Lets face it. We all work smart and faster when we have a firm idea of what we’re working for. That increases even more when we know not only what we’re after but how we’re going to get it. For companies, this is the beauty of the business plan. Most businesses that have one use it as a guide when making decisions about the direction of that business. When faced with a big decision they consult the plan to see which course of action is more likely to get them where they want to go. The plan is what keeps them on course to reach their goals. You see this happen a lot with the highly highly motivated. They know what they want and they know how they intend to get it. They have a goal and they have the plan that will help them to the best possible outcome.

Youth Is Wasted On the Young.

Now it used to be that I considered myself one of the highly highly’s. I knew where I wanted to be and I knew exactly how to get there. I had it all figured out and was on track. Now I didn’t bother to write any of it down at the time but then again, I was a kid. I’m going to go out on a limb and say we all had some idea of where we were going when we were kids. We all had an idea of how we wanted to get there too. The thought to write it down, keep track of it, follow an actual plan however, just didn’t cross my mind. Let me tell you, not writing it down wasn’t my downfall necessarily but it certainly contributed to it. When I was young I didn’t see how easily a plan could be derailed. Distractions were everywhere. Not to mention the sucking soul sucking suckers who suck your soul (more about them to come). At some point I lost sight of my goals and became truly lost. I wandered from idea to idea, job to job, interest to interest. I couldn’t focus and just drifted through my life taking whatever came my way and accepting it as good enough.

And Away We Go.

Eventually I had the realization that I, at one time, knew where I was going and how I was getting there. I remembered that I once had a plan. This forced me to take a look at my life for what it was at the time and to compare it to where I had intended to be. I can’t even begin to tell you how far off base I was. Thus began my journey to get back on track, rewrite my plan, reestablish the standards that were going to get me there and to change course immediately. Along the way I had some help. I started reading blogs and manifestos from various writers that had either gotten back on track themselves, or never got off it but realized that many did. I slowly put the pieces together and started making changes Admittedly, I am still very much a work in progress but I believe we never stop learning and intend to be a work in progress until the end.

So that’s it for today. This is day 1 of my 30 posts in 30 days challenge. Tomorrow we’ll talk about exactly how I came to the realization that I was not maintaining my standards, how it effected me and what I did about it. Coming up in the next couple weeks we’re going to be setting some standards for ourselves, putting them in action, and seeing how much better life can be when we live by these standards. I’ll tell you this, It’s done wonders for me so far and I’m sure it will for you too.

Thanks for being here. Talk to you tomorrow.

-JB

___________________________

Today’s  Music:

50 Ways to Leave Your Lover

By Paul Simon

Available on: