Ben Stein

"The indispensable first step to getting the things you want out of life is this: decide what you want."

— Ben Stein

American Actor, Writer

1944 -

When I came out of college in 1971, I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life.  I had some vague idea about wanting to be a writer, but I had no idea on how to go about it.  Remember this long before the personal computer let alone the internet.  I was typing my work on a Royal typewriter.  The only way to find jobs was through the newspaper and there were not many jobs for want-to-be writers in central Illinois, farm country.  It took me four years to find a job writing and then it was an accident.  I applied for for a job as a speech writer but I heard nothing.  I found out later they hired a novelist with one published novel under his belt.  He spent most of this time while employed working on his second novel.  Three months after I applied, I received a call from a nursing home company about a job as a writer of policy and procedures manuals.  I interviewed and was hired.  I thought I would work for a year and move on to writing somewhere else.  Thirty-seven years later I still work in the nursing home industry and write in my spare time.  Sometimes when we don't know where we want to go, life will decide for us.  And often the decision is the correct one.  

If you know what it is you want to do with your life, that is great.  If you don't know, don't worry.  The river of life will take you where you need to go.  And if you haven't written down your goals, check out my article on this page about goals.  I was thirty-five before I learned the importance of goal-setting.  If you set goals, you will accomplish a lot more.

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Napoleon Hill

"The starting point of all achievement is desire.  Keep this constantly in mind.  Weak desires bring weak results, just as a small amount of fire makes a small amount of heat."

— Napoleon Hill

American Author

1883 - 1970

The difference between the winners and losers is in the amount of desire they have.  Do you have the desire to do what it takes to become successful or do you give up too quickly?  Many people have dreams, hopes and even goals, but few have an abundance of desire.  For only if you have desire are you willing to make the sacrifices needed to be successful.

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Michael Korda

"By concentrating our efforts upon a few major goals, our efficiency soars, our projects are completed, we are going somewhere."

— Michael Korda

English Editor & Writer

1933 - 

Many people try to do too much — set too many goals for themselves — and as a result they are pulled in too many directions and accomplish too little.  You will do better if you concentrate on a few key goals.  I usually focus on one goal at a time.  I don't want to be distracted and pulled in too many directions.  I encourage you to narrow your focus to 2 - 3 goals.  Life keeps us busy and demands a lot of us.  According to research, only about 2% of Americans actually take the time to write down their goals.  And some people teach that you should write goals in each major area of your life.  And while it is okay to write down multiple goals, most people can only focus and concentrate on one thing at a time.  So don't over burden yourself and expect more than you can deliver.  Achieving your dreams comes one building block at a time.

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Benjamin Mays

"It is not a calamity to die with dreams unfulfilled, but it is a calamity not to dream."

Dr. Benjamin Mays

American Author / Educator / Minister

1894 - 1984

We are born with dreams and hopes that change and grow over the years.  When I was in the seventh grade I wanted to be an architect.  As a highschool sophomore I committed to being a preacher.  While in college I dreamed of being a poet.  In my mid-twenties I wanted to be a theater director.  In my thirties I dreamed of being a speaker.  In my forties I struggled with writing a novel.  Some dreams take us farther than others.  Some dreams dig their claws into our souls and don't let go.  Other dreams float away like hot air balloons.  Don't be afraid of your dreams.  They give us hope.

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John Updike

"Dreams come true; without that possibility, nature would not incite us to have them."

— John Updike

American Novelist

1932 - 2009

Have you ever wondered why we have hopes and dreams?  Why do we desire to be writers, singers and painters?  Why do we want a house with a little picket fence?  What would life be like if we did not have dreams?  Probably very boring.  There would be no progress.  We would all be happy where we were and would not strive to achieve more.  Understand that since we have been given dreams, we are capable of achieving our desires.  We don't dream about things which we can not achieve.  That does not mean achieving our dreams comes easy.  We have to work hard and not give up.  What are your dreams and desires?  Are you working hard to achieve them?

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Herodotus

"Some give up their designs when they have almost reached the goal; while others, on the contrary, obtain a victory by exerting, at the last moment, more vigorous efforts than ever before."

— Herodotus

Greek Historian

484 BC - 425 BC

The one trait that every writer, painter and musician needs is persistence.  Without persistence and determination, most creative people will quit before they are successful.  People often give up too soon.  They forget that the night is the darkest just before the dawn.  When every things appears to be lost that is the time to push the hardest — to exert that extra effort.

Most successful artists and writers throughout history have understood the power of persistence.  Herodotus said it more than 2500 years ago and nothing has changed.  You still need persistence to be a winner — to be successful.  The world is full of obstacles and naysayers.  It takes persistence to find a way around or through the obstacles.  Don't give up on your dreams and hopes.  

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George Matthew Adams

"We cannot waste time.  We can only waste ourselves."

— George Matthew Adams

American Writer

1878 - 1962

We all have been given talents.  Some waste their talents with drugs, booze and other addictions.  Others fail to live up to their potential, living a day dream of what could have been.  Some achieve early success only to become caught up in the glamour and the image, never to create again or achieve lasting success.  You know what talents you have been given.  Are you encouraging your talents and investing in your success?  Are you working hard to achieve your dreams?  Or are you resting on your laurels?  The choice is yours.  Will you choose to become what you are meant to be?  

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Gary Zukav

"Changing the world  begins with the very personal process of changing yourself.  The only place you can begin is where you are, and the only time you can begin is always now."

— Gary Zukav

American Writer/Speaker

1942 -

Painting and writing is about re-creating and re-structuring the world the way we would like it to be.  The creative process is about changing ourselves and in the process of changing ourselves we change the world.  How have you changed in the past year?  How have you grown and developed as a person and as a creative leader?  What choices have you made in the last year to change your life?  Do you understand yourself better today than you did a year ago?  What have you learned about yourself?  What are your plans for next year?  What do you want to be doing a year from now?

Here is Gary Zukav discussing change.

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