When was the Last Time your Reached for Something?

When was the last time you actually reached for something, actually physically challenged yourself or stepped out of your comfort zone? A goal, a position at work, an accomplishment, a physique, a competition or try something new.

Are we falling into mainstream mediocrity? There isn't one thing that I hate more than mediocrity. Why should we just settle for the crappy job? No, get up and go fight for what you want! Why should you just settle for being 15 pounds over weight? No, get up and work out every morning and go get it! Why should we just settle for living paycheck to paycheck? No, stop bleeding spending on things you don't need - create a spending plan, be disciplined for once in your life and save your money.

There are a couple areas of my life where I am reaching right now. And there will be a few more in the next month or so. The main one would have to be work because without the money, that pretty much eliminates the majority of the things I want to get or do from my list. So focus #1 is income. I'm in sales as a commercial insurance agent. My prospecting involves making X amount of calls every week. Now, how am I reaching to increase my sales? Well, my main focus is to be consistent with the number of phone calls I do every week. Because there are weeks where I lose focus, fall behind. This requires planning out my day.

Something else that we are reaching for as a family is getting our personal finances in order so we are prepared for the future. For example, we want to have $6,000 in an emergency fund, we want to buy a house in a few years and we want to be able to go on a family vacation each year. From the little I have experienced in my short life of 31 years, I have realized that it is not what you make it is what you keep after you make it. Granted, it is nice to make a decent income, but in all reality, those that have a good sized house, with the new cars; the majority of them are living paycheck to paycheck as well unfortunately.

The last thing I want to share is I am reaching to spend quality time with my 3 boys and wife. Life can get so busy with so many distractions (television, dvr, sports, cell phones, texting) that it is as if I go to work, come home, be with the kids for two hours, put them to sleep - start over. The weekend arrives and it is over so quick. So instead of allowing the winds of life to push me around, I am going to fight back. My son's love to explore so this spring we are going to purchase a GPS and go geo-caching all summer to explore this beautiful mountains we live near by.

The bottom line here is sacrifice now for a better tomorrow. Don't become mainstream mediocrity. That is not what you want. Be disciplined, be consistent and for heaven sakes, start your career, settle down and go after it.

I Dare You To Do Better!

Life sure is an interesting journey. This past year I turned 30. I'm sad to have left my 20's but on the other hand very happy. In my twenties, I was very young & naive. Now I actually feel I have some wisdom on my side from the many experiences I have had over the last 10 years. I have no regrets, I have really enjoyed the last ten years of my life but I do look forward to fulfilling the next ten years of my life being 30 something.

Happy New Year and welcome 2010. Around this time of year I set my new years resolutions and I will admit I am taking it to a whole new level this year, but this is not what this post is about.

A few weeks ago my wife and I watched Star Trek for the first time and I really enjoyed it, mainly because there was some substantial meat motivating statements that caused me to be recommitted to becoming better. If you haven't figured it out by now I love self-help, personal development and believing one can become anything they choose to be. But at times one needs to step aside and take a hard look at themselves, at their track record and reflect on what they are doing and where they are headed.

I did this and some of the dialogue from Star Trek really inspired me and I would like to share these pieces with you to wish you a Successful 2010.

At this point in the film Spock is discussing with his father whether being half human is a detriment to his being versus 100% Vulcan. This is what Spock's father shared with him in response,

"You are fully capable of deciding your own destiny. The question you face is which path will you choose? This is something only you can decide."

I totally agree with Spock's father on this, in essence 'You are the captain of your destiny.' You choose whether you are happy or sad, you choose whether your are rich or poor, you choose if you are successful. It's just a matter of how you deal with what is thrown at you.

This last piece is my favorite. At this point in the film Kirt the younger has just been discovered by Captain Pike the current captain of the Starfleet Enterprise at a bar in the Midwest. They sit down to have a little chat and it goes like this,

Captain Pike - Something I admired about your dad, he didn’t believe in no-win scenarios.

Kirt – He sure learned his lesson.

Captain Pike – Well, it depends on how you define winning. You’re here, aren’t you? You know, that instinct to leap without looking, that was his nature, too. And in my opinion, it’s something Starfeelt’s lost.

Kirt – Why are you talking to me, man?

Captain Pike – Cause I looked up your file while you were drooling on the floor. Your aptitude tests are off the charts. So what is it? You like being the only genius-level repeat-offender in the Midwest?

Kirt – Maybe I love it.

Captain Pike – So your dad dies. You can settle for a less-than-ordinary life. Or do you feel like you were meant for something better? Something special? Enlist in Starfleet.

Do not settle for a less-than-ordinary life. I believe ordinary people can do extraordinary things. Never give up! Fight the fight, wage the war and circumvent mediocrity.

"I DARE YOU TO DO BETTER!"
-Captain Pike