Use 'em While You Got 'em/Live It!

So you've got legs and want to use 'em? Welcome to the race!

In my initial vision-casting blog, I referred to "the more noble pursuits that represent the true calling of men." Among those are taking responsibility for your life, exercising foresight, and making plans. Three things you won't see men doing in a beer commercial.

Taking Responsibility. You've heard it before, your life is what you make it. If those stakes aren't high enough, add the fact that, when a family is involved, there are other lives tied to your own. Determine to make your life a success and, by doing so, you'll bring others with you.

Start with your priorities. Whatever they are--relationships, career, God--define what success looks like for you in that arena. Visualize where you want to go. When you can see it, the target becomes easier to aim for and to hit. Then decide that you're going for it. Hold nothing back. As a life insurance agent once told me, "People always have money for something they want." The principle he was preaching: If you really want it, you'll decide to do it and it will get done.

Foresight is problem solving in advance. Analyze your current position as compared to your destination. What are the best routes to your goal? What assets do you have that will help you get there? What are your liabilities and what can you do to minimize or eliminate them? Be realistic when analyzing the costs--in time and resources. Is what you want worth what you will give up?

Be sure to balance your priorities. You're not pleasing God if you're neglecting family responsibilities to accomplish a spiritual goal. You're not helping yourself if you turn in a poor performance on your current job while pursuing a career change. Some of this falls under the category of risk, which should be considered as well.

Making plans. Now, pull it all together. A plan can be formal or informal. It can be for today, for next week or for well into the future. It helps me to break down long-term plans into shorter, more easily attainable goals. It's encouraging to reach interim objectives as you move forward on a big plan. (Completing a college degree may be a two-year job, but the first two courses may only involve the next four months.)

Set some milestones so you can check your progress from time-to-time. Include others in your plan for both accountability and encouragement. (Choose wisely who you involve. Someone you can count on. Maybe someone who is making the same journey.) And be ready to adjust your plan. Life changes and new assets and liabilities emerge as you move down the road.

I've given you a lot to digest. What's most important is that you do take responsibility for your life and that you're proactive about moving towards the goals you want. Making the decision to engage--to use those legs--may be the hardest thing you do.

(Next topic on Monday.)

Use 'em While You Got 'em/Go Deep

Among truths, these two are unavoidable and irrevocable: time moves on and things change.

Today has its own set of opportunities that are unique to your stage of life, your relationships, your income, your circumstances, your maturity, your available time, your geography, your circle of friends, your influence, and a host of other factors. The question is, are your eyes trained to see the opportunities? And then, are you doing something with those opportunities?

I've seen two mindsets in men that are on opposite ends of the spectrum. One is the man who let's life live him. He seemingly has no plan, no agenda. He takes life as it comes and often is surprised by what life drops on his door step. More often than not, it's life that takes him for a ride and not the other way around.

The other man is rare. He surveys the land like an advance scout for a wagon train. Taking his responsibility seriously, he studies the terrain, observes the weather, scopes out the dangers, and considers the best options. Then, he makes a plan, follows it, and leads others in it.

Which one, do you think, comes to the end of his life and is blindsided by the realization that he no longer has legs to run--even if he wanted to? Which one do you want to be?

(Next post this Friday)

Use 'em While You Got 'em/Think About It

On a recent morning run, the thought came to me, "Use the legs while you've got them." Certainly, the notion fit the context of the moment. (When you don't start running until your late forties, you're never quite sure if your legs will be up to the challenge!) But the idea also reflected a much deeper strain of thought that has been dominating my subconscious lately.

You see, my mother has entered that stage of life where reality begins to give way to fantasy, where reason starts to let go and imagination begins to take over. Less and less is she capable of taking care of her own business, her own needs. She was among the most capable of the many people I have known. Yet, that capacity to be productive, to be a contributor, is now quickly slipping away.


You can imagine the flood of thoughts and emotions this produces in me. The one that is on my heart for you, though, is this: What is the opportunity this day that you need to take advantage of--because you can and because it won't always be so?

Think about it!

(Next post this Wednesday)