Well Rounded

It's great to be an expert at something, or a trade or career that we know like the back of our hand. However, we can't go wrong when we involve ourselves with things that are entirely different from our expertise. I used "entirely different" for two reasons: One, you can view a trade or hobby from a non-competitive point of view. And two, you never know what will trigger  inspiration to help catapult you to a new level of success. 

Take Henry Ford as an example. He built his vast fortune by mass-producing automobiles on an assembly line, but not without first being inspired to do so after hearing about how a meat packing company processed its inventory. In an ironic twist of fate, Berry Gordy got his idea for how he managed his Motown artists from none other than Henry Ford himself. Gordy wanted to build artists in the same manner Ford built cars. And just like that, three entirely different businesses soared (that may not have otherwise existed) due to the inspiration that was gained simply by these men's willingness to be a novice. So the next time you have the opportunity to learn about something new, take advantage and seize the moment, for you never know the ways in which it will inspire your life and your business.

The Overrated "L" Word

Many of us are accustomed to wishing someone "Good Luck" when they are about to face a challenge or obstacle. We especially do so when they are approaching an upcoming exam, job interview, surgery or competition. What I have been trying to figure out though, is, why exactly we do this. Perhaps we find comfort in offering our support, or because we have been conditioned to say it in the way most of us say "Bless You" when one sneezes.

Personally, I don't subscribe to the notion of "luck". My take on it, is that nothing is ever a coincidence and everything good that happens to us (a.k.a. "luck") presents itself for a reason. If I'm being more honest, I think we need to start expecting good fortune to come into our lives rather than react with surprised emotion when we "get lucky." It's time we stopped "wishing" for good luck, and "hoping" for things to go our way. It's either going to happen, or it's not. If it doesn't, its not because you're unlucky, it's because it wasn't meant to be. Life is about taking charge of your destiny, not sitting around taking handouts from the "luck truck."  But one thing is for sure--you'll never know if you don't try.
So get going, and Good Luck! ;-)

It's Not What You Get, But What You Become

When pursuing a goal in life, most of us only focus on the end result, or what we're going to get once it's reached.  What seems to be widely  overlooked at times is what we become in the process during this wild dream chase, which brings me to this week's topic.

While on your ultimate trek, what are you learning?  Who are you meeting?  What have you discovered?  In what ways are you growing?  What do you know now that you didn't before?  These questions allow us see beyond the pitfalls that can sometimes arise, and help us to remember the progress that we are making in spite of minor issues we may face along the way.  How you handle the challenges that present themselves are what separates the winners from the rest. The amount of research, discipline and rejection that you must deal with is, at times, enough to make some people give up.  On the other hand, those same challenges can be interpreted as a form of paying ones dues, or even a "tuition" in the School of Hard Knocks.  When we overcome obstacles and extract the lessons from them, we are building our life portfolio, for it's the personal growth, and wisdom, and the ability to persevere throughout life that truly reflects what we're worth.  Reaching our goal is just the icing on the cake.

GPS Your Success

Life has a way of pulling us in a thousand different directions, which makes it easy to stray from making ourselves a priority. Sometimes we may stop and wonder where the time has gone, and before we know it, another year has passed. Times like these can be discouraging, but it doesn't always have to be this way.

One of the easiest ways to keep yourself on track is by figuring out where you want to be in the future. I have come to the conclusion that figuring out where you want to be is similar to setting a specific location into your GPS before taking a trip. It's a guide to help you get to where you need to go. Of course, even with the best GPS it's still possible to get lost or be rerouted in another direction along the way. That's an unavoidable occurrence that happens to everyone on the road to success. The important thing to remember is that even during these detours, your destination still awaits your arrival. It's what you do now that counts. After all, present decision making determines the quality of your future. Your health, finances, and dreams depend on it.

Embrace Your Constraints

I read something the other day that struck me as profound, because it made me really question myself. In this book, the author suggests that we "embrace our constraints".  He was explaining that by doing so, it makes us focus, and drives creativity by forcing us to do more with less. I guess it does, in a way. It made me think of stories about "Rags to Riches" where those who grew up in severe financial hardships go on to have success and wealth because of the lack of resources (a.k.a. "constraints") they faced during their childhood. Perhaps not having an abundance of things forced these individuals to push beyond those who may have had a more fortunate situation.

I grew up right in the middle. My family was far from impoverished, but we certainly weren't vacationing in The Hamptons every summer, either. We were comfortable. Had this conditioned me to expect "comfort" in my adult life too, or do I embrace the constraints I'm given? I'd like to think it's the latter, but maybe I'm giving myself too much credit. Either way, it's time that I stop wishing for more and start working with less. It could be the very key to my success. (And no...I didn't mean for that to rhyme.)

So what about you? Have you embraced your constraints?

The Greatest Motivating Factor

There are many things that can motivate people into action. For me personally, "progress" has to be at the top of the list.

It's progress that lets us know that we are improving. We learn this means at a very early age. For instance, going from 1st to 2nd grade is progression. As adults, this may apply in the form of a raise or promotion within a job. I'm sure it's safe to say that anyone pursuing a passion, or goal aspires for progress. But how does one know if advancement is actually taking place? Of course, there are many ways to gauge, but I have found that what works best for me is to measure my accomplishments with numbers.  If you're goal is to run five miles, start off with one mile first. If your goal is to lose 20 pounds, start with five at a time.  There are many motivational factors we can adopt, but seeing progress is  one that is sure to help you thrive and successfully meet your goals.

When All Goes Wrong, It's Still Alright

It's easy to get discouraged when you're taking on a new challenge or goal. Life is always good for getting in the way somehow. The silver lining is, it's never to late to get started again. Too often our passions take a backseat to unforeseen circumstances or setbacks, but this too, is a part of the journey. The knowledge we gain from pressing on is priceless and certainly can't be found on any search engine. So if you experience a hiccup or roadblock during the pursuit to your passion, embrace it and accept it, for you will never gain such wisdom if you give up.