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The Power of Words

Starting Each Day With A Little Thinking...

Lure

Ah the promise of something wonderful.  Something so spectacular that it will change your life.  Lures are all around us.  And if we’re not careful, we can become “caught” just like a fish…

 

The challenge is to recognize what has substance and what is simply an illusion.  For that, you often need to turn off your external perceptions and focus on your internal beliefs.

Normally a lure:

  • Promises something short term and immediate.
  • Is disproportionate — either in size or “flash”
  • Seems too good to be true.
The recipe to avoid them is easy to state, but hard to execute:

 

  • Ask yourself, is this reasonable?
  • Ask yourself, do I really want this / will this really make me happy AFTER I participate?
  • Ask yourself, is this consistent with my long term goals?
If, after answering the questions above, you still conclude that the lure is one you want to take/follow, go for it!  If, however, you have questions in your mind after going through the above checklist, you might want to reconsider whether the lure is simply designed to bait you in to making a poor decision.
With that in mind:

 

  • Will you be caught by the next lure?

As always, thanks for the time.

A FAVOR TO REQUEST – If you enjoy reading these posts, please share with a friend or two.  My goal is to help as many folks find ways to learn, grow and live more fully.  Thanks!

Achieve

Mr Webster defines achieve as:

 

  • To get or reach something by hard work

 Two keys here:

  • “Something” – That goal, objective, desire, state, or whatever it is that you want
  • “Hard work” – The effort required to be put forth.  Likely not easy
The recipe then is quite straightforward:

 

  • Make sure you have a clear end state/goal in mind
  • Make sure you put forth the effort
Over the past few days I’ve spend a lot of time focusing on how I might achieve my goals.  Michael Hyatt has a framework that is exceptionally useful:

 

  • Identify your comfort zone / where you are settling
  • Review your past accomplishments and failures
  • Establish a set of SMART goals
  • Identify the motivation for your goals
  • Take the first step, then another, then another…
I actually went so far as to purchase Michael’s short course “5 Days to Your Best Year Ever”.  I’m duly impressed — it’s not enough to know how to do something, you often need the help of a good teacher/coach to actually accomplish your objectives.
With that in mind:

 

  • Are you willing to do the work necessary to reach what you want to achieve?

As always, thanks for the time.

A FAVOR TO REQUEST – If you enjoy reading these posts, please share with a friend or two.  My goal is to help as many folks find ways to learn, grow and live more fully.  Thanks!

 

Chance

Today we join Mr. Peabody in the way back machine and start with an Abba classic:

 

 

Now if a reference from Bullwinkle and Rocky + the mention of an Abba song has not driven you away you must either (i) crazy, (ii) bored, or really interested in what I have to say today!  Let’s assume it’s the third.

 

All too often we choose the “least risk” path.  Now you can argue that we’re hard wired based on the evolutionary process to avoid risk, but I don’t buy it.  I do buy that we’re “re-wired” from birth by society to choose the the least risk path.  That makes taking chances something that we avoid.

 

Here Mr. Irony raises his head yet again.  Think back on what you have accomplished.  How many of those things came from you taking a chance?  Tell me again why you’re afraid to take a chance?  What’s the worst thing that could possibly happen?
Life’s too short to continue on a path that you don’t enjoy….

 

With that in mind:

 

  • Are you ready to take a chance?

As always, thanks for the time.

A FAVOR TO REQUEST – If you enjoy reading these posts, please share with a friend or two.  My goal is to help as many folks find ways to learn, grow and live more fully.  Thanks!

Gap

No, not the clothing store!!!  Rather, I’m referring to that space between where you are and where you want to be.  Sometimes it’s small, sometimes it’s large.  Sometimes it’s easy to cross, sometime difficult.  The reality is that the ease and width of the gap lies more in our mind than anywhere else.
A few years ago I learned a really simple process for overcoming the gaps you face:
  • What is the problem?
  • What are the causes?
  • What are the possible solutions?
  • What is the best solution?
Going through these four simple steps may not totally close the gap, but it’s sure worth the try.
With that in mind:
  • Are you ready to cross the gap?

 

As always, thanks for the time.

A FAVOR TO REQUEST – If you enjoy reading these posts, please share with a friend or two.  My goal is to help as many folks find ways to learn, grow and live more fully.  Thanks!