What is absolutely fascinating to me is that, on thsi linear construct we call TIME, we can choose how to spend it. With friends, with family, alone. Spend it with established relationships, or venture into the unknown and seek new ones, unsure if the currency will have been well spent adventuring. Spend it attempting to try everything, or spend it doing nothing at all. The caveat is that every purchase is expensive. We’re using the most valuable currency known to man. Every purchase has terms and conditions that may benefit or hurt you or someone else.

At times, I might be sitting at a red light and catch a glimpse of another driver peering deep into space, or planting their face into their palms between the moment it takes the ruby light to turn emerald. I imagine the battle(s) they might be facing that is causing that physical response, and think if they have the tools to combat and come out of it on top. Then I realize that I too, exist on this plane and should be accounting for my “spending” habits.

My conditioning was one of servitude. I am to want for nothing. Anything I did or accomplished was, and always should be, for the benefit of someone else. If I “won”, my guilt was triggered. The only way to free myself of the “burden of success” was to absolve myself of any and all spoils of victory. Deep conditioning.

So with the time remaining, which none of us know exactlty how much of it we truly have, what does one pursue when your programming constantly fights against “winning”?

It’s easier to watch and criticize and ponder than it is to participate, stumble, regroup and win.

The thing is, if you choose to spend your precious currency in the watch/criticize/ponder department for too long, assessing everyone else, soon you’ll discover your account is empty and your choices amounted to nothing (unless that’s your calling. Then rock-rock on).

Spend this currency wisely. Worry is the cousin of fear. Seek to spend it on uplifting, motivating and enriched experiences, even if that’s just doing nothing when needed. Do nothing richly.

One day, we’ll want to look at our empty accounts and be proud of our diverse portfolio of a life.

Well spent. Fully enjoyed.

Work backwards, fall forward.

I have found this to be the most effective way to work for me. I find my target, then strategize and plan on what tool(s) to use to hit or get me close to hitting the target. Then, I take the steps and execute. Bullseye is always the goal. Ballpark is the next best thing. The great thing about the ballpark is that I can adjust the strategy, aim again and fire with the understanding that I am at least in contention. But if I were to to forego the strategizing and planning phases, then I’m just wasting ammo and more importantly, time. Wide-spraying hoping that something sticks. The “fall forward” is the ballpark. If what I do doesn’t make it into the ballpark, then it let’s me know that I missed something(s) in my planning. Or maybe I wasn’t listening to the market with intent.

But even with the best of strategies, timing, market climate analysis, consumer tastes and attitudes still determine the success of any product or service.

Work backwards by setting the goal, then plan the attack. Fall forward if you misfire, but keep timing, climate and value in  mind.

I have been blessed and fortunate to be in the presence of great minds, thoughtful leaders, and gracious spirits. On the other hand, I have been in the thick of things (blessed?) to be in the presence of the insecure, fearful, and inept. The danger with the latter group was that that group lacked empathy and accountability (literally ran from it), were narcissistic, and was quick to transfer their flaws and issues to anyone that would bare them. They feared being discovered as frauds in their entitled positions. If and when the time came for their house of cards to come crashing down, they would make every desperate attempt to fault others, blame the world, and in many instances, would attempt to burn it all down to feed their ego.

Be mindful of your North star. It might actually be pointing you and yours in the wrong direction. The beacon may leading you astray.