You're Missing A Great Game

“You’re missing a great game!” This is something you often hear yelled at officials by displeased basketball fans from the heights of their seats. Somehow they believe the screaming of insults to people in stripes will make the calls better. I am still puzzled by this logic.

It actually makes no sense at all.

Being wrong doesn’t make you miss a great game; not showing up does.

Did you catch that truth?

Missing a great game starts when you don’t show up.

In the same way, enjoying the great game of life means we show up. We play. We are open to discovering the lessons and principles that will help us along the way. We learn, we keep going, and we fall in love with life.

You have plans for your life. Plans to accomplish your dreams, goals, and passions. What will be the difference between you enjoying the great game of life or missing it?

Here is what I know to be true:

Once you decide to take something on, to go after something that matters, to make a difference, this is the biggest step you must take to enjoy the great game of life:

Start!

Simply begin.

Take one step, even if it is small.

It is amazing how experiences become far less monumental than we think when we just put one foot in front of the other.

What step will you take today to make progress in your professional and personal life to ensure you don't miss a great game?

4 Steps to Achieving Your Goals

How are you doing on your new year's resolutions?

Recent research states that only 9.2% of people will accomplish their goals this year! That is right, over 90% of the U.S. adult population will NOT accomplish what they set out to do just a few weeks ago.

Furthermore, only 58% of goal setters are still on track to achieve them by the end of January.

Wow!

First, in order to be even considered in this conversation, you have to have set goals. Meaning, you needed to detail out your expectations, your plans. Have you done this? Have you stated what you want to do in order to make 2018 your best year ever?

Now is the time.

If you have not set goals for 2018, stop reading, and set at least 1 goal for yourself. Personal, professional, or both, you need goals.

Oh, and in case you haven’t noticed, we are at month end, so you only have 1 more day to stay or get back on track!

We want this to be your best year ever. I want to see you in the top 9%, the elite of the elite. Don’t you want to make a difference? Wouldn’t it be wonderful to look back at the end of the year and know your work paid off and you beat the odds! Isn’t this a great time to live your best life?

Yes, yes and yes!

You need to decide to take action. You need to decide take that action right now. You need to decide to take the action right now that will put you down the path to be amongst those in the top.

What will you decide?

Will you be brave, bold, and better?

Better than what? Just better. Constantly aiming higher. Constantly making a difference in the world. Constantly in pursuit of your best year ever.

The action steps, the choice, and most importantly, the outcomes, are up to you. What are you waiting for? Now is the time, now is your moment. Now is all you have. Use your today wisely and keep your eyes on your dreams. You can achieve them. You can accomplish great things; but you must take these 4 very important steps.

4 Steps To Achieving Your Goals

1. Have goals

The very first step is to actually make plans and set goals. It is easy for a year to pass and to feel like we have made little or no progress in our work, personal, and home life. Goals are a great way to make sure we are taking steps towards the future we want. If you have not taken the time to do so, sit down and write out your goals for this year.

2. Tell others

We don't need statistics to tell us that keeping our resolutions and achieving our goals is hard! They are even harder when we do it alone. Sharing your goals with others not only provides great accountability, but it also provides the encouragement you will need to stay strong and preserver. Be sure to share your goals with people who will cheer you on, and find one or two who will hold you accountable.

3. Take actions each day to achieve them

Most goals we set take time and intentionality to achieve. The best way to tackle your annual goals is to break them down into smaller monthly, weekly, and daily milestones. Each morning, think of one thing you can do to get you closer to your goal...and then actually do it! Accomplishing your daily goal gives you momentum and motivation to keep working towards your bigger goals. 

4. Never give up

Achieving your goals doesn't happen over night. There will be good days and bad in your journey. Remember each day is a fresh start and a new opportunity to succeed. On the days where you feel like giving up, take time to reflect on the reasons why you chose the goal in the first place. Remind yourself why you care and the importance of this goal being met. Take a moment to reflect on the progress you have made. If you need a little more motivation, talk to one of your cheerleaders to give you the inspiration you need to keep going. 

Remember this, you only fail if you quit. 

I wish you the best, and as always, remember the world is waiting for you!

Do You Know What Matters Most?

You may hear people say, “Don’t sweat the small stuff!”

How? Might be your reply.

I saw a great quote recently (not sure who gets the credit), “One of the most important things in life is to know what is most important.” It is easy to say, much tougher to do. In the end, it is about keeping our focus on the bigger picture with confidence that we are on the right path.

So what is most important to you? What are your core values?

If it’s been awhile since you looked at them or if you’ve never created a list, now is the time!

Your challenge is to spend some quiet time alone and develop your list. These values help frame where you spend your time and attention because these are the things that matter the most to you. Once you know what matters most, it is easier to identify the "small stuff."

Here’s how you go about that process:

1. Identify approximately 10 words that describe the things (in large buckets) that matter to you in your life (personal, professional, recreational, etc.)
2. Then narrow down your list to the absolutes, the top 3 – 6. These values are your core values.
3. The final step is crucial. Put them in number order. Something must be number 1 and always take precedence over number 2, 3, and 4.

This process is a necessity in the path to success. Defining your own core values brings clarity in times of tough decisions and prevents you from being distracted by the wrong things. And in the end, it keeps you from sweating the small stuff because you now know what really matters.

5 Ways To Start Your Day...When You Don't Feel Like It

Do you ever find yourself not wanting to get out of bed on a given morning to face work, traffic, and the dozens of tasks awaiting?

Do you ever find yourself so tired that you just don’t want to go to work, or drive to practice, or go grocery shopping?

Have you ever found yourself complaining about all the things you need to do and that you don’t have the time or energy to do it?

Chances are if you’re anything like me, you have. There is good news, my friends, you’re not alone! We have all been there, and will probably be there again very soon.

The challenge is not that these feelings arise, it is what we will do when they come.

These distractions and negative emotions are real and do return. We need to overcome them and be prepared to move forward in spite of them.

Here are 5 strategies and attitudes to help you move forward when you just don’t feel like it:

1. Go: Seriously. Just get up and get moving. Don’t think about the work, the day, or your to-do list…yet. Just do something you love. Have some coffee, pray, read, exercise…get your body and mind on something you like and get started.
2. Grateful: Start your day thankful for the opportunity to have one. Many people didn’t get today, or they lay ill and unable to do much with it. If you can get up, then you can give thanks. Take a few minutes and be thankful for what you have.
3. Give encouragement: Someone out there needs you. Think of someone to send a quick text too and let them know they are special. Lift them up, tell them they are loved, give a little encouragement to another person to help make their day.
4. Get your list done: What are the most important things you need to accomplish today? Write them down and put them in priority by what is most important. Don’t skip around and do easy ones. Do the most important things first.
5. Grab a toast: At the end of your day, take a moment to celebrate. Have a glass of wine or lemonade, high five a friend, do a little dance, make a little noise. It is important to recognize that you made it. One of the best parts of life is the fun. Take time out to simply say, “I did it.” The ride isn’t always easy, so set time out to enjoy, laugh, and live a little.

Let Resistance Be Your Wind

Flying is intriguing. It is such an amazing invention. While standing on the ground, I peer up towards the sky and watch as the thousands of pounds carrying so many valuable lives are
thrust across the sky at speeds over 500 miles per hour. I see the stream of white that trails and reveals the path in which the plane has come.

I am in awe.

And secretly, I want to be up there.

It doesn’t matter where the plane is heading; I am just enthralled with the concept of being in the sky.

Interestingly enough, that is somewhat how we perceive those that have reached great heights in their lives. Whether it is success in business, a beautiful family, or other wonderful accomplishments, we all want to soar?

However, to take flight, you must first take off. You need to lift off from where you are to get to where you want to be.

Ask any pilot, and they will tell you that the most critical moment in a flight is take off. Sure you need speed and mechanics and a well-built plane with a well-prepared pilot (leader) at the helm, but none of that matters if you don’t have resistance.

You need wind!

Planes take off into the wind. They use the resistance to climb. They charge the resistance as fast and hard as they can in order to soar.

As you face challenges, failures, and difficulties in your own life, check your perspective and keep going.

The resistance and opposition you face are your wind. Go at them, not around them, and certainly not away from them.

Use the resistance to get better and to grow. And prepare yourself because you are about to fly!