In just a few days
our current century will be a teenager. 2013 is fast approaching and will soon
be upon us. The century was off to a bad start with the Y2K scare and the
horrific events of September 11, 2001. As time went on we had close, divisive
elections and one of the greatest economic downturns in our country’s history.
Despite all of the negatives many have managed to both survive and thrive. What
are some things we can do to have a better chance of succeeding in 2013 and
beyond? I’m glad you asked.
One of the great
lessons of the first twelve years of the century is to expect the unexpected.
Whether in the business world or our personal life things just don’t always go
the way we thought they would. The unexpected could be a fire, a storm, a
prolonged illness, or even an unexpected windfall, but as we have seen in the
past, the unexpected will happen.
Once we have had the
unexpected happen we need to “roll with the punches” or as Charlie Rich sang
“so on and on I go, I keep on rolling with the flow.” If we can change and
redirect the unexpected we must do so, if not we have to adapt to the change
and continue moving forward. If we are stiff and resist changing times we delay
our movement towards solving our problems.
Preparation is
another key to success as we move into 2013. We must keep preparing for the
direction our efforts will take us and also prepare for those “unexpecteds” as
they happen. We don’t need two plans, but rather we need plans coming from our
preparation efforts that must be both specific enough to lead us and flexible
enough to move in the direction or directions change takes us. If we can
anticipate some of the issues that we might face we can escape being
reactionary and thus save a lot of time in the process.
Preparation gets us
ready to face events and working the plan or following through puts us in
position to gain outcomes. Once the plan is worked and outcomes are achieved we
can fine tune the plan so that the goals of the plan can be met. If there is a
shortfall adjustments need to be made and we once again need to “keep on
rolling with the flow.”
One final thought for
achieving success in 2013 is to have patience as the year unfolds. Events and
happenings in our life can get us too optimistic or too pessimistic about
results. Things can start bad or good and can go the opposite as the year
unfolds. If we apply the thoughts we have discussed and give them time to work
we have our best chance of positive results and a successful 2013.
Success!
ReplyDeleteI have been told that if I prepare for the worst and hope for the best I will be prepared for anything and although the world didn't end with the Mayan calendar Dec 21st I agree that having the flexability to adapt to what ever live puts in front of me and overcome the challenges that come with it is the key to becoming successful today.
Great blog.
Wow!
ReplyDeleteI also think that beginning things with a positive attitude will yield positive results. We should learn how to roll with the punches that come to us along the way; turn negatives into positives. We can not always expect things to go our way or come easy for us, the goal should be problem solving in a way that we are still able to achieve the goals we wanted from the start no matter what obstacles may arise.
I also feel that going into something new with a positive attitude will ehlp greatly. I feel it allows you to look at things in a whole different prespective. Preperation helps as well because we never know what is going to come our way. I am not the kind of person that is going to spend to much time preparing for the end of the world but I am getting ready for where I would like to see my life going in the new year.
ReplyDeleteIt’s the old saying, the only thing constant is change. I’m a firm believer of that. While I try and prepare for anything I can never account for everything. When things look down, I try and look up. When things are going well, I brace for a fall. Preparation is truly one of the keys to success.
ReplyDeleteThere will always be the unknown as we enter into new things. The lessons from the past typically guide us to the future. We try not to make the same mistakes we did in the past. I think if we approach 2013 with a positive attitude, and realistic goals we can call it a success. Too often we make resolutions that we break after a couple of months. Accepting the fact that we may fail, getting back up and trying again is the only way we will succeed. I often think that without failure there is no success. Giving up is easy. Seeing issues through to the resolve is a more difficult practice. In 2013 we will face successes and failures. The important thing to remember is not to focus on the failures, but cherish the successes. That is how I want to enter 2013.
ReplyDeleteI have had to learn to be more prepared for others reactions to things. To have patients and remember that we are all different and that can be good. As 2013 is starting, I have hard decisions a head of me. I can't be afraid of being a failure, I need to remember that it will be a learning experience that can help me be a better wife, mother, teacher, friend, student and person.
ReplyDeleteWhen I look back on last year the negative events seem to outweigh the positive ones, but as I reflect upon the year as a whole I realize how much I have learned. Now heading into 2013 I feel better prepared to deal with what life has to throw at me and I am looking forward to each and every day. I have set high goals in both my professional and personal life and I'm motivated to accomplish them. Learning from the negative and positive events in life only better prepare us for the future... Dave
ReplyDeleteI agree we start on ruff road and we have learned a lot on the way but we still make the same mistakes. I think we learn expect the unexpected but we get complacent and forget the lesson we have learned. The good thing that come out of the unexpected is that it pull us together as a country our worst enemy is our self’s. I think preparation is the key but we have so many people that depend on someone or something ells but them self’s. Preparation and having a plan is the biggest part of the project as the plan unfolds any can fine tune the outcome. I think that our outlook is as bright as our past we will pull together as a people as life go on.
ReplyDeleteJames
Flexable is certainly a key to reacting to the new year and being prepared helps us be more proactive. We know changes are ahead but how we react to those will determine our yearly experience. I hope to end this year knowing I have done what I could for others and myself those things that are positive and good.
ReplyDeleteSomeone once told me "if you stay ready you'll never have to get ready"...meaning we may not know what life is going to throw at us but the tasks we know are coming don't procrastinate. Preparing and staying flexible is about all you can do to make sure we put ourselves in the best position possible to deal with whatever lies ahead.
ReplyDeleteFlexibility is a good goal for the new year. It would be nice to feel like I have a strong core to keep me steady, but the flexibility to deal with the changes that may come. I would rather flew like a tree rather than feel like I am being blown around like a leaf!
ReplyDelete