More ABC’s For Success

Ambition is like spice in your job. Too little ambition produces a very dull career, while too much can leave you with an upset stomach, due to needless worry and stress. Ambition needs to be combined with Patience and Determination, like three essential spices for a wonderful dish.

Daily habits determine most of our success or failure in work. Not that we can ever rely on habits alone – we also need flexibility, creativity and innovation. But there are certain qualities of character which must become regular and habitual. We work steadily toward a goal; each day requires fresh effort and determination, but it builds upon hundreds of past days of commitment. Success is cumulative. It is the sum of all previous efforts carried forward with fresh determination at every step. Such a force is unstoppable!

Debt is a big trap for the unsuspecting. Avoid borrowing for any reason other than for the purchase of a home. Don’t use credit cards unless you can pay them off every month – otherwise tear them up and throw them out. Debt will keep you poor forever.

Discipline is doing the things you don’t like, but which really need to be done; and also, avoiding the things you strongly want, but which would be bad for you. Success is inevitable for those who make self-discipline a daily habit. There is no progress in life for those who lack self-discipline.

Dissipation is spending personal resources without thought of replenishment. This may involve spending our money, our energy, health, reputation or friendships. Discipline is nourishment and building up of all our resources. We either save up, or else we exhaust our resources and spend ourselves into oblivion.

Failure is just unfinished success in many cases. People abandon jobs or careers when they become too difficult, but if they would persevere in the same direction for 5 – 10 years, they might find the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Most of the successful people I have met had to endure hardship for a long while before they achieved great success.

Flexibility is a wonderful quality of both body and mind. When someone puts an obstacle into my path, it is usually better to find a way to get around it than trying to push the obstacle aside. There are many different ways to accomplish my purpose – but I need a flexible mind to find alternatives when my plan is thwarted.

Good jobs, bad jobs Most of us find ourselves in bad jobs at some time. It isn’t always possible to change jobs quickly. But we can bring a positive attitude to any job, if we are fully determined. That can help change a bad job into a better job, and sometimes even into a good job. It is not wrong to leave a bad job, but that is often impossible in the short run. By transforming ourselves gradually from the inside out, we can learn to succeed in all circumstances. Adversity builds strong character!

(Please see my October 29 post for the previous list of ABC’s for Success)

Take Care!

I find that I frequently sign off an email or end a phone conversation with the phrase Take Care, which has become a sign-off for many people at the end of their communications.

What I am wishing for the person I am speaking with is safety, caution and active guarding against misfortune.

On the positive side, I also use these words to mean take care of your health, of your family, your finances, your job, and of your life. That means nourishing them, building them up, developing them and giving them your full attention.

At this time of the year in northern climates, I find taking care of our bodies is one of the biggest challenges. In the past few months many of my family and friends have suffered colds, flues, and other health concerns.

It is January, and at 60 years of age, I am restarting the annual battle of diet and exercise to bring my body back into fighting trim.

Having survived many difficulties in my career, in my travels, and particularly with my health, I am ever more keenly aware of how easy it is to neglect proper care of my body.

Most of us know almost everything we need to know about caring for our bodies:

• Get regular daily exercise, or at least 3 times per week
• Eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables and whole grains
• Avoid too much red meat, fats and processed foods
• Avoid smoking, and go very light with any drugs or alcohol
• Get plenty of sleep and take a few naps on weekends to restore your strength; take one day off per week to relax
• Keep your thoughts and emotions positive; avoid worry and negative emotions
• Don’t overwork or run your body down too far!

I could go on. Most of us know what we should do to take care of our bodies – we just don’t put it into practice consistently enough. That may work adequately in our youth, but poor habits in younger years turn all too quickly into significant health concerns by middle age. As I am now at retirement age, it is sad to see many friends who have virtually ruined their health through lifetime neglect.

Good physical health is as important for people doing desk work as it is for those doing physical labour, if not more so. Clear thinking is nearly impossible when our bodies run down.

So why do we take chances with our physical health? Why do we over-work, lose sleep, over-eat, and party too much? I can’t answer that question for you. I am still trying to understand myself better.

But don’t be surprised if you sometimes hear me say

Take Care!