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?

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?

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.

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...

Put in 2% Daily Effort to get ahead of 98% of the Crowd

Focusing effort on something for just 2% of the day,
28.8 minutes daily, is more than most others will ever do.

If getting ahead is so difficult, how it can it be that small amounts of time could make a big impact?  The secret is to dedicate that few extra minutes each day to a focused task and then stay consistent with it.

Skills can be developed, knowledge can be learned, money can be earned.  But despite man's greatest attempts to turn back the hands of time, we are all left with only 1220 minutes each day to live out our lives.  Time is the one undeniable equalizer among all those who walk this planet.

But despite the lofty dreams of wealth and prosperity, very few will dedicate even just 28.8 minutes a day towards making those dreams a reality.

Water the Flowers, but also Pull the Weeds

Eliminate the barriers holding you back and you'll reach your destination much faster.

It is important to discover your strengths and nurture them, but while doing so you must be careful not to take your eyes off obstacles getting in the way.

These hurdles can hold you back and until you remove them they will continue to distract from your real objective of building upon strengths.

Take a Subtle Break from the Routine

Take a break from the routine.  Subtle differences make all the difference.

Wake up, go to work, come home, eat dinner, watch tv, go to bed... repeat.

The routine that millions of hard-working adults go through day after day after day.  And it's a habit that can be broken with just a subtle change.

Multiple Streams for EVERYTHING in Your Life

Do you have multiple streams flowing in to all areas of your life?

We have all heard about the need to diversify and not put all our eggs in one basket.

There is very sound philosophy in that advice, for it keeps us from creating a life that is overly dependent on one source.

But to be truly effective, we must apply the notion of multiple streams to all areas of our life.

Reading the Street Signs on the Road of Life

The signs are all around you if take time to look for them.

When traveling down the road of life, you'll find street signs at every corner.  Are you paying attention to them?  These are the subtle clues about what direction to take; the advisories that warn you to what lies ahead; the wisdom posted by others who have already traveled down the path you're headed...

Take a Rest to Increase Your Productivity

Work, work, work.  In order to get the most output, we need to commit to working 60, 70, 80 hours a week, right?  At least that's the perception... Or perhaps, misperception!

Despite the fact that most successful people will tell you it takes more than four hours a week to truly make progress in your goals, they often will leave out the part about rest and relaxation.  Interestingly enough, there are countless scientific studies that prove you are more alert, better prepared, and overall more productive, when you take time to rest...

Get in the Habit of Saying Yes

The doors of opportunity are often opened with a Yes

Are you a "No" person or feel like you're surrounded by "No" people?  If you find yourself hearing or saying No too often, it's time to change your viewpoint and look for more Yes...

Pay attention to the Journey AND the Destination

Always stop to enjoy the view, but never lose sight of where you're headed.

Many good-intended people will tell you that life is a journey and not a destination.  They will advise you to "stop and smell the roses," or "carpe diem(!), because life is what happens when you're making other plans."  While this may sound promising to some, a self-made sage intuitively knows that this is only half the story.

The point most people miss with their advice is that all the things you do along your journey should at least point you in the direction of your destination.

They are equally important.

Play to Win

In the game of life, are you playing to win?

In the game of life, are you playing to win, or are you just trying to avoid losing?

There's a big difference.

When you're playing to win, you're out seeking new opportunities to score -- whether that's calculated in terms of money, or time, or negotiated leverage, or potential happiness.  In essence, you're looking to improve upon your existing situation.

Stop Blaming Others, Even if they Deserve Blame

In the end, blaming others drains your energy and leads to nowhere.

Life is imperfect.  People are imperfect.  Chances are, you're a little bit imperfect too.  All we can do is make the best of our lives and deal with the situation we're in.

Thus, a Self-Made Sage knows that no matter who is to blame in any given situation, the future is never going to change unless you live with personal accountability and take your own actions to change.  The reason is because in the end casting blame on others leads you to nowhere.  Blaming others drains your energy.  Blaming others distracts you from your priorities.  Blaming OTHERS does not get YOU to where you ought to be.

Add a Chief Health Officer to Your Team

Who do you have looking out for your health?

Most people know exactly how much money they have left in their bank account, yet have no idea what their health status is.  At best they go for an annual doctor checkup and "hope for the best."  At worst the get dragged to the hospital only when completely sick, or never go at all.

Is that your health strategy?

Scripting the Movie of Your Life

Share your Movie of Me with the world!

The story of one's life can be inspirational, motivational, insightful, meaningful, or educational.  It can be touching or thought-provoking.  Their story draws you in, and it's easy to become engaged in the arc of their lives and witness the evolution they go through.  Most times you not only learn something, but you leave thinking about how you can apply that learning to your own life.

Enter the term "autobiography" in google and you'll find 67.2 million search results...