Capturing your life story

Last time we talked about tracking your progress in life.
Today we’ll talk about what you might write in your journal.
Mike Aun tells a great story about his first journal.
His grandfather, our local mayor at the time, gave it to him.
The pages were blank. Mike thought "This book is worthless."
"What you put in it will give it value," his grandfather said.
What you put in your journal will give it great value.
Here’s what you might write in your journal each day:
1. Funny stories. Many will be about your own mistakes.
This will teach you to plant your feet and laugh at yourself.
It will sharpen your sense of perspective about yourself.
Being able to laugh at yourself will endear you to others.
2. Important events. Write what you learned from them.
Socrates said: "The unexamined life isn’t worth living."
Examine your life and capture its lessons in your journal.
3. Your daily goals. Record them in your journal.
Write them before you fall asleep. Make them concrete,
Your subconscious mind will work on them while you sleep.
4. The goals you achieved. This holds you accountable.
All great men and women hold themselves accountable.
5. Measure your progress. Your great purpose has steps.
Set and record them daily. You’ll track where you are.
There’s another great reason to keep your journal.
It adds extra value. We’ll talk about that next time.
For more on discovering your purpose, please click here.

The unexamined life isn’t worth living

The great Greek philosopher Socrates said that 2,400 years ago.
What do you think he meant? What is an examined life?
A sound piece of writing advice is to keep a journal.
You don’t have to be a professional writer to do this.
Super salesman and pro speaker Michael Aun keeps one.
Dr. William Carlos Williams kept one that became "Paterson, N.J."
Ernie Pyle turned his into dispatches from the WWII front lines.
Write in your journal as if you were Ernie Pyle.
Write as if the entire world was going to be richer from reading it.
Write every day. The more you write, the better you become.
John Steinbeck kept a journal when he was writing "East of Eden".
"A Journal of a Novel: The East of Eden Letters" is worth reading.
There are three other reasons to journal, if that is, indeed, a verb.
1. Think about what is going on in your life.
To draw lessons from your mistakes.
To open your senses to your experiences.
2. Set goals and hold yourself accountable.
Write "What will advance my goals tomorrow" at the end of the day.
The next evening write "What advanced my goals today".
3. Leave a legacy for generations you will never see.
They can only see you through the prism of your journal.
I welcome your comments on your own reasons for journaling.
Meanwhile, for tips on living a great life, click here.

Examining your life is essential

"The unexamined life isn’t worth living," Socrates told his students.
The Greek philosopher figured that out more than 2,400 years ago.
By that, I think he meant: Learn from life. Learn from your mistakes.
So lets turn it around: Lets examine our lives and our mistakes.
Lets become students of ours and other people’s experiences.
Lets keep a journal in which we record these lessons.
That accomplishes two things: We examine our own lives and learn.
We leave a legacy for our grandchildren of the lives we lived.
God is watching what we do with the lives and gifts given us.
Here are four questions to ask yourself and answer in your journal.
1. What great purpose will give my life great meaning?
2. What is my agenda today to help me fulfill that purpose?
3. What changes must I make to help me fulfill my purpose?
4. What do I feel strongly motivated to accomplish today?
These are but four of many questions I ask you in my new book.
These questions are my challenges to you.
"Your Life’s Great Purpose" will help you answer them.
Tomorrow we’ll talk about the dreams you have for your life.
For more on your own life’s great purpose, click here.

The kind of leader you want to be

I work every day with a great leader.
She is practical, modest and never boastful.
She works hard and expects others to work hard, too.
She takes the blame when something goes wrong.
She gives the credit to others when things go right.
She acts with a quiet determination.
She channels her ambition into the mission — not herself.
She has an unwavering resolve to do whatever must be done.
Her goal is the greatest good for our company’s customers.
She sets high standards and holds herself accountable.
She will accept nothing less than excellence.
She is committed to planning and preparation.
She practices a Socratic approach to problem solving.
She asks lots of questions. She seeks solutions.
She wants the best thinking from everyone.
She has the courage to tell me when I’m wrong.
How do you measure up against that yardstick?
What are your strengths and skills as a leader?
Where could you improve your leadership?
Those are challenging, uncomfortable questions.
Great leaders ask these of themselves frequently.
Tomorrow we’ll discuss Level 5 leadership.
For more on solutions, click here.