Knowing what you want is important-really important.
Until you nail what you want, all of the meetings, all of the training, all of the long hours, all of the self-convincing will be an absolute waste of time. And you don't have time to waste. Don't be lulled into a false sense of security by your paycheck, retirement account or the applause of the audience.
The ditches are full of people that could never committ to what they really wanted.
Many think that preparing begins after opportunity knocks, even those gurus that say preparation should start well before. In a time where things are changing rapidly and many disruptions have begun without the average person knowing, it's a dangerous game to put off preparation. So what say you? When should preparation begin?
It begins now. The age of predictability is over.
I've failed many times. More than I care to remember. One thing is clear though, even after I've wondered why bothering was worth it, all of my preparation was not wasted. The key ingredient in embracing opportunities is the preparation. It's like smelling salts for your senses so that you can see all the opportunities flowing around and through you everyday.
It will hurt and you will have to fight your fears. This is after all the why in preparation.
I'm an optimist, a dreamer, more than I should be some have said. As I spend more time on this planet, one thing is for sure, there is a point in time when it's too late to change.
This doesn't make me a pessimist. We're all in the dye-casting business. Slowly.
Think of all of your small and large decisions over life's road. Each one creating permanence. Rather daunting I know, but the beauty of it is we have been given the freedom and responsibility to decide whether we go ahead or go back. Very few of us will ever have a gun to our head demanding we ignore our physical health or to tell that little lie that will tilt things in our favor.
We've read of the those coming to the end of their days regretting much of what was before. The sober reality that no matter what they say or do, nothing can be altered. Funny thing how our culture is great at taking in information, while doing nothing with it. Any time you encounter someone whose story is entering the final act should make you review deeply your own course. The desire for distractions and easy paths will disconnect your best intentions every time.
Here are some things to be very careful with as you seek to make your life regret-free:
Maybe there is more to add here. But one thing is certain, there is a time when it's too late to change. Count your days and you'll get a better understanding.
The following clip, Seasons on the Terrace, comes from the Central Park Conservancy. I could swear I was walking in my father's footsteps.
Brief and beautiful.
Where do you find yourself in the early part of 2012? I realize we're in the infancy of the year, but as I've noted before, things can take shape quickly. Are you at a crossroads?
Crossroads are very much like earthquakes. As with the earthquake, much is shaken, rattled and removed. The elements are good and bad, happy and sad, danger and opportunity. This can be vexing in a culture where we often only want the good stuff, or so we think.
Maybe this is the year to re-define.
The crossroads of 2012 will certainly look different to you than for me. But one thing is certain, your response to it will be the difference-maker. You carry a responsibility that is inescapable. This is a good thing.
I've been walking this planet long enough to know that most things in life are unexpected. I also don't believe in accidents when it comes to the fundamental movement of our life story. Call me a fool or heretic, but many who are wiser than me have aaid the same.
So when you get the call out of the blue (so you think) don't freak out. It's all a part of the plan. It might hurt you deeply or leave you with much excitement, but just breathe and go where the road is leading.
All of this comes with a warning. If you have been goofing around with your life and not managing it, then an unexpected call or seemingly random accident will wreck you. That's my disclaimer.
Here's to the unexpected events and accidents.
About right now you've probably been bombarded with marketing and advertising messages around losing wieght, starting a business or how to find more work-life balance. This is after all the reality of the new year 2012. All of those ideas I mentioned could be the right thing for you. But before you take the dive, ask yourself the following:
Do I know where I am going and what it will really mean when I get there?
Remember, marketers can sometimes be like our current crop of politicians. They feel compelled to say things motivated by a desire to take something from you…your money more directly. Parting with your hard-earned cash is inevitably a part of the process, but beware of any message that is contrary to reality. For example, not every woman was meant to be a size 4. And very few goals are supposed to be easy-really
Go and find out where you want to be. Once that's done, don't let go because it will be your compass.