Recently, North Korea has been making lots of frightening
statements, even threatening nuclear war. In some ways,
we've seen nothing like it since the Cuban Missile Crisis
of 1962, although the sense of anxiety seems much less than
it was back then.
Iran continues its work on nuclear power, and both Pakistan
and India are nuclear states. The war in Afghanistan
continues its slow grind, and of course, Syria is in
flames. While the financial crisis in Cyprus has been
mostly out of the news this week, Europe continues to
struggle. And in the U.S., we are in the midst of political
turmoil over gun control, President Obama's budget
proposal, and immigration policy.
Our stock market has set record highs, but job creation
continues to lag. Unemployment (and under-employment) is
far too high and the March retail sales numbers were the
worst in several months. Health care costs continue to
climb, and energy policy is virtually lost in the blur of
other things.
And yet, IMPACT is supposed to be a letter of encouragement,
written to subscribers who are among the most ambitious,
optimistic and energetic people on earth! Where is the good
news in the midst of so much chaos?
I think that's an important question. My sense is that
while, in small increments, consumer sentiment and business
investment fluctuate from month to month, Americans
(including IMPACT subscribers) have grown weary of the
economic doldrums and political wrangling. For many, it is
growing difficult to remain focused and hopeful in the
midst of so much turmoil. And yet, that is both our task
and our natural inclination.
IMPACT subscribers are, by nature, doers! We are people with
goals, people who love a challenge, who are accustomed to
building things, getting stuff done and making a
difference. We are driven by and in love with success!
I sometimes wonder if these times are actually easier for
the "low information voters," the folks who simply go to
work, watch television and pretty much ignore the world
around them. Unfortunately, for most IMPACT, that is
not who we are! We are awake! We pay attention to the world
around us and we search for opportunities. A "can do"
attitude is built in to our DNA; it's who we are.
So, I think it's vitally important to master the art of
being a thoughtful, "disinterested observer" of the world
around us, while staying intensely single-minded about our
personal goals and the things we can control.
We cannot easily change the world "out there." It will
struggle and do whatever it does. We should watch and
observe, but with a certain detachment and objectivity,
being aware of world events without letting them distract
us from our daily tasks.
For us, life is about moving forward. It's about achieving
our goals, doing our work, loving our family and becoming
the best, richest, most enlightened people we can become.
Worry and distraction do not interest us! Disciplined
achievement is our game; it's what we do with our time and
with our skills, our energy and our effort.
In the midst of chaos, we are unusual and slightly "weird."
We are focused when all the world is rushing madly after
the latest fad. We are disciplined and productive when
other folks are worried, anxious, and using the world's
problems as an excuse for their lack of results. But not
us!
This week, re-commit to your most important goals. Review
and clarify your top values. Spend time with those you
love, and show them how much you care. This week, notice
any distractions or tolerations that have crept in, and
eliminate them! Be ruthless about this! Chart your path.
Review your plans. And work hard. It's how successful
people have always achieved, and it's the old, traditional
way that will see us through one more time.
statements, even threatening nuclear war. In some ways,
we've seen nothing like it since the Cuban Missile Crisis
of 1962, although the sense of anxiety seems much less than
it was back then.
Iran continues its work on nuclear power, and both Pakistan
and India are nuclear states. The war in Afghanistan
continues its slow grind, and of course, Syria is in
flames. While the financial crisis in Cyprus has been
mostly out of the news this week, Europe continues to
struggle. And in the U.S., we are in the midst of political
turmoil over gun control, President Obama's budget
proposal, and immigration policy.
Our stock market has set record highs, but job creation
continues to lag. Unemployment (and under-employment) is
far too high and the March retail sales numbers were the
worst in several months. Health care costs continue to
climb, and energy policy is virtually lost in the blur of
other things.
And yet, IMPACT is supposed to be a letter of encouragement,
written to subscribers who are among the most ambitious,
optimistic and energetic people on earth! Where is the good
news in the midst of so much chaos?
I think that's an important question. My sense is that
while, in small increments, consumer sentiment and business
investment fluctuate from month to month, Americans
(including IMPACT subscribers) have grown weary of the
economic doldrums and political wrangling. For many, it is
growing difficult to remain focused and hopeful in the
midst of so much turmoil. And yet, that is both our task
and our natural inclination.
IMPACT subscribers are, by nature, doers! We are people with
goals, people who love a challenge, who are accustomed to
building things, getting stuff done and making a
difference. We are driven by and in love with success!
I sometimes wonder if these times are actually easier for
the "low information voters," the folks who simply go to
work, watch television and pretty much ignore the world
around them. Unfortunately, for most IMPACT, that is
not who we are! We are awake! We pay attention to the world
around us and we search for opportunities. A "can do"
attitude is built in to our DNA; it's who we are.
So, I think it's vitally important to master the art of
being a thoughtful, "disinterested observer" of the world
around us, while staying intensely single-minded about our
personal goals and the things we can control.
We cannot easily change the world "out there." It will
struggle and do whatever it does. We should watch and
observe, but with a certain detachment and objectivity,
being aware of world events without letting them distract
us from our daily tasks.
For us, life is about moving forward. It's about achieving
our goals, doing our work, loving our family and becoming
the best, richest, most enlightened people we can become.
Worry and distraction do not interest us! Disciplined
achievement is our game; it's what we do with our time and
with our skills, our energy and our effort.
In the midst of chaos, we are unusual and slightly "weird."
We are focused when all the world is rushing madly after
the latest fad. We are disciplined and productive when
other folks are worried, anxious, and using the world's
problems as an excuse for their lack of results. But not
us!
This week, re-commit to your most important goals. Review
and clarify your top values. Spend time with those you
love, and show them how much you care. This week, notice
any distractions or tolerations that have crept in, and
eliminate them! Be ruthless about this! Chart your path.
Review your plans. And work hard. It's how successful
people have always achieved, and it's the old, traditional
way that will see us through one more time.
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