Your Greatest Days are Yet to Come!

With so much focus on the "tight market" and "challenging times," I have been patiently waiting for the breaking news that tells us that the light at the end of the tunnel is not an oncoming train! Perhaps its time for you to dust yourself off, and create a new action plan with some inspired goals that will effortlessly move you forward. The journey from here to there will be easier with a few insights:

1. Start where you are. Every journey begins with a single step. You can, most of the time, move toward your next big accomplishment with a simple step (like an email, note or phone call).
2. Find a colleague with similar goals. A little friendly competition is always helpful, as well as the support of someone who has similar outcomes.
3. Get the right "gear." Its impossible to create new results when you're operating without the right tools. Find the right computer, database manager, web designer, etc. to support where you want to go.
4. Stay healthy. Build a solid foundation for executing your tasks with the proper care and feeding of your mind, body and spirit.
5. Pace yourself. You can eat an elephant, one bite at a time (with the right hot sauce, side dishes, and dessert). Big accomplishments take lots of effort and will require you to check many boxes. Be sure to recognize your small wins on your way to the big one.
6. See the forest and the trees! Have a compelling plan that keeps you moving - and take it one day at a time.
7. Its okay to rest. We must all take time to rest and recharge - my recommendation is one hour a day when you veg out with some "mind candy" (mine is an episode of Law & Order or a gossip rag like People Magazine) and one whole day on the weekend to do nothing.
   
8. Form your pit crew. As a marathon runner, I put my crew of people all along the course with fluids, bars, and ibuprofen. A coach (know anyone good?), mentor and fantastic strategic partners can help you prepare, prevent and persevere.
9. Challenge yourself. Read on topics outside of your specialty, take a different way home, try a new food. These "off routine" activities will keep you nimble, sharp and make you stronger.
10. Be true to you. Get to your goals in the way that's just right for you - trust your intuition, make corrective changes as necessary and most of all, enjoy the journey.

The best is yet to come. Enjoy!