What are you waiting for?

I know.  You’re waiting for a parade.  The doctor?  Next Christmas?  Someone else to go first?  Your parent’s approval?  Your boss’s approval?  A work order?  5PM?  Lunchtime?  Vacation?  Your birthday?  A full moon?  High tide?  Rock bottom?  Another way out?  The Lions to win the Superbowl?  The car in front of you to get out of the passing lane?  Your child to become President?  Your Father to strike oil?  A winning lottery ticket?   

     If you answered “YES” to any of the above, or anything even remotely resembling any of the above, you are probably too filled with excuses to make a success of yourself.  I can’t help you.  You need a shrink.  Happy New Year and come again sometime.

     Now.  Who’s left out there?  Anybody?  Good.  Well, then there’s still hope after all.  If you’re truly not waiting for some event or some person in order to move forward with your life –and especially your business pursuits– then odds are you’ve just been procrastinating. 

     Putting stuff off is okay sometimes.  It happens to all of us.  But if you don’t want to end up like those I dismissed in the second paragraph, you might need to give yourself a smack alongside your head or (if you can figure out how to do it) kick yourself in the butt, and get yourself in gear!

     How much more productive can you be with your waiting time (… bank lines, traffic lights, bridges, RR crossings, commuter trains, subways, boats and busses, the dentist, MVB)? 

     Next question: what’s in your pocket/briefcase/pocketbook right now? 

     Your answer should include some combination of pen, paper, laptop, cassette recorder (remember those?), cellphone(no, not to txt msgor call that hot date for after-dinner drinks, but perhaps handle a few business calls that don’t require extensive note taking, or send yourself some notes of ideas you get so you needn’t carry them in your head?), digital camera, pocket pad, sticky notes, or a book to read . . . the answer to the first question is that you can be a LOT more productive.  [Hint: These are all the tools you need!]

     I know people who’ve put together complete photo essays standing in line at the post office.  Some highly-acclaimed writers write as many street and business names down as they can see while stopped at red lights (that they can cherrypick from later when they’re seeking character and location names for their works of fiction).  I know an engineer who says he stimulates his brain by sketching vehicles and machinery while waiting for trains and bridges.

     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 . . .) And unfortunately, we seem to only remember how short lifetimes can be when someone close to us passes away. 

     SO, stop with the damn delays, excuses, nonproductive staring into space wishing you were somewhere else. Stop complaining about delays and start USING them. TODAY is “SOMEDAY”!  Some action is always better than no action.  

     And do remember that it’s ALL YOUR CHOICE because all of behavior is a choice.  So choose to march shoulder-to-shoulder with time. Make the most of it. Make your mark. Make a difference. Make 2010 YOUR year! Love, health, and happiness to you all!

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