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!

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!

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.

WATCH YOUR THOUGHTS

How are you developing your thoughts? Are you reading good books? Are you listening to powerful and uplifting audio programs? Are you talking to those who can show you a better and brighter future? Or, are you succumbing to what society thinks of you? Make your own mark on society, don’t let it mark you.

Your thoughts control your destiny. Your thoughts control more than you could possibly imagine. If you think positively, people notice. The opposite is also true. People notice if you are having a tough time. Even if you don’t say anything, people can look at you and tell. Many times people can see your thoughts by just looking at you. Are your thoughts helping you get to where you want, or are they hindering you? Our thoughts control our future.

Frank Outlaw wisely said, “Watch your thoughts; they become words. Watch your words; they become actions. Watch your actions; they become habits. Watch your habits; they become character. Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.” It doesn’t happen overnight, but your most dominating thoughts will control your destiny. Realizing this, what is the outlook for your future? Bright or bleak? Are your thoughts guiding you towards where you want to be, or are they holding you back?

I hope you pay close attention to your thoughts. I hope you realize that your thoughts affect more areas of your life than anything else. Our thoughts are one of the few things in this world that we can continually control. We can’t control other people, but we can control our thoughts towards others. It was Eleanor Roosevelt who said, “Nobody can make you feel inferior without your consent.” Where have your thoughts taken you? Much more importantly: Where will your thoughts take you? Your past thoughts have created your present; your present thoughts will create your future. Create the future of your dreams by thinking great thoughts today!

BE DETERMINED, THEN PERSIST

Determination and persistence are common traits of those who are successful. Very few traits are more important than determination and persistence. Calvin Coolidge wisely said, “Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius is not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan ‘press on’ has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.”

Talent alone will not take you to where you want to be. You must be determined to put in the work. You must be determined to finish what you started. We must realize there are, and always will be, difficulties along the way. We must realize the journey will seldom be easy. We need to be determined, and sometimes stubborn, about finishing what we’ve started. We must never quit.

Genius is great to have, but it is worth nothing if it isn’t being used. Do you know someone who is extraordinarily smart or talented, but doesn’t use these gifts? It is a shame. I am not the smartest or most talented, but I am disciplined. I am persistent. I am dedicated to my goals and my dreams. Are you? Are you determined to become successful? Are you sick of being average? Are you fed up with the fact that you might not be where you want to be? How will you live the life of your dreams? What steps will you take to move in the direction of your dreams? How will you persist along the way?

Those who have the most education aren’t always those who are the most successful. A degree isn’t a requisite for success; determination and persistence are. People fall into the trap of thinking their education will get them a job. Approximately 90,000 people graduate a year with a college degree. What makes you different? Employers aren’t looking for only a degree; they are looking for determination and persistence. What can you do today to show them that you are determined and that you persist?

I hope you develop a fierce determination for life. I hope you never give up. We give up when our determination falters. Nobody gives up when they are fully committed and determined. Hold tight your determination. Embrace your excitement for your goals and your dreams. I hope you persist through the tough moments in your life. Realize that nobody is out to get you. Difficult situations happen to everybody. Simply remember the more difficulty we face, the more chances we have to grow. Be determined to hit the goals and live the dreams of your life. When difficulty shows its ugly face, persist with a purpose. Those who give up lose their determination, or their willingness to persist, or both. Embrace the difficulty. Hold tight to your determination. Learn to persist. These qualities will bring you to the land of your dreams.

LUDICROUS AND COMPLETELY UNATTAINABLE

We don’t dream big dreams because we want to let ourselves down. We don’t dream big dreams because we like disappointment. We don’t set big goals because we love the bitter taste of failure. We dream big dreams and set big goals because we want to truly live our lives. We want to reach what sometimes seems unattainable. We want to live a bigger life than what we are currently living. We want to become not only successful but significant. That is why we dream big dreams. That is why we set enormous goals.

No matter what difficulties you are facing, always remember it’s possible if you believe. No matter what you are going through, or what your situation is, remember it’s possible to live the life of your dreams. One of the finest acceptance speeches I’ve ever heard is Russell Crowe accepting his Oscar for his role in Gladiator. He said, “Dreams like this at times seem like they are ludicrous and completely unattainable, but this moment is directly connected to those childhood imaginings. For anybody who is on the down side of advantage and relying purely on courage… it’s possible.”

He dreamt about being an actor. He dreamt as a child of winning an Oscar. He thought it was ludicrous at times. Others thought it was completely unattainable, but he persisted. He endured. He was resilient. That is the way we live the life of our dreams. We need to persist, no matter what difficulties we are facing. We need to endure. We need to be resilient. What complicated circumstances are you going through right now? Often, we know we are on the right track if we are running into challenges. We need to remember that the most demanding of circumstances are the best chances for us to grow as people. When we endure times of difficulty, our character develops.

I hope you keep moving in the direction of your wildest dreams. I hope you realize that the most ludicrous and seemingly unattainable dreams and goals are those that will develop you the most as a person. Don’t let roadblocks get in your way. Realize that the biggest goals are those that will challenge us the most. When we are challenged we have the choice to either give up or get better. I hope you choose to get better. The biggest goals are also those that mean the most when they are accomplished. Set big goals. Put in the work. Persist. Endure. Be resilient. Put in the work and the endurance today so you can live the tomorrow of your dreams.

TODAY

What do you want for your future? Do you want something beyond what you currently have? Do you want to be someone more than who you currently are? Do you want to grow? Do you want to succeed? If we want to become more tomorrow, we have to start with today. So many people go through their lives waiting for tomorrow to be different. The only problem is that they don’t change today. I am willing to wait for tomorrow to be different, but I realize I must make the change today.

We can’t expect to stay the same today, and have tomorrow to be any different. Patience and waiting are difficult. Both of these are tremendous assets. They aren’t beneficial, however, when we are waiting for something to happen and we don’t take action. Jim Rohn said, “The next ten years will be the same as the last ten years, if you don’t make any changes in your life.” Why don’t people realize that? Why do they think they can go about living their lives the same every day and expect change?

If we want tomorrow to be different, we must start with today. Tomorrow will never be here. Yesterday is gone. We can’t live for the tomorrows of our life. We have to live today. We need excitement and anticipation for tomorrow, but we can’t wait to act until tomorrow. We need to learn from our past but we can’t live in our past. You are at where you are at because of your past; that doesn’t mean you have to stay there. We don’t have to like where we are at, but if we do nothing about it, then we are choosing to stay there in our future.

I hope you can make the changes today. I hope you can learn from the yesterdays of your life. I hope you can dream, plan and anticipate your future. It all boils down to what you do today. Successful people are those who take advantage of today. Significant people are those who help others take advantage of today. Become both successful and significant. Develop the future of your choice. You might be in one spot today, but you can change all of that for tomorrow. You can wake up in Japan tomorrow, but you have to get on the plane today. You can be successful tomorrow but you have to start today. You can be in shape tomorrow, but you need to start today. It’s all about today. What are you doing today? What actions can you take today? What steps towards your future will you take today? Don’t wait until tomorrow; take advantage of today!