Why didn't I listen?

Why didn't we listen to our parents? Why didn't I listen?

I was pondering on something a buddy said to me the other day, which is something I've been sharing with others for many years now. He said, "You know Joey, the older I get, the smarter my parents become."

There is so much advice that I should have implemented into my life when I was young, but I just didn't do. But, at the same time, I think there was a lot of "stuff" in my parent's lives when they were young adults that they just didn't know like we as parents do now.

But still they had wisdom that I didn't, and they tried to share it with me.

With many hard knocks along the way, and with the hopes that it might make a difference for someone somewhere, here are some of the things I'd like to share with younger audiences:

• Constantly have mentors in your life.
  There's no such thing as one mentor for life, no one can do that. But throughout your life, seek out mentors for a specific goal you're trying to accomplish. Whether you seek a career mentor, relationship mentor, financial mentor, spiritual mentor, etc., seek out someone that is where you'd like to be and meet with them once per month. Have a specific agenda for each meeting and make it worth your mentors time when you meet with them.
  
• Always have 1, 5 and 10 year goals.
  If you don't have goals, how do you ever know when you score? Goals keep you on track, keep you focused and motivated. Share your goals with others to help hold yourself accountable.


• Understand that "homework" never ends.
  Just because you get out of school, don't fool yourself into thinking that homework ends, because it doesn't. You'll have research to do on someone you're going to meet to make a sale too; for someone you're going to provide your resume too; for any organizations you join; for any event you're going to attend and the list goes on. You'll also need to constantly have some reading plan in your life if you really want to grow to be all you can be.


• Try to compete with those that are better than you are.
  If you're always playing against someone you can win against, how do you ever grow and get better? Sure you need a win occasionally to remain motivated, but spend a majority of your time competing with superior forces.

My question: What additional advice would you provide a young person?

[Note: photo from http://i.telegraph.co.uk/]

“Your Success Is My Business.”™

pondering - "to think about : reflect on"

Please share with others:

He said, "Don't blink"

"Don't Blink" by Kenny Chesney

I was listening to this song on the radio, and one of the lines really popped out at me:

"...when your hour glass runs out of sand,
you can't flip it over and start again..."

How thought provoking --- something to really make you stop and ponder...or does it?

I'm the first to admit I didn't stop & ponder on this when I was in my teens, or in my 20s, and no, not even in my 30s. I wonder would I have made different choices then if I had. Would you have? Don't we all procrastinate and think we have "tomorrow"?

But now as I come up on my 30 year senior class reunion in a few weeks, this whole "don't blink" thought I find to be more and more true.

What if I'd had mentors in my life during those early years? Do we encourage mentors in our children's lives?

How 'bout specific goals, following your passion(s)? It can never be too late to do that.

One of my friends always says, "Life is to short not to take advantage of it and live it to the fullest."

Personally, I've put off learning another language for years (even though I have Rosetta Stone). I've put off learning a musical instrument. I've put off many hobbies & passions because I always thought I'd get around to them. I've postponed eating healthy and exercising because I've lived the greatest cliché, "I'll get to it."

How are you doing yourself? Are you following your passions or are you putting them on the back burner?

And "don't blink" goes for your education, relationships, careers, etc. as well.

I used to think when I was young how great it was that I knew my great-grandfather and that he had personally witnessed the dawn of a new century. Now in the blink of our eyes, most of you (if not all) reading this, like me, have not only done the same thing, but have also witnessed the dawn of a new millennium...and our grandchildren will (hopefully) think how awesome that was for us to have experienced!

Maybe seeing the movie "The Bucket List" also has me more focused on all of this...?

But pondering on something and making an active pursuit are two different things. One is passive and one is a deliberate action required.

So, "...life goes faster than you think, don't blink". Think I'd better stop blinking and get focused & active. How 'bout you?

Until next time, remember “Your Success Is My Business."™

http://joeypeacock.com/