SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF

"The years teach much which the days never know."

Ralph Waldo Emerson, 19th century American essayist/lecturer/poet.

A lot of small almost imperceptible incremental change often adds up to significant major change.

Pay attention to today, you might just see tomorrow.

WHO MAKES OR UNMAKES YOU?

"Man is made or unmade by himself. By the right choice he ascends. As a being of power, intelligence, and love, and the lord of his own thoughts, he holds the key to every situation."

James Allen (1864-1912) British-born American essayist.

What do you make of the fact that you, only you, make or unmake you?

WHAT NEXT? NOT WHAT NOW?

"The present is the only reality, the only certainty."

Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860) German philosopher.

And we live in the present for just a brief moment before moving on to our uncertain future.

You'll never make the future certain but you can work to make it less uncertain; shouldn't that be your focus?

THE CARDS YOU'RE DEALT, NO OTHER

"We must find our duties in what comes to us, not in what might have been."

George Eliot (1819-1880) British writer.

Look back pausing briefly if you must to think what might have been.

But only briefly.

Your reality is what is, your future what you make it, given what you have, not what you wished you had.

DON'T FORGET TODAY

"A man's delight in looking forward to and hoping for some particular satisfaction is a part of the pleasure flowing out of it, enjoyed in advance. But this is afterward deducted, for the more we look forward to anything the less we enjoy it when it comes."

Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860) German philosopher

New Year's Eve; the day we reflect on the past while looking forward to the future. However, don't forget today itself.

Yesterdays are to be remembered not relived, and tomorrows will come on their own soon enough.

But you can only live today, today.

I'll be wishing you a happy new year, starting tomorrow.

WHAT WAS, NOT IS OR WILL BE

"Study the past if you would divine the future."

Confucius (BC 551-BC 479) Chinese philosopher

He said "study", not "live in".

Learn from the past, it has much to teach you, but what has been will not necessarily be.

IF WE COULD ONLY GO BACK?

"I am a slow walker, but I never walk backwards."

Abraham Lincoln

16th President of the United States

Learn from the past, don't attempt to revisit, or worse, return to it.

PLANNING: CHILD'S PLAY

"I had six honest serving men. They taught me all I knew. Their names were: Where, What, When, Why, How and Who."

Rudyard Kipling 

Late 19th/early 20th century British writer

Very close to the foundation of planning (What, How, How Much, When, Who) for achievement of both personal and professional goals.

The Future Apple Of Our Eye?

"Not what I have but what I do is my kingdom."

Thomas Carlyle
18th century Scottish philosopher

Apple has cash but it remains to be seen if they can continue to do as they have in the past.

And on that rests their future.