What's Done is Done. What are You Going to Do Now?

Anything you've done to get here is in the past -- it's done. The only thing now is to look at the future.

This is a story about the past and the present... A past where we've done things we're not proud of, and a present where we're dealing with the ramifications of those actions; or at least feeling the pangs of guilt.

Regardless of what led you to this point, the realization that you can't go back in time leaves you with only one question -- what are you going to do now?

Celebrate your Efforts and Appreciate How Far You've Come

Throughout the hustle and bustle of your daily life, take time to pause and smile.

The desire to have more in this life... to be bigger, stronger, faster... can be a powerful motivator.  And as we look for the knowledge and experience and sage wisdom to guide us to greatness, we begin to realize that the power to achieve our goals -- to rebuild and create a better future -- not only comes from within, but that it is a worthy and noble pursuit.

 One must always be learning, growing, developing; and there is nothing wrong with wanting to achieve more tomorrow than you have today.

Taking Stock in the Here and Now

Only when you come to terms with the here and now can you can begin to work on your future self.

Dreaming and planning for a better future is an admirable goal, and if you are living a life of personal accountability then you are well on your way to achieving it.

But while focusing on a destination will help you create a path to get there, having an end goal in sight does not matter unless you have a firm understanding of where you currently are.  To get to point B, you need to know where point A is.

Have you taken stock in the here and now of your life?

Keeping the Inner Faith

Whether you find faith in yourself, others or a higher source, stick with it and you'll make it through.

The only thing you can predict about the future with 100% certainty is that time will continue to pass and the world will continue to move forward.  Sure, there are calculated results you can measure and guide your decisions around the most realistic outcomes... but in the end, you'll never really know for sure.

You do what makes the most sense.  You follow a plan that has proven successful in the past.  You do what feels right.

Why?  Because of Inner Faith.

Use a Shot Clock to Improve Decision Making

Set your shot-clock and make a decision before time runs out.

The ability to make smart decisions quickly and eh, decisively, is a valuable skill that can improve all areas of your life.  Not only is decision-making a necessity in this fast-paced world we live in, it can also be empowering and alleviate stress (the stress that comes from delaying a decision!)

So, if the ability to make quick decisions is a skill you need improvement on, there is an easy method you can use to build your decision making power...

Save your Best Work for when Energy Levels are at their Peak

Determine your peak energy level, and then utilize it as much as possible.

What time of the day do you have the most energy?  When you are at your natural peak?  If you don't know, it's time to get in tune with your body cycle and find out.

Each of us have a different rhythm and must be familiar with the cycles that work best for us.

Two Questions: What are You Doing and Why are you Doing it?

The first steps to success begin with knowing what you're doing, and why you're doing it.

If you've every caught yourself wondering where the time went, or why it has taken long to complete a project (assuming, of course, that you've started a project), or why you've been putting off that dream of yours... did you know you can remedy this with a simple solution?

The way to stop losing track of time is to live with conscious awareness of what you are doing at each moment of the day and ensuring that there is a reason for doing it.

Develop the Habit of Commitment by Making More Promises

Embrace commitment and make more promises, and you're on your way to success.

Most people sincerely meet their obligations and fulfill expectations... they're reliable and dedicated and trustworthy.  They get things done and make others happy.  But how many of them are fully committed to those their serving?

Are the tasks they're completing done so with the same focus and energy as they give to promises, or are they going through the motions...

In other words, do the things we do for others carry the weight of a promise?

Be NICE! The Way You Treat Others Really Does Matter

The result of being nice is happiness.

We've all heard the expression that nice guys finish last, but how much truth is there to that cliche?  It really has no place for someone who follows their inner sage and, if we think about it, it's barely relevant for anything more than short-term gains at best.

The golden rule is do unto others as you would have them do to you.  Simple enough, right?  Then why is it not that easy to follow?

An Appreciation for Relaxation

Proper relaxation can help you be more productive and ultimately more successful.

We often think in terms of go, go,go... how much can we accomplish, how much progress can be made, but have you ever stopped to think about the value of having a relaxed mind and body?

No doubt about it, when our mind and our body are relaxed, we are able to concentrate better, be more alert and make better decisions, and maintain the stamina needed to overcome and obstacles in our way.

Multitasking doesn't work. Smart-tasking does.

How to become a super-tasker, a strategic-tasker, a smart-tasker. 

Welcome to the overworked, over stressed, nonstop digital age, where the to-do list is never complete and another distraction is only moments away.

If there was only a way to get everything thing done... to do multiple tasks at the same time...  ahhh, the luring siren song of "multitasking."   Time to find a new strategy.

Keep Your Plans Where You Can See Them

When you see your plan in front of you, you are more likely to follow it.

What's your plan?  You know you have one.  And even if you've never formalized an actual life plan, you've kinda sorta had a rough idea of one.

Remember?  You shared the vision of this plan with Jimmy over drinks last night... you mapped out the details while in the shower this morning... you even saw yourself in action while stuck in traffic on your way to get to your day job...  Yep, you've got the whole plan all scripted out inside your head.

But that's a problem, isn't it...