My schedule involves juggling dozens of components of my business and personal life which intersect in interesting ways.
Because my husband and I travel a lot, our schedules aren’t always aligned and so getting to a movie is a rarity.
Last week, we decided we would take an afternoon and go to see a movie and chose “The Butler” as the film’s all-star line-up and real life story were appealing.
After leaving the theatre, Jim and I had a long discussion about the main character and Forest Whitaker’s performance.
We had admired his work in “The Last King of Scotland” and “The Great Debaters”,
and after seeing the movie I was moved to do more research on Whitaker’s life.
I was surprised to learn he has a black belt in karate, heavily involved in various
humanitarian and philanthropic causes, and happily married.
Comments about his work ethic from colleagues who worked with him on this movie and others have been beautifully scripted and effusive.
And, recently when asked what drives him to be fully committed to his work, Whitaker said, “I’m looking to understand more and more about my connection to the rest of mankind.”
Ah, connection – one of my all-time favorite words.
Pillar #1 in my 7 Pillars is about having a written PLAN and starting with the end in mind.
Forest Whitaker’s statement demonstrates that about his life’s work. He knows what he wants and what his end in mind is.
How about you?
As we enter into the final few months of 2013, it’s important to go back to your original plan that you created for 2013. Are you still on track with your written plan?
ACTION ITEM: The Upside Challenge this week is to look at whether you’ve been staying on track with your attitude, thoughts, and actions over the past nine (9) months. Where have you gotten off track and why? And, how are you going to position yourself differently in the future? What is your end in mind?
If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve already got.