NOT ALL WHO ARE LOST WANDER…

“Not all who wander are lost” (Tolkien). Without breaking down the walls around us and stepping outside of the box – without straying from the tried and true to experience what “might be” rather than “what is” – few innovations would come to fruition. Unless we begin to wander off the beaten path – searching for things not generally thought of or methods not typically used – what we have will always be and what we do will never change. While many that wander aimlessly through life are lost, those that wander purposefully having a thirst for knowledge and a desire to make a difference in their world, are far from lost – they are leaders upon a road not yet discovered travelling towards a goal not yet identified within a world not yet fully explored. They seek what has not yet been found while finding and improving all they can as they pass through unchartered territories on their way to an undefined destination which, once attained, becomes but a resting place for them to regain their strength before wandering anew. Wanderers are the leaders of our world, and those willing to wander with them, beside them OR be led by them will be discover improbable wonders in life that were once thought to be impossible.

Conversely, not all who are lost wander. We cannot expect change unless we are willing to embrace it. Unless we consciously and intentionally move forward towards a destination or result not previously achieved we will remain mired in our reality rather than immersed within our possibilities. While some wander aimlessly because they are lost – sometimes even stumbling upon an uncharted trail – their travels are largely not planned, and their discoveries are often unintentional. Many who feel lost, however, chose to lie low awaiting rescue. Rather than making a difficult situation worse by acting in an unproven way these lost souls will seek a safe harbor within which they can ride out the storm – a dry cave in which to crawl during the rain. Those who find comfort in the status quo – who are content to live as they have always lived so that they can have all (but no more) that they have always had – are often content to exist in static mediocrity. Individuals thriving upon the status quo may function well, but they often lose out on what could be by holding on so tightly to what is. When facing a fork in the road, they seek guidance from their past – looking behind them to leverage what has worked in the past hoping to move forward on familiar trails avoiding normal detours as they move towards known destinations. When facing the unknown, some would prefer to wait for others to lead them from where they are to where they would prefer (or willingly accept) to be but will rarely strike out on their own or stray from their past as they will rarely journey on their own towards the untried and the untrue. Those who do not wander will rarely find a way that has not yet been found nor discover a concept that has yet to be imagined. They are but the worker bees within an ever-expanding hive – content to do as they are told in exchange for a planned and consistent universe regardless of the self-sacrifice or cost, seeking “something for nothing” in their lives as they wish to enjoy the fruits of other’s labors or the harvest from the plantings that others have done.

A rare few individuals are seekers striving for change, validation or innovation – willing to walk away from the safety and security of “what is” in search of things that could be (but have not yet been identified or considered). Whether they are lost or enlightened, those that wander will find things along the way not yet discovered. The difference is that those who are lost see their discoveries as an end – a final destination or place to rest – while those seeking innovation, freedom or unimagined results see their discoveries as the beginning of something entirely new from which future steps can be taken. It has been said that the first step of any journey is the hardest but perhaps the ensuing steps taken after initially setting out from what is comfortable and secure while seeking that which is unknown – those taken after realizing what is being left behind before understanding what may be gained has been established – are truly the most difficult. While many sentences make up a book, the first is often difficult to write. It is important that we know how (and when) to end each chapter of our lives so we can move on from what has been accomplished to experience what has not yet been achieved…to recognize that our lives are books made up of many chapters flowing seamlessly from one to the next. We should not expect (nor accept) life to be a “short story” but rather an epic novel that seemingly has no clear-cut beginning and no definitive end. 

Look back only long enough to know from where you came. Stop only long enough to know where you belong.  Leverage your past within your present to establish a future that will never be unveiled unless you begin to wander – to drift purposefully through life – with a single-minded focus on where you wish to be rather than living within a clearly documented history of accomplishments clearly defined within your rearview mirror. Choose life…wander purposefully…seek change…accomplish much. What more could be said or done to make yours a positive, productive, and significant world? 

ACCOMPLISH MUCH MORE BY LEADING (RATHER THAN CONTROLLING) OTHERS

Great leaders develop practices and communicate expectations that allow them to manage fairly and consistently as they motivate people to contribute their proportionate share towards the success of the team or the stability of relationships. Unfortunately, there are many insecure and unprepared leaders seeking to claim all of the “gain” as their own while accepting none of the “blame” that often allows us to learn from mistakes. The road to success is not a highway built by a single individual – it is a precarious path paved with the sacrifice and hard work of a team allowing individuals to share both setbacks and successes as they grow together towards the accomplishment of identified goals. We maximize the potential for success when a group (large or small) develops and discusses mutually beneficial objectives then takes the actions necessary to bring them to fruition (leveraging strengths while compensating for individual deficiencies). Poorly thought-out initiatives, reactions without consideration of repercussions and a general misdirection of otherwise worthwhile efforts or activities will often result in failure – not necessarily a fatal flaw but far too often individuals accept a fall as their destination rather than a place to regroup and recover. A successful leader determines a direction, communicates a potential course of action, equips the team to act with relative independence THEN monitors progress – stepping in to redirect effort only when necessary. In order to accomplish much with others, a leader should:

•  ACTIVELY ENGAGE IN BUILDING APPROPRIATE RELATIONSHIPS. Successful leaders make decisions that affect themselves, those around them and/or their families (and accept both the positive and the negative which might come from their carefully considered decisions). Poor leaders often allow others to direct their actions (then complain when things do not progress as they might have wished). Good leaders make decisions then move forward while monitoring both progress and set-back so that “bumps in the road” or detours do not turn into unexpected dead ends. Poor leaders often lose track of the “big picture” while making isolated decisions – tending to live within functional silos that store and contain their accomplishments rather than on an operational farm where their efforts can grow to fruition. While a stated objective usually becomes our targeted destination, the relationships, and decisions we make build the path upon which we will travel and lend us the support to achieve our objectives. How you lead (or relate to others) ultimately determines whom you lead (or are in relationship with) and defines the horizons (or limitations) that will welcome you to a new and unconsidered future (or hold you back to live as you have always existed). 

• DELEGATE RESPONSIBILITY AND AUTHORITY TO THOSE AROUND YOU. Leaders analyze strengths when assigning projects to maximize the potential for successful resolution. They recognize what others can (and cannot) do, then work within those parameters to optimize the chances of success. If an individual has the ability to perform a task, knows when it must be completed, and is not overloaded with interfering assignments, much can be accomplished IF the leader avoids micro-managing activities while remaining available for questions and monitoring progress. Individuals must have the desire and feel the need to contribute – must feel empowered to identify alternative actions and enabled to act independently – must not only be included but made to feel accepted and acceptable – before they will risk failure (or taste success). 

• ACCEPT THAT FAILURE IS AN EXCELLENT TEACHING TOOL. Far too many individuals feel that “winning at any cost” is the only way to be successful. While winning more often than not is desirable, if an individual never makes a mistake he or she will not know how to deal with adversity. Repeated failure should not be tolerated but if an individual can learn from a mistake – which is not dangerous, destructive or damaging to the organization’s (or the individual’s) reputation, self-concept or ability to perform, the shortcoming should be embraced (rather than buried), examined (rather than hidden) and resolved (rather than accepted) so that one can move beyond it (rather than dwelling within it). 

• 
  DEAL WITH ISSUES PROMPTLY AND APPROPRIATELY. If something needs correcting and discipline is required, deal with it specifically and immediately. If an individual does something exceptionally well, celebrate the accomplishment as soon as possible. It is important to stop (or clone) behaviors rather than avoiding or ignoring them. Address and discuss issues that bother you BEFORE they become insurmountable. One will not create mutually beneficial relationships if “everything is always wrong” and “nothing is ever right” in the actions, attitudes, or behaviors of others. Focus on modifying behaviors (both your own AND those with whom you interact) to achieve different results rather than addressing the individual for what was not done and expecting positive change to grow from a tainted seed. 

Good leaders celebrate success loudly while whispering about failure privately. They analyze themselves to identify their strengths (which they leverage towards a common good) and their weaknesses (which they work hard to strengthen OR minimize by leveraging another’s gifts). A good leader may or may not be “a friend,” but MUST be fair and consistent. We must establish decision-making skills that allow us to act in a predictable and reasonable manner if we wish to become effective – which, if done by example rather than through edict – will allow us (AND those around us) to accomplish great things. 

THREE WAYS TO INITIATE CHANGE

There are three ways we can try to change another’s behavior – order change then enforce the altered behavior with penalties or threats (coercion), provide a reward or some other external recognition that is of value should they change (motivation), or show a path that will make them a better person or allow them to be something different than they are (inspiration). Whether in a business or personal relationship – or any role in which we find ourselves interacting with another in order to accomplish a single objective – positive and meaningful change results from an intentional action (even if one intentionally decides not to act) rather than an accidental happenstance – with the most effective change being planned, engages all having an interest in the altered results and provides more “gain” than “pain” to those expected to participate.

Supervisors (or those seeing themselves as being “dominant” in a relationship) often coerce individuals to change. They issue orders, give directions, and tell people what to do (and usually how to do it). Theirs can often be a world having few opportunities for independent action (having been appointed or selected based on their strong technical abilities or assuming control out of either hidden inadequacies or self-proclaimed expertise) so they provide few chances for people they supervise to act independently. Coercive individuals often expect a response of “how high?” when they ask another to “jump” rather than “Why are we doing this?” or “Is this really the best way?” They spend much time assigning work, reviewing progress (and processes), and measuring results (and how they were accomplished), leaving little time to invest on motivating or influencing altered behavior. Rather than asking or laying the groundwork for change, coercive individuals direct and monitor the activities of others so they can personally benefit from their accomplishments. Individuality is negated when change is coerced as responses become defined and expected rather than encouraged and supported. In personal relationships, individuals who coerce others often tear them down to build themselves up – focus on “what went wrong” rather than celebrating “what went well” while justifying their own poor behavior by pointing out another’s worse results. Coercive individuals tend to get what they want but may get ONLY what they want – and often find that their gains are short term of limited value or sustained duration. They find that telling may produce quick results, but rarely does it produce the best result imaginable.

Managers often motivate individuals to change. They identify alternatives, provide choices, and give people reasons that make them want to alter their behavior. Motivation to change can be as minimal as providing verbal praise and recognition (publicly) to providing a tangible reward (privately OR publicly) intended to induce alternative actions. When combined with punishment for not changing, motivation can be a powerful means of producing results. The problem with motivation, however, is that an external force must initiate the change. In a working relationship, a manager often identifies what is best for the organization, the employee and him- or her-self then initiates action by spelling out what may happen if change does not occur (coercion) but also what will happen should favorable change occur (motivating the alternative action). As long as a manager is present to identify a suspect behavior, assist in the avoidance of negative consequences, and provide reason to change, good things will happen. Rarely, however, will an employee used to constant motivation see the need to change unless they continue to receive external impetus. In a relationship, individuals seeking subtle control often do so by first “breaking down” another (coercion) then providing a reason that change would be beneficial (often benefiting the motivator as much if not more than the motivated). Much can be accomplished when individuals are motivated to change – the problem with motivation, however, is that an object at rest (or an individual who is content to do what he or she is doing) tends to remain at rest (or doing what has proven to be comfortable). Until one has been convinced that their behavior must change to receive different results, he or she will typically not experience growth.

Leaders inspire others to change. Rather than telling people what must be done they suggest that change is warranted and show individuals a better way. Rather than dwelling upon an individual’s negative behavior (or weaknesses) they reward positive efforts (or call out exceptional attributes). Leaders paint a picture of “what if” or “what could be” rather than one of “what is” or “what will always be.” A leader makes people want to change in order to achieve something they wish to have, accomplish or become. Inspirational change goes beyond telling (coercion) and selling (motivation) – it leads another towards self-actualization. Inspiration causes people to see why changes should take place, creating an internal desire to abandon who they were to become what awaits them in a different place. Inspirational change is often caused by one’s desire to “be like” another or to achieve what someone else has accomplished – to make oneself (or another) proud of their actions. In a personal relationship, inspirational leadership makes another want to join in (rather than follow) and to share a road less travelled (rather than taking the quickest, fastest route to nowhere). Rarely will inspirational leaders tell another what must be done or how to do it. When we seek that which has not yet been identified we initiate lasting change – which becomes the platform for continued growth.

Whether you choose to coerce, motivate, or inspire change, recognize that an individual must see a reason to change before they will abandon their ways to pursue a new horizon. We cannot CREATE change within an individual – we are only able to initiate it. We cannot FORCE change within an individual – we are only able to guide it. We cannot make another do that which they choose not to – we can only provide positive reasons to act AND identify negative consequences should they choose not to act. Change can alter the direction of “what is” in order to move towards “what could be” but will never be life-altering UNLESS an individual initiates it to foster personal growth.

Overcoming the Limitations of this World

I long to show you happiness…make you smile…encourage you to laugh...

I pray that I give you the strength to shine within each dark night…

I hope, in some small way, I provide you shelter in this stormy world...

That through all we share we remain steadfast in the pursuit of our dreams…

That we become one with the stream rather than being washed away by it…

That our souls remain forever joined beyond the end of measurable time…

While we overcome the senseless limitations of this world by living within the unlimited boundaries of our hearts...

Until time runs out and reality returns us to the sea…

When the night seems darkest to a troubled soul it can shroud joy experienced in the past and seemingly erase memories of better and easier times. Our memories become clouded as they define a distant and faded history rather than a place we lived, laughed, and called home (but will never see again). When storms batter our weary bodies – pounding with fury upon the windows of our soul – we often question “why?” rather than moving forward one step at a time. Darkness can become depression – exacerbated by isolation and being alone during the recent Pandemic – causing the future to seem like an impossible destination…an unfathomable leap from the safe harbors we create to shelter us from the reality that each day brings…keeping us captive within our fear and anxiety…preventing us from moving forward to realize our potential by allowing us to wallow in losses that may have brought us to our knees. When all things that were once significant sources of pride, happiness and accomplishment dissipate like water leaking through fingers holding desperately onto ice, the pleasure of the past becomes but a haunting and tormenting tribute to what once was but can never be again…reduces the highest of our highs to blend into the mediocrity of everyday existence. It is then that we should think of those who have made – and may continue to make – a difference in our lives…of all they brought to our world by simply being there at a time we may have been in need and by reinforcing our value as they listened to our pain and recognized our potential.

If we seek to overcome the limitations of this world we should give as much happiness as we receive – make another smile and encourage laughter when tears may seem more realistic. We should keep ourselves from stealing another’s joy by inserting ourselves into (rather than detracting from) their personal celebration. We should accept the support that others give us as we strive to share the strength and encouragement we may develop because we listened to another. We must stabilize our own ship so it will not capsize (putting many in harm’s way) should we step away from the winds to help someone less fortunate as we calm their struggles. When we share our dreams with others – and how we plan to bring them to fruition – we empower them to seek what might be possible beyond their own reality, allowing them to see that what is hoped for can become only when self-imposed boundaries are ignored, and the limitations of self-pity and degradation become things of the past. We must become one with the stream as it builds to a credenza prior to reaching the sea rather than allowing ourselves to simply ride upon the water’s surface and be washed away – left behind to stagnate in a swampy backwater – if we wish to make a difference within this world of artificial limitations

Strive to link your soul forever with another as you become intimate friends and inseparable cohorts building relationships that bind you as life-long companions unafraid to share darkest secrets or celebrate greatest successes. Only with another holding similar values and beliefs can you share the true joy from your journey rather than seeking satisfaction and fulfillment solely upon its conclusion. Only with the support of another will you consistently find peace in life’s valleys – and be able to celebrate the elation felt when reaching your heights. Unless one accepts them self (while accepting others) you will be unable to overcome the senseless limitations of this world. Alone you will be unable to realize the unlimited potential that a mind having no boundaries, restrictions or self-serving actions offers. Much more can be discovered when life is shared with others who seek your support (while supporting you) and accept your encouragement (while encouraging you) than can be found upon a solitary trail leading to a singular destination. Do not allow the senseless limitations of this world to become your present or prevent you from realizing your dreams. Recognize your dreams – allow them to become the driving force as you seek a future reality – and the limitations of this world will lose their control over your life, giving way to the potential of a new and brighter tomorrow. 

THINGS ARE REVEALED TO THOSE WHO SEEK (AND PROVIDED TO THOSE WHO ACT)

Those who continually seek that which they do not have – who reach for the stars without differentiating whether it is night or day – who always seem to want what others have because they feel their own gifts or abilities are somehow inferior – will probably always be lacking. They will never feel that they have “arrived” as they are always “seeking to go” in a different direction. They are like seeds drifting upon the winds – moving from one place to another without ever taking root so that they might grow. They may enjoy many starts and stops in life – travelling upon a multitude of roads yet experiencing much frustration for they seldom remain on one path long enough to discover a destination. Rather than living their own life and experiencing the richness it might bring they ride upon the coat tails of others, skimming their enjoyment from the surface of life’s ocean – plucking only the floating debris left behind rather than diving deeply to find treasures of their own.

Those who feel they have all they could ever need – who do not desire any reward beyond what they have achieved – who always find comfort in “what is” rather than being curious about “what could be” – will probably find contentment in their life but may never realize their full potential. People finding happiness in the “here and now” without ever seeking to expand their horizons often live lives that are “safe” yet uneventful. They find that travelling a familiar path to a known destination provides contentment and predictability – an outcome that may not excite but that will never disappoint. They seek to avoid disillusionment by holding tightly to what is known – to eliminate defeat by seeking only that which will foster and perpetuate ongoing rewards (regardless of how large or small the reward might be). Though many find comfort within the familiar walls of a predictable reality, few that do find the joy of discovery. Though many find contentment within a predictable world, few of them find their dreams fulfilled (if they allow themselves to dream) or their future altered drastically (while they seek shelter from life’s storms within their established safe harbor). When one believes that nothing else exists or is needed beyond what is present within their “here and now” they tend to forfeit any thought of the possible due to their deeply rooted belief in the probable.

The secret to being all that you can be – to balancing your abilities against your capabilities while blending the comfort of where you are with the promise of what you might wish to achieve – is in setting realistic goals that stretch your reality from what is to what has not yet been accomplished. Intentional action must be initiated if change is desired – for to see or experience new things one must physically, emotionally and perceptually alter the current situation in such a way as to tear down the confining walls of “what is” and exchange them for limitless sea of “what could be.” While one may never fail without established goals, how can one measure progress unless an objective – or destination – has been determined?  How can one move forward if they do not know when to stop – or even when to start – doing something different? While one rarely tastes defeat when choosing to live within their familiar world, they cannot savor those things not previously considered possible until they decide to act differently rather than simply expecting altered results without changing their predictable behavior.

Life is not a spectator sport – it is an interactive opportunity to transform the present into the future (but does not do so on its own). Life provides us with the canvas upon which dreams may become reality (but we must act if we are to create such a masterpiece for it will not be painted on its own). Knowing the right answers to questions asked by another might help us overcome obstacles that could hinder our progress as we seek to accomplish defined things but leveraging our knowledge and experience to ask the right questions is much more fulfilling. Like planting seeds – if nurtured and cared for, our ideas will be brought to fruition but if planted and ignored they will die out and become overrun with weeds. When we act upon the information received from the questions we ask, our dreams will grow and become seeds ready for harvest. Recognize, though, that as much as it might wish to become an apple tree, a cherry pit will not grow into anything other than a cherry tree. In the same manner, our ideas and dreams must be plausible – we must have the knowledge, skill and ability to act once a path to success has been identified – if we are to enjoy the things found through our seeking, receive the benefits of our asking and achieve the rewards of accomplishing the goals we establish. We must seek before we can find. We must ask before we can receive. In order to achieve, we must act intentionally upon the information we discover while seeking and incorporate what we learn when asking. Seek to find and ask to receive BUT do not fail to act intentionally upon the information found and the wisdom received in order to achieve!

Look Beyond Today’s Reality When Seeking Tomorrow’s Success

People tend to see things (and other individuals) as they are. We live “in the moment” during our daily lives, often seeing and recognizing only what is in front of us at the time. We deal with issues and situations as they come up. We resolve (or avoid) conflicts as they occur. We form our opinions and establish our perspectives based on what we see, hear or experience at the time an opportunity to act presents itself. A phrase originating during my youth (“What you see is what you get!”) appropriately identifies the level of introspection many use to chart their path through life.

What if we were to focus more upon “what could be?” rather than seeing only “what is” in life? What if we stopped seeing individuals “as they are,” instead seeing how they have changed and who they might yet become? If we assume that today’s reality is but a temporary resting place within an as yet undetermined future RATHER THAN a final destination – that what we are today is but a sign or indicator of what we might yet become RATHER THAN a definitive predictor of the future – how much more could be accomplished in our lives? When we focus upon what could be rather than what is…upon why not rather than why…upon where we are headed rather than upon where we have been…we can discover new horizons not previously considered.

When we focus only upon fixing “what is” we tend to react to our circumstances rather than plan for our future. We often try to bury or make situations “go away” rather than trying to identify their “root cause” so that we might be able to keep them from recurring. We tend to worry about today more than we do tomorrow…considering only the things we learned yesterday rather than seeking what has not yet been realized or foreseen within an unknown tomorrow. We focus on the obvious reality of the moment rather than projecting our experiences into what could be “if only” we were to initiate change or do things differently. When dealing with individuals we do the same thing – we see who a person is (often because of what they did or were in the past) but rarely focus on what they COULD BECOME if given the right example, encouragement, and support. When we shut someone out because of what they once were or did – or due to the way they are currently acting without trying to understand why – we minimize their desire to change. When we give up on others do they lose more (due to a loss of opportunity) or do we (because we lost the opportunity to make a difference)?

If we seek to change – to view situations and others differently than we have in the past – we must establish a new base from which to operate so we can alter our perspectives in the future. We must change our paradigm from one that stops at a “surface scan” to one that dives deeply into the “why” of every situation or the “why not” of each possible course of action. We should identify and examine the good that others bring along with the bad – always seeking to maximize the positive while minimizing the negative – if we are to see beneath the surface when interacting with people. We should ALWAYS reject the belief that “what you see is what you get” as we seek the sunshine that is above every storm cloud or the alternative door that tends to open whenever our original door or path is blocked.

Today identifies those things that have not yet been brought to fruition – the things that tend to fade quickly into yesterday when we find comfort in where we are, what we do and how we do things – only if we look beyond our reality and seek to bring to fruition our dreams. Live in “today” only long enough to move through it while seeking a new “tomorrow” and you may be surprised at how quickly “the moment of today” will pass when you live life seeking NOT “what is” but rather “what could be.” Only when you actively and intentionally seek to expand your “present” by learning (through formal programs or informal interactions), by seeking (new methods and alternative approaches), by applying (the lessons learned in life) and by initiating (any action causes an equal and opposite reaction) will you be able to see beneath (or beyond) the surface as you move through the limitations of this world towards the potential an unlimited tomorrow might bring. 

WE HAVE A LIMITED AMOUNT OF TIME TO “MAKE A DIFFERENCE” – INVEST YOUR’S WISELY

Some people work through one project at a time – from start to finish – then move on to another to (presumably) maximize their productivity. Others work on multiple tasks by attacking different priorities – setting aside one project in favor of another prior to its completion – until all work is eventually completed in what they feel is the most timely and efficient manner. Still others tend to operate by “putting out fires” as they jump from one critical need to another without taking the time to think about how best to coordinate their efforts, working on one thing UNTIL something seemingly more important needs their attention to fix. We find ourselves worrying needlessly about things outside of our control – wasting precious hours thinking about why something cannot be accomplished (or was not done) rather than taking intentional action to move towards a desired outcome. We feel there is never enough time to finish what must be done (but always have time to redo something that may have been done incorrectly). We spend hours worrying about things outside of our control and getting stressed about finding time to do everything that needs to be done (rather than focusing on doing “something” then moving on one step at a time). Without proper planning and focus we find ourselves slaves to the very clock we so desperately seek to master – struggling to complete anything (rather than everything) on a timely basis.

Far too many people complain more about the disturbances, distractions, and annoyances in their lives than they celebrate the opportunities to learn, grow, and develop by handling the fallout from the disturbances they may face. We dwell upon the fact that others possess the attributes we want rather than embracing and exhibiting our individual gifts and abilities. Instead of finding satisfaction in all we have accomplished, some see only what has not been finished due to a lack of time or how much better a job could have done “if only” more time had been given. Rather than acknowledging how we impacted another while focusing upon changing our own expectations (and ways of doing things) we often prefer to think about what was not done and how much more should have been accomplished (rather than being happy for what was done and building upon it to accomplish more).

Everyone can lose themselves in thoughts about what COULD HAVE BEEN. It is easy to dwell on lost opportunity – to excuse a lack of execution by saying that the time for action has passed (or it is not worth the effort needed to initiate action) since “things are OK now” (though they COULD be better). It is harder (but much more rewarding) to consider WHAT MAY YET BE – to seek and anticipate issues not yet identified and commit to their being accomplished – accepting each minor success as but a step on the road towards the fulfillment of a dream. Life is not measured by the time it takes to accomplish our objectives but rather by the objectives we are able to accomplish – not by how long (or short) a time it takes to do SOMETHING but rather by the impact we are able to make upon the lives of those around us as we act within the time we are given. We must define objectives and measure accomplishments (rather than overly documenting steps and focusing upon the time it takes to accomplish things) if we wish to invest the limited time we are given wisely.

Perhaps the return on our investment would be much greater if we thought more about alternatives – opportunities to explore areas not previously identified – rather than dwelling upon how (we sometimes wish) we could live within our normal routine seeking satisfaction from completing our assigned objectives.

Many often find themselves buried by the details of what must be finished prior to something new beginning rather than truly celebrating all we have done while seeking closure to the opportunities that require our attention. We should seek fulfilment in life by identifying unresolved issues and exploring possible solutions rather than making excuses for unintentional omissions that result in unintended consequences. We should find peace within the hectic world around us, taking our lives back from the clock as it ticks relentlessly on. Time should never become a measurement of how long it takes to fulfill our destiny – it should never become the measure upon which our identity, success and accomplishments can be monitored – but rather a parameter in which to identify our accomplishments, measure our abilities and strive for the realization of objectives (rather than focusing upon and accepting the path it took so get there as the only way something might be done).

Time invested wisely can never be wasted but wasting time worrying about how it may have been inappropriately spent (by yourself OR others) is never a good investment. Choose wisely as one can either master time (reaping the rewards of their investments) or be mastered by time (never accomplishing what we wish to do or seeing what we want to experience). The choice is up to each of us – to either be a victim of our self-imposed boundaries or a champion of those things not yet identified and seen.