Live FULL and Die EMPTY

Oops!

You've likely seen the above picture before. GOOD IDEA with POOR EXECUTION! Can you imagine how the person that got this tattoo felt once they realized the mistake that was made with a PERMANENT tattoo? 

Now listen, I could do a whole article on the thoughts of making sure you don't mix "poor execution" with a "good idea" but that's not what this particular article is about.

Don't take this too literal with the tattoo example above, o.k.? But, here's the thing about living live with NO REGRETS (what the tattoo was SUPPOSED to have spelled out)... sometimes YOU SCREW UP or someone else does something that screws things up for you!

 The following is not an exact quote but it's something that I see from time to time on a commercial trying to get people to take action and buy this particular product. Whether I like the product or not has nothing to do with the TRUTH that is found in this part of the ad:

Don't Regret What You Didn't Do
YESTERDAY
Take Action and Feel Great About Saying
YES TODAY

Don't live your life in regret. That's something that most of us probably have said or believe yet, for whatever reason, most - if not all - of us do, indeed, have many regrets.

As I write this article, I'm 62 years old (closer to 63) and, as I look back over my life, I regret the opportunities that crossed my path that I didn't "jump on" for whatever reason. 

What are YOUR reasons?  

I really encourage you to go back and listen to the "People of Passion" podcasts that I've put out so far. You can read my last article for the links to each of these first three. EACH of these ladies talk about some sort of hesitation in making a move in their life based on their PASSION. Each discuss things that could have held them back and that COULD hold them back even now.

Is it FEAR? "What if I screw things up?" "What if my (friends, family, spouse, etc) think I'm crazy for doing this and what if they continually tell me I shouldn't do it?" 

Here's another one that is based on FEAR but in a way that most of us won't admit: "What if it DOES work well and I don't know what to do or how to do it? What if I screw it up then?"

What is it for you?

Again, I do believe that you must have "good execution" to some extent but, at the same time, you could also end up continually trying to make sure that you have that "good execution" covered in every possible way to the point that you never take action. It's called "paralysis by analysis". 

Very simple example that you can take and apply to your own situation. You may decide you want to try to bungee jumping and get so excited that you go and jump off of a cliff...without making proper preparations of actually HAVING A BUNGEE CORD attached to your body. Yeah, that won't work.

You could also decide that you like the idea of sky diving and, just like the example above, jump out of an airplane only to realize (too late!) that you should have made sure you actually had a parachute!

There is a delicate balance between "good execution" (preparation) and boldly taking a step out in the direction of your goals and dreams.

 

  "LIVE FULL AND DIE EMPTY" is a phrase that is often attributed to Les Brown but I've seen many others say it and even at least one other person write a book by the same title. It doesn't really matter WHO said it but, rather, what matters is whether or not you are able to step up and out and live the idea.

Hey listen, I've made a LOT of mistakes in my life and, to be honest, many of them have been financially costly. HOWEVER, I do my best to NOT allow regret to be a part of those moves. Why? Because I stepped out and took a chance.

Do I wish that these mistakes had turned out for the better? Of course I do! But they didn't and I survived. And, most of the time (if not ALL of the time), I learned some valuable lessons in the process. I'm not just saying that...it is a fact, friend. 

I'm going to be doing a couple of more articles/podcasts that tie into to this concept but, until then, I want to leave you with one other POWERFUL thought to keep in mind on all of this:

"You can face everything and RISE or you can fear everything and FALL."

Until next time, remember...

YOU'RE HERE FOR A REASON and, whatever you do, always be sure to...

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

Mike

Future You University   FYU on Facebook!   Podcast on iTunes   Podcast RSS feed

YouTube   

"O.P.M. Wisdom" - This Sets Us Apart

"O.P.M. WISDOM - THIS SETS US APART"

 Since this article is connected to the last one, please take the time to go back and read part 1, if you haven't done so already.  If you don't, you'll have no idea what I'm talking about in this one, o.k.?

In this article I'm going to specifically address those that STILL refuse to accept the FACT that we can learn from "Other Peoples Mistakes" and insist that they HAVE to make the mistake in order to learn. That is about as far from the truth as you can get - and I'll prove it to you.

Do you wear a shock collar?

In case you're not sure what I'm talking about, let me explain. A shock collar is a device - a collar - that is placed on an animal (a dog, in my experience) to help train them. A wire is placed around whatever perimeter that the human decides upon which interacts with the shock collar. If the animal gets within a certain distance of the wire, the collar will begin to beep, which will serve as a warning to the animal as it becomes trained. If the animal continues along it's path even closer to the wire it will receive a shock which should cause the animal to stop and retreat.  The idea is that, after enough times of this shock, the animal will begin to "learn" where the boundaries are as they relate to the perimeter that has been set by the human.

And, you know what? IT WORKS! The dogs that I had in one particular situation did learn the boundaries and they stayed away from the perimeter that had been set. (And, yes, of course my three sons had to hold the collars in their hands to see what it was like for themselves. OUCH!).

So, an animal can be trained. An animal can develop a learned behavior. Some may argue that the animal has been able to "reason" and make a decision. But, an animal can NOT "reason" and make a decision. Let me tell you what I mean.

Yes, an animal can learn what to do or not do based on their own experience - the "SHOCK" that they get (or the treat that they receive) based on their behavior. However, that same animal does NOT have the ability to learn that behavior by setting back and observing other animals go through the process first. See what I mean?

As humans, we have been blessed with the unique ability to OBSERVE and REASON which then can lead to a decision without having to experience the action ourselves.

We have the ability to have "O.P.M. Wisdom"! We have the ability to OBSERVE, TAKE NOTES and MAKE A DECISION based on what other people do. We may observe an adverse result to what a person does and then decide that we do not to experience that same, adverse result. We may also observe a very positive and rewarding result that we desire. We watch, observe, take notes and decide that we want to follow that same path so that we, too, can experience the same positive results.

To insist that you can only learn by making YOUR OWN MISTAKES over and over again is to say that you are not any smarter than animals. There is truth in that statement.

To refuse the idea of "O.P.M. Wisdom" is to reject the unique ability that you have been given by your Creator! Friend, you DO have this ability and you CAN learn from others without having to make the same mistake yourself.

On the positive side, observe someone that you want to be like and do what they do.  Maybe it's someone that has a very good family life...learn how that happens from that person and then do what they do! Maybe they are successful in business - do what they do. WHATEVER IT IS, if they are successful and you wish for the same success, find out what they do and what they have done and do what they do and do what they have done. FOLLOW THEIR PATH!

And, doesn't it then make sense that, if someone exhibits what you DON'T want in your life, that you can STILL watch, observe, take notes so that you know what NOT to do?

Bottom line, it is still up to you. There are people every day that ignore the mistakes of their own past and also ignore the failures of others around them. They are doomed to fail UNLESS and UNTIL they decide to "wise up" and desire something better for their life.

Hey listen, it is one thing to whine and complain about why things always turn out wrong and then keep doing the same stupid things than it is for someone to realize that what they are doing DOES NOT WORK and dedicate themselves to POSITIVE change! It is the difference between a WHINER and a DOER!

What will you do?

Have you ever heard this phrase -  "Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it." ? This if often attributed to Winston Churchill. Most, however, think that it came from what was written by George Santayana in The Life of Reason (1905): “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”

You see, it's IMPOSSIBLE for me to go back and RELIVE history from 100 years ago. However, I can "watch" (study), take notes and make a decision based on the history that OTHERS lived and experienced.

Open your eyes. Pay attention. Watch. Observe. Take notes. Make a decision. And, take advantage of "O.P.M. Wisdom".

Until next time... Whatever you do, always be sure to... 

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

Mike

Future You University   FYU on Facebook!   Podcast on iTunes   Podcast RSS feed

What Is "O.P.M. Wisdom"?

What IS "O.P.M. Wisdom"?

Depending on who you are and what your background or life experience is, will likely influence your guess on this one. Now, don't feel bad if you don't come up with ANYTHING on this one, o.k.? 

Perhaps the first thing that came to your mind when you saw the letters "O.P.M." was "Office of Personnel Management". I even saw a listing for "Office of Pest Management". So, in the area of "office" there could be any number of listings that go along with that.

Now, if you are one that has researched work-from-home opportunities or any type of entrepreneurial endeavors, then the idea of "Other People's Money" may be what came to mind.  And, yes, that might display some sort of wisdom - having the ability to grow your business using other people's money BUT...that is not what I'm going to be talking about today.

I'll get to that in a moment  but, first, I want to give a little background as to what it was that made me come up with that phrase and to also feel the need to share this information in this blog as well as on the podcast (see podcast links at bottom of article) that goes along with this same topic.

Let me start off by asking you this question: "How do you learn?" or "How do you think most people learn - beginning as a baby?"

For sure, much learning comes from trial and error, right? How does a baby learn to crawl and then walk? Trial and error. Some babies don't crawl, they "scoot". I've seen babies scoot like an inchworm and I've seen babies learn how to sit up and scoot along on their bottom...almost hopping!

But, basically, there's only one way to walk and that definitely takes place with trial and error. 

Did you ever learn how to ride a bicycle? If you did, do you remember that process? I do and I can say real quick that IT IS NOT FUN! Crashing was not (and still is not) fun! And, once you've crashed and felt the pain that came with it, it's HARD to get back on that bike and go at it again. But, apparently the MOTIVATION of being able to ride that bike like your brothers, sisters and/or friends was greater than the fear and, after a period of trial and error, you learned how to ride that bike.

But, is that the ONLY way that we learn? Of course not!

I have three adult sons and I remember the difference in the "learning curve" between the first one, the second one and the third one. The second one learned most things a lot quicker than the first one because he had someone to learn from (besides his parents) - his brother! And, the third one learned even quicker because he had TWO brothers to learn from.

Follow me so far? Good.

I have two brothers and three sisters while my wife has only one brother. Overall, I'd say I learned mostly positive things from my brothers and sisters and don't remember much of anything that I thought I needed to avoid in their actions. Now, my wife tells me that she would watch her older brother and figure out what NOT to do! He wasn't (and isn't) a bad person but he just got in a lot more trouble than she did. (Now, I do have to say that little sisters are quite sneaky!).  

So, here we go with the main point - ARE YOU READY?

Some people feel that the only way to LEARN anything - or to gain wisdom - is by trial and error. More or less, what they believe is that they may have to "crash and burn" over and over again before they finally "get it". Then, they learn and are wiser.

And, yes, that is ONE way to learn. A very painful way to learn, at times, but it is a way to learn.

However, I want to present another way to learn and gain wisdom - "O.P.M. WISDOM"  and the "O.P.M." stands for "Other People's MISTAKES". 

I told my Dad once that I guess I was one of those that had to learn lessons the hard way and he very gently told me that this was not true. He was the first to point out to me the value in learning from OTHER people's mistakes. 

Just in general, HISTORY is a prime example of how we can - and SHOULD - learn from the mistakes of the past. The problem is that too may people have no clue about history and, thus, many people (and societies) continue to repeat the same mistakes. 

What about YOU?

I can pretty much guarantee that YOU have learned more than you realize by observing "other peoples mistakes" and deciding to do something different than they did. 

That, my friend, is a WISE way to learn as much as possible. WATCH others. TAKE NOTE in their actions and the RESULTS (or lack thereof). By the way, they may be GOOD results or they may be BAD results, otherwise known as CONSEQUENCES. And then, finally, after watching and taking notice, you then make a DECISION.

That's "O.P.M. WISDOM".

Think about that and ask yourself if, perhaps, you need to pay more attention to this type of wisdom. Hey, listen, sometimes that means that you will actually have to do some RESEARCH as part of the process. In case you don't know, it's also called  DUE DILIGENCE (look it up if you don't know what that is). 

Now that I've given you this simple - but often neglected - "formula" for gaining wisdom, in my next article I will discuss what is actually said by those that reject this idea or that insist that the only way to learn or gain wisdom is through trial and error.

Send me some feedback to my Facebook Fan Page - I'd love to get your thoughts there and you can shoot me an e-mail at anytime. 

Pay attention and keep your eyes open, friend. Watch others as others watch you! (Oh yeah, there are others that are watching YOU as well.)

Until next time, always be sure to... 

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

Mike

Future You University   FYU on Facebook!   Podcast on iTunes   Podcast RSS feed

DAILY Opportunity

I read an article in a discussion forum earlier today entitled, "We Only Have One Opportunity in Life". There was a video attached and it was a good video featuring a very well-known man in the area of personal development.

 

That phrase WAS actually used in that video but, overall, the emphasis was about the fact that we have opportunities (plural) that come and go and that we have but one LIFE to live.

 

Now, I don't think the guy that wrote the article actually believed that there is only ONE opportunity in our life but, that's what the title read and, that being so, I felt the need to share my thoughts on the matter.

 

What did I say? "Absurd!"

 

Now, I was nice about it but I did want to make sure and point out that this idea was flawed. I did mention the things that I've already shared with you in this article in a way that didn't come across as an attack.

 

However, I wanted to be sure that ANYONE that read that article would NOT take it as fact.

 

Can you imagine believing that there was but ONE opportunity that comes our way in our life? What if you miss it? What then?

 

Friend, there are opportunities that come our way EVERY SINGLE DAY! That's one reason I specifically picked the graphic that you see above. Most of the graphics had the word, "opportunity" (singular) featured. But there are opportunities (plural) abundant in our life!

 

Sometimes we put too much emphasis on ONE opportunity missed. Sometimes we see people cry and bemoan the fact that they missed that opportunity and, in extreme situations, we actually see people take their own lives due to this fact.

 

That is really sad.

 

Yes, some opportunities are "bigger" than others but, friend, who is to say that there is not a "bigger" opportunity headed our way in the future?

 

Here's the deal: Live today with your eyes open for opportunity. Perhaps the opportunity to touch someones life with an act of kindness. Perhaps the opportunity to put a smile on the face of another. Perhaps opportunity in which you will never see the end result.

 

Every day. EVERY day.

 

And, friend, TODAY is one of those days! Take advantage of those opportunities that WILL come your way. And, as you do so, always be sure to...

 

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

 

Mike

 

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LEARN From Your Past

Yesterday, we talked about not feeling ashamed or embarrassed about the need to "start over". We discussed the fact that any great invention was not invented successfully the first time that it was tried. The fact is that it took the person attempting to create that invention, the patience to START OVER again and again!

 

So, again, regardless of what you may read or hear somewhere else (remember that graphic that got me a little angry?), there is NO SHAME in having to START OVER! The shame would be if you actually QUIT and just gave up completely.

 

But that's not you!

 

So, as you think about starting over there IS one thing that we must really take into consideration in this process.

 

DID YOU LEARN ANYTHING FROM YOUR PAST ATTEMPTS?

 

Think back to the example of the great inventors having to start over several times. What would you think if they kept doing the EXACT SAME THING that did NOT work over and over again? Would you not ask that person why they keep doing the same thing that did not work over and over again?

 

SURE YOU WOULD!

 

Friend, it should be no different for you or me. If you keep starting over but keep doing the same things over and over again then, guess what? YOU WILL KEEP MAKING THE SAME MISTAKES and you will CONTINUE to have to START OVER but with no hope of ever making any progress!

 

That, my friend, is a FACT!

 

Can we get brutally honest here? I hope you say "yes" because that is exactly what we are going to do!

 

From my own experience and from what I have seen, here is the #1 REASON why so many keep making the same mistakes over and over again. Are you ready?

 

PRIDE.

 

That's right...PRIDE!

 

What do I mean? The #1 reason why most people keep making the same mistakes is because their own PRIDE will not allow them to ADMIT THAT THEY MADE THE MISTAKES! It's easier to blame everyone and everything else for their mistakes.

 

That being so (and, friend, it is so a majority of the time), they do not learn anything and are destined to a perpetual cycle of making the same mistakes again and again, not learning a thing to correct these mistakes.

 

So, did your ego survive that? GOOD! (I'm assuming you said, "yes"!).

 

As much as that hurts and as much as some do not want to hear this truth, it IS the truth! You will find that if you will actually be willing to accept the fact that YOU are responsible for the mistakes then, friend, you have the ability to LEARN something and NOT make the same mistake again!

 

Now, here's what I'm going to do: I'm going to let all of this sink in and allow you to really open up and accept the responsibility that, yes, YOU could actually be the one responsible for what went wrong before. Yes, YOU!

 

I'm going to ask that you take the time to really, honestly, consider this possibility (I'm trying to be nice here) that this could be true and then take a GOOD LOOK at the past and see if you can actually pin-point some of the problem areas.

 

O.K.?

 

Then, tomorrow, we will come back and address some of these issues. Deal?

 

But, you MUST be open and willing to admit to mistakes if the mistakes are yours. Deal?

 

I hope so, because that is what I'm going to do tomorrow.

 

I think you will be surprised - and likely relieved - to find out that you are not the only person that has struggled with these issues.

 

So again, the ONLY SHAME is when you do not learn from your past mistakes and struggles. The time is NOW to stop that disastrous spiral, wouldn't you agree?

 

Good...let's get after it and begin moving forward toward our goals and dreams.

 

Until then, whatever you do, be sure to...

 

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

 

Mike

 

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Focus On Your FUTURE

 

For whatever reason, we tend to "live in the past" and revisit the mistakes and "what if's" over and over again. You can never successfully move forward while looking back.

 

We must break our "rear-view mirror" mentality if we are to successfully move forward to and through our future.

 

Have you noticed? EVERY mirror in an automobile points to what has passed, what's behind. Your rear-view mirror that is right smack dab in the middle of the windshield is there for you to look behind you. The two mirrors on each door are also designed for the same reason. They are there for you to see what is behind you.

 

As useful and needful as these mirrors are for safety, one CAN NOT successfully drive forward if they continuously look at what has already passed. They will crash because they are focusing on the wrong thing and in the wrong direction.

 

We ALL have things in our past that we'd like to forget. Yet, we have a hard time forgetting them. Too, there are more than enough other people that are more than ready to remind us of those things if they think we are even THINKING of forgetting them! Separate yourself from these people.

 

We have all made mistakes. Sure, some of us have made more than others but here's the key: DID YOU LEARN FROM THOSE MISTAKES and HAVE YOU MOVED ON FROM THOSE MISTAKES?

 

If you have learned from those mistakes then you are NOT the same person and you can continue to improve and develop into the person that you wish to become. You ARE becoming that person when you learn from and move on from those mistakes. Do NOT ever forget that!

 

Yesterday is gone forever. Gone. Forever.

 

Live TODAY and live it as one who has learned - LEARNED - from the past. LEARN from the past but do not LIVE in the past!

 

Hey listen, that's one reason it's so important to fill you mind with as much positive material as possible - IT DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE! Doesn't it?

 

Keep moving forward one day at a time and one step at a time and always be sure to...

 

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

 

Mike

 

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Choose Wisely

"Make wise choices today!"

 

This was a daily encouragement that I would say as young men and women would pile out of the van or bus I was driving while working with a group of kids that were in foster care.

 

Did they always listen? Apparently not.

 

Have YOU always made wise choices. That one is easy - NO!

 

And, many times, we feel the sting and consequences of those poor choices. Some, obviously, are bigger than others but they ALL have consequences.

I've said it this way many times before: "What you do TODAY matters!"

My guess is that most - if not all - of us cried out, "I want to make my own decisions!" at some point in time while we were teens and living at home. A home, might I add, that we likely had nothing to do with providing, that likely included a place to sleep, shower, use the bathroom - INDOORS - and even had food to eat! Again, we likely had very little to do with any of that. Yet, we didn't want to abide by "their" rules...we wanted the freedom to make our own choices!

Sometimes it would be nice to not have to make so many choices again, wouldn't it? Sometimes we find that it would be quite nice to have someone else make the decisions for us. But, friend, it's just not that way anymore!

Some are still feeling the effects of poor choices and it continues on for years when it involves and includes children that, out of no fault of their own, become a part of those poor choices.

Let's get to the bottom line here: Although we cannot go back and undo those poor choices we CAN make better choices today that can do a couple of things -
     1. Better choices can bring about a process of healing that may be needed due to past poor choices.
     2. Better choices today can prevent us from making those same mistakes again!

Stop living in the past - that, alone, is a poor choice!

Live TODAY and make the best choices possible by putting thought - CLEAR thought - into the process. Yeah, you and I BOTH are capable of doing that, friend!

"As long as there is breath, there is hope!" -- I came up with that several years ago and it still applies today. TODAY you are alive and breathing. That means that TODAY you have the chance, the HOPE of making things better and making wiser choices!

So, get on with it. And, as you do so, be sure to...

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

Mike

Future You University     "Like" FYU on Facebook!     Podcast on iTunes     Podcast RSS feed

                                         Start your home based business HERE

Einstein on Mistakes

So, would you consider Albert Einstein a smart man? SURE YOU WOULD!

 

Well, apparently he was smart in a LOT of areas, including this one because what he says is absolutely TRUE.

 

Yet, when you think about it, it's actually rather interesting. Why? Because anyone that never tries anything new not only AVOIDS mistakes (as discussed in the graphic above) but, actually, makes a HUGE mistake by that very action (or lack thereof)!

 

I know, I know, some of your heads are just spinning right now. :)

 

Sure, if one wants to avoid mistakes and even criticism, one might choose to do NOTHING. Yet, at the same time, they make a HUGE mistake in that way of thinking and, oftentimes, face criticism for doing nothing!

 

So, the way I see it is like this: if you're going to make a mistake and get criticized ANYWAY, why not make mistakes and face criticism for actually DOING something?

 

I think me and ol' Albert would have had a good discussion on this one! Now, as soon as he started talking about math.....that's a whole other story!

 

And, by the way, the podcast (links below) is completely different than what I just put in this article so be sure to check it out, o.k.?

 

Go for it, friend. Get out there and make those mistakes and get criticized for DOING SOMETHING! Every great person has been there, done that.

 

Now it's YOUR turn!

 

And as you get out there go for it, be sure to...

 

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

 

Mike

Future You University     "Like" FYU on Facebook!     Podcast on iTunes     Podcast RSS feed

                                         Start your home based business HERE

What Trumps Mistakes?

Stop beating yourself up.

 

So many of these recent posts and podcasts have been especially for you. ("Who, me?").

 

Yes. This is for those of you that are attempting to make some positive changes in your life.

 

Yes. This is for those of you that dare to dream, dare to stretch and push yourself beyond your comfort zone.

 

Yes. This is for those of you that dare continue on through the comments from others that cry out, "Who do you think you are?" and "Are you crazy?" as well as many others.

 

Yes. This is for those of you that take two steps forward only to get knocked one step back and you keep going because you realize that you are still making progress even at that pace.

 

Yes. This is for those of you that have been knocked down 57 times and have gotten up 58 times.

 

Yes. This is for those of you that are TRYING.

 

That action, alone, puts you FAR AHEAD of most everyone else in this world.

 

Think about that as you keep on trying today and remember, this is for YOU.

 

And, as you continue along your way, always be sure to...

 

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

 

Mike

Future You University     "Like" FYU on Facebook!     Podcast on iTunes     Podcast RSS feed

                                         Start your home based business HERE

Major Setback?

I've never played the game of "Chess" and, honestly, I've never had a desire to do so. I have, however, played "checkers" many times (yes, I do know that they are not anywhere near the same) and have never gotten very good at that game.

 

I do know this about checkers: those that win and win often know how to think several moves ahead and, from what I understand about the game of chess, the same is true there as well.

 

I also know this about checkers: What you do NEXT is vitally important!

 

Friend, this is true in so many areas of our life whether it be games, relationships, education or work related. But it is especially true IF you've experienced a MAJOR setback.

 

My goodness, as I typed that last sentence it occurred to me that ANY major setback in ANY area of life sets up the importance of your next move.

 

Wise choices in the midst of adversity. That's much easier said than done.

 

Even though it is true that planning ahead for such situations and plotting out what your next move might be IF such a thing were to happen is a wise thing to do,  it still does not mean that you will actually follow through with your preplanned thoughts, and here's why: No matter how much you plan, you simply can NOT plan it out as if it were actually happening.

 

What does that mean?

 

You cannot make plans like this and include the EMOTIONS that will go along with that event if and when it happens.

 

Many times the best laid plans get sidetracked by our emotions. You see, when we make plans we are thinking RATIONALLY but when we include emotions and if those emotions take "center stage" then we begin to think IRRATIONALLY.

 

So, in ANY area, what you do next is of utmost importance.

 

Mistakes happen BUT that does not mean that your next move need be another mistake!

 

Final bit of advice: In ANY area of major setback, we must allow ourselves the chance to step back for a moment, catch our breath and think. Friend, that may not happen within the next hour or even day.

 

This is when it comes in handy for you to have planned out ahead of time. Because NOW when you are thinking irrationally due to your overwhelming emotions, you can sit down and read things through that were planned when you had a clearer head. What you wrote down before may not seem possible to you while you are still high on emotion but give it a little time and allow the "pre-planned rational mind" to have time to take root.

 

Then boldly move on knowing that you are not acting in haste or by emotion.

 

It's a big step. It's a necessary step and it's a step that you CAN make boldly if you've taken the time to plan.

 

Do it and, as you do so, be sure to ...

 

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

 

Mike

 

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The Struggle of Learning

 

 

 

OUCH!

 

Guess what? Learning from your mistakes and/or failures is PAINFUL!

 

But, you know what is even MORE painful? Making the same mistakes OVER AND OVER AGAIN and never learning anything!

 

And, it's painful to watch as well.

 

Growth (which is really what learning promotes) is always a painful process whether it be in business (or any type of organization) or even physically.

 

I remember when I was a teen lying in my bed at night, on my stomach, kicking my legs because they hurt so much from the "growing pains" that I was experiencing. But it's not always physical when you are "growing up", is it? Emotionally learning how to deal with social skills as you go through those "awkward stages" of physical growth can sometimes be difficult to navigate.

 

But, just as in these examples I just shared, though "learning" and growth can be difficult they do go "hand in hand" and they DO produce positive results.

 

IF we don't give up and IF we don't miss out on the opportunity to LEARN from our mistakes and failures.

 

Seeing people do the same wrong thing over and over again is just plain painful to see. But, you know what? Whether they realize it or not, it's even more painful to live that kind of life.

 

So, "suck it up" buddy and GET ON with the process of learning and growing through your mistakes and failures.

 

You will make it as long as you don't give up and as long as you don't stop learning.

 

Yeah, now you get it.

 

Until next time...

 

 

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

 

Mike

 

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A View of Hope

"As long as there's breath, there's hope" - Mike Spillman

 

Yeah, that's one of mine and it does actually fit into what we are going to talk about today.

 

Re-read the words in the graphic above and think about it.

     1. Have you made mistakes?  (Yes)

     2. Have you ever failed at anything? (see #1)

     3. Have you ever done anything right? (Yes)

YOU ARE HUMAN!

 

Whether you tried and failed or failed because you didn't even try doesn't really matter. What matters is the fact that, since you are a human and you are alive, there is HOPE for a turn around and HOPE for a celebration of success!

 

Mistakes and failure are a part of life! There is no way around that fact. But, as has been mentioned several times in the last few blog articles and podcasts, what you DO following your failures is what matters most.

 

I FAIL!

 

I STRUGGLE!

 

I don't always do what I set out to do and I don't always do "it" successfully. That's a fact.

 

BUT...I still know that the very fact that I'm alive and breathing points to the fact that I still have the chance to change things and make them better. I still have the chance to LEARN FROM MY MISTAKES AND FAILURE and make positive progress from here on out.

 

Will I still make mistakes and fail at times? YES. Again, just a fact of being alive.

 

BUT...hopefully I will continue to improve on what I learn from each of these negative episodes and I will begin to experience them less and less.

 

As we talked about in the last article, let each one of those failures become a stepping stone on your way to success.

 

HOPE.

 

We all need it, we all must have it in order to continue on. Take a look, see it, feel it, know it, believe it, bask in it and be grateful for it.

 

Beautiful, isn't it?

 

It's there for you each and every day that you are alive.

 

Take that fact and use it to your advantage and, as you do so, be sure to...

 

 

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

 

Mike

 

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REGRET

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That's a pretty gloomy picture up there, isn't it? For many people REGRET looms over them like a big storm threatening the potential of great damage. For many, the "cloud of regret" hovers over them and follows them wherever they go. Doom. Danger. Destruction. Disaster. Defeat.

We all have regrets, don't we? I feel that, because of my experience as a parent, I can say that ALL parents have regrets. Can't all of us - as parents - look back and wish we had done some things differently? Spent more time doing things with our kids. Focused more on helping them develop certain characteristics that one is not born with but can only be taught and learned.

Everyone that is married has regrets. Everyone that is not married has regrets.

Get the picture? EVERYONE has regrets.

I picked out a few quotes on REGRET that I wanted to share with you. Take a look at them and let them soak in...

I'd rather regret the things I have done than the things that I haven't. - Lucille Ball

A man is not old until regrets take the place of dreams.     -John Barrymore

When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us.     -Alexander Graham Bell

Be bold and courageous. When you look back on your life, you'll regret the things you didn't do more than the ones you did.     -H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

I'm not sure if Lucille Ball got her quote from Mr. Brown, but they are both very similar in what they say. They both cause us to really look closely at our regrets. Do they not?

I can't help but ask the question that almost cries out from John Barrymore's quote... Have your dreams been replaced by regrets? Really examine this one closely!

I love the way that Mr. Bell brought out such a wise observation to the popular saying about one door closing and another one opening. This may be true but read again this observation and ask yourself if you are constantly standing and looking at all of the doors in your life that are closed.

REGRET - we all have it so it is important for us to consider what we DO with the regret in our own life!

Well?

Here's the deal and, if you've read much of my stuff at all you won't be surprised at what I'm about to say: IT'S YOUR CHOICE! Just like anything else in life and especially when it comes to how things impact our lives - it is a CHOICE that we make.

Think about it...we ALL have regrets but many live their lives differently when it comes to those regrets. Some live their lives FULL of regret to the point that they can never move on because of their focus ON those regrets (see again the quote by Alexander Graham Bell). Hey listen, for some, the regret is LARGE and the impact is far reaching but, nevertheless, all regrets are seen through our rear-view mirror, are they not? And, that being the case we MUST understand that we CAN learn from the cause of the regrets but we CANNOT go back and undo them and we CANNOT allow ourselves to focus on those past causes.

Seriously, what can be gained by doing this? NOTHING except bringing more regret to your life when you realize how much time you have wasted focused on this regret.

On the other hand, as has been said, you can LEARN from the past mistakes that brought on that regret and you can do everything within your power to not repeat those same mistakes thus avoiding even stronger regret due to your repetitive nature.

Huh?

DON'T DO IT AGAIN.

But we often do, don't we? That's how we are. But, hopefully, over time, we begin to break that pattern and we start repeating those same mistakes less and less to the point that we DO finally move on in a positive way.

Remember this: YOU ARE HUMAN!

Don't use that as an excuse (as many people do - "Oh well. You know, I'm only human!") but let it help you understand how we - as humans - tend to behave and how hard it is to make significant change in our lives as well as how long this significant change may take.

As was stated differently in two of the above quotes, the worst thing any of us wants to do is come to the point that we regret the fact that we did NOTHING...that we failed to LIVE.

I hope this helps. I'd love to hear from you at any time. Feel free to drop me an email - mike@futureyouuniversity.com as well as leave comments here or at the Future You University FAN PAGE on Facebook (preferred method for comments).

Until next time, be sure to...

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

Mike

  



Your Personal "Ground Hog Day"

Today is "Turn-Around Wednesday!" (Be sure to check out today's podcast to see how this is true in YOUR life today!)

Do you remember the 1993 movie, "Groundhog Day" starring Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell in which the character played by Mr. Murray gets to start the SAME day over and over again until he "gets it right"?

Wouldn't it be awesome if we were able to do that exact same thing?

Hold on to your seats, friends because, to some extent WE CAN!

No, I'm not suggesting that we can go back and "re-live" a day all over again. However, what I AM saying is that we all have the opportunity to start each day FRESH and NEW with the chance to make corrections, improvements and advancements in our lives.

Hey, believe me, I understand that there are pressures, problems and people that WON'T GO AWAY with the dawning of a new day BUT I also believe what I have been saying for a very long time with this following quote, "As long as there is breath, there is hope."

When you even consider the "tag" that my friend, Gerry, placed on this day of the week - "Turn-Around Wednesday", it emphasizes the same thing...you CAN "turn things around" today!

What is it that they call this idea in the game of golf? A "mulligan", right? In other situations someone may call out the word, "redo!".

No, we cannot go back and re-live but with every new day we DO have the opportunity at a "second chance" in our lives. How many times have you heard others - or even yourself - utter the words, "I just wish I had a second chance."

You do. Each and every day and, by the way friend, TODAY is one of those days!

Live, love and laugh and, as you do so, be sure to...

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

Mike

Sometimes You Have to Just "Go With the Flow"

GIVE UP OR KEEP MOVING FORWARD?

It's now always easy to keep pushing forward when it seems that the "ROADBLOCK DEMONS" are determined to keep you from moving in a forward direction.

I've talked about it many times in the past and - not for the first time - I am experiencing it as I continue to plan to actually present my first seminar.


Is it frustrating? OH YEAH!


But, I also know that I can either GIVE UP or continue to MOVE FORWARD with my plans - even if it does take some major reorganizing!


As always, the choice is MINE and it is up ME to decide what it is that I will do with these temporary roadblocks and setbacks.


Me? I choose to keep pushing forward!


And I encourage YOU to do the same in YOUR LIFE in whatever area of your life that it is with which you are attempting to move FORWARD into a better and brighter future.


Here's to your continued effort and coming success in your endeavors. And, as always...


"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)



Mike

Just A Bump In The Road

Just a Bump In The Road

I've been using different quotes for my topics this week and today I'd like to share one that my 19 year old son, Jordan came up with the other night:

"The past is just a bump in the road to the future." - Jordan Spillman

Not bad, huh? Now, if he can just make sure that he remembers that in his young life he will be
WAY ahead of many others as they go through the "bumps" along the way!

You've likely heard this before: "Your past DOES NOT determine your future!"

And, even though you have "heard" it -- did you really HEAR it to the point of letting it sink in?

No matter WHO you are, no matter WHERE you've been and no matter HOW BADLY you've "messed up" you MUST remember that "the past is just a bump in the road to the future"!

And, yes, I know there are those of you out there that have messed up REALLY badly and you very likely may be paying the consequences of your actions for a very long time. But, you STILL have the ability to change the course - the path - of your future!

You see, that is what is MAGICAL about each day! There is found the TRUTH behind the thought that you can TURN each day AROUND! It is also what is so exciting when you consider that TODAY (and every day) is WIDE OPEN for you! And who in the world would NOT be THANKFUL for such wonderful opportunities each and every day?

As always, it's up to you!

You can sit on the side of "the road" on the journey to your future and cry out, "Woe is me!" while staying put OR you can correct the problem and move on down the road to your destination!

What will you do?

Will there be more bumps along the way? I can answer that with a very definite, "YES!".

But, as long as we keep on moving those bumps will soon be nothing but a distant memory of the journey to our goals and dreams.

And, never forget to...

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

Mike