What ARE you waiting for?

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I know, I know. You’re waiting for a parade? The doctor? Next Christmas? Someone else to go first? Your parent’s approval? Ah, your boss’s approval? A work order? 5PM? Lunchtime? Oh, right, vacation? Your birthday? A full moon? High tide? Rock bottom? Another way out? The Mets to play the Cubs in The World Series? (HA!) The car in front of you to get out of the passing lane? Your child to become President? Your Father to strike oil? Aaaaaah, of course, a winning lottery ticket.

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If you seriously answered “YES” to any of the above, you may be too filled with excuses to make a success of yourself. I really can’t help you. My, um, best guess is that Psssssst! YOU NEED A SHRINK! Visit here again sometime after therapy! 

Now. Anybody left out there? Good. Well, there’s still hope for those of you who actually read this far. Since time truly does fly, if you’re truly not waiting for some event or person in order to move forward with your life –and especially your business and career pursuits– then odds are you’ve just been procrastinating. Christmas has passed.

Putting stuff off is okay sometimes. It happens to all of us. But you might need to give yourself a smack alongside your head, or if you can work it out, kick yourself in the butt (?). At least get yourself in gear to answer the two following questions:

Question One:

How much more productive can you be with your waiting time? (Like bank lines, traffic lights, bridges, RR crossings, commuter trains, subways, boats and buses, the dentist, Motor Vehicle Bureau?) Rate yourself 1-10 (with 10 being “a whole lot more.”)

Question Two:

What’s normally in your pocket, briefcase or purse while you’re waiting? IF. . . your answer does NOT include items like: a pen and paper, a tablet or laptop, voice recorder, cellphone or digital camera, pocket pad or sticky notes, or a book or e-book to read . . . THEN . . . the answer to Question One above is that you can be a LOT more productive just by carrying these items. 

I know people who’ve put together complete photo essays standing in line at the post office. I met an engineer who says he stimulates his brain by sketching vehicles and machinery while waiting for trains and bridges.

I know highly acclaimed novelists and playwrights who write as many street and business names down as they can see while stopped at red lights (that they can cherry-pick from later when they’re seeking character and location names for their works of fiction).

The point is, like the old Schlitz Beer commercials used to proclaim, “You only go round once in life!” (Well some maybe do a few trips, but most of us, well . . . ) and how convenient that we all only remember how short lifetimes can be when someone close to us passes away. You’re here to make a difference, aren’t you?

SO, stop fooling yourself with delays, excuses, nonproductive and unproductive waits. Stop staring into space wishing you were somewhere else. Stop bemoaning the lousy delay experiences and start DOING the stuff you’ve been saying, “Well, someday, I …”

 T O D A Y is “someday”!

 Some action is always better than no action. And remember that it’s ALL YOUR CHOICE because all of behavior is a choice. So choose to march shoulder-to-shoulder with time, not ahead of it, not behind it, but with it.

Make the most of 2016.  Make your mark.

Make a difference. Make 2016 YOUR year!

Love, health, and happiness to each of you!