Some weeks ago, I wrote about the power of "starting smart."
I think it was Goethe who noted that, "Well begun is half-
done." As we begin a New Year, I want to encourage you to
make it better, richer, more fun and more fulfilling than
ever before--your Best Year Ever! But I also want you to be
smart and effective about it. Remember, the poet suggest
"Well BEGUN is half-done." Let's Start Smart!
Too often we begin a new project, or a New Year, with lots
of enthusiasm but with little thought or organization.
There are actually two unfortunate patterns I see fairly
often. The first are the folks who launch with passion and
excitement but with little or no actual preparation. They
are full of energy and excitement (but little planning),
and they really believe their passion will create the
results they hope for. There's a kind of Pollyanna naivet�
that can be fun to watch. But it rarely lasts and seldom
generates the hoped-for results.
The other strategy are the "wise old owls" who no longer
expect the New Year will really make much difference. They
know that life goes on and the future pretty much, most of
the time, sort of looks like the past. "Nothing really
changes." That's not uncommon, but it is incredibly
pessimistic. (And wrong!)
Life does change! We change! We learn and grow. We get
smarter. In large and small ways, we are new every day!
In the New Year, think of what you can achieve! You could
move or change jobs, get married, or divorced. You could
learn a language, travel the world, volunteer, or hike the
Appalachian Trail! The possibilities are endless. And yet
some folks say, "things never change." For things to
change, only one thing is necessary: YOU MUST CHANGE!
You must change your DIRECTION. This can be a "big deal" or
the smallest of mid-course corrections. But it is entirely
up to you and only you can do it.
You can set a new DIRECTION to start a business, learn a
skill, improve your health or any of the other "big" things
in life. Or you could read a little more, spend less time
online, or do any of the thousands of "little" things that
ultimately change our lives. In the end, we usually "get
where we are going" in life. Choose your DIRECTION
carefully and wisely, and stay on course.
The second necessity to change our lives is to change our
level of SELF-DISCIPLINE. Most folks tend to enjoy comfort
and ease. We enjoy good food, convenience and familiarity.
We are, in short, rather lazy! But that is not the path to
transforming our lives and achieving our goals.
SELF-DISCIPLINE is about doing the right thing, in the
right way, at the right time, whether we feel like it or
not. For some, that means getting up earlier or going to
bed at a more structured time. For some it means eating
less (or differently), or staying later at work, making one
more call or volunteering for the difficult assignment.
Confident SELF-DIRECTION, combined with tons of SELF-
DISCIPLINE, will change everything in 2014!
Add one just more ingredient and miracles happen. When
human beings are clear about what they DESIRE, they become
unstoppable! Ask the teenager who wants a driver's license,
the one who has decided she "must" make the team or get the
part in a school play. Kids go nuts with DESIRE! (If you
doubt this, ask their parents.) Ask the mother who's child
needs medical attention or the father who "absolutely MUST"
solve a problem for his family.
When we are clear about what we passionately DESIRE, things
change!
Intelligent Self-Direction.
Consistent Self-Discipline
Powerful Desire
These are the things that will transform your life in the
next 52 weeks. How you harness and utilize them is, of
course, entirely up to you. You may set goals that amaze
the entire world, or goals that other people may view as
small or even silly. But if they are your goals and if they
reflect your personal Self-Direction, your daily Self-
Discipline and your heart-felt Desire, your life will
change.
"Well begun is half-done." Design your system for success
in 2014. Clarify your goals. Make sure they are your own,
not someone else's, and commit to doing the things that
need to be done. "Inch by inch, anything's a cinch." In 365
days, your can climb any Mt Everest you set for yourself.
Go for it!
I think it was Goethe who noted that, "Well begun is half-
done." As we begin a New Year, I want to encourage you to
make it better, richer, more fun and more fulfilling than
ever before--your Best Year Ever! But I also want you to be
smart and effective about it. Remember, the poet suggest
"Well BEGUN is half-done." Let's Start Smart!
Too often we begin a new project, or a New Year, with lots
of enthusiasm but with little thought or organization.
There are actually two unfortunate patterns I see fairly
often. The first are the folks who launch with passion and
excitement but with little or no actual preparation. They
are full of energy and excitement (but little planning),
and they really believe their passion will create the
results they hope for. There's a kind of Pollyanna naivet�
that can be fun to watch. But it rarely lasts and seldom
generates the hoped-for results.
The other strategy are the "wise old owls" who no longer
expect the New Year will really make much difference. They
know that life goes on and the future pretty much, most of
the time, sort of looks like the past. "Nothing really
changes." That's not uncommon, but it is incredibly
pessimistic. (And wrong!)
Life does change! We change! We learn and grow. We get
smarter. In large and small ways, we are new every day!
In the New Year, think of what you can achieve! You could
move or change jobs, get married, or divorced. You could
learn a language, travel the world, volunteer, or hike the
Appalachian Trail! The possibilities are endless. And yet
some folks say, "things never change." For things to
change, only one thing is necessary: YOU MUST CHANGE!
You must change your DIRECTION. This can be a "big deal" or
the smallest of mid-course corrections. But it is entirely
up to you and only you can do it.
You can set a new DIRECTION to start a business, learn a
skill, improve your health or any of the other "big" things
in life. Or you could read a little more, spend less time
online, or do any of the thousands of "little" things that
ultimately change our lives. In the end, we usually "get
where we are going" in life. Choose your DIRECTION
carefully and wisely, and stay on course.
The second necessity to change our lives is to change our
level of SELF-DISCIPLINE. Most folks tend to enjoy comfort
and ease. We enjoy good food, convenience and familiarity.
We are, in short, rather lazy! But that is not the path to
transforming our lives and achieving our goals.
SELF-DISCIPLINE is about doing the right thing, in the
right way, at the right time, whether we feel like it or
not. For some, that means getting up earlier or going to
bed at a more structured time. For some it means eating
less (or differently), or staying later at work, making one
more call or volunteering for the difficult assignment.
Confident SELF-DIRECTION, combined with tons of SELF-
DISCIPLINE, will change everything in 2014!
Add one just more ingredient and miracles happen. When
human beings are clear about what they DESIRE, they become
unstoppable! Ask the teenager who wants a driver's license,
the one who has decided she "must" make the team or get the
part in a school play. Kids go nuts with DESIRE! (If you
doubt this, ask their parents.) Ask the mother who's child
needs medical attention or the father who "absolutely MUST"
solve a problem for his family.
When we are clear about what we passionately DESIRE, things
change!
Intelligent Self-Direction.
Consistent Self-Discipline
Powerful Desire
These are the things that will transform your life in the
next 52 weeks. How you harness and utilize them is, of
course, entirely up to you. You may set goals that amaze
the entire world, or goals that other people may view as
small or even silly. But if they are your goals and if they
reflect your personal Self-Direction, your daily Self-
Discipline and your heart-felt Desire, your life will
change.
"Well begun is half-done." Design your system for success
in 2014. Clarify your goals. Make sure they are your own,
not someone else's, and commit to doing the things that
need to be done. "Inch by inch, anything's a cinch." In 365
days, your can climb any Mt Everest you set for yourself.
Go for it!
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