December 31 2007

Stop Change Start

Given the date. You’re not getting this the day it’s dated; it’s probably 2008.

I first learned this mantra – Stop, Change, Start - in a communication course given by Landmark Education. And it’s invaluable – particularly in this presumably multi-tasking world, Well, we think it’s multi-tasking, but it’s still one at a time and the others are, at best, happening in the background, pretending not to be ignored.

The mantra is useful whenever you’re interrupted, whenever you’re ‘multitasking;’ whenever you’re changing to the next (or back to the previous) activity.

Consider today the “Stop.” Tomorrow is “Change” and January 2 nd is when we “Start” all over. And it’s all very conscious. I stop this year’s goals, whether or not they’re completed. That’s it for now. I will re-introduce them tomorrow, when I change. It’s all symbolic anyhow.

In heading for your goals, the most important step is the first – where are you now. What are the initial conditions? They almost always reveal what’s next, what to work on, what’s missing, the presence of which would make a difference.

But isn’t now the beginning again? So it’s an excellent time to take stock: Where are you now? What progress has been made relative to your hopes, your targets, your concerns? Check in on your emotions about all of that. Then consciously put it all aside. Be like Scarlett O’Hara, “tomorrow is another day.”

Here’s to new beginnings.

The next Success Principles free teleseminar starts on Monday January 7th - 7:30 to 8:30 EST. The dates are January 7, 14, 21, 28 & February 4,11. Sign up here now. Seats are limited.

Useful Quotes

In every phenomenon the beginning remains always the most notable moment.
Thomas Carlyle

We have it in our power to begin the world over again.
Thomas Paine

 For last year's words belong to last year's language
And next year's words await another voice.
And to make an end is to make a beginning.
T.S. Eliot

We will open the book.  Its pages are blank.  We are going to put words on them ourselves.  The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day.
Edith Lovejoy Pierce

Drop the last year into the silent limbo of the past.  Let it go, for it was imperfect, and thank God that it can go.
Brooks Atkinson

 Creative Corner

Ready, Go, Whoops

Michael Lipp

Nowadays they say
My Bad
So sad, my bad
Pick yourself up; wipe yourself off
and start all over again
And you can really do that,
Even in the darkest night,
with the most horrible fall
We love to scare ourselves,
But nothing scares us more
Than reality
But we can really pick ourselves up,
Really wipe ourselves off
And really start all over again?
Well…after all –
What else is there to do?

 I have four blogs:

Creating Today - A daily journal on creativity
Contributing Coaching - Creating New Futures
Blogging for the Reading - Making a Difference in how we Create
Michael's Articles - articles that don't fit anywhere else.

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