Setting and Achieving Goals

"Every Goal has a cost." - Dean Sweetman

Many times we go through life looking for that quick fix. The thing that will enable us to easily obtain that which we want. It may be buying a lottery ticket to get that big payout so we can pay off our debt. It may be answering the call to a get rich quick scheme. Only to be thrown into deeper misery when it wasn't what it seemed.

No, every goal in life does have a cost associated with it. I truly doubt that we could call it a goal if it simply came to us. For every goal we set will require some amount of effort and probable change in you. It will require you to be of good character...The type of person that will complete the task when no one else is looking.

Character can not be something that we put on when others are around. Character is not a convenient accessory to parade in public. Character is who you are when no one else is around. What are the traits of good character?

Character is moral strength that is proven to stay true.
It is commitment to your values.
Patient endurance when life is going badly.
Honesty at the price of punishment.
Integrity in secret.
Reliability and predictable behavior.
Stability because consistency has power.
Commitment to do what you said you would do.
Being faithful to the goal even when it hurts.

Your goals in life are attainable with the right attitude, the right level of character and the willingness to see the bigger picture. Be a person of change, be a person that achieves and be a person that impacts others. The goals you set will become reality.

Labor Day - Reflect on the Year

This weekend is a three-day event here in the U.S. because Monday is a holiday. This one for us is called Labor Day and is typically a summer ending holiday which marks the end of summer vacations and the start of the school year.

It is also a good time to renew oneself to complete goals that were set at the beginning of the year. Remember those, the things you wanted to accomplish back on January 1st when best intentions were spilling forth. So how have you done? What was that goal you had in mind?

From a recent article I read, five items were pointed out relative to goals:

(WHAT) A goal should be specfic.
(HOW MUCH) A goal needs to be measurable.
(UNDER PROJECT/OVER PERFORM) A goal should be attainable.
(HOW) A goal should be realistic.
(WHEN) A goal should be tangible.

Evaluate what you have done so far this year and see what you can do in order to accomplish your goals. You will be a far better person for having accomplished a goal both in the eyes of others and more importantly, in you.

“The major reason for setting a goal is for what it makes of you to accomplish it. What it makes of you will always be the far greater value than what you get.” - Jim Rohn

Simplify Your Life

From John McPherson, a talented and funny artist. The life each of us lives can be summed up this way. I do imagine you can go back in time a few years or even hundreds of years to see the same type of busy schedule people lead.

There are ways to simplify your life and it comes down to determining what is important to you. Each of us make choices everyday to commit to various things which fill our day. Not all commitments are bad and circumstance can yield the same harried and complicated life.

So enjoy life the best way you can. Look for ways to set priorities in your life and take time to (as the saying goes) "stop and smell the roses" once in a while.

Have a great day everyone.

Thankful For Apologies

Life doesn't go by without there being at least one moment in which you are wronged. The act of something happening to you, perceived or real is something that occurs. How you deal and react to this is very important. Do you allow yourself to be brought down, to ruin your day and effect all that you do, hopefully not.

Yet it is how we react the apology another gives us that can have a great impact. Many times, when someone tells you they are 'sorry' for what they have done, how do you respond? A great many people will respond with, 'not a problem, its okay.' And why we say that when many times it did effect us is an odd thing.

That person whom is wishing to extend an apology is attempting to 'right a wrong' and acknowledge that you were hurt or offended. If you respond as noted above is diminishing or making light of their attempt. In one way, it is returning a hurtful message that the apology is really meaningless to you.

You should respond with kindness and thankfulness to that person. A simple thank you to them acknowledges the apology and it begins a process of reconciliation of the relationship. All of this will allow you to let go of the 'wrong' and move on with life. Not doing so will allow the issue to linger, which will impact both your life and that of the other person. Apologies are like gifts, be thankful for them.