We are going off script… more like beyond the storyline as far as the story of Scrooge goes. Probably similarly for you. Going to new places. After Scrooge gets through Christmas, he takes it forward and lives up to being a new and improved person. You decided to take your life forward to a new level and to being a new you.  For me, this is “new” space as well. Up to now, this blog followed Dicken’s wisdom and creativity. Now, I have to chart the path and think… What Would Dickens Do? Where do we start this new leg of our journey together?

A few thoughts some other writers have had about where to start:

“Begin at the beginning,” the King said, very gravely, “and go on till you come to the end: then stop.”― Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. ² Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.  The Bible- Book of Genisis

Let’s start at the very beginning, A very good place to start. When you read you begin with A-B-C. When you sing you begin with do-re-mi. Do-Re-Mi.  Lyrics By Oscar Hammerstein II  Music By Richard Rodgers

“The first step toward getting somewhere is to decide you’re not going to stay where you are.” – J.P. Morgan

“Your present circumstances don’t determine where you can go; they merely determine where you start.” – Nido Qubein

“Failure is the opportunity to begin again more intelligently.” – Henry Ford

“No matter how hard the past is, you can always begin again.” – Buddha

“You’re off to great places! Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting, so get on your way!” – Dr. Seuss

This Week’s Talk

“It’s never too late to become who you want to be. I hope you live a life that you’re proud of, and if you find that you’re not, I hope you have the strength to start over.” – F. Scott Fitzgerald

I could come up with my version of the above F. Scot Fitzgerald quote but it would probably not be as elegant. This is how I earnestly feel. I am writing this blog for me. No question. But, I absolutely am dedicated to making it about you. I sincerely hope you live a life that you are proud of. I don’t mean this retroactively. Not having someone say amazing things about you at your eulogy. I mean, today, this moment, you are living a life that you are proud of. Not a life that others will envy or wish they had. Your life is your life and living for someone else’s approval is going to be a hollow and frustrating journey. Live your life for you. Your life. You need to be of service to others. You will get what you want by helping others get what they need and want. 

This Week’s Assignment

 “Your present circumstances don’t determine where you can go; they merely determine where you start.” – Nido Qubein

What a truism.  How often have we thought that we are doomed before we start?  We have to keep our heads straight where we are is only where we start. Nothing more. Nothing less. I recently had a younger coworker stop by my office to talk about what book recommendations I would have. Didn’t take me 2 seconds to come up with a recommendation. The reason I picked the book I picked was that it gets your head in the right place and that is paramount to maximizing your personal development efforts.  That leads me to this week’s assignment. Your assignment this week is do just that; start getting your head right. You got this far and followed me through the entire story and now taking that forward.  What is your assignment? Start being true with yourself about exactly where you are at and drop all the excuses you have been using to explain why you are where you are. I had a bad childhood. I am too old. I am too young. I don’t have enough money. I don’t know the right people.  What ever your list of excuses is,  they are only true to the extent you allow them to be true.

At the time of this writing, I am roughly 65 years old and I still want to be COO of a company and make roughly double what my current salary is. Most people my age are counting down the days until they retire. I think I still have a decent runway ahead of me. I can’t run a 5K in the time I want and that is on me.  I let work take up more of my life than it should. Today, I vow to change that. Where you spend your time is the ultimate display of your priorities. I said that earlier in the book and it is important to start our uncharted voyage together accepting that.  My beginning… I need to stop being a victim and take control of my time again.  Where are you starting?

See you next week…