New Years Non-Resolution

New Years Non-Resolution

Is this what each new year boils down to?

A string of big dreams, followed by exhaustive exuberance, promising promises and exciting launches that all fizzle into discontent, failure or frustration?

Stop making New Years Resolutions!  I stopped making ‘New Years Resolutions’ several years ago.  I’ve found resolutions are a great way to become completely frustrated and discontent by mid-February.

Do you remember the story of the Tortoise and the Hare? Who wins?

Big goals are not achieved overnight. We reach our destination by placing one foot in front of the other, one day at a time in the right direction. It is the determined march every day through the pain and resistance. It is a marathon, not a 5k.

Don’t get distracted

The key is not to get distracted by the mob of over-excited yay-hoos running around in circles. Let them buy gym memberships, vitamins, crash diets, and self-help books as they begin on their frantic run down the road to Fail-ville.

Think Strategically: A successful strategist wins the war in his mind before setting foot on the battlefield.

This means he plans his steps, counts the cost and defines victory.

Don’t Give in to hysteria: Instant gratification plays a huge role in the New Years Resolution mania. We want to get started and get done as quickly as possible. We get a lot of pleasure from beginning new things. Don’t give in to starting something for the sake of starting. A lot of people start a marathon with great intentions. But, they never finish.

Set your Mind: Start thinking and praying about a big goal for yourself and what it will be like when you achieve it. One of the biggest problems with New Years Resolutions is the we unconsciously allow the mob to influence what our real goal should be. We may end up pursuing a goal we don’t own because we got caught up in the hype. Let the hype pass. Remember, you are being intentional and strategic.

Life Has a Time Limit: Whatever your goal, make sure it is significant.  Please don’t set a goal like getting the best score on a video game or watching every episode of Downton Abby.  You only have so much time in this life.  You are a heart-beat away from eternity.  Make it count!  If you can set a goal that impacts others, go for it.  Maybe you want to volunteer once a month for a year.  Perhaps you want to run a marathon and thought it would be impossible?

Set a Date: Pick a time in mid-February, go to a quiet place with a pen, paper and calendar. Forget resolutions, its time to settle on the GOAL or building a habit.  FYI – I set my goals for the year in the beginning days of March.

  • What is the one thing you would do if you couldn’t fail?
  • What would you do if you weren’t afraid?

Goals Must: be specific, be measurable, be in writing, have a deadline, and you must OWN them (relevant to your life).

While everyone around you is exhausted and on the verge of giving up, you will be focused and strategically pursuing your goal one step at a time every day.

Enjoy the journey!

“The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.” (Prov 16:9)

Edited and Updated: 12-31-2015

Is there really anything left to say?

Is there really anything left to say?

Last Sunday afternoon, my foot landed across the finish line at the Ironman 70.3 Galveston.

6 hours and 28 minutes earlier, I entered the 62 degree ocean to begin a 1.2 mile swim. My training season had been riddled with illness, injury and a minor surgery in late-January. Life had crowded out over half of my training time. I was unprepared and having a little pity party right there in ocean. A lesson was coming my way.

When the the race started, I remembered that I was committed. I was going to finish this race or die trying. There were two things I was depending on to carry me across the finish line. The first was God. The other was the chance to see my wife, kids and family at the finish.

Twenty minutes into the swim, both of my calves cramped up. I pressed on.

Thirty miles into the 56 mile bike, I started having GI issues. I pressed on.

A couple miles from the bike finish, my back tire went flat. I pressed on.

Six miles into the 13.1 mile run, my legs were giving out. Then, I witnessed the most amazing thing.

I saw two men tethered to each other with a chord as they ran. I wondered what was going on. In mile 7, I saw them again. Then I figured it out.

It was a blind man competing in an Ironman 70.3 while a sighted man guided him through the grueling course. Try to imagine it for a moment. Close your eyes and imagine swimming over a mile, riding 56 miles and running a half-marathon all without sight and completely dependent on a guide. This is rich on so many levels…

Is there really anything left to say?

Blind-Athlete-Ironman-70.3

PS. I beat my 2010 time by 3 minutes.  God has a sense of humor 🙂

20 Mile March Everyday

20 Mile March Everyday

In October 1911, two teams of adventurers made their final preparations in their quest to be the first people in modern history to reach the South Pole. For one team, it would be a race to victory and a safe return home. For the second team, it would be a devastating defeat, reaching the Pole only to find the wind-whipped flags of their rivals planted 34 days earlier, followed by a race for their lives — a race that they lost in the end, as the advancing winter swallowed them up.” (Jim Collins and Morten T. Hansen – Great by Choice)
20 Mile March - Lance Cashion
The teams that raced to the South Pole were essentially identical dealing with identical environmental challenges. However, one succeeded and the other failed. The winner showed ‘self-control in an out-of-control world’. Dispelling the illusion of control and practicing self-discipline are keys to getting to where you want to go.

Jim Collins describes the steady disciplined commitment toward the goal as the ‘20 Mile March‘. No matter the weather conditions, you get up and march 20 miles. No more and no less. Regardless of talent, favorable or unfavorable conditions, or luck, the 20 Mile March yields success.
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