Looking back at the Team Nimbus Alabama quote of the week by Earl Nightingale (“We can let circumstances rule us, or we can take charge and rule our lives from within.”), it made me think about what each of us does. It’s obviously a personal choice, but which side of the road are YOU on?
Is your business doing well? Or is it doing poorly? If it’s doing poorly, are you simply accepting that “the economy is bad” and that no one will do well? Or are you out there making it happen, no matter what “they” say? This also pertains to your personal life. Are things going well? Or is it stagnant? Just as in business, are you out there making “life” happen? Are there things in your life you want to change? If there are, you must be the one to instigate the change. Or … are you simply accepting that it will always be that way? Whether in your business or your personal life, if you choose to do nothing and let circumstances rule, you have pretty good odds that nothing will happen - that nothing will change. If you truly want whatever the situation is to change, you must take charge and make that change happen yourself.
We often talk about having a plan that will act as a GPS. Whether it is your personal or professional life that requires change, the change won’t happen unless 1) you want it to happen, 2) you create a plan to make that plan happen, and 3) you do the work to make it happen.
I suggest that you first begin with the end in mind and determine what it is you want to accomplish. Once that determination is made, work backward. What are the smaller and more manageable action steps that will help to get you toward the success you want? When you have those action steps documented, work toward each individual goal. As each goal is accomplished, analyze the remaining action steps and determine if they are still the appropriate steps to take. When you determine you are on track, work to accomplish the next goal. Being successful at each small action step will give you momentum to accomplish the additional steps. Is it easy? Not necessarily. Is it work? Absolutely. But if you are going to “take charge and make it happen”, it’s the only way.
Only you can determine if you can/will make it happen. But if you determine that you want the change badly enough, it should provide you with the motivation to do it. Just as Mr. Nightingale states in his quote, “we can let circumstances rule us, or we can take charge and rule our lives from within”. Which will you choose? Whichever you decide on, it will steer you down the appropriate path.
Do some soul searching, then go make it happen.