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Every year, many of us wonder how the time flies. And soon we find ourselves once again only hours into the beginning of a new year. Today, millions think about resolutions to do better and be better. Many others know that most people don’t follow through on those resolutions. So they, instead, decide to make incremental changes toward a significant goal.

Whatever your perspective, a new year offers a renewed opportunity. It’s the chance to become the person you want to be in your life for yourself and your family. We know that life is not a dress rehearsal. Further, you only have this one opportunity to live how and in the way you want. Every morning, you get a fresh chance to start taking the steps to become your best self.

A few weeks ago, I came across the following quote from Neil Gaiman. I think it elegantly captures the idea of getting up off the couch to do something meaningful.

I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes. Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world. You’re doing things you’ve never done before, and more importantly, you’re Doing Something. So that’s my wish for you, and all of us, and my wish for myself. Make New Mistakes. Make glorious, amazing mistakes. Make mistakes nobody’s ever made before. Don’t freeze, don’t stop, don’t worry that it isn’t good enough, or it isn’t perfect, whatever it is: art, or love, or work or family or life. Whatever it is you’re scared of doing, Do it. Make your mistakes, next year and forever.” – Neil Gaiman

YOU Matter!

If you follow the work I do, then you know that my ideal is “YOU Matter.” For me, every life is valuable. And success in life comes through relationships. That was told to me decades ago by a high school teacher named Jackie Busch. She said it at a time when I was an awkward teenager trying to find my place in the world. For whatever reason, those words unlocked a burning drive that exists to this day.

I’m up every day at 3:30 am or certainly by 5:00 am in the morning. Candidly, sometimes my family teases me because I also tend to go to sleep early. But in those quiet early hours, I get so much done with focus and mindfulness. It’s one of the reasons that I’ve been able to create several profitable businesses and even more brands.

Do Something for the New Year

I’m not any more special than anyone else, but the difference between how I live my life and others is that I don’t quit and I am okay with making many mistakes. As Gaiman expressed in his great quote, when you’re making mistakes, you’re doing something. People who are too afraid to appear foolish in front of others or have a need for perfection tend to approach each day looking to color inside the lines.

If you’re looking to change your life or do something that’s meaningful to you, then color outside of the lines with bright and bold crayons. The world has become a place in the 21stCentury that rewards the risk takers, and there is no glory or success without risk.

So, on the first day of 2019, my wish for you, as Gaiman expressed is that you make plenty of great mistakes in the new year. Get up each day focused on the one goal you want more than anything else in the world, and then chip away at it every day, for however many minutes you have available daily. Stay the course, especially when you fail, or things get challenging. If you do that, exactly a year from now, you’ll look back on the 365 days you’ve lived in 2019 and be proud of what you’ve been able to achieve, and remember…

YOU Matter!

You have a voice and a purpose, and it’s your choice to give your gifts to the world.

 

Author of “Not Your Father’s Charity: Grip & Rip Leadership for Social Impact”(Free Digital Download)

© 2019 Wayne Elsey and Not Your Father’s Charity. All Rights Reserved