NOTHING CHANGES UNTIL SOMETHING CHANGES

I've often said I've never met a lazy human being. I often
meet folks who are stuck or frustrated, or who spend their
time on things that make no sense to me, but I've never met
anyone who doesn't want more of some things and less of
other things. As the Dalai Lama notes, humans are designed
to move toward happiness and away from suffering. We're
built that way.
I have noticed with increasing frequency, however, that we
often work really hard to accomplish very little. We are a
stubborn lot! We try and try, and try again, even though
our favorite strategy isn't working, and there is little
evidence to suggest it will ever work. And yet, we keep on
trying.
Most of the people who will read this actually live pretty
comfortable lives. If you can read this, you probably have
a computer and some literacy skills. You may live in a
wealthy country, probably have a job, and the basics of
life--food, clothing, shelter, perhaps even a savings plan-
-are all addressed. So, it might make sense for IMPACT
readers to be relatively content and want very little.
But that is not what I see or hear from clients, or in my
email. We are an ambitious lot! We want more money, more
time, more personal fulfillment, more satisfying work, and
so forth. We want to make our lives better! Yes, sometimes
we are discouraged that things aren't improving faster, but
we remain energetic and determined! I love that!
And that raises the question: Why aren't we getting the
things we say we want?
We live in an age of opportunity and abundance. Over any 5-
year period, you can have, see, do or become just about
anything you desire. You can visit Antarctica, you can get an advanced degree,
become wealthy, run a marathon, launch a website or move

 overseas . There are no limits!  
So, why aren't we getting the things we say we want?
My answer is this: Many of us are using really stupid
strategies. We have goals or desires or dreams, but we are
pursuing them with strategies that have almost no chance of
succeeding. We have been "trying" for years without
success, and yet we keep on doing the same things in the
same way, year after year. That is, to be blunt, really
dumb!
If you are not reaching your goal, you have two basic
choices: change your goal, or change your strategy. You
either "get this" or you don't. What more can I say?
The reality is that you CAN be happy in this life. You can
make money, if that is your goal. You can raise happy,
healthy kids if that is your dream. You can build a huge
company or start a charitable foundation. You can write a
book or teach high school or do whatever brings you joy.
But to have those things, something must change. If your
current strategy isn't working, tell the truth about that.
If you've had a major goal for more than a year and it
isn't happening, ask why not! Question your approach. Get
better advice. Do something different!
And, above all, acknowledge the things you will have to
change to allow your goal to arrive. Who will you have to
become? What will you have to stop being or doing? Who or
what will have to exit your life for new realities to be at
home in your world? 
Nothing will change until something changes. What steps or
changes will move you forward this week? What must you read
or learn? What must you do, or stop doing? What must you
invest? Who should you call, or stop calling? If your
dreams and goals are truly important to you, do one thing
different this week. Take a step. Try a new way. It's time
to go for it!