Quote of the Day

“Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”

Albert Einstein

 So here we are, facing a brand new year. No doubt many of you have made resolutions and have big plans for the year. I certainly have some things up my sleeves; I need 2012 to be a breakout year for me (and my businesses)! Now the question is not what we want to do, but how do we plan to do it? Go back and evaluate what you have done in the past to move towards your goal. If it's still a goal and not an accomplishment that you can cross off, then something can be done differently. Maybe there is a need for a complete 180 in your strategy. You could simply need to adjust the level of activity needed to make your dream a reality. Or perhaps you just need to just get off of that "I wish" and start doing!

Objectively review your goals to find the changes that can be made. Not getting a clear direction of how you should go? Enlist the help of a mentor or an honest, knowledgeable friend. Just don't go through this year doing the same thing you did last year and expecting different results.

Happy New Year!!

Awww, it's the last post of 2011! As you read this, I am headed to ATL. Can you believe this is the first year ever that I'm doing something to celebrate the new year? Crazy, right?! Anyway, I wish all of you a fun and safe New Year's celebration. May 2012 bring you peace, prosperity, love, and your heart's desire.

(P.S.: If you are making resolutions, check out my article on Suite101.com on SMART Resolutions for the New Year!)

Setting Goals for the New Year

I'm sad to see 2010 go! It was a phenomenal year for me. Not without its difficulties, but a truly great year. I only have one small do-over wish, and considering the fact that it's about a guy who clearly had no business in my life, I'll chalk that up as a learning experience. Besides, the accomplishments of this year far outweigh that!

One major difference between 2010 and other years is that I set goals and created a plan to achieve them. (Remember Planning, Preparation, Payoff?) No new year's resolutions, though. And I've learned that if something works for you, don't change--build upon it! So here are some of my goals for this new year:

Professional
1. Get at least 60 hours towards my pre-Broker education. Ninety hours are required before you can take the test... And actually I could get all 90 in if it wasn't for the money. (Didn't y'all read my last post? I'm broke!) Approximately $400 every 30 hours is a bit steep for me to say I can do it all this year. Plus, there are other conferences, classes, etc. that will also require some funds. I'd love to go ahead and get that license this year, but I'll be happy if I can get 2/3 of the way there.
2. Make at least three sales. My new broker (I'm moving--possibly more on that to come) only asks for two, but I need at least three. There are so many fees associated with being a real estate agent it's not even funny. I went back and calculated how much I spent this year... Even after my sale, I'm in the hole, and not by a small amount. I think having at least three good sales will allow me to break even and possibly provide for those additional classes I was talking about.

Personal
1. I've got to buy a house! My folks want me to stay with them... I told them if by some miracle a house comes on the market with a completely separate apartment and within their price range, I'd consider buying it with them. But there's no way I'm doing this whole sharing my living space thing. NO WAY! And realistically, I don't believe there is a house with that feature in the range they're looking for. I'm setting my goal for the end of May.
2. Read 10 books within the year, at least 2 fiction. That sounds backwards doesn't it? Well I've got 9 books sitting on my dresser waiting to be read. I've started on 8. Out of those 9, 4 are career-related, 3 are self-improvement, and 2 are just miscellaneous non-fiction. I need an escape! I'm thinking about picking up The Other Boleyn Girl. I may have to sign up for a library card again so I can get books without feeling like I'm spending money frivolously...
3. Find a creative outlet. Now that I'm done with school, I want to do something simply because it makes me happy. I'm not sure what just yet, but I'm leaning towards painting. Another choice was voice lessons, but I've pretty much given up on the dream of being a singer. *shrugs* We'll see, though.

So that's my little short list of goals for 2011. If you haven't set yours, you still have time but the clock is ticking!

Happy New Year y'all!

Planning, Preparation and Payoff

WHAT WILL 2010 BE FOR YOU?????

“When you fail to plan, you plan to fail.”

“Proper planning prevents piss poor performance.”

"If one asks for success and prepares for failure, he will get the situation he has prepared for."

 

At some point, one must make the decision that they will no longer be a passive participant in life. I am at that point. For the first 2 years of my life I have basically gone with the flow. I’ve had my desires, wishes, wants, but most of the times things would not go my way. This year, I plan on doing something. A lot of times, in past years, my “doing something” consisted of talking, praying and hoping things would work out. Time and time again that has proven to not be enough. I have determined that it is time to “take the bull by the horns” as it were, to not just talk about it but BE about it! So, 2010, for me, is a year of PLANNING, PREPARATION AND PAYOFF. I am at each of these stages, depending on what aspect I’m examining. But by year’s end (and for some of these things, before) I expect to see the results of my actions. I am taking almost every aspect of my life, examining it and devising my plan to make what I want happen. (I say almost because I’m not touching the relationship side. I mean really, how do you plan that out?) As much as possible, I’m removing the “it is what it is” mentality. True, some things are beyond my control and I have no choice but to accept that. But trust, I’m shaking things up as much as possible on my end.

This is the year that I turn 25 (I won’t get into my thing with numbers and why 5 and 25 are so significant to me, because it’s a little weird, I know). This is the year I complete my MBA. This is the year I move, possibly to a new city & state, to begin again.

2010 is my year! What about you?

A quote to end 2009 & one to bring in 2010

2009 has been an interesting year, to say the least. A lot has happened, both good and bad. I refuse to do a recap of all the stuff that's gone on... partially because I have a bad memory LOL Honestly, the things that meant the most to me & that impacted me the most have either already been shared here or are of such a nature that I'd rather keep them close to my heart. Instead, I'm going to share two quotes that I found a long time ago, forgot all about, then found again on a little scrap of paper as I was doing some winter cleaning a few days ago.

"Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could; some blunders and absurdities have crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; you shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense."
-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Forget the BS from this year & previous years (but not the lessons learned from it!). Take on 2010 with renewed spirit.

The next quote is the one that basically affirms my newly strengthened "Doing Me" attitude. I'll definitely be carrying this one with me into 2010 and beyond:

"Don't let the opinions of the average man sway you. Dream, and he thinks you're crazy. Succeed, and he thinks you're lucky. Acquire wealth, and he thinks you're greedy. Pay no attention. He simply doesn't understand."
-Robert G. Allen

Happy New Year to all!

Resolutions? Um....

Let me let Calvin & Hobbes handle this one...