The grizzled old sea captain was quizzing a young, tyro naval student. "What steps would you take if a sudden storm came up on the starboard?"

"I'd throw out an anchor, sir."

"What would you do if another storm sprang up aft?"

"I'd throw out another anchor, sir."

"But what if a third storm sprang up forward?"

"I'd throw out another anchor, captain."

"Just a minute, son. Where in the world are you getting all these anchors?"

"From the same place you're getting all your storms, sir."

Such is life. Every once in a while we need to get our feet back on solid ground.

I can't think of a better time to do that than right now.

We should have a real look at what we accomplished last year, relative to our goals. I know I started out with big plans and did not achieve them. Yet in a strange way I did achieve them.

The reality check says I do not have the money in my pocket that I planned on. However, it also says that through the course of the year I learned a lot, gained confidence and if I should keep on my same path my objective will indeed appear.

I realize things change from time to time, day to day. I realized that the thoughts and ideas I began with have been changed, amended, clarified. I realize those changes have only made me better equipped to accomplish my objective.

The reality is that last year I was not yet ready to achieve what I thought. This year, I am. Interesting isn't it.

I could have quit a dozen times last year, what with no results here and no results there. I became so frustrated at times that the easiest thing in the world would have been to quit.

Yet reality says nothing - - - NOTHING - - - is in vain if you keep on keepin' on.

In other words if you continually see yourself, in your minds eye, as a successful individual, having certain material goods around you; if that image never wavers, if you are constant with that image - - - - it will come to pass.

Yes, you will have failures along the way, many of them. At least I hope you do for if you do not then you aren't doing anything. The failures not only show you the way not to go, they have a way of showing you what to do next.

In truth, I wish upon you hundreds of failures. The more the merrier. For when you fail often you are on the fast track to getting your objective.

The failures build your confidence, your determination, your resolve. Or so it should. Just remember quitting is easy. Anyone can quit. It takes a person of firm resolve to carry on where all the signs are against you. That is why there are so few millionaires, compared to non-millionaires.

Reality says keep on keepin' on. Stay true to your objective. Fear not failure. Look at it as a friend for it brings you one step closer to your goal.

Reality Check!

©2004

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