Aim...Some thoughts with goal setting

If you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time!

Teaching all week in Galveston TX and one of the pillars is about goals. But before you can set goals the right way, you have to first have a deep soul personal vision. What do you want for your life? What does the painting of your best life look like? Once you are really clear on your good life lived vision, then set goals to achieve it.

One of the major problems I see in goals is that lack of aim. You must be really clear on exactly what your goals are in order to hit them. It's this aim concept that I want to discuss here. Aim is a problem for many people. Why? Because aim requires focus. Because aim requires a steady hand. Because aim requires a certain amount of patience. All these things are not found in today's world of needing instant gratification and instant results. Goals don't work that way.
Patience is required.

So in your goal setting, concentrate on that word aim. Make sure your aim is accurate. Make sure your aim is thought out. Make sure your aim is sure. The result is much better goal setting and in turn...much better results.

Happy aiming.....Chris

From speaking I learned listening

Listen....

Teaching this week in Galveston TX. More to come on this amazing experience.

But speaking all week, it realized the power of listening.

My goal is to be a better listener. A good listener is an fabulous attraction. If you look at leadership and great leaders, they all were good at listening.

TT and TT2, be good listeners and make listening a fine art!

Passing grade

I did my job!

This weekend, my three year old son, Teddy, said to me after being disciplined..."Daddy, I am mad at you." That was sweet music to my ears. Why? My job is to not be my kids Buddy! My job is to be a parent. And that means my sons will not also agree with or be happy with me some of the time. Just fine! I still love them to death. In fact, I love them so much that they will be mad at me!

I see many parents that want to be friends with their kids. I totally disagree. Now its not like I want to be feared or hated by my kids. Not at all. But I do have a job and responsability to raise them and bring them up into the men they are supposed to be. And this means at times they will not like their Dad.

So I never in my life thought that those words would be a good thing!

Do an audit

Audit your group of peeps...

One of the concepts I teach is about the fact that you become who you hang with. You are the average of your seven closest people in your life. So if you hang with over-achievers and superstars, you will become one or you are on your way to becoming on. If you hang with losers, sorry to say, you will become a loser. What is that saying? Birds of a feather....Anyway, this is so true. Remember how our parents and grandparents were so consumed with the crowd we ran around with? Now I know why! And it was brilliant advice and parenting.

Warning: It gets lonely at the top. If you are an CEO, leader, visionary....it gets lonely as heck up there. Why? Because people just can't relate or keep up with your speed. It's natural so don't get freaked out when your inner circle begins to get much smaller and you find yourself with less peeps.

But for all of us, I think we need to do an audit of our support group and hangers. Look at who you hang with. Do you need to change the profile? Do you need to throw overboard some bad apples? Do you need to move up?

This is hard to do because of the relational element. None of us want to tell somebody that we have to move on. But iron shapens iron. For all of us to grow, we sometimes need to make those difficult choices and keep moving forward. So look at your group. And surround yourself with good, solid, contributors, that want to make a positive impact in our time. Life is so much fun when you hang with people who see the same things you do and want the same things you do. Law of attraction at work.

Shake it off

move on chris.com

I have been completely thrown off task the last 24 hours. In a complete moment of transparency, it drives me nuts. But as I sit here and cool down, I go back to the idea on time spent on things I can control and things I can not.

No need to spend time on things I can't control that throw me off task. The best play in that game is to move on, get them done, and get back on track as soon as you can. It took my years to learn this and I still struggle with it today. My first reaction is to get mad and try to force my weak little will on trying to change things I simply can not. What's next? You guessed it, the situation does not change and in fact gets worse. Result = wasted time and wasted energy.

So to remind myself to just move on. I wrote myself a reminder of this in my Master Book, the saying: move on chris.com. Whenever I get off course and frustrated by influences beyond my control but yet need to be addressed, I simply say move on chris.com

What do you do?

Note to self

My most important job (reminder)...DAD!

I have been trusted with raising two boys (Teddy and Tate). This is such a huge responsibility that it scares me almost to death. When I look at the innocence and love of these two miracle boys, it overwhelms me. They have the whole wide world in front of them with so much potential to be great and contributors, that I have to make sure I don't screw it up. That is heavy lifting for me.

In my Master Targets for my life, I have the bulls eye being DAD! I keep this in front of me at all times because there is nothing more important than being a parent to these two boys. It is so powerful and awesome in nature. But life can get complicated and busy. I really have to watch and maintain my priorities to make sure my time and energy are spent on those that mean most.

Speaking of the energy and time, it's the little every day things in life that is magic. Many parents try to make up for misappropriation of time and energy by doing Huge things. The Disney vacation, the winter ski trip, or the summer beach vacation. Those are all well and good but the real treasures are found in every day life. And to capture those treasures, you have to spend time and energy on your kids. You have to BE THERE! and BE PRESENT! and LIVE IN THE MOMENT! (note to self: this means actually being 100% focused..no cell, no email, etc..actually concentrate on your kids)

It's in the little stuff where big gifts are found.

Look foward!

Have you ever noticed that the windshield is much bigger than the rear view mirror? It is all by design so that we focus on looking forward rather than behind us. Same thing is true for our life. Living your best life is designed to have your attention on the present and future rather than the past.

We all have known those people that constantly dwell and live in the past. They always have 20/20 hind site and their primary aim is always on the past. Remember when....If only I did....I should of done that...you know exactly the type of person I am talking about. Wasted energy is what I have to say about those people. What good does living your life in the past really do? You can't change any of it so why focus on it. That is not to say we should not learn from our past both success and failures. In fact we should grow and take those past lessons to improve. But don't make your life a journey down the road of what once was. Living in the rear view mirror causes you to miss to beauty of life's scenery today.

Live for today and tomorrow. Look out life's windshield and enjoy and grasp the current moments. The past is; well just that...the past. Let it go and focus on now! There is so much joy right now if you put your attention on it.

Thoughts on the week

My thoughts over the last week....

• Congress is a circus. I am sorry but its just a fact. Why in the world is Congress having hearings on trying to be a fact finder on an issue that should not even be considered by them in the first place. Steroids in baseball and who is telling the truth is an issue Congress should take on? Get the issue in the proper forum which is a court of law that has due process and rights. Congress, do you think more important issues may be: healthcare, economy, our debt, child obesity?
• Congress is a circus part II. Why in the world is Congress looking at having hearings and investigations over NFL teams taping each other?
• Is there no leadership in our Congress? I mean, come on, where is the true leadership?
• Dallas is a cool city.
• Why does anyone live in cold weather? Seriously....
• I am cutting most all TV. (except a very few shows and sports) I just can't fill my mind full of the negativity that is on TV. Truthfully, its all just garbage and serious time wasters at a minimum. But the real problem is the attitudes it causes by watching this garbage. I can see society eroding in front of me with some of these shows.
• No more candy for Teddy. He is all done.
• I love my work!
• I am writing a essay on starting a business from my perspective and the lessons I have learned. Hope it helps others.
• Next week going to dive into this: Eliminate physical clutter. But mental clutter is even more important. To live the best life, we have to have our physical environments clutter free and healthy functional. You can't have your house a dirty mess. But we don't ever hear about our mental clutter. I am diving in head first on this deal.
• This weekend: Mission is to get tasks done. No sitting around for me. Too much to get done both mind and house. Goal is to read at least 3 hours.

Happy Valentines Day!

Happy V-Day!

Austin Texas

Outside my office Greenlight Solutions

71 degrees and sunshine today

Does it get any better than this?

Today

Today is going to be a great day. I believe great things are going to happen today. Thank you for today and I am going out to Rock the World and make a positive impact.

This is how I start everyday.

How about you?

I believe our attitudes control our life. I think this is a critical question.

Time

A couple thoughts on time...

• Either the day runs you or you run the day! Make a choice.

• Days are expensive and when you spend one; you have one less to spend. So spend wisely!

• How much sense does it make to spend major time on minor things or spend minor time on major things? What do you do?

• Time is more valuable than money. You can always get more money but you can never get more time.

Time is the secret sauce for those that live their best life!

Exercise on being creative

Here is an exercise that I am working through right now that you may want to do as well. The issue is with creativity. We are creative by design but over time, our imagination and creativity is stiffened. Society tells us NO some many times that the result is a loss in creativity. We live as adults in this box we create for ourselves. But children have creativity by nature. They can fly. They have X-Ray vision. They can go to the moon. It's so powerful and wonderful to see.

As adults we become stale and set in our ways losing our creativity. Don't you agree? This is so sad and against our design.

So I am writing down all the creative conditions in my life and going to build on them. To change, we must be creative. To grow we must be creative. In my opinion, to live our best life, we must be creative.

Imagine what the world would look like if we imagined?

Mediocrity

Mediocrity...I think we accept it

I think today's society accepts mediocrity much more than we should. I see it all over and so do you. We are more tolerant of lack of success and justify it as we are out there just "trying things." Let's look at kids and parents.

I don't think kids have changed in a couple generations. I don't believe a three year old today is any different from a three year old fifty years ago. But I do think twelve year olds are different today and fifty years ago. Why? I think parents have changed. We as parents now days accepts mediocrity as long as kids are "trying things." My opinion and only mine, is that kids should not be put in a position to fail or not succeed just because we are encouraging them to "try things." I think it teaches acceptance of mediocrity.

If my sons are not good and have no passion for music, for example, should I put them in a band course? My opinion is no. Actually is stronger than that its H_ _ No. I think that would teach them to not to strive for success and be excellent but rather it’s ok to not be good as long as you just try it. That being said, I do think you should expose your kids to a variety of pursuits to see where their passion lies. But once they find what they want to do and not do, focus on the strengths and teach them to reach for excellence.

I think we as parents need to teach and lead our kids that just being o.k. is not well....o.k. There is so much more in life to achieve rather than just ordinary. There is excellence that kids need to strive for and reach. There is a level of greatness out there that we need to hit. I don't believe we are put on the planet to teach our kids to be just ordinary. The creative genius that made us wants us to be extraordinary and strive for greatness.

What do you think?

Today's journal

I am learning...slow but sure

One of the things I am really working on is not just going through the motions in life. But rather being present, incredibly conscious in the moment, and really soaking it all in. And then process those live moments and thoughts into positive action.

Example of just going through the motions: I have heard the word peace a million times just like you have. But I have never really thought or processed it at a deep soul level. Every Sunday at church, there is a share the peace moment. But I just went through the motions and shook peoples hand and moved on without much thought. How sad is that? When you deep soul level think about the word peace, it is so awesome in its power. Is there anything more desired than peace? Is there anything more loving than peace? Is there anything more needed than peace?

Peace and peace be with you. This is so powerful and needed! I wish this for everyone.

What do you think?

Activity vs Achievement

Don't mistake activity for achievement.

So many people are running around very busy in life...doing this and doing that...going here and going there. But the question I continually ask is this: What are you really accomplishing in your life? I think it is critical that in today's world of speed and high technology and fast motion, that we don't mistake activity for accomplishment. Make sure to ask yourself and you can define very clearly what you are doing in your life. If it is at all fuzzy, you are off course. I call these really critical areas in your life Master Targets. You should be able to clearly line out your Master Targets.

One of my favorite thoughts is on the same lines: In your quest to conquer everything, make sure you don't do nothing. I see it all the time. I am also guilty of it to a degree. It is so easy to get wrapped up on "doing stuff" but really when it all shakes out, we have don't accomplished really anything. I can be busy all day with emails, phone, writings, internet, text messages..on and on, but yet accomplish nothing!

Moms and Dads are guilty of this too. We spend time running kids here and there; to this activity and to that activity and yet spend ZERO time actually connecting relationally with our kids. Husbands and wife...same thing. Talk on the cell phone while going here and driving there but yet ZERO time actually connecting relationally.

Hit your Master Targets in your life. Actually get things done in your Master Targets. This is the deep soul...the good stuff in life. So don't just be busy; but actually get those soul level meaningful things done!

Let's....an awesome word!

Let's!

I thought about the word let's and realized just how awesome this word is...and how powerful this word can be. We are all leaders. Some of us just don't know it or want to realize it. But all of us...from CEO's to front line minimum wage hard working people; we are all leaders. We have the ability to influence others.

A couple facts that I am discovering in myself and learning as I go in my life journey that I want to share: We are all put on this planet to help others....we have a responsibility to help others. This is a serious deal that is a rewarding process. Second is that we have a huge circle of influence. Much more than we realize or take time to ever appreicate. This network of people is so powerful and it is our job to lead them and help them.

So in your life journey, learn the word LET'S! This is word will help in your leadership and responibility to help others and influence your network circle. Poor leaders use the words; You and I......Great leaders use the words Let's!

• Let's do this together....not You go do this.
• Let's share...not I will take
• Let's learn...not you go learn
• Let's connect..not you come here
• Let's explore...not you go there

Let's go out today and Rock the World. Let's go out today and make a difference. Let's go out today and share, learn, help, inspire, and lead!

Chris

The start of each day....

You know it's going to be a great day when you drive to work and see this! Today in Austin TX. How do you start your day? So much of how our day goes is determined by our attitude. Good attitude = Good day; Bad attitude = Bad day

To have a good attitude, it all starts when you begin the day. Very rarely can you have a bad attitude in the beginning and then turn it around throughout the day. So, start each day with a winning attitude and it will carry throughout the day and the result will be A Good Day. Some tips that I use and have heard others have used to begin each day with a good attitude.

• Say "I believe" each morning when you wake up
• Tell yourself today is going to be a great day. Great things are going to happen today.
• Exercise in the morning
• Pray in the morning
• First thing when you wake up: think of something positive and winning. Let that be your first thought each day
• Say your "Thankful For List" at the start of each day
  

Have a great weekend and today is a winning day. Great things are going to happen!

Chris