2014-The Year Of Follow-Through
Every December, we reflect on the past year’s accomplishments. We take stock of our lives and closely reassess our needs, desires and goals for the budding new year. The diet books tend to come back off the shelf and the dirty laundry adorning the treadmill is cleared to make way for a newly readopted exercise regimen. We sign up for the seminars and classes that we feel will inspire or motivate us to finally make “that life change” we’ve been yearning for. We embrace the holiday season with a refreshed enthusiasm and the happy picture of hope, change and prosperity appears vibrant and clear in our minds. We have a vision for the future and a plan to get what we want. At least we think we do.
Dwight D. Eisenhower once said, “plans are useless, planning is indispensable.” I believe that what Mr. Eisenhower was conveying in this statement is that most of the critical learning happens during the process of developing a plan. The plan itself is just a diary of our findings and an instruction booklet on how we could potentially apply them to our specific situation. This is where most of us get into trouble. I have a saying around my office (and at home) “Follow through or follow the leader!” You see, in my experience it has never been the best planner that succeeds, but the best executor. The “best executor” is that person that has a vision and relentlessly pursues that vision even in the face of adversity. It’s the person that rebounds from rejection like a super ball off a concrete wall. These are those visionaries that will desperately, and seemingly without reason, row against the tide because they see an opportunity that others simply cannot. It is these, the most persistent, that consistently prevail...eventually.
People often confuse “a vision” with “a plan.” You may see yourself taking off those extra pounds and sporting your new bathing suit poolside next summer, but that’s not a plan to get there. However, if your vision is strong enough, it will drive you to FOLLOW THROUGH on PLANNING the necessary steps to reach your goal, no matter how lofty it may be.
Unfortunately, most people’s “visions” tend to get lost in their periphery. Occasionally they’ll refocus on it, but very often they’ll be distracted by something again (job, kids, family, relationships, etc.). Many of us have a hard time prioritizing our own vision because we feel selfish putting our “pie in the sky dreams” before the “immediate needs” of others. Remember, helping others gets us the attention we secretly desire. And, the difference we make in someone else’s life is more tangible and provides us with the immediate gratification, something we cannot get from pursuing our vision, because most dreams take a long time to realize. Finally, taking care of others provides us the ideal excuse for why our own plan has not yet come together.
My mother was famous for this. She always wanted to get her equivalency diploma (GED). In fact, she talked about it for decades, even got the study guides, workbooks and even occasionally reviewed the online classes (after she complained for 3 years about not knowing how to get online, a task she later learned in 5 minutes). She used everything from raising her kids, to taking care of her own mother, to not having money as her primary excuses. Sadly, she lacked follow-through and died never accomplishing this goal (and many others).
Most people look at “follow-through” as if it was a mountain that needs to be climbed in a blizzard wearing nothing but pajamas. Yes, following through is the hardest part of any plan, but it’s the engine that drives the vehicle that takes you to the place where your vision resides. And, while following through is hard, it’s not any harder than living life with the knowledge that you’re not living your life’s passion.
So, whether your favorite jeans just won’t button anymore, you’re stuck in a job, relationship or situation that is preventing you from truly living your passion, or you just need a change, it’s time you give yourself the gift of “follow-through” this year. Amazing things will happen when you follow through on living your passion. Of course there will be those naysayers (likely those closest to you) that simply don’t get how you can leave a high-powered job in the big city to start a flower shop in country. However, you can rest assured, they’ll be the same people that are jealous of you when you finally do.
Here’s to an amazing 2014 filled with clarity and follow-through!
Every December, we reflect on the past year’s accomplishments. We take stock of our lives and closely reassess our needs, desires and goals for the budding new year. The diet books tend to come back off the shelf and the dirty laundry adorning the treadmill is cleared to make way for a newly readopted exercise regimen. We sign up for the seminars and classes that we feel will inspire or motivate us to finally make “that life change” we’ve been yearning for. We embrace the holiday season with a refreshed enthusiasm and the happy picture of hope, change and prosperity appears vibrant and clear in our minds. We have a vision for the future and a plan to get what we want. At least we think we do.
Dwight D. Eisenhower once said, “plans are useless, planning is indispensable.” I believe that what Mr. Eisenhower was conveying in this statement is that most of the critical learning happens during the process of developing a plan. The plan itself is just a diary of our findings and an instruction booklet on how we could potentially apply them to our specific situation. This is where most of us get into trouble. I have a saying around my office (and at home) “Follow through or follow the leader!” You see, in my experience it has never been the best planner that succeeds, but the best executor. The “best executor” is that person that has a vision and relentlessly pursues that vision even in the face of adversity. It’s the person that rebounds from rejection like a super ball off a concrete wall. These are those visionaries that will desperately, and seemingly without reason, row against the tide because they see an opportunity that others simply cannot. It is these, the most persistent, that consistently prevail...eventually.
People often confuse “a vision” with “a plan.” You may see yourself taking off those extra pounds and sporting your new bathing suit poolside next summer, but that’s not a plan to get there. However, if your vision is strong enough, it will drive you to FOLLOW THROUGH on PLANNING the necessary steps to reach your goal, no matter how lofty it may be.
Unfortunately, most people’s “visions” tend to get lost in their periphery. Occasionally they’ll refocus on it, but very often they’ll be distracted by something again (job, kids, family, relationships, etc.). Many of us have a hard time prioritizing our own vision because we feel selfish putting our “pie in the sky dreams” before the “immediate needs” of others. Remember, helping others gets us the attention we secretly desire. And, the difference we make in someone else’s life is more tangible and provides us with the immediate gratification, something we cannot get from pursuing our vision, because most dreams take a long time to realize. Finally, taking care of others provides us the ideal excuse for why our own plan has not yet come together.
My mother was famous for this. She always wanted to get her equivalency diploma (GED). In fact, she talked about it for decades, even got the study guides, workbooks and even occasionally reviewed the online classes (after she complained for 3 years about not knowing how to get online, a task she later learned in 5 minutes). She used everything from raising her kids, to taking care of her own mother, to not having money as her primary excuses. Sadly, she lacked follow-through and died never accomplishing this goal (and many others).
Most people look at “follow-through” as if it was a mountain that needs to be climbed in a blizzard wearing nothing but pajamas. Yes, following through is the hardest part of any plan, but it’s the engine that drives the vehicle that takes you to the place where your vision resides. And, while following through is hard, it’s not any harder than living life with the knowledge that you’re not living your life’s passion.
So, whether your favorite jeans just won’t button anymore, you’re stuck in a job, relationship or situation that is preventing you from truly living your passion, or you just need a change, it’s time you give yourself the gift of “follow-through” this year. Amazing things will happen when you follow through on living your passion. Of course there will be those naysayers (likely those closest to you) that simply don’t get how you can leave a high-powered job in the big city to start a flower shop in country. However, you can rest assured, they’ll be the same people that are jealous of you when you finally do.
Here’s to an amazing 2014 filled with clarity and follow-through!
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