Goals Derailed?
This week we are going to explore what happens when goals get derailed. I'm sure you know ALL ABOUT goals-right? Those helpful things that we should all have that help us focus our energy, formulate plans, live a purpose-centered life, and give us a feeling of accomplishment? Have you asked yourself any of these questions as we head into the New Year, "What do I want to do with my life? Where will I go on vacation? Where do I want to be 5 years from now? 10 years? When do I want to retire?" Goals are sometimes like a chess game. We know where we want to end up, but obstacles and moves we did not expect pop up, and cause us to think, and we have to change strategies. Is that stressful? Sure. Sometimes it is. It?s also usually a door to a greater opportunity when we don?t let the little shift derail us from what we really want. The important thing is to continue moving forward and let your mind, and your resources lead you to new ways to bring that goal to fruition ? without fail, and without quitting. How many times have YOU seen someone who?s given up on a goal just because something got in the way? Or the going got TOUGH, so they got going? Not you. That?s so not you! Are there dreams and goals that you want to accomplish in your life? Don?t push them off, don?t let them get derailed. Instead, embrace them and begin moving forward. Put those goals to paper, and then start creating the vision and plan to get you there. Each of us has the ability to create an extraordinary life if we?re willing to work for it, plan for it, and reach out for the resources it will take to take us there. Remember, if you need help, I'm just a phone call away.

Something to Think About:
I?m reminded of a story about a very successful photographer. She loved photography and it was her passion, but the only way that she could make money as a photographer was shoot weddings. Her free and natural style of taking photos didn?t really mesh with the idea of "posed photography." At the time, everything she knew and had seen in terms of wedding photos were staged, stiff, and well, to her, BORING. So she abandoned the idea and took a different path. She decided to get her Master's Degree from University of Kentucky in Peregrine Falcon Behavior and Wildlife Ecology. While working on her thesis, she spent 10 hours a day sitting in the forest observing behavior, which allowed her to develop the ability to patiently observe her subjects and wait for the right moment. Shortly after getting her Masters, she met a wedding photographer who had a photo journalistic style of photography. She suddenly realized that she could combine her love of nature and photography as a photojournalistic wedding photographer. She has traveled worldwide and is considered to be one of the top five wedding photographers in Chicago, being featured in various publications and acting as a mentor to other young photographers. She is known for her ability to patiently wait and capture that special moment, allowing those memories to stay alive forever. You can read Kristina Carter?s story here. As Steve Jobs said, "everything that you are doing today will have an impact on what you do in the future." Her detour allowed her to develop the skills which helped to make her the photographer she is today. Kristina?s story is a great reminder that derailments and detours don?t have to mean the end of a dream or the abandonment of a goal. Sometimes we are just shown another path to get where we want to go. There are lessons EVERYWHERE!

Weekly Challenge:
Start the New Year with written personal and business goals, and if you have not already done it, do it THIS WEEK!

Words of Wisdom:
"My goals may seem impossibly far-fetched when really they're not. Break them down into steps and see how I accomplish great things. I can easily reach from A to B. I can manage from B to C. I can then make it from C to D. And so eventually, I will find my way from A to Z." - Richelle E. Goodrich

"If your dreams and goals get derailed, they're not dead. Derailed simply means off-track. Pick 'em up and put 'em back on again." - Dan Pearce

"If you miss your bus, just start walking." - Shan McGinley

"People are remarkably bad at remembering long lists of goals. I learned this at a professional level when trying to get my high-performance coaching clients to stay on track; the longer their lists of to-dos and goals, the more overwhelmed and off-track they got. Clarity comes with simplicity." - Brendon Burchar

"Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there." - Will Rogers

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