues will you take advantage of? What do you need to work on first? Concentrate on improving in that one area. You have no idea how one area in your life can make such a significant impact. Do you need more time with your family? Do you need to get better at prospecting? Do you need to work out more?
One thing you can do immediately is find the part of your business that you need the most help in, and spend some time specifically working on that one area. The great people in your business aren't great at everything. They are, however, constantly improving themselves and their skills. Those who are great don’t become great overnight; they have worked on it for an extended period of time.
I hope you realize that you can become better. The world wants the best out of you. The people around you want the best from you. We can not achieve perfection, but we can strive for excellence. Life is a constant game of improving ourselves. How great can you make this short life of yours? How much can you enjoy your life? Can you find the areas you need to improve? Start with one small part that needs work. Then move on. Keep moving forward. Life isn’t about improving everything today; it’s about making a continual journey of improvement. I believe you can! My hope for you is that you can take steps to improve your life, no matter how great or miserable your life is. Thank you for making the world a better place, one person at a time. Be willing to start with yourself. Be willing to be better.
It comes down to willingness. What are you willing to do to become better personally and professionally? Are you willing to take that extra step? Are you willing to make those extra calls? Are you willing to take the time out of your busy schedule and help somebody else out? Are you willing to leave the office earlier to have a better family life?
There are so many ways to improve yourself. There are CDs that you can listen to. There are people that you can call. There are books you can read. Which of these avenues will you take advantage of? What do you need to work on first? Concentrate on improving in that one area. You have no idea how one area in your life can make such a significant impact. Do you need more time with your family? Do you need to get better at prospecting? Do you need to work out more?
One thing you can do immediately is find the part of your business that you need the most help in, and spend some time specifically working on that one area. The great people in your business aren't great at everything. They are, however, constantly improving themselves and their skills. Those who are great don’t become great overnight; they have worked on it for an extended period of time.
I hope you realize that you can become better. The world wants the best out of you. The people around you want the best from you. We can not achieve perfection, but we can strive for excellence. Life is a constant game of improving ourselves. How great can you make this short life of yours? How much can you enjoy your life? Can you find the areas you need to improve? Start with one small part that needs work. Then move on. Keep moving forward. Life isn’t about improving everything today; it’s about making a continual journey of improvement. I believe you can! My hope for you is that you can take steps to improve your life, no matter how great or miserable your life is. Thank you for making the world a better place, one person at a time. Be willing to start with yourself. Be willing to be better.
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