September 30, 2008

Are You a Doer or a Drifter?   Doers do and drifters float.  Doers get the job done and drifters wander.  Doers create success, drifters, well; they just drift, wondering why success hasn't found them yet.  Doers know what they working towards, drifters haven't a clue.   Which are you?    According to Napoleon Hill in his book, Keys to Success:   Doers:   Have a definite major purpose.  Manage circumstances and resources. Examine every idea they encounter before they adopt or discard it. Take risks and assume responsibility. Learn from their mistakes. Go the extra mile. Control their habits. Have positive mental attitudes. Apply their faith in their own success. Create mastermind alliances to expand their knowledge and experience. Recognize their weaknesses and take steps to correct them.     Drifters:   Have no goal in life. Are controlled by circumstances and the lack of resources. Flit from one idea about life to the other, depending on this week's fad or what the guy on TV said last night. Run from opportunity and blame others for their lots in life. Make the same mistakes again and again. Do only what it takes to get by. Let their habits control them. Have negative mental attitudes. Never do anything to improve their situation. Learn all they want to know from that guy on TV. Wouldn't know a weakness if it bit them.   We all know doers and drifters.  They are in your family, circle of friends, and even in your employees.  Hang around a drifter long enough and you'll become one yourself.  Surround yourself with doers and success will come easier for you.    Make it your mission to be a doer and surround yourself with like-minded doers.     "Alicecame to the fork in the road. 'Which road do I take?' she asked. 'Where do you want to go?' responded the Cheshire cat. 'I don't know,'Aliceanswered. 'Then,' said the cat. 'It doesn't matter.'"             Lewis Carroll,Alicein Wonderland   "Aim at nothing and you will hit it every time."             Unknown   "Do not confuse motion and progress. A rocking horse keeps moving but does not make any progress."             Alfred A. Montapert   "Long-term planning is not about making long-term decisions, it is about understanding the future consequences of today's decisions."             Gary Ryan Blair   Great bosses are doers.  Find out some of their other qualities in my latestMentor's Mind column: 15 Qualities of a Great Boss.      I am a doer and always have been, although I admit there have been times when I drift; usually it's after an intense "I do" period of time. That's when I'm ready to hang it up for awhile, and that's OK.  I call it relaxing instead of drifting.  I am then reenergized and ready to do again.  Keeps me on the balance beam too.    My radio interview Sunday night went well and the hour flew by.  We spoke of the ins and outs of relationships, primarily white collar/blue collar ones; however, much of the message was universal to all relationships.  My hour was followed by an hour of calls from listeners and those led to lively discussions with the host. Listen to the interview (31:18 minutes):     Have a fantastic week and be a doer.   Stephanie     We grow by "word-of-email" so please feel free to forward this newsletter to anyone whom you think might benefit from and enjoy it. Thanks so much! Contact Us: stephanie@7steps2abalancedlife.com