Month: January 2012

…to make your 2012 goals.

As we approach the end of January, statistically over 80% of New Year’s Resolutions made just 30 days ago have ended in failure.

However, I think it’s a great time to look forward to 2012 and confirm what our goals will be.

As a family we sat down a couple of weeks back and put our 2012 goals down on an electronic note system.  Paper works well too!

I’ve been told again and again and again by students, business people, staff, colleagues and family how their lives have changed for the better by the act of writing down goals.

You’ve heard the saying, the journey starts with the first step.  Writing goals is that first step.  It creates momentum and energy.  However, goals without further action is useless.

Breaking down goals into bite-sized junks is the way to go.  Goal is to run a marathon?  Don’t run one this week.  Maybe enrol in a training program or begin with dry land training with the goal of the first 5 k run in 3 weeks.  That’s where this all becomes real.

At a recent sushi dinner, our tea came in these mugs with 10 steps to greater health.  They are all good and a little fun as well.

What I liked about the mug is that instead of just saying ‘eat less meat’, it actually had the first steps in making a goal a reality…ie ‘eat more vegetables’.

The only thing the mug didn’t do was go to the next stage of detail…ie, cut out one red meat dinner per week for example.

(btw, I think I’m writing to myself on that one and a few other points on this mug)

Anyhooo…to conclude, our server came by and asked if we wanted a macadamia nut covered coconut ice cream thing for desert.  I asked which of the health rules on the mug that suggestion followed…

Good luck with those goals!

I had a few hours on a plane recently and had this thought.

I typed it into my iPad.

If you fear the future you won’t live the present.

The next day I read ‘Screw it, just do it’ by Sir Richard Branson.

It’s a great read and I would highly recommend.

The book revolves around the idea of making decisions and taking on challenges without knowing all the details. What I found most interesting however was that although Branson takes risks, he doesn’t take chances.  In other words rolling a dice or making a pure gamble doesn’t make sense but taking a calculated risk does.

Interesting difference.

When bad things happen, it’s easy to fear the future.

But fear is the biggest disabler out there.

By continuing to make decisions calculated on risk not chance, it is the future we must claim and then absorb the present on our journey.

When the going gets tough, the tough make decisions.

Have a great week!

19 years.

We thought about tonight many times.

The dinner we would have at the Keg.

The first official beer together.

The waiter doing the obligatory id check.

The laughs we would have.

Tonight I’m not laughing.

If you ever have a problem that you think you can’t face, you can.

If you ever have a mountain you think you can’t climb, you can.

If you ever think that getting mad at yourself solves a problem for others, it doesn’t.

I wasn’t planning on being this direct tonight, but after spending  a bunch of time thinking about it and at Chris’ wall, this is the only place to go.

If you are needing help………..REACH OUT!

If you are in pain….TELL SOMEONE.

If life’s issues have you overwhelmed, PLEASE let someone know.

What can appear as a solution, is a complete lie….a complete and total lie.

I’ve had many (young people especially) let me know how the BE THE BEST theme helped them overcome and persevere.

I would encourage anyone reading this tonight to keep believing.

And yah, that goes for the writer too.

Chris…we love you so terribly much.

How I wish I could share a beer and prime rib dinner with you tonight.

Dad.