Be Brave Not Safe

Every person on the planet, I would imagine, has at one time or another asked themselves questions like:

• What do I want to be when I grow up? (I still don’t know. Maybe I will, once I grow up 🙂 )
• What am I supposed to be doing with my life?
• How will I know when I’m doing what I’m supposed to be doing?

I’d suggest the answer to the last question is: When “providence moves too.“

This statement is an excerpt from one of my favorite quotes:

Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back– Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth that ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one’s favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamed would have come his way. Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. Begin it now.~ W.H. Murray

I LOVE that quote!

Just to share a recent and relevant example…

If you read one of the prior posts, you know my wife and I are now on our summer-long break.

I was in the middle of cranking out one of these blog posts when I received the following email, from a connection in LinkedIn:

Hey Craig

Hope you’re doing well. I have a large project that will probably start implementation in January 2016. I will need some help on project management, starting some time in the fall. Can we talk at some stage about what the project will entail?

Regards,

[Contact from a prior client engagement]

Zowy. Did Providence move, or WHAT?!?!

Notice the timing…AFTER the summer break 🙂

I believe this to be a DESIGNED outcome resulting from working with Providence, defined as:

Timely preparation for future eventualities…

I shan’t write more about that in this post, as this site provides tons of content on preparing for future eventualities 🙂

Just sharing an example of how EVERYTHING, ALWAYS WORKS OUT.

Go ahead. Establish that dream. Set the step-by-step goals to get there. And, commit! If you do, you can make it (the realization of your dreams) happen!

All the best!

Concerned that it will just take too much time to achieve your goals and dreams?

Check-out this story…One that is very near and dear to my wife and I?

It begins with a truly good-hearted boy who had a very difficult life. He had NO father figure and was constantly exposed to negative influences.

There are many words that can be used to paint the picture of what he and his siblings witnessed during their childhood, including: drug and alcohol abuse, violence, crime and poverty. Let’s just leave it at that…

As he entered adulthood he fell into the wrong crowd. So much so, he ended up spending several years in prison.

Oh, we had hoped for so much more for our nephew 😦

But wait, there IS so much more – inside of him!

It has now been [only] 3 years since he has returned to the free world. And, here is what he has accomplished in a VERY short period of time…

• He is now married to an amazing, successful woman who has an outstanding career and a smart, healthy, beautiful daughter.
• He is an exceptional father to his daughter from a prior marriage as well as his step daughter.
• He has taken custody of his teenage sister and is providing her with a much-needed father figure, on a daily basis.
• He and his wife own their own home, which includes an adjacent rental property that generates enough income to cover their mortgage.
• He has earned 2 college degrees:
  • An Associates Degree in Business Administration.
  • A Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Management and Operations.
• He owns and operates his own business.
• He maintains a full time job as a line supervisor in the food processing industry.
• He is raising chickens 🙂

I write this as my wife and I prepare to attend his college graduation party, this weekend.

He has truly been an inspiration, as we have watched him fight tooth and nail to get where he is today.

He recently posted a comment on Facebook, which provided the title for this post.

A fitting quote, considering where he has come from.

What is even more inspiring, is that he has become a fantastic example of encouragement to his:

• Siblings, who grew up in the same environment.
• Cousins, who have been observing his life all-along.
• Friends and associates.

The result: We are now observing the positive impact he is having on those around him!

He is making a big / HUGE difference in the lives of many because he is demonstrating what can happen when one decides to “jump the tracks.” That is, he provides an example of what is possible when someone absolutely refuses to continue living a life that would have otherwise been expected as “normal”, based on where he came from.

Nephew, we are so proud of you. We love you very much! Keep doing what you are doing! And, we’ll see you soon 🙂

In closing…I’d like to share a few things, in the event I’ve upset or offended anyone attached to this story:

• Please read a prior post (EVERYTHING, ALWAYS Works Out!). In doing so, you will observe that our nephew’s story is a perfect example of how a “seemingly” unfortunate situation can be converted into an incredibly inspiring outcome! That is, we would otherwise NOT have this amazing story of encouragement if things didn’t happen exactly as they happened (good, bad or indifferent). It ALL happened for a reason!
• Instead of defending how or why this story “began” would it make better sense to look in the mirror and decide if it is time to jump our own tracks, to change the outcome of our own life? We certainly have an inspirational example right in front of us 🙂
• And, finally, let’s just completely throw-out the misguided idea that he is somehow “lucky” or that he “gets all the breaks.” Read again about how far he has come from…Nothing was given to him. He DECIDED on what he wanted and is now going for it. I cannot wait to see where he and his family will be in another 10 years. I’m sure it will be absolutely amazing!

If he can do it, so can you!

All the best!

It is now time to go on summer break. The 3rd annual…

During the prior 2 years this break ran from July through August, until I was pulled “out-of-the-woods” to attend to a new client project.

This year’s break has officially begun!

And, what is best: there is no required return-to-work date 🙂

Why am I writing about this? NOT to brag, I promise!

The goal is to reinforce, and provide a concrete example of, what can happen when one sets goals, focuses on these (for years), works hard and smart, continuously invests in oneself (thru ongoing training and education), saves, saves, saves and maintains a balance. On doing so, freedom and flexibility “can be” the outcome! And, this can happen well before retirement age: I just turned 51. Still just a youngster 🙂

Many years ago I heard similar “tales” of people who were NOT of retirement age but were able to work only part-time or go into early retirement. It seemed like such a long ways off. Maybe even impossible…

Again, quoting a pioneer in the field of personal development (Earl Nightingale), who says:

Don’t worry about the time that will pass to achieve your goals. The time will pass anyway.

How true!

We can literally be, do, have ANYTHING (maybe not EVERYTHING) we want, if we simply go for it. And, NEVER give up!

If I were on my death-bed and was asked: “What is the one piece of advice that you’d give someone at any point in their life?” My response would be quick and simple.

Listen to the audio program: Lead the Field, by Earl Nightingale several times EVERY year. If you do this, and apply what you learn, you can achieve the life of YOUR dreams.

The program is well balanced as it covers many aspects of personal and professional life!

When I first began listening to this and similar programs (in my mid-20’s) I often thought: “What difference is this really making? Am I wasting my time and money?”

I can now look back and clearly acknowledge the fact that this one activity is the primary catalyst which catapulted me…

From being a long-haired, glassy-eyed, data-entry clerk, who only wanted to be left alone in his cubical, totally afraid of getting up in front of a group of people to speak, over his head in debt, with a failed first marriage (we were way too young, party animals), who kept getting himself into various forms of trouble.

To being a father of 4 fully-enabled young men (ages 18 to 25), husband of 26 years to an awesome woman, self-employed, debt-free, with the flexibility to do what I want, where, when and with whom I want to do it 🙂

I can’t say it was easy. But, it was simple (not rocket science)…

I just did the work and made some choices that have provided flexibility. The flexibility to release the ball and chain.

You can too – if you decide.

How, you might ask?

If you haven’t already done so, acquire and then listen to the audio program: Lead the Field, by Earl Nightingale several times EVERY year. Simply click on the title above and you will be transported to Amazon.com…

And, while you are awaiting delivery of the program feel free to scour this blog for tons of information that builds on what I’ve learned from this and many other programs, as well as through personal experience.

So, what is on the docket for this summer? We begin with our first trip into-the-woods, on Monday, as we return to Mooselookmeguntic Lake, which we found and visited 3 times last summer. Hopefully, I’ll catch the prized trout this year before my wife…

We’ll see what unfolds from there 🙂

All the best! And, stay tuned…