Killing Time (and Goals)

It is not enough to be busy… The question is: what are we busy about? - Henry David Thoreau Are you busy? If you’re like most people, the answer is probably, “Of course I am!” These days, it seems everyone is busier than ever. This is truly amazing when you consider how many of our … Continue reading Killing Time (and Goals)

Damn the Torpedoes! Full Speed Ahead!

Nothing will ever be attempted if all possible objections must first be overcome. - Samuel Johnson In other words, you can always find a reason not to do something, or a reason why you won’t succeed, or why your best-laid plan can’t work. The trick is to ignore most of them. I say “most” because, … Continue reading Damn the Torpedoes! Full Speed Ahead!

Stepping Up to the Plate

Whether you think you can or whether you think you can’t, you’re right. - Henry Ford Before we ever take the first step toward a goal or a dream, our odds of success or failure are heavily weighted by our mental attitude. I once saw a perfect example of this at my son’s Little League … Continue reading Stepping Up to the Plate

Giant Leaps or Small Steps?

The man who removes a mountain begins by carrying away small stones. - Chinese Proverb Imagine this scene. You’re standing at the base of a flight of stairs. At the top of the stairs, you see a very large present, wrapped in bright, shiny paper with a massive bow on the top. A big tag … Continue reading Giant Leaps or Small Steps?

Climbing the Mountain

Your present circumstances don’t determine where you can go; they merely determine where you start. - Nido Qubein Let’s face it, not everyone is in the same circumstances. Some people come into this world having everything handed to them on a silver platter. The rest of us aren’t quite so lucky. For most of … Continue reading Climbing the Mountain

My Half-Cent(ury)’s Worth

I turned 50 in the summer of 2013. It’s a milestone about which I have mixed emotions. On the one hand, I’m very happy—and mildly surprised—to have made it to 50, considering some of the “it seemed like a good idea at the time” actions of my youth. I don’t have any serious medical problems, … Continue reading My Half-Cent(ury)’s Worth

Too Late to the Party?

You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream. - C.S. Lewis I didn’t start writing my first book until I was 40 years old, working two jobs, with a wife and two kids. I finally published it seven years later. Now in my 50s (down to one job), … Continue reading Too Late to the Party?

Chasing Someone Else’s Dreams

The indispensible first step to getting the things you want out of life is this: Decide what you want. - Ben Stein While this sounds like a simple thing, sometimes it can be much harder than we think. In order to figure out what we want, we have to get past everything the world … Continue reading Chasing Someone Else’s Dreams