I failed to post. To write & share my thoughts. I failed my commitment to improve my writing & move forward. I let life get in the way & forgot to write, post & publish.  It reminds me of Zig Ziglar’s quote, “Learn from successful failures.”  Yesterday I failed to post & have learned that I will need to prepare in advance for when the day gets away from me & have posts ready to ship automatically in system. Doing this will not only guarantee I publish everyday but also have a buffer of a number of posts in queue ready to go. So I will take it as a successful failure as Zig calls it & improve upon my process.

At an inflection point
Infected by the bug to succeed
Determined to find a cure
I will not cede
Although what it it I’m not so sure
What’s written on the wall so clear
Yet my feet are so muddy
Change is afoot
And we must change with it
What course to take
Going in circles
Have I lost my direction
My one true north
Star so bright it lights up the night
But is it for me
Following like the Magi
I trod ahead
A wise man once said
Focus is the key to success
Follow One Course Until Success
Have I said to many yes
Diverted my attention
Causing this stress
To achieve success
Round & round
My mind & heart go
Seeking work life balance
They’re not in harmony
Got to move on
No time to rest
On these laurels
In high regard I hold my morals
So I’ll take a breath deep
Smell these colorful florals
Before heading up another peak

No matter the choice

no difference the outcome

the reality is

your value is known

Not about looks

But about attitude

Not about just the books – you’ve read

But about your own grattitude

See persepective can be skewed

While your preception is swayed

By making the decision – have you been screwed

Choice delayed limits your potential

and

Ability to pick yourself

The only self that matters is you

To decide is to finalize

limit and cut off

But to see the choices opens up opportunities

For obligations to your self

Can’t lie to your self

Because he is always in your ear

But sometimes he needs to be

Quiet

So you can fulfill the obligations

Created by opportunities made by the

Simple choice is

to pick yourself

A few years ago Ingrid hung up a new mirror in our bedroom. As I past it I saw a sharpie & began to write on it. Here is what I wrote…After all these years it’s still there.

“Poem on a Mirror”

If you only knew
What I would do
& wouldn’t do for you
To keep a smile on your face
Not worrying about
Keeping pace in this
World that you taught me to be
You will learn to see
How no matter where there would be
Any doubts worries or fears
You & me will make it be

Guilt trip
The 5th one you been on today
Burning inside of you
For failing to do
What had been promised
Missed games
Laying blame
Onto yourself for
Working to much
With not enough time for the kids, wife
Guilty
The gavel strikes
You get life
Of tossing & turning
Not measuring up
The bar is set to high
So you spiral back down
Drowning in a sea of empty bottles & calories
It’s so unjust
To feel guilty over weight unlost
To feel guilty over doing your best
To feel guilty for the sacrifices made so they can…
Judge me not
I convicted myself to this life of guilt
But it’s time to reverse this
Let justice be served
And free myself from all this guilt

You’re ready have a “To Do” list with important projects and things to get done some that you keep pushing back waiting for just the perfect day.

But what about your “Not To Do” list.  What are the non-negotiable’s that you will not do? What are the things that you need to stop doing and put on a “Not To Do” list. Is that thing so important that you are the one who has to do it. Maybe just maybe there is someone else on your team or in your life that would love to take it off your plate. Or better yet get rid of it. Obviously it’s not that important if you keep burying it.  Free yourself from the shackles of it occupying your mind.

And since were talking about lists what is on your “To Be” list that you are putting off.  I know you want to be healthy, to be happy, & to be more than you are today. What will go on your “To Be” list?

Now get out a pen and paper and review your “To Do” list scratch out a few of those projects that you know you’re never going to get to or delegate them to someone else. Next write up your “Not To Do” list that one will challenge you a bit & might be the one that frees you up the most.  Finally this list will energize you & get you to really take action. Write down what should go on your “To Be” list.

Get this done today. You should have 3 lists:

1. To Do
2. Not To Do
3. To Be

Have fun & let me know what you come up.

You are already on the plane 15,000 feet in the air.  All the checklists & safety measures have been checked over twice.

As babies we’re encouraged, expected to fall