This week we were blessed to welcome our new son "Matteo" into the world. At just over 7lbs at birth and now a little lighter than that, he has reminded me about the importance of the "little things" in life. When it comes right down to it, most of the important things in life are the little things. Yes your wedding day, the birth of a child, the big promotion, can all be major days in your life and provide lots of great memories. But the quality of your life isn't determined so much by those few great "big" moments, as much as it is by the accumulation of all of the amazing little ones.
The same is also true in the business world. While the major decisions you make are important, the success you have will be determined more by the multitude of small actions - the little things - that you do each day, each week, and each month, that accumulate to shape your destiny.
This is a critical concept to understand because it can be easy to miss. Many of us fall into the trap of focusing so hard on the few milestone moments in our lives that we gloss over the multitude of little moments and small decisions we make where the difference is really made.
So this week I encourage you to become more aware of the many wonderful little things in your life and appreciate them. I also want you to take a look at how you manage your days to see how you are using those little things you do each day. Are you executing them at 100%? Are you giving them the attention they require? If not, start. This is where success is gained or lost.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Tuesday, May 03, 2011
Taking Responsibility
Well it's the day after the election for us Canadians today and whether you are happy with the results or not, no one can deny it was one of the most interesting elections in a long time. Contrary to what many thought (myself included) a few weeks ago, the results of the election left us with a MUCH different political picture than we had before. Now the question is, where do we go from here as a country and a government?
The next six months will be a great test for Mr. Harper and his government. Will they live up to the promises they've made? Will they do what they said they would do? Will they take responsibility? Only time will tell. I sure hope so.
The same test applies to our next official opposition party the NDP. One of the criticisms of the NDP and Mr. Layton that I've heard again and again was that they could make any promises they wanted to because we all knew they'd never have to live up to them because they were a "3rd place party". Well that has changed. While they aren't the governing party, they do have SOME power now and it will be interesting to see if they will hold true to what they've stood for in during the campaign. Both parties have will have to step up the plate and take responsibility for the promises they have made over the last five weeks if they expect to maintain voter respect and confidence. But the politicians aren't the only ones who will have to take responsibility...
Now it is time for every citizen of voting age to take responsibility for his or her choices yesterday as well. Typically, the week after an election is the time when people like to gripe and complain about the results. No matter what the results, it seems there are always some who can find a reason to complain. My challenge to everyone; take responsibility for your choices and actions yesterday. But, what does that mean?
1. If you didn't vote, don't complain. Far too many think of voting as a right rather than a privilege. People are dying all over the world fighting for the opportunity to vote. We should never take that right for granted. But if you didn't take the time to vote yesterday then, in my mind, you don't really have a right to complain about the results.
2. If you voted for the winning party, congratulations. Now your job is to hold your representatives' feet to the fire. Make sure that they follow through on what they said they would do.
3. If you voted for one of the parties who did not win, you still have role to play. Mourn for a day or two if you must, but then get involved in the process. If your party needs help to attract more voters, share it's platform etc. help them out. Be a part of the process. You can't criticize your party's failure to win if you did nothing to help them.
Let's all step up and realize that no matter who is "in power" in this country, as long as we are a democracy (and thank God that we are) as citizens we all have the right, and the responsibility, to make sure that our representatives actually represent our interests and concerns.
The next six months will be a great test for Mr. Harper and his government. Will they live up to the promises they've made? Will they do what they said they would do? Will they take responsibility? Only time will tell. I sure hope so.
The same test applies to our next official opposition party the NDP. One of the criticisms of the NDP and Mr. Layton that I've heard again and again was that they could make any promises they wanted to because we all knew they'd never have to live up to them because they were a "3rd place party". Well that has changed. While they aren't the governing party, they do have SOME power now and it will be interesting to see if they will hold true to what they've stood for in during the campaign. Both parties have will have to step up the plate and take responsibility for the promises they have made over the last five weeks if they expect to maintain voter respect and confidence. But the politicians aren't the only ones who will have to take responsibility...
Now it is time for every citizen of voting age to take responsibility for his or her choices yesterday as well. Typically, the week after an election is the time when people like to gripe and complain about the results. No matter what the results, it seems there are always some who can find a reason to complain. My challenge to everyone; take responsibility for your choices and actions yesterday. But, what does that mean?
1. If you didn't vote, don't complain. Far too many think of voting as a right rather than a privilege. People are dying all over the world fighting for the opportunity to vote. We should never take that right for granted. But if you didn't take the time to vote yesterday then, in my mind, you don't really have a right to complain about the results.
2. If you voted for the winning party, congratulations. Now your job is to hold your representatives' feet to the fire. Make sure that they follow through on what they said they would do.
3. If you voted for one of the parties who did not win, you still have role to play. Mourn for a day or two if you must, but then get involved in the process. If your party needs help to attract more voters, share it's platform etc. help them out. Be a part of the process. You can't criticize your party's failure to win if you did nothing to help them.
Let's all step up and realize that no matter who is "in power" in this country, as long as we are a democracy (and thank God that we are) as citizens we all have the right, and the responsibility, to make sure that our representatives actually represent our interests and concerns.
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