Have you ever noticed when you really need someone you can depend on…someone who you know will come through no matter what, it is the busiest person. The person who on the surface seems like there is no way in the world they can handle one more thing. You know why? Because the idle ones have too many excuses, too many substitutes, too many shortcuts. Almost everything in life is that way. Unfortunately most of us will never know our true capacity for achievement because we never challenge ourselves to perform at our best every day.

This is most obvious when we are presented with an opportunity that really interests us. No matter how busy we are, when there is something we want to do, something we like to do, somehow we will find the time to pursue it…right? On the other hand, those things that we don’t like or those things we don’t want to do are easily postponed and eventually forgotten. Successful people are not procrastinators. The most successful and effective people have a sense of urgency. They just grab a hold of it and get it done! They set deadlines and force themselves to establish priorities by what is most important and not by what they like to do the most. Deadlines – that is the magic word. Unfortunately, way too many people never set a deadline to accomplish those things that are most important. They put it on the proverbial “list”. You know “the list” I am talking about. The one you write stuff down on that you never have any intention on doing. Because those things we don’t put on “the list”, we usually just dive in and get done – usually before the deadline…right?

Remember, we are NOT naturally wound to do all the things we need to do to be successful in life – personally, professionally, health, etc.  Because usually those things required being successful at any area in life, involve doing something we don’t naturally like to do – at least not in the beginning. Otherwise everyone one would be getting everything they want in life…right?  Here are a few examples -

• Exercise versus Watching TV
• Saving Money versus Spending Money
• Salad versus Cheeseburger and fries
• Showing up first and leaving last versus Showing up last and leaving first
• Getting up early versus waiting until the absolute last minute like the rest of the world
• Making that tough phone call versus blowing it off until…never

Here is the interesting thing though – if you make a commitment to do what is required to be successful, you will eventually become addicted to the success and then the pain of doing what is required will actually become something you thrive on.  I think it takes 90 days to make this happen.  At 90 days, it has been my experience that is the point when you go from feeling good that you accomplished it to the point that you feel like crap if you don’t.  That is the key and that is when you know you have changed that area of your life.  It’s at that point when if you don’t do it, it would be like not brushing your teeth or taking a shower…that just would not happen.  At least I hope!

When you see other people that have what you want it is not that they are more gifted, it is that they are more disciplined and accountable to doing those things required to be successful.  So, here is what we all need to do, if there is something we need to get done, even if it does not require a deadline, SET ONE! You will be amazed at how much you can accomplish in a short amount of time if that is all the time you have. Remember, work/life expands to meet the time allotted. We all have the same 24 hours in a day.

JUST DO IT!

Have a Powerful week!