(Charles Dickens)

There are many factors that could cause a person to become hardened to life.

Relationships that have gone awry.

Unexpected health challenges.

Personal financial difficulties

Coping with the limitations of old age

So, how should we react to some or all of the above?

If we become bitter, we make our daily existence much worse.

After all, we still have to live with ourselves.

Living with ourselves is much easier if we maintain a warm heart to ourselves and others!

If not today, when?

We’re talking about dealing with disappointment.

We’ve all had them.

And I certainly don’t consider myself an expert.

Some disappointments provide a learning opportunity.

While others are just a part of life.

We all have talents that come to us naturally!

We refer to them as our strengths.

So, the title of today’s blog is important for you to consider.

Do you have unused talent that should be used or at least used more often?

This requires you to take an inventory of yourself.

How can you use this talent to your advantage?

If not today, when?

I guess the inventor of the light bulb has good advice about success.

I think we should listen.

He says the three essentials are: HARD WORK, STICK-TO-ITIVENESS & COMMON SENSE.

I cannot imagine the amount of effort required to invent the first lightbulb.

I’m sure there were many failures along the way.

And that brings up the 2nd essential; stick-to-itiveness.

Perseverence is the hallmark of every great achiever.

And the first two essentials are a waste of time if your intended goal doesn’t make sense.

So, there you have it from the man himself.

If not today, when?

Don’t do that!!

Each of us has enormous potential to do or to be!

Don’t rob yourself of the future you deserve!

Every kind of person has succeeded and every kind has failed.

So, what’s your excuse?

“We become what we think we are.”

We become a self fulfilling prophecy.

If you think you have great potential, you’ll strive to use that potential.

If you don’t think you have great potential, you’ll quit even before you begin.

Well, which path will you take?

If not today, when?

(Winston Churchill)

It took an optimist to pull England out of the doldrums of World War II.

He came on the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and lifted the spirits of the nation.

Can you lift the spirits of your family?

We all have a responsibility to lift the spirits of those who look up to us for leadership.

Like Churchill, we must be optimistic in order to ask those around us to be optimistic too.

How do we become optimistic?

We begin by counting our blessings.

And then we help loved ones and friends count their blessings too.

If not today, when?

Today, most first interviews are done electronically. Sometimes second and third too, especially if long distance is a factor.

Always be ready ahead of time. Most of the time there is a particular time set and so be sure to be in your place with 10-20 minutes to spare.

Have something to write on in case the interviewer wants to give you someone’s name or address to follow up.

Be dressed professionally from head to toe. You have heard the horror story of an interviewer asking the person to get another item or an address and suddenly seeing a pajama bottom popping out of the chair!

Always speak clearly and look eye to eye. It may not seem that the person is looking directly at you, but be sure that you make every effort to do so.

Never look at your watch. YOU ARE NOT IN A HURRY. You must have as much time available as it takes. Sometimes, the interviewer will want an hour and sometimes 5 minutes. This might just be the moment that the company is sorting out potential candidates and does not need more than 5-10 minutes. You want to be one of the candidates they select to continue with and so you should never be in a rush.

You might ask the interviewer at the end of the interview if there is anything more that he/she would like to know about you and your background.

Always thank the person regardless of how you feel the meeting went.

(Joe Namath)

Once a commitment is made, it must be kept.

Each of us has made certain commitments in our personal and business life.

Are we following through on those commitments?

I raise this topic because we live in uncertain times.

Loved ones, friends and business associates expect us to stand tall.

It is especially important that our children can count on us.

They live in a bewildering world.

If not today, when?

(John F. Kennedy)

Two people made a big difference in my BUSINESS CAREER.

One was the president of a large bank.

The other was the president of a large mortgage company.

The president of the bank died suddenly and I was unable to thank him.

The president of the mortgage company was in his declining years.

But, I was able to thank him before he passed away.

My wife made the biggest difference in my LIFE.

I thank her every day.

The moral of my story is: “Don’t wait!”

For those of us who had a champion, thank him or her NOW!

If not today, when?

(Ralph Waldo Emerson)

We are our own worst critic.

And it can hold us back from great adventures throughout our lives.

One of the big anchors in our life can be past failures.

We must remember that we all make mistakes.

But, not everyone moves on. They are mired in the past!

How about you?

Are you willing and able to forgive yourself?

Today is a NEW day. Greet today with a NEW you.

If not today, when?