What does it mean to triumph? Most of us would say that to triumph means to win, to be a champion, to have achieved something significant, something great. In order to triumph, we really need to dare to TRY, and to TRY it with all of our UMPH. It has often been said that "A good plan, vigorously executed now, is far better than a perfect plan next week ~ Gen George S. Patton". All of us know this to be true in essence, yet so few are realizing how true this actually is. Here are a few pointers that might help us out!

About 80% of the world's population have a great tendency to be responders. This means that most people wait for things to happen and then start taking action when it is too late. That is one reason why there are so many calls to action, like the one I quoted earlier, by Gen George S Patton. If you are in this category, don't try to change yourself, just establish structures that will help you to decide to take action where and when appropriate. The first part of being triumphant is to TRY. If there is no TRY, there will be no UMPH, which means that there will eventually be no Try-Umph. Here's an example of a structure you could use to help yourself take that vital first step. Suppose you've been wanting to update your wardrobe. You know that there are many sets of clothes in there that you just need to get rid of, and that you do need some new outfits. Yet you can't seem to bring yourself to do what you know you really need to do. You look at your old outfits with lingering nostalgia, and can't seem to tear them away from you. You try to visualize those outfits you want and need, so that you can give yourself enough motivation to actually go and get them, but the images don't seem to form. Well, perhaps you could get a friend to help you out. Your friend would probably not be as emotionally attached to your old outfits as you are, and will help you get rid of those you don't need far more quickly than you would have done by yourself. Once you have taken the first TRY step of throwing out your old stuff, it is far more likely that you would have the Umph to update your ailing wardrobe and get a new, fresh outlook in the way you dress, and, hopefully, a whole new outlook to life as well!

What about the other 20% of the world's population who have a tendency to rush headlong into all sorts of predicaments? These are the people we holler "Whoa!" at. They have no problems with the TRY, but perhaps could do with some help on the UMPH. One thing that might be of some help is to remind them that, if they just jump into things without the proper planning, they might not achieve their goals. Give them illustrations to show that, even if things look downright bad and require urgent and immediate attention, jumping into the thick of the action without the training and planning is tantamount to courting disaster. The story of how Mission Control worked desperately on a plan to save the crew of Apollo 13 is a good one. The crew of Apollo 13 were in desperate need of oxygen, a way to get back to Earth, and just staying alive the whole time even if they COULD get back to Earth. We do not know what might have happened if the men in Mission Control had simply jumped into the thick of things and tried to help the astronauts by doing whatever came to mind. Thankfully, they didn't. They got together, made sure they had the big picture and drew up a recovery plan with as much thoroughness as they could amid the feverish, near-panic atmosphere. And the astronauts made it safely back to Earth.

So there you have it. Have a plan, by all means, just make sure you carry it out with Vigour! Remember to TRY it with a great deal of UMPH, and we will all look forward to your TRI-UMPH! Go well!