Fun With Dream Analysis

Being a creative type person, I tend to have very vivid dreams.

A few weeks ago, just prior to the holiday season, I had what was among the most vivid dreams I ever had. I actually woke up slightly disoriented, feeling for a couple of minutes that the dream was quite real.

In the dream, I was wandering through a forest of sorts with one of my three sons. I didn’t have a strong sense of where we were. We may have been lost, but the environment seemed a bit familiar… perhaps because the area seemed a bit like the woods I frequently explored as a child. We eventually came upon a run-down house. It appeared to be standing only by the grace of a few nails and a couple posts that held up the exterior walls. I told my son to stand back as I took a step inside. The interior was mostly empty, save for a trash can, spilling over with garbage, off in one corner, and an old wooden chair near the center of the room. I opted not to step further inside, as I didn’t feel that it would be safe.

A heavyset older man went by, walking a large dog, perhaps a German Shepard. We all exchanged pleasantries. My son and I briefly petted the dog and parted ways with the man.

We walked and noticed another house, just yards away. This one was newer and well-appointed. It also was, apparently, occupied.  The large windows fairly well glowed with warmth and light from within. I could see two small white dogs, tails wagging, looking expectantly out one of the windows.

And then I woke up.

My first moderately coherent thought, as I sat up on the edge of my bed:
“When did my son and I go for a hike?”

Then:

“Where was this?”

It dawned on me just moments later that the forest adventure was a mere dream, albeit a very vivid one. I went about my morning routine that included a fresh pot of coffee and a good stretch, both in place to get mind and body started up for the day.

I started up my computer and went to dreammoods.com. I had discovered the site several years ago, in the aftermath of a series of deeply weird dreams I had been having. You search the site’s amazingly comprehensive database of possible dream imagery and review what it had to say. The interpretations are rooted in psychology, rather than any sort of metaphysics. This means that your dream analysis is not a definitive  attempt to predict your future. The site takes its cues from Carl Jung, Alfred Adler, and others. Your results are fairly subjective, especially when you have multiple symbolic signposts to consider. It’s also important to consider your interpretation through the filter of your own life’s events, particularly recent ones. Take the dream I referenced above. The main symbols were the forest, the two houses, and the dogs. Here are the results from the site:

“To see an abandoned house in your dream implies that you have left behind your past. You are ready to move forward toward the future. To see an old, run-down house in your dream represents your old beliefs, attitudes and how you used to think or feel. A situation in your current life may be bringing about those same old attitudes and feelings. Alternatively, the old house may symbolize your need to update your mode of thinking. If you see messy and/or dilapidated houses in your dream, then it implies that an aspect of your own life is in chaos. You may be suffering from some emotional or psychological clutter. You need to release these feelings in order to regain control.”

“To see a new house in your dream indicates that you are taking on a new identity and developing new strengths. You are becoming more emotionally mature.”

“To dream that you are in or walking through the forest signifies a transitional phase. Follow your instincts. Alternatively, it indicates that you want to escape to a simpler way of life. You are feeling weighed down by the demands of your life.”

“To dream that you are lost in a forest indicates that you are searching through your subconscious for a better understanding of yourself.”

“To see a dog in your dream symbolizes intuition, loyalty, generosity, protection, and fidelity. The dream suggests that your strong values and good intentions will enable you to go forward in the world and bring you success. The dream dog may also represent someone in your life who exhibits these qualities. Alternatively, to see a dog in your dream indicates a skill that you may have ignored or forgotten.”

“To see a German Shepherd in your dream, highlights your protective instincts and attentiveness to a situation. This is no time for you to be nervous and/or lose control.”

I was consciously aware that I was undertaking some significant changes in my lifestyle. I had set a goal to move to a new residence, with a target of sometime in the fall of 2017. The house symbols could certainly be viewed in a literal sense. I think that the houses in the dream could also be viewed symbolically. In order to achieve my moving goal, I have been trying to make some internal changes. The symbolism around the old and new houses in my dream suggests that I am on the right track.

The forest imagery tells me that I am in a transitional phase (also a positive sign). I think there is also something to be said for “feeling weighed down by the demands of life”. I have a lot of competing priorities and I do admit that I feel overwhelmed at times. The dogs were there to remind me that I shouldn’t forget about my values as I draw closer to achieving my goal.

Lastly, just one of my three sons was in that dream… I’m guessing that is because he is the one that is pushing the hardest for me to move and is the most emotionally invested in that goal.

So don’t think of dream analysis as some sort of hokey mumbo-jumbo. It can be a very useful tool and perhaps a path to greater and deeper self-awareness. Feel grateful when you have one those weird, vivid dreams… it could very well be a case of your subconscious trying to send you an important message. Listen and reap the benefits.

Nano

I am doing (er, attempting) National Novel Writing Month again.

In case you don’t know, the goal for NaNoWriMo participants is to write 50,000 words throughout the course of November. A daunting goal for most. It does seem slightly less onerous when broken down to a daily total of 1,667, but it is still a challenge (and no, smartass, typing the same word 1,667 times in a row does NOT count).
I got pretty far in 2012… a bit over 36,000 words. Unfortunately, I let a couple of unfortunate situations throw me off track. My subsequent efforts didn’t go even that well.

Flash forward to last week. I had been going back and forth for several days:

• Do I really want to attempt NaNo?
• What makes me think I could actually win (a.k.a., finish the month having written 50,000)?
• Do I really want to fail AGAIN?

As it turns out, I did start Nano. Starting it was actually the very first thing I did when I woke up on November 1st. I get out of bed at the appointed time, walked to my desk (not a challenge, as it is mere steps from my bed) (my apartment is small, okay?), turned on my computer, and went at it. I pounded out a few sentences, then went on with my day. Between getting to the office a bit early and writing, as well as making good use of my lunch break, I made a pretty decent showing on day one. It didn’t quite get to the requisite 1,667, but that’s fine. I was going at it. I was giving it a shot.

I kept it up through the remainder of the week. Some days I managed to get out more words than other days. As I write this, it is Sunday evening, the sixth day of Nano. My word count is significantly far behind where it needs to be in order to finish at 50,000 words. It’s still well within the realm of possibility that I can catch up. I may actually win this thing (winning defined as, of course, getting to that magic 50k)... who knows?
I may not get to 50,000, and that’s okay. I have promised myself that I will not give up, no matter what my word count says. Winning for me, at least with regards to this round, is about not giving up. Winning is also about trying, no matter what the negative little monkey brain chatter in my head tells me.
So I guess that as of the sixth day of National Novel Writing Month, I have already won.

Values

I have written values. They are as follows:

• Kids first
• Self-mastery
• Intelligence
• Harmony
• Integrity
• Ikigai

Values are a prism through which one can view life, set goals, and make decisions. Values can help you get and keep your life on track. In short, having set, written values will allow you to more easily navigate through life. I can’t say that I exemplify everything on my list… in reality, some of them (especially under the “self-mastery” category) are there because I am trying very hard to integrate them more fully into my life.

Kids first: I’ll not dive too deeply into this one, as it is self-explanatory. Simply, I make my kids my unquestioned first priority and motivation for most everything I do. Really, nothing more needs to be said.

Self mastery is a constellation of several things… self-discipline, grit, kaizen, positivity, growth mindset, and stoicism.

Self-discipline: My personal discipline is an ongoing struggle, especially when it comes to being consistent over an extended period of time (I suppose that’s true for all of us, though) (so maybe I shouldn’t be so damn hard on myself when I stumble, huh?) (anyway…)

Discipline applies to so many things; not just getting to the gym, eating right, or showing up to work on time. Ultimately, it boils down to doing what you should do, when you should do it… whether you feel like it or not.

• It’s about standards.
• It’s about execution.
• It’s about being consistent.
• It’s about self-control.
• It’s about goals, little and big.
• It’s the difference between mediocrity and excellence, between success and failure.

Grit is the ability to keep going over time, even when things get rough, even as one’s initial motivation wears off and the shine dampens on that goal.

Growth mindset is the difference between “I can do better” and “I am the way I am”. A person with a growth mindset sees their self as capable of evolution. Someone with a fixed mindset feels that if they meet a challenge that they can’t overcome initially, that’s it. Game over. The growth mindset person comes face-to-face with failure and considers how they might change to meet and overcome that challenge. This is something that I am working on quite a bit of late. Having read Carol Dweck’s book about this subject, I can see where having a growth mindset would be the foundation for a lot of personal development.

Kaizen is closely allied with the growth mindset. It is a Japanese word that roughly translates as “constant and never-ending improvement”. To me, it means ‘better every day”. My goal is to do something each and every day that will improve me and/ or my life in some fashion. That can mean many different things.

• One more rep or a little more distance in a workout (or maybe trying out a new yoga pose!).
• Polishing a scene from my new novel.
• Work on getting better organized.

I could go on and on (and on and on and on) with this. I will spare you the details. Ultimately, the phrase “better every day” is what matters here.

By positivity, I don’t mean a pollyanish/ rose-colored glasses outlook 24/ 7/ 365. To me, it’s more about making sure that I don’t default to the negative, admittedly a hard task at times.

Stoicism is something I have only recently begun studying. Ultimately, it’s less about being like Mr. Spock and more about choosing one’s reaction to the ebb and flow of life. In short: “Men are disturbed not by things, but the views which they take of them” (Epictetus, Enchiridion).

I have long been a practitioner of cognitive behavioral therapy. The main thrust of CBT is identifying and challenging negative, unproductive thoughts… thoughts that can lead one down the path to anxiety and depression. Stoicism exemplifies that.

NOTE: I plan to cover CBT in more depth in another post.

Intelligence: I value intelligence in myself and others. It’s important to devote time and energy to learning and enhancing one’s cognitive skills… everyday (see Kaizen, above). Granted, there are those that seem to have a greater degree of natural intelligence than others. Good for them, but I am more concerned with, as above, valuing intelligence along with prioritizing intellectual growth and development. So do a little something on a daily basis to expand your mind:

• Learn a new word (and use it).
• Make it a point to learn something new everyday.
• Watch a documentary.
• Take an online course about something of interest to you.
• Conquer a challenging brain teaser or some other puzzle.
• Listen to some music that you might not normally listen to.
• Read non-fiction when you usually read fiction.
• Read poetry when you usually read prose.
• Just read. A lot.

Being “dumb” is not funny. It’s not cool. We were all born with a certain amount of native intelligence, and I believe that we all have a certain amount of responsibility to ourselves and those around us to work diligently at developing it.

Integrity is two-fold. One, it’s all about treating others as I would want to be treated (to act in any other way is, in my view, a bit hypocritical). Two, it’s simply about being honest and doing right by yourself and others. Fortunately, the two typically go together.

I don’t like it when people are rude to me or those I care about, so I won’t treat others that way. I don’t like it when people try to take what’s mine, thus I won’t do that to anyone else.

Ultimately, it’s very simple: fair is fair.

Harmony: I’m not one to argue just for the sake of arguing. I believe that life is much easier when people at least try to get along. Yes, I will stand up myself and my beliefs when necessary, but I carefully pick my battles. Striving for harmony has become more important as our nation (and world) becomes more divided. So many people are consumed with labels and being right all the time. They insult others merely because someone dares disagree with them.

We need more people who at least attempt to get along with others. Ultimately, we are stronger when we band together.

Ikigai is a Japanese concept that translates to “reason for being”. Having an ikigai to consider can have a powerful, galvanizing effect on your life. My children certainly give me a reason for being, but I also strive to encourage and inspire those who struggle in life, as I have.

As I stated above, your values can act as framework for decision-making as well as a guide to how you conduct yourself. Take for example, the current state of political discourse. I see people become unhinged and hurl insults at one another, all as a result of differing opinions. Some post memes and links with no attempt to verify any “facts” therein... information that defies credulity. There are those who try to appear authoritative, yet exhibit sub third grade English skills. Being mindful of some of the value above could help in any of these instances:

• Before calling that person on the other side of the ideological aisle an “idiot”, or throwing out the insult du jour, why don’t you stop and think? Does insulting this person advance your cause or boost your argument? Name calling helps no one while deepening the divides between people.
• Prior to posting that meme about the other side’s candidate, take just a moment to do a little research. A quick Google search will generally give you a sense of whether your post is factual or not. A minimal investment of time and effort will help prevent the spread of untruths.
• I have seen comments on political posts that are so poorly written as to be incoherent. Take a second to capitalize, punctuate, and put that spell check to use.

Take a moment. Take a deep breath. Think. Acting completely on the emotion of the moment helps no one and serves nothing. Exert just a bit of self discipline and rise above the this mire. Use your intelligence to make certain that your comment is, at least, legible. Consider whether jumping into that argument is worth disturbing your harmony. I could go on, but I don’t wish to belabor the point.

There are times that one’s values can conflict with one another.

Navigate using your values as a road map, and your life will certainly be richer and more peaceful.

Happy New Year!

Like most of us, I set goals for the new year*.

It’s something I enjoy doing and I’m good at it as well. I devote a good amount of thought to my goals and put a lot of energy into planning and tracking. I generally do pretty well, achieving about 75% of what I set out to do in a given year.

Two things have occurred, however, to change how I set and plan my goals.

• ONE: Early in the year I ran into some stumbling blocks. I won’t go into any detail about what occurred (some of you know what I’m talking about), but suffice to say that some significant changes came to pass after a period of upheaval and confusion. I let those circumstances throw me off track and hinder my progress. Once things settled down somewhat I began to reassess more than a few parts of my plan (okay, everything).
• TWO: If I accept the premise that I’m accomplishing about 75% of my goals, what would happen if I were to set significantly higher goals? Would I still reach that 75% level? There’s only one way to find out...

I ultimately decided to reboot all my goals. The centerpiece is a comprehensive, detailed plan that takes me to the end of of 2017. It’s an ambitious set of objectives. Accomplishing all of them will drastically change my life. Accomplishing even 75% of my 2016_2017 goals will change my life as well, if only to a lesser degree. Just trying, even giving this plan a shot, changes me, in fact it already has to some extent… I have already upped my game in a variety of ways. Just creating this plan and believing I can get it all done was something of a breakthrough itself.

This set of goals is pretty comprehensive. It encompasses my writing career, some (sorely needed) home improvements, and fitness (mental as well as physical).

An important part of this initiative has been setting up systems for all of my goals (in business parlance, SOP or standard operating procedure). Scott Adams, the creator of Dilbert, is a proponent of of systems over goals. Same for one of my favorite writers, James Clear. While I think that Adams’ position is a bit extreme, I do agree agree that systems are of great importance.

My systems help me govern my day-to-day activities and following my standards consistently keep me on track and going in the right direction.

I have setup a tracking component as well. I developed a spreadsheet through which I can track daily activity relative to different goals… that way I will know whether I’m on actually on track or not. I will be able to see where I might be falling behind and make any necessary corrections. It’s important to note that tracking my activity takes mere minutes of time each day.

You may be thinking that all of his was a lot of work. It was, but I know that I am already (one month into a twenty-month plan) solidly on track to reaching some very ambitious goals.
To recap:

• Set goals, not resolutions*.
• Create systems designed to get you where you want to go.
• Track your efforts, so you know where you stand.

*Please note that I set goals, not resolutions. I see goals as having plans and details behind them. Resolutions generally just very broad statements that don’t have any planning to back them up and are frequently abandoned by mid-February (or earlier).

Seven Ways to Overcome Sales Call Reluctance

Call reluctance is, without a doubt, the number one killer of sales careers (and sometimes companies) in the world. I’ve seen it happen more times than I can count… as a headhunter, while selling advertising, and in my current role in sales quality control (and I have to admit I’ve been there myself). I’ve seen otherwise talented salespeople let go or quit simply because they struggled to get on the phone. I’ve seen companies tank because their account executives didn’t get out in front of enough prospects.

I’ve seen the price that sales call reluctance exacts, and it’s not pretty. The good news is that I’ve also seen people overcome call reluctance time and time again (myself among them), so it’s possible to knock this wall down and move forward to the sales career you deserve.

One call at a time

Do you remember the quote “the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step”? Let’s paraphrase that to read “the journey to a thousand sales begins with one call”. You can handle one call, right? It’s simple matter of doing the following:

1.       Pick up your phone handset (or headset).

2.       Dial a prospect’s number.

3.       Listen to the other end ring.

4.       Say “hello” when the other party rings.

5.       Have a conversation.

It doesn’t matter if you made a sale or even had a decent conversation. The point is that you did it, and that proves you can do it again.

Now that you’ve made that one call, it’s time to make (more than) a few more. Make it a game… track your efforts and try for a new personal best every day. Employ the “paperclip strategy” or something similar.

What are you afraid of?

Call reluctance often comes from a certain, specific fear. When you know your fear and really deal with it, you have a vastly better chance of overcoming it. Here are a couple of examples:

“I don’t know what to say”: This where you need to take the initiative to learn more about your company’s products and process. Study your company’s products. Research sales techniques and closes. Roleplay with your boss and fellow salespeople.

“I will get hung up on/ yelled at/ laughed at”: That’s right… you probably will. Realistically, calls like that are few and far between. Realistically, what’s the worst that can happen? It’s not as if someone is going to reach through the phone and punch you in the nose.

What’s your fear? How can you best overcome it?

What is your why?

We’re all different and we all have our own motivating factors. The classic sales motivator is money, but it’s at least as important to know what you actually want that money for.

Do you:

Want to provide for your family?

Get out of debt?

Go on an amazing, life-changing vacation?

Buy the home or car of your dreams?

It might not just be money, though. You may have something to prove to yourself or someone who doubted you. You might want to test yourself in the crucible of the hardcore sales world. Sometimes the chance to start over in a new career provides all the motivation you need.

One other why, one you may not have thought about: your company is depending on you. Sales is the frontline in the war of business. Salespeople bring in the revenue and new customers. Your company has chosen you to be a warrior in this fight. The future of your company and the continued employment of your colleagues might just depend on you picking up the phone.

What are you worth?

Everyone’s time has value. The good news is that you can choose how valuable your time is and treat it accordingly.  Let’s say that your goal is to earn $100,000 annually. That’s a great goal, by the way.

$100,000 in annual income translates to roughly $40.00 an hour. Keep track of how you actually spend your time throughout the day. Ask yourself “is what I’m doing right now worth $40.00 to me?”

Was it worth $40.00 to spend an hour of selling time on Facebook?

Was taking a half hour making lunch plans worth the $20.00 it cost you?

Was that fifteen minute conversation about last night’s reality show scandal worth $10.00 to you?

So stop with the time wasters.  Start acting like a $100,000 (or more) earner.

How can you help?

The company I work for provides digital marketing solutions to small and medium-sized businesses throughout the nation. Helping an up-and-coming construction company with their marketing strategy or even a new website can be extremely gratifying.

You might sell life insurance and find some satisfaction in helping families secure their financial future. Your company may market healthcare software, and each sale you make can help hundreds of people get faster and more efficient medical care.

Get confident and control your attitude

Call reluctance is often rooted in a lack of confidence. This confidence deficit is often new or merely temporary, (often caused by a lull in sales) so it’s important to attack it before it really takes root. It takes effort to get positive (and stay that way), but it’s well worth it!

Remember:

·         You were hired for a reason. Your company saw potential in you. It’s time to live up to that potential.

·         You have had successes in the past. You did it once (probably more than once) and that’s proof that you can do it again.

Make a list of your successes and best qualities… remind yourself that you still have what it takes.

Reading:

·         Find some sales or motivation books that you like. There’s plenty out there: Brian Tracy, Darren Hardy, Tom Hopkins, Jeffrey Gitomer, etc., etc. You’re certain to find a book that really speaks to you, moves you, and charges you up.

·         Search the internet for inspiration and sales information. This website is a great place to start!

Audio:

·         Just as there’s plenty of great stuff to read on the internet, there’s also a great amount of sales and motivational podcasts and audio programs to be had (again, you can find a wealth of material on this site alone).

·         Everybody has a favorite song or two that really gets them going. Find that song on YouTube and give it a listen at the start of the day. You can set up a playlist of your favorites in your mp3 player, or even seek them out on Pandora or Spotify.

Associations:

·         Get away from the naysayers and the negative types (as far as possible, as quickly as you can). Nothing will sap your motivation faster than being hammered by negativity on a daily basis.

·         Get away from the time-wasters. You may have someone in the cubicle next to you who wants to chat and goof around all day long. Don’t let them steal your time (and therefore money out of your pocket). See if you can move to another desk or office if necessary.

In the end:

Overcoming a serious bout of call reluctance will require that you access new reserves of determination, discipline, and drive… qualities that will help you in any endeavor, in any part of life. So go forth and SELL!

Revolution

dis·par·i·ty  noun 1. The condition or fact of being unequal, as in age, rank, or degree; difference: 2. Unlikeness; incongruity

It usually starts small.

A twinge of frustration that comes up out of the blue.  A fleeting moment of sadness for no discernable reason.  A vague feeling of regret that’s almost always there, lurking, somewhere in the back of your mind.  Sometimes you feel a little off and you don’t quite know why.  Something’s just not right, but you don’t quite know what it is.

You might get lucky one day and be confronted with what’s bothering you (though that event might not feel terribly lucky at the time).  That nagging little voice suddenly is suddenly right in your face and you are seeing, in living color and full relief, just what’s been nagging at you.  Whatever the case, you realize that your life is not in harmony with what it should be, could be or with who you are.  You have a disparity. Your life is not congruent with what it could be.

Those uncomfortable feelings (and rest assured… they will grow over time) are a strong sign that it’s time to change.  They are definitive signals that it’s time to get out of your comfort zone and onto the next level.  

in·er·tia: (noun)  1. Physics The tendency of a body to resist acceleration; the tendency of a body at rest to remain at rest or of a body in straight line motion to stay in motion in a straight line unless acted on by an outside force.  2. Resistance or disinclination to motion, action, or change.

There’s a problem, though.  You’ve been in that comfort zone of yours for so long you’re finding it almost impossible to get off the launch pad.  You feel overwhelmed.  You don’t know what to do or where start.  You’re finding it almost impossible to move your tachometer off zero.  

Inertia is at hand.  And inertia is a bitch.  It’s like cement overshoes in a mafia movie.  It weighs you down until you feel like you can’t move forward or even stand.  Even worse, inertia sneaks up on you, as if you’re the proverbial lobster in a stockpot of boiling water. You don’t realize what’s happening until it’s almost too late (note the almost).  One day you wake up and find your precious comfort zone has shrunk to the point that it’s as constricting as a straight jacket.

That’s the bad news.  I have some good news for you, though.  Since inertia is largely a state of mind, it is controllable and changeable.  Make no mistake, rising above it won’t be easy.  It may take everything you’ve got and then some.  This is also good news, because you’ll finally get to find out just what you’re made of… and if you truly give this your all, you’ll quickly learn that you’ve been selling yourself short, probably for a good long time.
It’s time for a revolution.  It’s time for your revolution.

rev•o•lu•tion (noun) 1. a complete and forcible overthrow and replacement of an established government or political system by the people governed.  2. a sudden, complete, or radical change in something.

No, I’m not talking about setting up a bloody coup d'etat to overthrow a government.  What I do mean is a radical change in your own established order.  Whatever you’re doing now is not working, so it stands to reason that you need to run your life in a radically different way.

The first thing you’ll need to do is get in touch with your motivation, both good and bad.  We all understand so-called ”good motivation.  I’m all about encouragement and positivity, both of which have a place here (we’ll get to that a little later).  Right now, though, it’s time to channel your inner bad ass and call in the psychological shock troops. Make your negative emotions work for you rather than against you.

What do I mean?  Delve into your regret, both in what’s already passed you by and what will if you don’t get off your ass.  Get mad. Get furious.  And use it all.

• Think about the promotion you didn’t get because you failed to give your all at work.
• Think about the relationship that died because you were afraid of getting hurt.
• Think about the dream you keep putting on hold because your fear of failure continues to hold you back.
• Think about how you’ll feel a year from now if you don’t step up and give it your all.
• Etc.
• Etc.
• Etc.

Getting a little agitated right about now?  Maybe a little pissed off? Good. Let’s keep going.

Now think about those people who pushed you around and put you down.  Are you going to let them:

• Keep doing whatever it is they’re doing to you?
• Are you still going to feel bad about it, thereby continuing to let them run your life?

Let’s consider what you’ve had enough of in your life.  Think about what you’re sick of:

• Being poor.
• Being out of shape.
• Wasting time on things and people that don’t matter.
• Saying you’re going to do things and never doing them.
• Wasting your potential and living a life that’s ten steps or more below what you deserve.
• Missing out on opportunities.
• How your comfort zone has gotten smaller and smaller over the years.
• How your standards have slowly slipped.

Now let’s shift into a more positive mode.  

• Who are you?  Are you the kind of person that just gives up and lives a mediocre life?  I think you know the answer to that.
• What do you want? What do really, really want, so bad you can taste it?
• When do you want it?  I mean specifically.  Spoiler alert: someday is not an acceptable answer.
• Where are you now? Do a brutally honest assessment of your current situation, in all spheres of your life.
• Why do you want it?  What truly drives you, what motivates you from deep inside your core?
• How are you going to get there?

Take your what, your when and your how and start making a detailed plan.  Then you need to aggressively execute that plan.  No, I’m not talking about some vague blob of words like “I want to rich” or “I want to lose weight” or “I want to be happy”.  Definitive goals, clearly stated:

• I will lose 20 pounds by a certain date.
• I will save up $xxx by xxx date.
• I will publish xxxx by xxxx date.

Take each goal.  Break it down into teeny little bite-sized pieces.  Knock it down a hunk at a time on a consistent basis.  Yes, I know we’ve all heard this before, but apparently there are those among us that need a reminder.  

re·spon·si·bil·i·ty (noun) 1. the state or position of being responsible 2. a person or thing for which one is responsible 3. the ability or authority to act or decide on one's own, without supervision

I’m going to ask you to do something hard now.  I’m going to ask you to take responsibility.

Sure, it’s not your fault that your significant other left you high and dry, emptying out your bank account in the process.  It’s not your fault that your parents constantly put you down and made mincemeat out of your self-esteem before you even hit puberty.  It’s not your fault… but it’s still your responsibility to overcome whatever it was and move past it.  Even if you played no sort of role in whatever happened, you still have the responsibility to:

1. Choose your reaction.
2. Deal with it. Deal with your emotions and deal with the situation.
3. Or better yet, use it to make you a better, stronger person. Turn that bitterness into some anger that you can use to fuel your own personal revolution.  Turn that anger into the positive forward motion that will enable you overcome that inertia

In the end, it’s past time to go all out and get the life you know you deserve… as it’s so often said, if not now, then when?  If things are rough, if you’ve been knocked down one too many times… it’s time to take back your life.  Start your revolution today.