You walk out your front door.  With your binoculars raised to your eyes you slowly scan the horizon looking to see a ship gliding its way across that vast ocean coming straight to you. You know it's coming and you can't wait until it gets here.  Today I hear many people sitting, waiting for their ship to come in.  I don't know how successful that is for you, but you may want to consider another option; swimming out to it!

The saying goes, "Good things come to those who wait".  However, are you also aware that great things happen to those who take action?  Action is often what differentiates those who do very well, from those that get by.  Sometimes you hear people say they are "hanging in there".  I don't know about you, but hanging is something I have never thought of as a good thing.  Are you just hanging in there?

Why not consider changing your approach to achieve even greater success.  Here are some strategies you can consider to move yourself closer to your ship.

1. Adopt a habit of saying "Yes".  No, this does not suggest you abandon all judgment, but it's amazing how many great things can happen in your life when you open yourself up to new opportunities. Saying yes to more opportunities provides you with greater access to experiences, increased access to various people, and just adds more possibilities to your life.
2. Set your morning alarm 15 minutes earlier. Change has to start somewhere why not make it first thing in the morning.  By setting your clock 15 minutes earlier over the course of one week you will get one hour and 25 minutes more time to accomplish anything you want.  This is more time then you had before; and this is if you only do it during the workweek!   The amount of time is not so important as the development of a positive habit. You say you don't have time to do what you want?  Now you have an extra hour and 25 minutes per week just to do what you want.  If you do this for year you will have almost an extra three days.  Make good use of it!
3. Reduce the amount of time you spend watching TV or playing video games. According to the Nielsen Group, almost 50% of individuals say they watch too much television. Yet, almost 75% of adults would like to limit their children's TV watching[1].   Become the behavior you want your children to emulate, and find tremendous benefit in it for yourself.
4. Reduce the amount of time you spend waiting for things you don't have to. Buy stamps, basic electronics, books, office supplies, and even shoes and clothing online.  This will also save you the price of gas. Many vendors provide product research to help you find the most appropriate products.
5. Reduce clutter.  Clutter in your environment tends to take up space in your mind. These things tend to immobilize your thinking by overwhelming your senses.   Begin to clear off clutter in your environment and you will clear up some of the clutter in your mind. 
6. Make a list of all of the things you've been putting off.   Then look at the list and start addressing those things one at a time.  Take on the easiest things first.  Those things you put off also take up your attention and keep you from being as effective as you could be.

For many of you, your ship is already come in and it's waiting at the dock. The only problem is, to make it work, you have to use the oars.  Better start rowing!

Be well,

John

Be well,

John