From Disappoint To Re-Appoint

Life is filled with the scheduling of appointments.

In fact, every time that you set a goal you have set up an appointment. Why? Because you have established something that you wish to achieve and have had the courage to attach a date to it.

But what if the date comes and the date goes, and nothing has changed? Don’t allow your disappointment to be your destination. Don’t set up a memorial on that deflating spot in your life. Simply reset the appointment, and reappoint the time and place that you are going to achieve that goal – and go again.

Remember this, that any great success consists of a succession of failures. Put each failure under your feet, and before you know it you will find yourself reaching that which you have dreamt of – the heights of outstanding success.

Vocation = Vacation

‘The secret of success is making your vocation your vacation.’ Mark Twain

There have been short periods in my life where I have found myself employed in a job that I didn’t suit and didn’t like. I didn’t stay there for too long, but learnt as much as I could from the experience before seeking out work that I enjoyed. I knew that this was going to be the only way that I was ever going to live an enjoyable and productive life.

I suppose that’s why I am in business for myself now. See, the thing that I really love to do is to create something new. And I suppose that’s what I’m in the business of doing on a daily basis.

I am reminded of my high-school years. There was this one maths teacher, one science teacher and one English teacher who inspired and encouraged this creativity in me. And it was no surprise that during those years that I had those three teachers that I excelled in those three separate subjects.

These days I create books, speeches, businesses and opportunities for not only myself to succeed, but to help others to succeed. And it is in this that I find my greatest joy, and it is in my current vocation that I find myself always on vacation. Work is not work for me – it’s fun, and because I love what I do I work hard and I often work long.

I’m not a ‘Thank God it’s Friday’ kind of guy. I declare seven days a week, as soon as I open my eyes of a morning, ‘Thank God it’s TODAY!’

So don’t be satisfied with second best. Find what you love doing and go do it. If at first you don’t succeed, don’t stop. Just keep trying until you find your vacation vocation.

The Disciplined Life

‘Death is the reward of an undisciplined life; your foolish decisions trap you in a dead end.’ Proverbs 5:23

‘The road to life is a disciplined life; ignore correction and you’re lost for good.’ Proverbs 10:17

‘If you love learning, you love the discipline that goes with it – how shortsighted to refuse correction.’ Proverbs 12:1

So to all parents – let me encourage you to discipline your children with love. By doing so you are setting them up for success.

So to all children – make discipline your friend at home, at school, in sport and in the workplace.

For it is my observation that many adults suffer from an incredible lack of self discipline, and it is for that reason that they wake up in their latter years filled with regret.

Don’t let that be you. For it is from the discipline carried out in doing the little things on a regular and disciplined manner that will shape and mould a magnificent, satisfied and disciplined life.

If you find discipline a hard thing to administer in your own life, then find a friend who will keep you accountable.

10 Questions – Do you have what it takes?

I jotted down 10 questions you can use to gauge whether you already have what it takes, or if you need to do a little “work” to get there.

In Jan 2010, I heard Shah faesal (Topper 2009 IAS) say that you either pay the price of discipline or the price of regret. Discipline weighs ounces…regret weighs tons!

With that said, here are 10 questions to ask yourself:

1. Are you disciplined?
2. Do you take rejection personally? What about criticism?
3. Do you bounce back quickly from making errors or failing over and over again?
4. Are you a planner or do you do things by the seat of your pants?
5. Are you prepared to take risks? Moderate or Big?
6. Do you stay focused on one thing and one thing only until the result you want is achieved?
7. Do you have the stamina to keep going long after everyone else is tired?
8. Can you delegate well, or are you the only one who can do things right?
9. Do you wait for things to happen or do you aggressively go after what you want?
10. Do you do whatever it takes to achieve your goals or just what’s convenient?

These questions are critical for you to ask yourself in order to get a true picture of your nature and behavior. What I have found is that successful people are aware of the consequences of not being efficient in these areas, and find other ways, resources or people to manage for them.