Don't Sail Without a Rudder

The biggest mistake I made as a young man was that I didn't have a plan. I had dreams. Dreams come true, but it's rare when they do.

Plans do come true. 

Why don't dreams come true?  Because they have no direction.  They are a rudderless boat drifting about, most of the time in circles, but often running aground or sinking.  Dreams don't know where they are going and they don't know how to get there.

But plans? They have a rudder, an engine, a helmsman, and a Commanding Officer.  Plans move forth deliberately, controlled, and in a specific direction.  They change course when necessary.

My point is this: don't settle for dreams (like me). If you want to be a GM or a CEO, make a plan.  If you want to be a senator, make a plan.  If you want to be a scientist, make a plan.

You can (and should) change this plan as time goes along. Plans are not rigid. But plans give you things on which to focus and on which to improve upon en route your goal.

At his hall of fame acceptance speech Emmitt Smith (Dallas Cowboys) said that in high school he wanted to become the NFL's leading rusher. He said he told his Dad his goal. And his Dad told him, "Emmitt, it is just a dream until you write it down.  After you write it down, it's a goal". Emmitt wrote it down. He also the leading rushing in NFL history.

So, do yourself a favor. Take a few minutes and write down your aspirations and your dreams. And make them your goals.

Believe me, if you do this for every endeavor in life, you will be so far ahead of everyone else, it will not even be a race.

DON'T DREAM! MAKE A PLAN.  It's a no-brainer when you think about it, but unless you have a person  telling you this, you go on drifting about.

If you have any questions, let me know.  I can help further.

That's all for now.