Published on
January 28, 2010 in
Life.
I was reminded, by a really close friend, that I have yet to set my dedication for the year. Each dedication is meant to help me improve myself. It’s like a new years resolution except it sometimes take me a whole year before I can actually start working on it. Last years dedication didn’t seem to go anywhere, but things usually work out for the best so I’m not too worried about it. Besides, it’s been a new year for a while and I had not even thought about what this year should be dedicated to. Fortunately, the answer came pretty quick after taking a few minutes to think about it: results.
Over the last several years I have been trying to improve myself in order to obtain a goal. However, I haven’t had any real gauge of how much progress I have made. I feel I have made some progress in improving myself but there is no way to be certain. It’s like I’ve built up my potential but haven’t acted on any of it. Even if I feel that I have the potential to do so, if I never act I am as useless as a pen used for decoration. So this year, in order to verify that I’m progressing in the right direction, I seek to produce results. If I can’t produce some results this year, after several years of preparation, than I might as well give up on my dream.
In order to keep my dream alive I will produce results no matter what must be done, no matter what sacrifice must be made.
I’ve been in Vietnam for 5 months now? Time sure flies.
One more month and a half a year will have gone since I arrived in Vietnam.
I was initially thinking that I would only be in Vietnam for a year.
However, in almost half that time I got a job, quit the job, got hired at a new job, and started working on an independent tutoring company with a friend. Not to mention all the projects I have waiting on the wings.
I wanted to add 15-20 lbs of muscle mass, travel around South East Asia, and bring my business projects in the States up to the next level.
It’s a bit overwhelming.
How exactly am I suppose to accomplish everything I have set out to do in Vietnam in the one years time that I planned to be here?
Well, I could add the 15-20 lbs of muscle mass and work on my stateside business projects while I’m back in the states. Actually, it would be easier. However, travel will be close to nil and I still have 7 more months left of my one year excursion in Vietnam.
I gotta face the facts… I did not plan this out well at all.
Thinking back on it… I spent 2 years in Los Angeles and 2 years in Las Vegas. It is probably safe to say that I will spend at least 2 years in Vietnam.
All the while the 5 year deadline on my 5 year goals are slowly creeping up.
Once again… poorly planned. I need to recenter myself. I’m in Vietnam now and I don’t know how long I will be here but no matter what the goal is I will figure how to achieve it from here.
So what now? Do I say “no worries” and pick up more English classes and tutoring gigs so that I can make more money to enjoy Vietnam and travel? Do I give up on my 5 year goal? Do I give up on gaining 15 lbs? Do I hit the restart button?
Nah, I’m not trying to restart at this point.
Instead, I think I’ll just do a little refresh.
One of my mentors told me that most people overestimate what they can do in 5 years but underestimate what they can accomplish in 20 years. What I need to do is readjust my time frame. 5 years is not enough time for what I wanted to do, but 20 years should be more than enough. So now my 5 year goal will be my 20 year goal and I’ll set a new 5 year (more like 3.5 years now) goal to act as a stepping stone to my 20 year goal. There’s still year 10 and year 15 but I’ll add, readjust and tweak everything as I work through it all.
Now… will I even be able to accomplish my new 5 year goal in the 3.5 years that I have left? As I am right now, that is very unlikely. If I could accomplish my 5 year goal as I am right now I would be a lot further along. I know what I want and I have an idea of what I must do to accomplish it. However, I have neglected to remind myself of what I must sacrifice to achieve it. This has been and will always be the hardest part. Can I go up without giving up? Painfully, I must admit that this is not possible. I’d be further along in my goal if it was. Thus, today I’m taking time to refocus and bring the goal back into view. I hope, this time, that I will stay the course and make the choices that are imperative to my success.
Everyday is a new day with new chance to make a new choice. I will start making more choices that lead me toward my goals and less choices that lead me away from my goals. (I hope.)
