Goals, Plans, and Struggles

I learned some great things from my reading of "The Ministry of Business" this week. In part of the reading, James Ritchie shared his "Formula for Success":

  1. Get up early
  2. Work hard
  3. Get your education
  4. Find your oil
  5. Make your mark
  6. Get prepared to be of service
Lately, I've been battling with the first task: get up early. It is my goal to retire to bed early and arise early. Adherence to a plan is essential to achieving this goal, and this has been a struggle for me. This is due in part to my neglect to create a plan every day, and also the unforeseen tasks and errands which often arise. I also enjoy programming late into the night which is in conflict with my goal. Maybe I can make programming in the morning a treat. It will give me motivation to awake early.

An assertion made in the text is that you must trust yourself before others will trust you. Such trust is one of the foundations of a successful business. It was stated that gaining knowledge will build your confidence and trust in yourself. When I look at job descriptions, I frequently decide to not apply because I am not confident in myself. The solution is so simple! Instead of feeling bad that I am not qualified, I should make it a goal to gain the requisite knowledge and experience. 

I was speaking to a friend this week and I asked him what his plans are following graduation. He said he hoped to acquire a particular job, but if that didn't work he had an alternative. I was excited to hear this because it embodied a principle which I learned from a previous lesson.


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