5 Big To-Do’s for 2013

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I don’t know how many times I’ve kicked myself in the behind (figuratively of course) for not having the pluck to do something that I really wanted to do.

For example, not climbing to the top of an ancient Mayan pyramid when I had that one chance to do so. Will I ever get that opportunity again? Fat chance. Or, not buying the wife that nice little used Mini Cooper she saw in a neighborhood lot. She really wanted that car, but I had to give it another day to think it over. Returning the next day – Gone.

To get to the point, I’m convinced that the regret for not doing something you really wanted to do lingers and is usually worse than the pain of doing something and getting a kick in the rear as a consequence. Failing always offers a lesson, and oftentimes a valuable lesson if you’re paying attention. After all, even the late Ted William  got a base hit slightly more than one of every three trips to the plate (lifetime batting avg. .344) and yet he’s considered by many to be the greatest hitter in baseball history.

Keeping that thought in mind, I offer these suggestions for the coming year. While they’re mine, I suspect more than a few of you, too, might be thinking along the same lines with a new year and 12 months of new possibilities  just weeks away.

1.  Take action on a big idea, something way beyond what I’m presently doing.

2.  Build stronger, more intimate relationships with knowledgeable, thoughtful and optimistic people, the kind of people that encourage big thoughts and audacious ideas.

3.  Increase my knowledge of technology to more effectively communicate and function in our rapidly changing and evolving society. I’ve got more than a few miles on me but I’m not afraid of change.

4.  Share what I’ve learned from my personal experiences with those who feel they might benefit from them. (Mostly what they’ll learn is what not to do, which is probably more instructive than the opposite.)

5.  Resist settling into a comfort zone. Better to seek out new ideas and opportunities that challenge and stretch my abilities . . .but more so my courage. Lack of courage stymies our willingness to add new and valuable experiences to our lives.