Predicting the Future by Jim Stovall

Photo by Sincerely Media on Unsplash

We go to school to learn history and become conversant in things that happened in the past. We read newspapers and get online newscasts that inform us about everything going on in the present. Potentially, the most valuable time-sensitive information would be what is going to happen in the future. Each year, as the calendar turns over, pundits make their predications for the coming twelve months. It is fascinating to look back in retrospect to see what these self-proclaimed experts predicted a year ago and how badly they missed the mark. Abraham Lincoln said, “The best way to predict the future is to create it.”  

Things in the past seem to be set in concrete, while events unfolding now seem to be fluid, but the future would appear to be totally random. However, this is not the case. You and I control our destiny, and therefore, we control our portion of the history that is being created. People who are victorious happen to history. People who are victims have history happen to them. I realize that you may have lived through a natural disaster, an economic downturn, or a violent war, but in every case, we can change the perspective of history as we change what the facts mean to us. 

Napoleon Hill taught us that every adversity, every heartache, and every difficulty is endowed with the seeds of a greater good. This means we can look for the silver lining in the midst of any storm cloud. As a novelist and movie producer, I tell human stories. These stories involve people who face unique life circumstances and show how they are impacted by the circumstances or how they impact the circumstances.   

Anytime something happens—whether it seems initially to be good or bad—we are faced with a series of questions including: What is happening? What does it mean? What can be done about it? Where are the opportunities? 

In the midst of the greatest human turmoil, the people we revere as heroes have emerged. Abraham Lincoln himself became, arguably, one of the world’s greatest leaders because he was faced with leading our country through a civil war. Challenges always create opportunities. And opportunities, in turn, create more challenges. All problems may eventually will be solved, but these solutions create more problems. 

The future is a blank slate that comes with a set of circumstances much like a hand of cards we are being dealt. Experts will tell you that any hand of cards can be played well or played poorly. There are no winning hands or losing hands as the cards are being shuffled and dealt. Only the outcomes that we produce make us winners or losers.  

As you go through your day today, realize that you are writing history and you are the hero. 

Today’s the day!  

Jim Stovall is the president of Narrative Television Network as well as a published author of many books, including The Gift of Giving, co-authored with Don Green, the executive director of the Napoleon Hill Foundation. He is also a columnist and motivational speaker. Follow him on Twitter (@stovallauthor) or Facebook (@jimstovallauthor).

10 Steps to Serious Goal-Setting by Zig Ziglar

Permission to reprint this article that originally appeared here provided by our good friends at SUCCESS Magazine. 

When you plan and prepare carefully, you can legitimately expect to have success in your efforts. When you recognize and develop the winning qualities that you were born with, the winner you were born to be emerges. Although not all your expectations are going to come to pass, you give yourself an infinitely better chance of succeeding by taking the proper steps. 

Regardless of your goal—losing weight, furthering your education, earning a promotion, saving money for a new home or an exotic vacation—you can expect to achieve your goal if you plan and prepare for it. 

Start with these 10 steps: 

1. Build a solid foundation. 
   Honesty, character, integrity, trust, love, loyalty. This foundation will give you an honest shot at reaching any goal you have properly set. 

2. Make the commitment. 
   The most practical, beautiful, workable philosophy in the world won’t work—if you won’t. As Mary Crowley said, “One person with a commitment is worth a hundred who only have an interest.” 

3. Break it down. 
   Break down your intermediate and long-range goals into increments. 

4. See it. 
   If you want to reach a goal, you must “see the reaching” in your own mind before you actually arrive at your goal. In your imagination, see yourself receiving that diploma, getting that job or promotion, making that speech, moving into your dream home, achieving that weight-loss goal…  

5. Hold yourself accountable. 
   Daily discipline is the key to reaching your goals. Record your progress toward your goals every night, and list the six most important things you need to do the next day. 

6. Expect change. 
   Make a decision to move toward a goal carefully—but we willing to change your direction to get there as conditions and circumstances demand. Push on, friend. 

7. Tell people. 
   Chances are excellent they’re going to encourage you. 

8. Be a team player. 
   You can have everything you want in life if you will just help enough other people get what they want.  

9. Write it all down. 
   Each time you reach a goal, your confidence will grow so that you can do bigger and better things. After accomplishing any goal, write about it—in your journal, wherever. 

10. Reflect. 
    What you get by reaching your destination isn’t nearly as important as what you become by reaching your goals—what you will become is the winner you were born to be! 

Zig Ziglar’s Goals: How to Get the Most Out of Your Life is available from Sound Wisdom on May 21, 2019. In it, the legendary speaker and author elaborates on the crucial steps you must take to set and achieve your goals. Pre-order your copy now from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other fine retailers.  

How to Stop Making Excuses and Excel by Adrean Turner

It’s the time of the year when you’ve most likely created a list of resolutions. You are determined that this time will be different. You won’t quit. You won’t get distracted. You’re going to stick with your plan for a new start. However, sadly enough the odds aren’t in your favor. According to U.S. News, approximately 80 percent of resolutions fail by the second week of February. What’s the common denominator? Excuses.  

For most individuals, it’s much easier to think of ways something can’t be done versus how it can be done. Many of us have a series of excuses that we can pull out of a hat at a moment’s notice. We make excuses mostly to protect ourselves and to justify our current circumstances. But these limiting beliefs hinder our chances for success. Consider these excuses and commit to the solutions: 

1. “I DON’T KNOW HOW.” This common excuse gives you permission to not even try.  

• SOLUTION: Get support. At no time in the history of mankind has there been so much information and resources available. Want to start a charity? There are hundreds of books on the subject. Need to lose 100 lbs.? There are thousands of CDs, videos, and blogs to support you. Want to change careers? Consult a coach or mentor. Or simply try and then adjust your approach based on your results. 

2. “I’M AFRAID.” Who hasn’t been afraid to try something new, to step out of the box, to move beyond their comfort zone? Most of our fears are socially based and have no real consequences. 

• SOLUTION: Ask yourself what’s the worst thing that can happen. Once you have determined the worst-case scenarios, you’ll realize that the fear is a disguise to kill your dreams and stifle your growth. Then list the best things that can happen. You’ll recognize that your success is more important than the fears that are holding you back. 

“Stop being afraid of what could go wrong and FOCUS on what could go right!”  —Coach Adrean  

3. “I DON’T HAVE ENOUGH TIME.” If your heart is in it, then you will make the time for what’s truly important to you. 

• SOLUTION: Create a list of the things you do on a daily basis from the moment you awaken until the end of the day. Record your activities in 15-minute blocks. Include everything from talking on the phone, surfing the Internet, to watching television. After doing this for one week, most people are able to find at least three hours to dedicate to a new activity or adventure.  

4. “I DON’T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY.” There is usually a way to work around a lack of financial resources. 

• SOLUTION: Find alternatives. For example, if you’re looking to increase your skills but can’t afford college tuition, there are other ways to enhance your credentials. For instance, volunteer at a nonprofit organization, get certification in a particular skill, or intern for a small company on your days off. If you are a business owner, consider bartering (trading your services or products). There is always a way. You just may have to work a little harder to find solutions to support your growth. 

“If it’s important to you, you’ll find a way. If not, you’ll find an excuse.” —Coach Adrean 

5. “IT’S TOO LATE FOR ME.” It’s never too late to become what you might have been. A person climbed Mount Everest in his eighties. People have gone back to medical school in their sixties. Getting a late start might be less convenient and more challenging, but there’s nothing wrong with that. 

• SOLUTION: Figure out what interests you, influences you, and motivates you. Build a plan for the challenges that are really important to you and take one step at a time to complete your goals. 

6. “IT’S TOO HARD.” Some endeavors are certainly more difficult than others. But claiming that something is “too hard” is really just another way of admitting that you’re afraid. People with limited resources and talent can still be extremely successful. 

• SOLUTION: Set your mind on success! Those with motivation and stamina are really the ones who succeed. Get an accountability partner. Read encouraging stories. Practice affirmations. Do what’s necessary to keep your thoughts and energy centered on a successful outcome. 

“The way you eat an elephant is one bite at a time.” —Coach Adrean 

Your success is dependent on effort. No action, no results. Break your tasks into small assignments and keep going until you’ve achieved your goal. It’s time to make some changes. Transformation isn’t always easy, but it is necessary for your success. Remind yourself of the reasons why you started in the first place. And have the courage to put aside your excuses and go after what you truly want. You’ll be glad you did! 

Train your brain to take actions to make your goals a reality through positive thinking. Download Power Thoughts with self-reflection activities to stay F.I.T.™ (Fearless. Inspired. Transformed.) and gain greater success. 

This post originally appeared here on www.coachadrean.com. Get more information and inspiration in Adrean’s book, F.I.T. for Success: Fearless, Inspired, Transformed for Success.