Hold yourself
responsible for a higher standard than anybody else expects of you.
-
Henry
Ward Beecher
I’m always invigorated at the beginning
of a new year. Beyond the proverbial new start, or clean slate, or whatever
label we want to apply; this year holds a slighter higher level of excitement
for me. In this first week of 2013, I’m busy writing down the goals I want to
accomplish this year. Are you excited about your goals for 2013? Have you
committed them to writing?
Apparently, there was a study done back
in the 1950s at Yale University where a group of Yale graduates were asked by
an interviewer if they had set goals for their future. In response, only 3% of
the senior class said they had clearly written goals and plans to accomplish
them. When these same graduates were interviewed many years later, the 3% with
written goals had a net worth more than the other 97% of graduates combined.
One of my mentors, Jim Rohn, once said:
“If you go to work on your goals, your goals will go to work on you. Whatever
good things we build end up building us.” That’s the beauty of setting goals
and taking action steps to achieve them – it’s the strength of character we
develop in their pursuit. In his teaching on goal setting, Mr. Rohn said that
we need to set goals in a variety of areas. For example, goals related to the
places we want to go, the people we want to meet, the things we want to do, and
the skills we want to develop. He also said our goals become like a magnet. In
other words, the bigger they are and the more we have, the stronger they will
pull us forward in our efforts to achieve them.
This week I was reading a blog post by
Chris Brogan called “My 3 Words for 2013:” chrisbrogan.com) For the last few
years, and at this time of year, Chris has come up with three words that help
him set a direction for his life and business. At the end of his post, Chris
encouraged his readers to share their three words for 2013. That got me
thinking. Here are my three words: carpe diem. (As you may know, the Latin
phrase “carpe diem” is actually three words when translated – seize the day.
I’ve allowed myself a little poetic license there!)
Orison S. Marden once said: “Don’t wait
for extraordinary opportunities. Seize common occasions and make them great.”
Maybe you’re already of that mindset, but if not, wouldn’t it be a great habit
to develop this year? The philosopher Albert Camus understood this too when he
said: “Real generosity toward the future consists in giving all to what is
present.” Just imagine what kind of year you and I could have if we developed a
laser like focus on the tasks at hand each and every day.
While I was writing this column, I checked
my Twitter account and came across a very inspiring poem by one of my favorite
authors, Robin Sharma. It’s called “The Project.” You can read Robin’s poem at
this link: http://t.co/In0nPmTG. It sums up
beautifully the point I’m trying to make in my humble thoughts above.
Leonard Quilty is a
guidance counsellor with the Centre for Learning@Home in Okotoks, Alberta. He
can be reached by e-mail at lquilty5@gmail.com, or visit his website
at www.inspiredtoteach.com.
