As we age, we often reposition our points of view. As one example, when I was in my thirties or forties, I “believed” certain things would happen. Now in my seventies, I’ve repositioned my points of view and no longer say “I believe” something will happen… I now boldly say, “I know” something will happen.
Yes, moving from “believing” to “knowing” is simply part of the aging, maturation, and experiential process. After all, living a life decade after decade puts us in a position where we can fearlessly say, “I know what’s going to happen… why? Simply put, I’ve been there, done that, and done that again.”
And so, at the risk of making this month’s column a catalogue of “to do” items and “to think about” items, I’ve decided to provide you, my dear reader, with a list of the items, thoughts, philosophies, and positioning I know are important, real, and should be taken seriously by you.
Here goes:
- It is not WHAT you know. It is not WHO you know. It’s what you DO with who you know.
- (From George Orwell’s “1984”) If people cannot write well, they cannot think well, and if they cannot think well, others will do their thinking for them.
- There are ONLY two activities in business… selling and supporting the selling. Example? The Chairman of the Board “supports the selling” by managing company operations, resource allocation, positioning, capital expenditures, etc. He “supports” the selling.
- Success is NOT in the hands of the “learned.” Success is, in fact, in the hands of the “learning” (it’s a continuous process).
- Change and coping with change is 30% logical and 70% emotional.
- What good is a cow that gives milk then kicks the can over?
- (Gandhi) “Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.”
- Henry Ford said, “Change is to business what oxygen is to life.”
- A turtle makes progress when he sticks his neck out.
- It’s interesting to think that a ship in harbor is safe, but that’s not what ships are built for.
- Children need more models than critics.
- If you don’t care where you’re going, any road will take you there.
- A quitter never wins and a winner never quits.
- As it relates to parenting, “What they (children) see is what they’ll be.”
- Legendary women’s basketball coach Pat Summitt said, “Nobody cares how much you know until they know how much you care.”
- The road to success is always under construction.
- (Napoleon Hill) “It takes half your life before you discover life is a do-it-yourself project.”
- God gave you two ears and one mouth. We should use them in that proportion.
- It’s important to note that Noah built the Ark before the flood came. Unfortunately, as a society, we buy smoke detectors after a fire.
- If you always do what you always did, you’ll always get what you always got.
- “Nothing happens unless first a dream.” (Carl Sandburg)
- Practice makes perfect. No! Practice makes permanent.
- The trouble with trouble is that it usually starts out as fun.
- Of all the things you wear, your expression is the most important.
Needless to say, I could go on and on with pearls, quotes, and postulates I picked up along the way. In the end, there’s a boatload of slogans and expressions that can all dramatically affect how we live our lives. The key is NOT the slogan. It’s the application.
For instance, my favorite life quotation is Mark Twain’s words: “The two most important days in your life are the day you were born and the day you found out why.”
No different than anyone else, I struggled trying to find out “my why.” After decades of searching, I realized my “why” is coaching. Sure, I’ve coached athletic teams on the collegiate and youth level, but “coaching” became my “why” on a larger scale. For instance:
- I’ve spent years teaching on the college level. That’s “coaching.” (students)
- I’ve spent years training athletes in a number of different sports. That’s “coaching.” (athletes)
- I’ve spent years writing feature stories, magazine articles, a newspaper column (like the one you’re reading), and even wrote four books. That’s “coaching.” (readers)
- I’ve delivered nearly 3,000 speeches on 5 continents. That’s “coaching.” (audiences)
- I’ve spent three decades as a business consultant to Fortune 100 companies… advising, counseling, and of course, “coaching.” (corporations)
- Even today, I help a fair amount of young individuals whom I mentor. That, too, is “coaching.” (mentees)
In conclusion, read the phrases, tidbits of advice, and quotes listed above… pick a few out, live by them, grow, and prosper from them. Also, search for your “why.” Embrace it.
As the brilliant Dr. Seuss wrote, “You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You’re on your own and you know what you know. And you are the guy who’ll decide where to go.”
Augusta Press columnist and Acworth, GA. resident, Ira Blumenthal, is a business consultant, a best-selling author, a globally reknowned speaker, an educator and a youth Lacrosse coach. Learn more about Ira and his latest book, Your Best Is Next, at www.IraSpeak.com. Follow Ira on instagram @Irajblumenthal.
Look for Ira’s latest book on Amazon; RUNDOWN: Safe at Home
