| Exhausted from a six day business trip and facing | | | | non-essential items might give immediate pleasure. |
| a five hour flight on a packed, late departing | | | | Yet those mounting financial obligations can |
| evening plane, my desire was to block out noise | | | | preclude reaching the financial security, freedom, |
| from twenty-two high school students seated | | | | or work flexibility we desire. |
| nearby. Favorites off my play list, and a just | | | | Today's actions impact tomorrow's results at |
| purchased mystery by a favorite author, seemed | | | | work, too. Procrastination and mediocre |
| the perfect remedy to soothe my weariness. | | | | self-discipline keep people languishing with less than |
| So, when the chime sounded to alert passengers | | | | stellar results year after year. Turning on the TV |
| we'd reached a cruising altitude where electronic | | | | before preparing for tomorrow's presentation |
| devices could be used, I turned on my iPod. The | | | | may seem a good choice at the time, but it |
| pull to procrastinate flirted with my longing to | | | | depends on whether you want to indulge yourself |
| relax, tempting me with its rewards. But that | | | | now, or increase your chances of winning that |
| novel, tucked in the seat pocket, remain | | | | assignment later. |
| unopened as I reluctantly booted my computer to | | | | Are you content with your work results? Are you |
| write the first draft of this column. | | | | happy with your responsibilities, income, or goal |
| In this case, my long-term goal of book authoring | | | | achievement? Do you desire something different, |
| trumped my short-term desire of book reading. | | | | or envy people with greater influence or success? |
| With the manuscript for my new book, Hitting | | | | If so, perhaps you're trading your short-term |
| Your Stride, due to the publisher in weeks, my | | | | gratification for your long-term dream attainment. |
| writing schedule is a self-imposed, non-negotiable | | | | Harry Truman summarized the bottom line when |
| discipline. Column writing happens on certain days, | | | | he said, "In reading the lives of great men, I found |
| manuscript writing and client work on others. | | | | that the first victory they won was over |
| It's true that it's easier to procrastinate, to move | | | | themselves. Self-discipline with all of them came |
| today's work to tomorrow's to-do list, and to | | | | first." |
| focus on short-term impulses instead of long-term | | | | Olympic athletes dreaming of gold make it to |
| goals. But people who are winning at working | | | | practice even when they're tired, overworked or |
| understand that easier doesn't build the habits and | | | | not in the mood, because their bigger passion |
| self-discipline needed to reach objectives, actualize | | | | drives their behavior. People who are winning at |
| dreams and live their life's potential. | | | | working understand the power in their every day |
| This concept is crystallized in the words of a | | | | actions, too. They manage themselves to do the |
| Chinese proverb: "If you want to know your past, | | | | work, acquire the skill, or obtain the knowledge. |
| look into your present conditions. If you want to | | | | Understanding that the tomorrow they get is |
| know your future, look into your present actions." | | | | contained in their actions today, they select those |
| Still, we rarely pause to consider that it's present | | | | actions wisely. |
| day actions that may be hijacking our dreams. For | | | | (c) 2007 Nan S. Russell. All rights reserved. |
| example, credit card splurges on feel-good, | | | | |