The “Next Big Thing” is Today

This morning, some of my basketball buddies and I were lamenting about the fact that another year has passed, and that 2017 was a “blur.”  You know… the “time flies” conversation.  We all have kids in various stages of school (and beyond) and, somewhere along the way, one of the guys remarked about how we all sometimes wish our lives away by yearning for the “next big thing.”  I’ve been thinking about that conversation all day.

Let me explain the “next big thing.”  When people address it, they often preface it by saying, “I can’t wait for (or to)…”  For a young child, it may be starting school.  For a teenager, it may be turning 16 and getting a driver’s license.  It may be turning 18 and becoming an “adult.”  It could be graduating from high school and heading off to college.  Or, perhaps, turning 21 and reaching (legal) drinking age.  Eventually, it may be graduating from college,  landing a “real” job, and joining the work force.  Toss in few more of life’s milestones like moving out of the home in which one grew up, getting married, starting a family, and retirement.

Even as parents, we look forward with eager anticipation to our children walking, talking, starting school, getting involved in sports and other activities, and lots of the same “accomplishments” mentioned above.

As an old (and hopefully wise) guy who has experienced most of the aforementioned milestones, here’s my advice: Don’t spend too much time wishing for the “next big thing” because the “next big thing” is today.  Everything that lies ahead will get here, whether you want it to or not.  And, believe me, it’s going to get here quickly.  Invest in today and make it as good and as much as it can be — for yourself and the people around you.  If you do that, you’ll find that most of the “tomorrows” will take care of themselves.

I’m not discouraging anyone from keeping an eye on tomorrow, and planning and preparing, accordingly… just not at the expense of today.

Focus on today.  Invest in today.  Make it great.  As soon as today becomes yesterday, it’s gone… lost to you forever.

Carpe Diem!

Get STRONGER, Get FASTER!

Your thoughts?

Carpe Diem

How will you approach today?  Think about it for a minute…

Will you be purposeful, or will you just go through the motions?

Will your focus, on each task, be on excellence of execution, or just getting it done?

Will you try to improve upon yesterday — personally, professionally, academically, athletically — or just retrace your footsteps?

Will you run the day, or will you let the day run you?

Here are some thoughts my friend, Ginny, shared with me a while ago:

• The way we do anything is how we do everything.  If you give 100% to making your bed, you will give 100% at work. Doing small things to the best of your ability shows that you will do the big things to the best of your ability
• Don’t try and do everything you learn. Take a few key points and CRUSH THEM. It’s better to give 100% to 3-4 things than 20% to 15 things.
• When you know exactly what you want, nothing will stop you. If you have a purpose, a reason — a why — you have everything you need to get started and achieve success
• Start now and get better as you go.  Everyone on stage did not start at that point, they all started in the same position as everyone in attendance.  The only difference is they took action even when they didn’t know everything there was to know.

Have a plan, set a goal, and go to work.  Work your plan, to the best of your ability, each and every day.  Carpe Diem.

Get STRONGER, Get FASTER!

Your thoughts?

The “Next Big Thing” is Today

This morning, some of my basketball buddies and I were lamenting about the fact that, not only is May half over, but 2014 is rapidly approaching its halfway point.  You know… the “time flies” conversation.  We all have kids in various stages of school (and beyond) and, somewhere along the way, one of the guys remarked about how we all sometimes wish our lives away by yearning for the “next big thing.”  I’ve been thinking about that conversation all day.

Let me explain the “next big thing.”  When people address it, they often preface it by saying, “I can’t wait for (or to)…”  For a young child, it may be starting school.  For a teenager, it may be turning 16 and getting a driver’s license.  It may be turning 18 and becoming an “adult.”  It could be graduating from high school and heading off to college.  Or, perhaps, turning 21 and reaching (legal) drinking age.  Eventually, it may be graduating from college,  landing a “real” job, and joining the work force.  Toss in few more of life’s milestones like moving out of the home in which one grew up, getting married, starting a family, and retirement.

Even as parents, we look forward with eager anticipation to our children walking, talking, starting school, getting involved in sports and other activities, and lots of the same “accomplishments” mentioned above.

As an old (and hopefully wise) guy who has experienced most of the aforementioned milestones, here’s my advice: Don’t spend too much time wishing for the “next big thing” because the “next big thing” is today.  Everything that lies ahead will get here, whether you want it to or not.  And, believe me, it’s going to get here quickly.  Invest in today and make it as good and as much as it can be — for yourself and the people around you.  If you do that, you’ll find that most of the “tomorrows” will take care of themselves.

I’m not discouraging anyone from keeping an eye on tomorrow, and planning and preparing, accordingly… just not at the expense of today.

Focus on today.  Invest in today.  Make it great.  As soon as today becomes yesterday, it’s gone… lost to you forever.

Carpe Diem!

Get STRONGER, Get FASTER!

Your thoughts?

Carpe Diem

How will you approach today?  Think about it for a minute…

Will you be purposeful, or will you just go through the motions?

Will your focus, on each task, be on excellence of execution, or just getting it done?

Will you try to improve upon yesterday — personally, professionally, academically, athletically — or just retrace your footsteps?

Will you run the day, or will you let the day run you?

Here are some thoughts my friend, Ginny, shared with me recently:

• The way we do anything is how we do everything.  If you give 100% to making your bed, you will give 100% at work. Doing small things to the best of your ability shows that you will do the big things to the best of your ability
• Don’t try and do everything you learn. Take a few key points and CRUSH THEM. It’s better to give 100% to 3-4 things than 20% to 15 things.
• When you know exactly what you want, nothing will stop you. If you have a purpose, a reason — a why — you have everything you need to get started and achieve success
• Start now and get better as you go.  Everyone on stage did not start at that point, they all started in the same position as everyone in attendance.  The only difference is they took action even when they didn’t know everything there was to know.

Have a plan, set a goal, and go to work.  Work your plan, to the best of your ability, each and every day.  Carpe Diem.

Get STRONGER, Get FASTER!

Your thoughts?