This is one of the most profound statements I have ever heard.
It is in one of my favourite books – The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein.
Such a simple concept, yet so true: “That which we manifest is before us”; we are the creators of our own destiny.
Be it through intention or ignorance, our successes and our failures have been brought on by none other than ourselves.
I think this is wonderful … and yet scary at the same time.
So all my successes I created? Fabulous! But wait a minute – if I’m not as successful as I want to be, then I created that too? Horrors! And my absolute failures, I created those too? That’s a worry.
But let’s look at the positive. We can create our own future. It’s like The Secret. “What you think about and thank about, you bring about.” And other smart sayings: “If it’s to be, it’s up to me.” And the classic Michael Jackson line “I’m starting with the man in the mirror…take a look at yourself, and then make a change.”
We all have that potential to be M.A.D. (to make a Difference). It starts with deciding what you want, what will make you happy, what’s important to you – and then writing it down.
So that’s Step 1: Write it down, record it, post it, tell someone about your plans. Commit your dreams to paper (or the world-wide web) and it will become reality.
Step 2: Create stepping stones to get you over the troubled waters and to the other side – break it down into bite-sized pieces, so that you can achieve (and celebrate) small goals along the way. Measure the steps that you are taking. I love To-Do lists where I can tick off the things that I have accomplished each day.
Step 3: Ensure that you make your dreams ARE achievable. After all, you DO want to be able to applaud your effort and not finding that you are depressed by every little obstacle in the river of life that may come your way.
Step 4: Is it possible to be CEO of a company that you just started with within a year? Probably not! (Although for some Gen Y and Gen Xs that’s exactly what they want … and expect. But that’s another conversation altogether!) Be realistic about your wants and needs.
Step 5: Put a date on your dreams. Goals are dreams with a timeline.
