the future is to create it." We've all seen it and I'm
pretty sure credit goes to Brian Tracy.
Whoever said it first, it happens to be true! But the question
they never address is, HOW? How do we create the future we want?
What are the steps? Does it take special talent, or perhaps a
crystal ball?
This week, a friend and I talked about the future and the
world we expect to live in a few years from now. Our focus
happened to be the economy, so we talked about the potential
for inflation, the future of the Euro, the slow-down in
China's economy and the impact on our investments. We
speculated about this fall's election and what it will mean
for business. It was great fun and our conversation wondered
all over the topics of the day.
The key is that I think conversations like that are the
first step to creating your own future.
We often hear that our present circumstances are the sum
total of our beliefs and actions in the past. What we have
today is a reflection of all the choices we've made in the
past. For better or worse, we've built the life we have
today.
I happen to believe outside influences also play a (small)
role, but for the most part, how we use our time, invest or
spend our money, and what we focus on, inevitably creates
the life we live. Seldom does any one decision have a huge
impact, but the cumulative effect is undeniable. Day by day,
we create our own lives.
So to create the future we want, I think we begin by
imagining it. It's vital to know exactly, precisely what you
want the future to look like!
There's nothing mysterious or surprising about this. Sir
Isaac Newton observed that, "A life in motion tends to
stay in motion." (I may be paraphrasing a bit, to make a
point.)
Let's be very clear.
New technology changes everything, every single day. The
financial markets fluctuate more rapidly and with more
impact than ever before. The political choices people make--
all over the world--impact our lives. The recent elections
in Egypt will impact our lives, in one way or another. The
slow-down in China's economy will affect interest rates,
consumer prices, and more. Closer to home, the new health-
care law will impact every business and every person who
sees a doctor. And I understand we have an election coming
in the fall.
Here's the nugget. Most people are so focused on their own
lives and their immediate concerns that they pay little
attention to these "macro" or world-changing events. There's
just no time! They're too busy, too stressed, too focused on
surviving to think about the news or ponder the impact of
global trends. It's just "too much!"
But these things matter!
To create your own future, it's vital to think about a world
with Mitt Romney as President, or where Barak Obama
implements his policies for a second term. In creating the
life you want, it matters what interest rates do, especially
if you hope to buy a home or expand your business. In many
parts of America, it makes economic sense to learn Spanish--
not to mention the cultural enrichment it might bring you!
Conversations like the one my friend and I had this week
expand awareness and bring things into focus. Talk about the
future you imagine. Play "what if" and "let's pretend" to
see how things work out. What will inflation do to your
retirement plans? How will oil prices impact your travel
plans? What if China stopped producing iPhones and
televisions--or raised prices dramatically?
The winners in life have "unusual awareness." They read and
listen to the news. They think about trends and look for
opportunities. They prepare for change and adapt with grace
and elegance. They imagine the life they truly want and keep
a watchful eye for anything that might threaten their dreams
or facilitate their plans.
Too many people "sleep-walk" through life. They go through
the motions. They work hard and hope for the best. But not
you! Successful people stay awake. They plan. They prepare.
They are always thinking and they adapt. They ride the winds
of change and use them to your advantage.
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