One of the coolest things I guess I ever learned is you only get out what you put in. It's the rehash of the old sayings You will reap what you sow, you get what you plant, no shots no scores etc, etc. I suppose I've known for a long time that the reason some of these sayings hang around is because they are true. Not Self-help jargon and Rah Rah inspiration, but real honest truths that are confirmed by the universe on a regular basis. My recent epiphany of this process goes back to a couple of things that I have been doing. The first was looking for a form of long term stable employment, and the second is my ongoing quest to write for a living. Let me be clear that the writing is a long term idea that has seldom gotten a full commitment out of me, and the other is the one that i am forced to follow so that i can pay bills and live in relative harmony. This past couple of weeks I ramped up the search for both and stayed fairly focused on the results. I meditated on outcomes and visualized a future. I also held on to a few principles like the minimums I would work for etc. And, Ii followed a couple of other homilies I I remebered about quests. One for writers, and freelancers of all kinds goes, "Keep 12 irons in the fire, at all times." It means that contract proposals, and queries must always be at twelve. keep them out there and work will come. I got to twelve, got declined a couple of times so added two more and landed a descent contract. I have had 3- 6 out there most of the time for years, but within week or reaching 12 the statement proved it's worth.
The job search is a similar thing. I was getting discouraged at my prospects after sending many apps out there, tailoring untold cover letters and resumes, and just waiting for the phone to ring. Then I remembered reading once that if you get 75 resumes out to reasonable opportunities there is almost no chance an offer will not come. Surprise again. I posted #76 via email a mere hour before the call came on# 66 and I got an interview. It went well, really really well. I couldn't have scripted it any better. I don't want to count the chickens before the you know, but it sure feels like something has shifted in the universe for me. I am so excited about these great opportunities. So I don't know if it's a numbers game or the law of the universe but if you want something maybe, just maybe all you have to do is put enough of the desire out there to trigger the universe to respond. The laws of attraction seem to have a combination.

Time and Time again

I am thinking of Doogie Houser from back in the day. I was thinking how he journaled at the end of every episode. Here, I can post my thoughts and plans for the day just like Doogie, ....except I won't. It's not 'cause I don't want to, it's just that something always comes up. This is a simple blog page, as noted on the subtitle where I just shake my head and stuff comes out and this is where I arrange it. So I have a new suggestion for myself. I will use this page as a success journal. I will note different things that I do or try or add to my ever expanding repertoire of information. When things go well I will post here and if they don't, I might mention that too . Sometimes its OK to remember "That Didn't Work" it helps us not do stupid stuff over again.
For instance I just read a piece that instruct us on how to write faster, improving productivity and profitability in the same manner. It seems to work, I followed the basic instructions and wrote this in about 9 minutes.
Enough for now.
I'll be back soon I promise.

New Year, New Directions

Once again life has turned a corner. In conjunction with the new year upon us, and as of this posting, roughly eleven and a half months to go in any direction you choose. That is the beautiful thing about a life of freewill. Choices.
Now I am not a big believer in resolutions per se, although if that is your way to make a decision to act then go for it. I do think that life is full of opportunities mostly missed by failure; to act, to decide or to move toward something as the opportunity presented itself. I know lots of people who have missed things because they made a call to a great job the day after they heard about it only to find it was filled the day before. A circumstance that might have been totally different had they not waited to act. So this year I am adding to my list of things to make life easier; the idea that acting and noticing opportunities is important. I will be vigilant for them and act on them as quickly as I can. Be it a drop in gas prices or an opportunity in life, family, career, business or art. i believe this is a habit worth developing because the speed of change in the current world is orders of magnitude different from my grandparents' life. In that time it was easier to hold onto the way things were always done, or to keep steady on a course. But, I think that last year alone I missed at least three opportunities that might have changed my life in a significant way had I noted them sooner. And i had a good last year! Not great i guess there were some bumpy spots, but as Tony Robbins reminds us, the only people without problems can be found under headstones. So I acted on a few things and missed a few last year. My goal is to up the ratio of acting. Of living on purpose instead of just existing in a daily decline of time. In fact this blog might change focus a little in the coming months as I make note of acted opportunities and possibly record results here.
All the best in 2011.
Go for it.