1. Being 100% me…
As of post #975, I opted to no longer use images that were not my own. I want this blog to be distinctly me and that includes the pictures that appear with my write-ups. I struggled a wee bit with this decision however.
See you probably don’t know this, but I can’t draw. No it’s true, I can’t. I am sure many of you have cursed your god wondering why I was given yet another blessed talent. I have no answers for you. God works in mysterious ways. Obviously, when he narrowed down his select list of “Chosen Ones” who would be able to create drawings that resembled something a lazy 3 year old could produce, I was one of the lucky few who got the gift.
In all seriousness, I actually did struggle with this. For as long as I can remember, I have told anyone who will listen that I can’t draw to save my life.
But a few weeks back another fellow blogger decided that he would use Japanese animation as his unique calling card. I loved the thinking. I hate following the crowd and began wondering what I could do to distinguish myself from the noise. It then dawned on me that my childlike art skills could actually work in my favour. It could be my distinct selling feature.
And hence Louis (think Charlie Brown on a bad day) was born.
Questions to Ponder…
What is something negative you are holding onto that you might be able to turn around and use as a positive? How might this help you move in a more exciting direction in your life?
2. The power of goal setting…
So after sharing my idiotic goals from 2009, I realized that my goal setting process is flawed (You think Dean?). I was not asking myself the right questions. I was not focusing on those things that would really have a massive impact on my life. I was not focused on how to measure if these goals were accomplished or not.
So before I launch into my goal setting activity for this year (which I will share in two weeks time), I have taken it upon myself to do some research on goal setting.
And here’s the thing I have concluded with my goal setting to this point. Simply listing them in grocery list fashion ain’t gonna work. For Christ’s sake it doesn’t even work with my actual grocery lists. I generally forget to bring my list (if I remembered to make on in the first place) and if I do remember to bring it, I forget to look at it once I’m in the store.
I need to mash up a bunch of goal setting strategies together to make something unique for me that helps make them visual and keeps them front and center from day to day and week to week.
Questions to ponder…
Did you set goals last year? How successful were you in your quest? If you didn’t set goals, what were your reasons? Could you accomplish more with your life if you did? Do you think those who whine and complain a lot are simply people who are not striving towards something that is bigger than themselves?
3. A theme for 2010…
One idea I am stealing is to have an overriding theme for 2010. I haven’t finalized this yet, but I am leaning towards this…
BE BOLD!
I like it because it will push me to do those things that make me uncomfortable and are thus easily avoided. I would think that each week I should be able to report one thing where I was bold.
In fact, I have already started. One writer I follow is Seth Godin. He actually writes the top business blog in the world. He has also written about 10 best selling books (of which I have read 7.) I like his stuff because he is bold in his ideas and actions.
In line with his boldness, he is actually doing his own book launch for his latest book in New York on January 15th. He is charging people $25 to come to the launch. This is ridiculous considering he charges thousands of dollars to talk to the likes of Google, Yahoo etc.
But for $100 you can come to a VIP 2 hour Q and A session that he will do after lunch. I bought my ticket for this yesterday. Why? There are three reasons.
First, I love meeting interesting people doing great things, and he falls into that category. I will make it my mission to introduce myself when I am there. Second, I have talked for years of going to New York and yet have always found reasons why I can’t go. Third, I want to interview him for the blog. I want to get his quit story. Yeah I know. That is bold.
One and two are easy. Three is going to be hard. I have to find a way to get him to give me 30 minutes of his time to meet with me to answer some questions about his quit story (we all have at least 1 good quit story, most likely more).
No clue at this point how I will make that happen, but I am 100% committed to do all I can to make it happen.
Questions to ponder…
What is your theme for 2010?
As always, thanks so much for being here. Keep fighting the good fight.
To ideas worth quitting,
Dean
ps…drop by the comment section and let us know what your thoughts are to any of the questions above.
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