A couple months ago I read an article in an alumni magazine about a study on bees. It was discovered that a bee’s eyes were in the exact same shape of the honeycomb it produces. The author of the article pointed out that vision has a profound impact on actions.
With this in mind, what is our vision in life? What do we hope to accomplish, what do we want to do? Is our vision clear or murky? Do we believe we can do something great? Do we have the discipline to be truly committed to it? I’ve found in business and in life that those who have a clear vision are successful.
A vision is often a long-term goal of what we hope to become or accomplish. It is something that in the present seems a bit far-fetched or foolish but over time (maybe 10 years or maybe 50 years) with the right actions, can be achieved. It is the future we hope to create. And in my mind, anything is possible!
Like the bee, our vision will guide our actions. It will help direct us and lead us. A good vision will also inspire and motivate us. Our vision will shape us and make us become the type of people we want to become.
If we are committed to a vision in life, much like the bee, it will define our actions. Likewise, much like the bee and honeycomb, we must have a clear vision and when we do we can make it reality!
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Thursday, July 21, 2011
The Easy Life
Recently I heard a speaker mention that many of us have trouble dealing with the curse of an easy life. As I’ve contemplated on this concept I’ve determined that one of the top reasons why some people do not reach their full potential in life is because we have to deal with this curse, the curse of an easy life. That’s right, having an easy life can be a serious curse. In comparison to others, most of us are blessed and don’t want for basic necessities such as food to eat, clean water to drink, a place to sleep, or clothes to wear. When our basic necessities are so easily met and are far surpassed our drive to be our best dwindles.
An easy life can do a lot to impede us from reaching our full potential. Many of us do not fully push ourselves or extend ourselves because we are comfortable or perhaps don’t see the point. We have “enough” so we figure why bother? However, failing to stretch ourselves and reach our greatest potential does result in unnecessary hardships and stress as well as a lack of fulfillment, enjoyment, and satisfaction we could enjoy in this life. Settling, rather than achieving, limits our capability to be happy.
The easy life causes us to be lazy. Rather than working hard to better our situation, develop and learn new talents, and achieve goals, we oftentimes sit around and complain that life is hard and not fair. Hard work is always a necessary stepping stone to success and satisfaction.
A feeling of entitlement often comes into our hearts as a result of an easy life. We start to believe that people, the government, our family, our employer, or someone owes us something. We blame our problems on others and don’t take full ownership for our results. These feelings of entitlement often produce other negative feelings such as feeling disrespected, unappreciated, and used. The truth is, no one owes us anything and it is up to us to achieve whatever it is we hope to accomplish.
Finally, the curse of an easy life often destroys our creativity and resourcefulness. It is much harder to be motivated to be creative or resourceful or hardworking when things are pretty easy. Thus, our desire and ability to push and extend ourselves is diminished.
Therefore, we must find ways to overcome the curse of an easy life, to produce in ourselves a sense of discomfort and dissatisfaction that will create a sense of urgency that will inspire us to be more creative, more resourceful, more willing to sacrifice the present for the future. When we learn to do this, our ability to be successful and happy in life will be greatly enhanced and we will learn to live to our full potential.
An easy life can do a lot to impede us from reaching our full potential. Many of us do not fully push ourselves or extend ourselves because we are comfortable or perhaps don’t see the point. We have “enough” so we figure why bother? However, failing to stretch ourselves and reach our greatest potential does result in unnecessary hardships and stress as well as a lack of fulfillment, enjoyment, and satisfaction we could enjoy in this life. Settling, rather than achieving, limits our capability to be happy.
The easy life causes us to be lazy. Rather than working hard to better our situation, develop and learn new talents, and achieve goals, we oftentimes sit around and complain that life is hard and not fair. Hard work is always a necessary stepping stone to success and satisfaction.
A feeling of entitlement often comes into our hearts as a result of an easy life. We start to believe that people, the government, our family, our employer, or someone owes us something. We blame our problems on others and don’t take full ownership for our results. These feelings of entitlement often produce other negative feelings such as feeling disrespected, unappreciated, and used. The truth is, no one owes us anything and it is up to us to achieve whatever it is we hope to accomplish.
Finally, the curse of an easy life often destroys our creativity and resourcefulness. It is much harder to be motivated to be creative or resourceful or hardworking when things are pretty easy. Thus, our desire and ability to push and extend ourselves is diminished.
Therefore, we must find ways to overcome the curse of an easy life, to produce in ourselves a sense of discomfort and dissatisfaction that will create a sense of urgency that will inspire us to be more creative, more resourceful, more willing to sacrifice the present for the future. When we learn to do this, our ability to be successful and happy in life will be greatly enhanced and we will learn to live to our full potential.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Forging Lifes Chains
“We forge the chains we wear in life.”
Charles Dickens
I subscribe to a weekly email called the “Carnegie Success Connection Tip of the Week” and below is one I thoroughly enjoyed and felt I must share.
Embrace things in your life that drive you to achieve, and start letting go of those things that do not. It is difficult to distinguish the category in which any of your activities belong, but paying attention to your choices and their consequences will sponsor the awareness you'll need to make better life choices in the future. Although things that bring us happiness outside of work can be our greatest inspiration for professional success, often they are so simple, we cast them aside as inconsequential. Do not do this. Remember the small things that make you happy, and use them to battle things that loom much larger and stress you out. Consider these suggestions:
• Fill your mind with thoughts of peace, courage, hope, and health
• Never try to get even with your enemies
• Expect ingratitude
• Count your blessings, not your troubles
• Try not to imitate others
• Create happiness for others
This short “Carnegie Tip of the Week” is full of wonderful truths and wisdom that can bless our lives and help us be successful. First, our choices are so critical. We must pay attention to the consequences our choices bring and choose to do those things that bring us happiness. Second, small things matter. Even the little choices will positively or negatively impact our lives. Third, remember the victories, successes, and joys in life to get us through tough times. Focusing on the good rather than the bad will help us achieve. Lastly, the final thought of turning our focus outside of ourselves and seeking for opportunities to create happiness for others will greatly improve our satisfaction and success in life. I’m grateful for friendly reminders such as this insightful email provided to me the other day. Following its wisdom will lead us to success.
Charles Dickens
I subscribe to a weekly email called the “Carnegie Success Connection Tip of the Week” and below is one I thoroughly enjoyed and felt I must share.
Embrace things in your life that drive you to achieve, and start letting go of those things that do not. It is difficult to distinguish the category in which any of your activities belong, but paying attention to your choices and their consequences will sponsor the awareness you'll need to make better life choices in the future. Although things that bring us happiness outside of work can be our greatest inspiration for professional success, often they are so simple, we cast them aside as inconsequential. Do not do this. Remember the small things that make you happy, and use them to battle things that loom much larger and stress you out. Consider these suggestions:
• Fill your mind with thoughts of peace, courage, hope, and health
• Never try to get even with your enemies
• Expect ingratitude
• Count your blessings, not your troubles
• Try not to imitate others
• Create happiness for others
This short “Carnegie Tip of the Week” is full of wonderful truths and wisdom that can bless our lives and help us be successful. First, our choices are so critical. We must pay attention to the consequences our choices bring and choose to do those things that bring us happiness. Second, small things matter. Even the little choices will positively or negatively impact our lives. Third, remember the victories, successes, and joys in life to get us through tough times. Focusing on the good rather than the bad will help us achieve. Lastly, the final thought of turning our focus outside of ourselves and seeking for opportunities to create happiness for others will greatly improve our satisfaction and success in life. I’m grateful for friendly reminders such as this insightful email provided to me the other day. Following its wisdom will lead us to success.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Complete Control
“In the universe there are only two types of people—those who act, and those who are acted upon.”
Unknown
In life, whether we believe it or not, we do control our own destiny. The world will try to show us otherwise. The world wants us to believe we can’t overcome obstacles or challenges because they are too hard or too unfair or too impossible to scale. The world will have us think we are subject to it and merely an object to be acted upon. The world wants to keep us down, to think small, and conform to societal norms. The world wants us not to achieve but to relax, take it easy, and gripe about life. The truth however is that we can control our own destiny and the world belongs to those who act.
Action takes courage, intuition, and persistence. It takes planning, bravado, and intelligence. Those who choose to act rather than be acted upon are those who make a difference, find success, and enjoy life to its fullest.
“Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.”
Abraham Lincoln
In this world we are agents that are free to choose our attitude, actions, and behavior. We are not forced to feel, behave, or do things against our own free will. Rather, we are free to be as happy as we’d like to be regardless of our circumstance or situation in life. Only we control our outcomes and performance in life. It is never forced on us to be unhappy, rude, angry, lackadaisical, apathetic, unforgiving, mean, selfish, or depressed. Rather, it is a choice we make.
Is it possible to be happy, inspired, engaged, positive, kind-hearted, thoughtful, generous, and self-effacing all the time? It is if we choose to be. Of course this is much easier said than done. But having the knowledge that we can is the first step to success. Learning to control ourselves, our heart, mind and body, is one of the greatest challenges in life.
So, what type of person are we? We are the type that acts or is acted upon? Are we proactive in achieving our goals and being happy and successful or are we waiting and hoping for the best? As we act begin to realize a happy life is ours for the taking!
Unknown
In life, whether we believe it or not, we do control our own destiny. The world will try to show us otherwise. The world wants us to believe we can’t overcome obstacles or challenges because they are too hard or too unfair or too impossible to scale. The world will have us think we are subject to it and merely an object to be acted upon. The world wants to keep us down, to think small, and conform to societal norms. The world wants us not to achieve but to relax, take it easy, and gripe about life. The truth however is that we can control our own destiny and the world belongs to those who act.
Action takes courage, intuition, and persistence. It takes planning, bravado, and intelligence. Those who choose to act rather than be acted upon are those who make a difference, find success, and enjoy life to its fullest.
“Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.”
Abraham Lincoln
In this world we are agents that are free to choose our attitude, actions, and behavior. We are not forced to feel, behave, or do things against our own free will. Rather, we are free to be as happy as we’d like to be regardless of our circumstance or situation in life. Only we control our outcomes and performance in life. It is never forced on us to be unhappy, rude, angry, lackadaisical, apathetic, unforgiving, mean, selfish, or depressed. Rather, it is a choice we make.
Is it possible to be happy, inspired, engaged, positive, kind-hearted, thoughtful, generous, and self-effacing all the time? It is if we choose to be. Of course this is much easier said than done. But having the knowledge that we can is the first step to success. Learning to control ourselves, our heart, mind and body, is one of the greatest challenges in life.
So, what type of person are we? We are the type that acts or is acted upon? Are we proactive in achieving our goals and being happy and successful or are we waiting and hoping for the best? As we act begin to realize a happy life is ours for the taking!
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