Issue # 1:
January 2001
Articles from this newsletter may be reproduced with
permission.
Welcome to the first issue of News from the Swamp. ………
You may be
wondering about the title. Well, it was
chosen because it signifies a word closely identified with
With the start of a new year, I thought it was important for readers to focus on the event of live that stifles personal growth…a concentration on our failures.
Recently, I was presenting a seminar to a group of managers. The topic included information about motivation and job satisfaction. Part of the discussion centered on overcoming failure. Each of us in that room had experienced some type of failure in our lifetime. Those who profited from the failure were able to learn the lesson it taught them. There is always good in every adversity. Sometimes we just have to look a bit harder to find it.
Here are four ideas I shared with this audience. Hopefully they will help you get a better handle on future failures you might face in the New Year.
(1) Understand that to fail does not make you a failure. A failure is but a temporary inconvenience in the path of life. Put failures in perspective and don’t cast a dark shadow over your life because of a small obstacle. Life is made up of many years. Failures are only a heart beat by comparison.
(2) Learn from your failures; then forget them. Dwelling forever on your mistakes will not change what was. All we can do is commit ourselves to avoid repeating the mistake. Forgive and forget is good advice. Life is not a boxing match. You don’t have to walk away with scars and bruises to show you’ve lived.
(3) You are never a failure as long as you keep on trying. Persistence has a way of neutralizing obstacles and diminishing the impact of failures. Never give up and failures will become history. There is nothing in your life you cannot overcome if you persist long enough.
(4) Failure is never final unless you let it. Our attitude is the single most important factor for effectively dealing with failures. Remind yourself that recovery is always potentially possible. Giving up is for losers. Make adjustments and move on. Life is too valuable to give up enjoying it.
Plan your life. Work your plan. When faced with obstacles, view them as temporary inconveniences; forgive yourself; use tenacity to bulldoze obstacles and always remember that tomorrow is another day when you can begin anew. Learn your lessons well. Happy failures!
Quote To Consider:
“Anyone can stay in the rut of mediocrity. It takes a different person to recognize ‘rut living’ and do something about it.” Billy Arcement
Getting What You
Want in2001
How easy is it to give up! No more
struggling, long hours of work or new responsibilities to worry about. That’s
the thinking of quitters, those individuals who abandon their dream because
they believe the price for success is too high. They are tightwads with their
life. What about you? Is there a dream
that you’ve abandoned? Have you forsaken what might become your most glorious
moment because you just didn’t believe it was possible to achieve your dream?
Take a moment to think seriously about these questions. If you answered yes to
both, please understand that it is never too late to rekindle the flame of
desire and capture that illusive dream.
Here are two decisions that can show you the way to your dreams. The first decision is to decide exactly what it is you want to do. Look at your life. What activity, career, hobby, degree, travel, etc. hasn’t yet been accomplished? What have you been dreaming about but never committed to complete? Most people never think about making that decision. They live in the present moment, content to accept whatever hand life deals them. Be different! Spend whatever time you must to get an answer. Make that first decision!
Now it’s time to work on the second
one. Decide exactly what you are willing to give up to get what you want.
Maybe you have to watch less TV, drop membership in an organization or get up a
little earlier. To take on an important task, you must free up some time. You
must begin to focus! Once you’ve made the second decision, begin your journey.
Procrastinate no longer. Complete your dream. It’s never too late to start. SWEET
DREAMS!
Sometimes Stealing IS OK
Far be it for me to encourage stealing. However, I will make an exception on one point. As you strive to build knowledge and become the best “you” that can be, make every effort to ‘steal’ shamelessly the ideas and thoughts of others. We don’t have time to only do original thinking. Many before us have figured things out. There is no point in re-living the struggle. Feed your mind thoughts from books, magazine articles, this newsletter and whatever other source you can find. Be a perpetual hunter and a relentless thief. Staying attuned to great ideas that can save you valuable time.
History is made up of recycled ideas
from previous generations. Learn from the lessons of the past so you won’t have
to repeat the same mistakes in the future. And, a little thievery along the way
is perfectly OK.
A Final
Quote To Remember:
Knowledge
is only potential power until you do something with it. Taking action on our
knowledge translates it to kinetic power and things begin to happen. Nothing of
any consequence can happen until we act. Action is the bottom line!” Billy Arcement
Billy Arcement, MEd.
©2001