What Future Are You Making for Yourself?

"The future is made in the present."
- Kelly Andrews

As I dodge the barrage of emails and phone calls that are coming at me in order to write this blog, I have suddenly realized that this quote makes perfect sense! Whether it be good or bad, what I am doing right now will change the outcome of what's to come. Sure, some may argue the concept of fate, but regardless of what the bigger picture may have in store, it's the decisions you make in the present that will help mold your future.

As I've posted in the past, there's never a shortage of tasks to complete or responsibilities to handle, but what kind of environment am I creating for myself by continuing to take on more and more? I find myself having a hard time saying no, or being away for extended periods of time for the fear that something may not get done "the right way" or that somehow someone else may not be able to move forward without my input or feedback. I see this as a natural side effect of an operations guy like myself, but the decision I make right now will likely set up what I can expect for myself in the very near future. If I continue to agree to get involved with everything that's presented to me, I'm likely to let someone down somewhere along the line since it's too much to take on at certain times. It's important to evaluate what it's worth and to consider what the outcome may be either way before committing.

My quest for balance in my professional and personal life has proven to be more challenging lately. The demands of my job have been escalated and my stubbornness to not compromise my personal life has left me struggling in both areas. By not giving in to the extra energy needed to get through this busy time of year, I'm limping along with unfinished responsibilities hanging over my head, which is not allowing me to give 100% in other areas of my life. This can be related to a sports injury where a player can play with the injury for months operating at 70 or 80 percent, or they could be out completely for four weeks and play the rest of the season at 100% by just giving in to the injury and doing what needs to be done. The decision to play or not to play can be a big indicator of the future they are creating for themselves. The same applies to you and me on a daily basis. If you feel yourself resisting something that continues to crop up, at some point you've got to make a decision that will put it to rest once and for all.

Take a quick survey of what's on your mind and see if there's something nagging you that you can address. Understand that your decisions today will help shape your tomorrow.