How to Plan for Success in 2013

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First of all I'd like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and/or a Happy Holiday season. Let me ask you a question, what are you going to do next year that will make you a better person than you were this year, last year or the year before? Are you going to improve your finances, your health, your relationship with God, or hopefully, all of the above? Will your goals help to make the world a better place and benefit those around you? If so, great! Now, what's your plan?

Do you have goals that will improve your performance in the various aspects of your life (i.e. as a parent, child, employee, boss, friend or a member of a church or community organization)? Have you identified and prioritized the steps you need to take in order to achieve these goals. Also, are your goals based upon your performance only and not relying upon external circumstances and situations beyond your control?  If so, good!

Have you written down a list of definitive, easily achievable and measurable objectives that will provide feedback on your progress towards reaching each goal? Have you attempted to identify the problems you will encounter on your journey towards success? I know that attaining goals in life can be a difficult and daunting task but who said life was easy?

However if you've done these things then you are well on your way to making that success real in 2013. The Greek philosopher Aristotle states: “Well begun is half done.”

Now that you’re ready to travel down the road to success here are a few extra tidbits of information I'd like to share with you. The first is to recognize that the past is gone and should be used for educational purposes only. Next, is that things will never go as smoothly as you think they should. You will make mistakes and encounter problems that seem insurmountable and may even make you want to quit. Don't, don’t do it!

Also, remember the value of forgiveness. It’s required for your benefit and not others. It is a decision to let go of resentment and thoughts of revenge. It will improve your life and your health by assisting you to stay focused on the goals you created.

There will be many times on our path to success where you will have to forgive others as well as yourself. This doesn’t mean you are soft! Let me share with you what forgiveness is not.

Forgiveness is not:

·      Forgetting,

·      Avoiding,

·      Excusing,

·      Neglecting justice

·      Reconciliation

·      A one-time event.

Finally, as you begin living your dream by implementing your goals during the New Year, remember to begin each day with an attitude of gratitude. As stated in my previous post, this attitude will keep you humble, grounded and in the present moment. It will prepare you for each day as well as for the successes and setbacks that come along with it.

I hope you enjoyed this post. Until next time, here's hoping that you live today and every day passionately and with purpose. Thank you and God bless!

God, Country, Corps

In the Marines we had a motto: “God, Country, Corps” that helped us set priorities and make decisions about our next course of action. Believe it or not, at times we were forced to respond to situations that were not covered in our operations or tactical manuals.  However, the decisions we made were normally made in concert with that simple motto.

First of all our decisions had to keep us connected to our relationship with God. Secondly they had to be beneficial to the security of our country. Finally they had to uphold the honor and tradition of the Corps. After those 3 conditions were met almost anything was possible. However, it was mandatory to make decisions in the order stated.

If you noticed, the word I (or me) occurs nowhere in that decision-making process. I have determined that if we make decisions in a manner that keeps us connected with God (or our moral code), our country and our organizations then our needs will automatically be met.

A dilemma immediately arises because our 1st priority (the voice of God /our moral code) is very difficult to discern in tumultuous times. The reason is that it is a quiet voice and is easily drowned out by the circumstances and situations surrounding us. The importance of this voice is best described in the following poem:

“The Voice

There is a voice inside of you

That whispers all day long,

"I feel this is right for me,

I know that this is wrong."

No teacher, preacher, parent, friend

Or wise man can decide

What's right for you--just listen to

The voice that speaks inside.”

― Shel Silverstein

The next step in this decision-making process is to make sure that our decision is beneficial to society as a whole. Here again we must understand that the decision is not about what's best for me (or the organization) but about what's best for society. It's important to note that I am not saying we cannot profit from our decisions, I'm just saying that the priority for making this profit should not be higher than those priorities already established.

Finally, the 3rd priority determines: “If my decisions are beneficial to the organization.” This is the last priority because organizations are man-made. However if we have created our organization by adhering to the 1st 2 priorities then our decision must support the goals of the organization.

If you have paid attention to the news lately you will notice that individuals seem to be making decisions by reversing these priorities.  First, the organization is their number 1 priority. Secondly, country is their 2nd priority and finally, the voice of God (or their moral code) is there last priority.

This last comment has been borne out by the political bickering of our lawmakers on a local, state and national basis as well as the decision-makers involved in the scandals occurring at various educational institutions around the country.

We can get our country moving in the right direction again by just focusing on: God, Country and Corps (organization). However each one of us must do our part in daily life to make this a reality. If you need help in getting your organization moving in the right direction please feel free to contact me.