Random Meditations

Sometimes I have thoughts or I find quotes that I really like and they don't really make a coherent blog post. I don't want to lose those thoughts so these Random Meditation posts are designed so I don't lose them.

C.I.A.

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I don't remember the origins of this acronym but it is useful when you are trying to manage a lot at once. C.I.A. stands for Control, Influence, and Accept. Things that you can control should get the bulk of your attention. Things you can Influence should be the next on your list. Everything else you just have to accept.

Retreats

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In The Compound Effect Darren Hardy is talking about the importance of finding time to renew yourself. He says something along the lines of "To advance sometimes you need to retreat first." I really liked it because it reminds me to take a step back, re-center, reevaluate, and when you're ready, get back to it.

Persistence

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Calvin Coolidge - “Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan Press On! has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.”

Calvin is so on the money here. Find something and stick to it. Education, talent and genius will help you along if you combine them with persistence but you have to stick to it. Yo-Yo Ma is very talented but he never would have become the Cello master he is if he hadn't persisted in practicing it.

Coach

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As a leader you need to shift your focus from being a critique to being a coach. You should see yourself as the man that stands next to those he coaches and helps them through their paces to become better. That will improve them, you, and the organization.

Success

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"Success is not to be pursued; it is to be attracted by the person you become." -Jim Rohn
A lot of times people think that if you complete a list of steps you will become successful. I disagree. Even if you become rich you will never be successful unless you do it through becoming something more. You have to change yourself on the inside to ever have any semblance of outward success.

First things first

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Work on your life plan first then fit your professional plan into that life plan. Do not do it the other way around. A life plan is; who you want to be with, how much time you want to spend with them, where you want to live, how much free time you want, if you will work weekends, etc. Figure all of that out first because that is what "life" is and if you ignore that in pursuit of your professional goals you will, as they say, let life pass you by.