What does it take to walk boldly through life, unashamedly “you?”  What does it take to accept nothing less than the best from yourself and nothing less than what God has created for you?

Quite simply, it takes a decision.  Once you decide that nothing less than excellence will do, you stand taller, work harder, and make different decisions at every stage of the game.  You stop looking for the entire road map, and simply focus on executing the next turn as flawlessly as possible. 

You want more, and you’re not afraid to admit it.  You make bold decisions, and you see them through to completion.  You’re committed in a way that you’ve never been at any other stage in life. 

Fearlessness really is excellence in action. 

So, today is the day.  Decide. 

SJH

Don’t you look up sometimes and think, “where did the time go?”  This life on earth is but a flicker, and yet, we often meander along as if it lasts forever.  The work of our hands is uninspired.  Our attitude towards others is lackluster.  Our feelings about ourselves are less than affirming. 

How do we break free of this rut and begin to live the inspired, rich, and fulfilling lives we were designed to live? 

Focus on today, right now. 

Sometimes getting bogged down in future plans, strategies, etc. prevents us from acting right now.  We can be so busy planning for the future that we fail to get busy and work now so that we can see fruit in the future.

Take ourselves less seriously

None of our work is that important.  I know we think it is, and we should take our lives seriously.  We only get one after all.  However, we could all stand to lighten up a bit.  This dance is short, so we need to laugh more and fret less.  Who cares what others think about us?   Put those negative comments and negative self-speak as far away as you can and just live right now.  Commit to laughing more, to ignoring the crap and not letting it distract us from the beauty and vitality that exists in this moment. 

Work

We get so bogged down in excuse making that we fail to do the work we need to do.  This procrastination leads to more frustration, disengagement, and so the cycle goes.  So, when it’s time to work, get busy working.  Do what needs to be done to the absolute best of your ability with an unparalleled focus on the task at hand.

Play

And then when it’s time to play, get busy playing.  You worked.  So, now play.  Enjoy it to the fullest.  See it as a critical piece of your existence.  It’s just as important as your work. 

I remember a quote that said, “Excuses only satisfy those who make them.”  In our professional lives, sadly, excuses offer little satisfaction.  Yet, we find ourselves making them and making them often.

What’s the cure for excuse-itis? 

Own where we are. It may not be exactly where we want to be, but it’s our journey. 

Be honest with ourselves.  We know why we didn’t make those calls, finish that report, write that blog, or do some other task that would move us forward.  And the reason has to do with us, not someone else or some life event. 

Just do it.  The Nike adage is true.  Stop saying why you can’t do something and just do it, or at the very least get started doing something. 

Keep moving forward.  Our efforts are honored.  Our hard work is rewarded.  Our determination is one of our greatest legacies.

We’re in this moment.  What will make it our greatest moment yet—professionally and personally?  What are we dreaming about for the future that we can be working towards today?  Let’s get started!

Waiting for someone else to open a door, redirect our career, or promote us is a pre-recession mentality.  It’s our time to make those moves for ourselves.  The world is saturated with opportunity—some uniquely suited just for you.  Don’t pretend like you don’t dream about them—the great job, the flourishing career, and the interesting projects.   

Don’t stand on the sidelines hoping a new experience or opportunity will come your way.  Don’t send your resume out into the vast abyss of the internet and sit back hoping something happens.  Stand up.  Research.  Identify leaders at that company.  Pursue every available opportunity to get your message before them—Linked In, Facebook, Twitter, a handwritten note—by any (legal and ethical) means necessary.  When it’s silent and you think you haven’t heard anything, make some more noise.  Send it again.  Restate your message.  Be bold.  Be brash.  Be brilliant.   

Create that sense of urgency within yourself.  You can do it.  Your opportunity is waiting.  Are you read to grab it?

SJH