Minimus...interesting post!
There are many of us out there that did waste valuable time (or may feel like they did) not taking care of themselves and their families financially because they believed THE END of this SYSTEM OF THINGS...was right around the corner.
HOWEVER!!! We all need to be responsible for our own lives. No matter how old we are, and how difficult it is, WE MUST, sit down and tell ourselves: I AM DONE WITH THIS PAST BEHAVIOUR AND WAY OF LIFE!!! I know there are many here in different cirmcustances, but most of us are all perfectly capable of bettering our lives in some way. Only we can do it.
Everyone here that needs to bitch...it is wonderful we have a place such as this to do so. But, as we let our anger and frustrations and hurt come out, we need to try to replace a little of it with not only positive thinking but ACTION. Even if we are in a situation where we are elderly, or poor broke because we got shafted, truly search yourselves, and think: HOW CAN I IMPROVE MY SITUATION??? for some, it may mean going after the career they always wanted, for some getting that education they never felt they should before. Or even others, it could be something smaller, like just stop thinking about what is in the distance future for a minute, and where you are today, and what little steps you can do today.
I am one of those people that have struggled with this. I definately was one of those late bloomers. Am I where I want to be financially, or personally? Not exactly. But, I have sat down, and have listed out some of the basic things that I need to do to move forward both in my personal life and professional life.
Here is something that I found on a professional board that I belong to, that I would like to share. I think it has merits for everyone, no matter what walk of life they are from:
A Little Equation that Creates Big Results by Chris Widener
"The purpose of man is in action not thought." - Thomas Carlyle
Often people will ask me how I get so much done in my life. They wonder at how I am able to accomplish so many things. The answer is found not in what a great person I am, but in an equation I came up with a few years ago and remind myself of on almost a daily basis. And when I live this equation out, it produces big results. What people don't seem to grasp is that this equation will work for anybody! Anyone can see results in their life if they will live it out!
This little equation, when it is understood, and acted upon, is perhaps the most powerful equation there is in regard to long-term achievement and accomplishment. Yet, this is not a complex equation. In fact, it is rather simple. So what is it?
Your short-term actions multiplied by time equals your long-term accomplishments.
If you want to see change in your life, see big results, the first thing you must do is change your current actions. Otherwise the old saying becomes a reality: "If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you always got!" But if we change our actions, we will see different results!
Most people want to accomplish a lot in their lives. Yet very few actually do. Why is this? It is because what they believe will equal their long-term accomplishments are wrong. Here are some of the things that people believe will create great accomplishments for them:
Beliefs
Vision
Big dreams
Ideas
Ideals
Values
Desire
The truth is that while these things are very important, they are not enough in and of themselves. We need to have the above underlying all that we do, but we need to actually do something! And this is where most people stop. We need to take action on our dreams and beliefs every day.
Here are some examples of how this works.
Who loses the pounds? The one who knows all about the benefits of exercise or the one who walks 3 miles a day?
Who retires early? The one who dreams of a house on the beach, or the one who invests $300 a month?
Who writes books? The one who desires to become a best-selling author, or the one who gets up early and writes for half an hour a day?
Who has the best marital relationship? The one who knows how much spending time with their spouse can improve their relationship, or the one who sits down and talks with their spouse every night?
Who makes the most sales? The one who believes they can become a great salesperson, or the one who makes 10 sales calls a day?
I think you get the point. When it all comes down to it, we must act upon our vision, beliefs, and ideals or we won't see them come to fruition. I see too many people who know what is right, but don't ever do anything about it. Imagine what a difference we could make in our own lives and the lives of others if we would simply begin to act upon on our beliefs!
When I get to the end of my life, I want to know that I have done all that I can to make this world a better place and to enhance the lives of those around me. I want to know that I gave it my best shot. And I am sure that you do to.
I remember reading an interview with an author who has written numerous books that have sold in the tens of millions. They asked him how he did it. His answer was that he got up every morning before anyone else in his family and wrote, long hand, with a pencil, for an hour. Then he quit and went about his day. But his short-term actions piled up. 7 hours a week. 30 hours a month. 365 hours a year. After a while, he had lots of books!
Some questions as we leave:
What long-term accomplishments do you want to see come to pass? What short-term actions will you need to do over time to see them come to pass? What will you do today to begin seeing your dreams come true? What will you do this week to see them come true?
You can have an awesome future, filled with great achievements and results if you begin today to take action and make it a reality!
One more time, so you can plug it in, memorize it, and live it.
Your short-term actions multiplied by time equals your long-term accomplishments - Chris Widener
Chris Widener is a nationally recognized speaker, author and radio host. http://www.chriswidener.com