Ever since one of those speakers came to Microsoft and give a speech about what motivates and what does not. He said one thing I’ll never forget and remains one of my favourite quote of all time.
He said
"Hope is not a strategy”
We all wish we could do more, we all say if we had more time, I would do this extra thing that I like, learn how to play Oud, start learning a new language, I’ll start working out next year, duh duh duh.. This has been an on-going theme, at least in my life.
The problem with that is, I never had the time to do what I always wanted to do. I’ve always hoped to be able to understand a 4th language, play Oud, dance on2, travel more often, and a list of stuff that I have even lost count of and decided not to write anymore because I knew I will never be able to do it if I did not start now.
That has all changed after I read this amazing post by Sharon Pakir on brushing your teeth. Well, it wasn’t all about brushing your teeth only, but more about the simple things in life that makes your day, life happier. The post “the simple things” had a great section about a (kick-ass) electric toothbrush, which touches on a topic that is very close to my heart an painful to my teeth at the same time. But what hit my mind was, until when will I stay use just the normal brush – not that the normal has any issues, but it is scientifically proven that electric ones are more effective. Along with that, I have always wanted to use the floss and the mouthwash. And I said to myself, I have all of them I just haven’t been using them, and there is no reason I should not. I already passed my mid-life crisis last year and if there is a time for change, it should be now, and I should not be thinking about it twice.
So, I decided, just like whenever I decide on something big (in my head) that I should go, ask doctors, meet people with white teeth, and search online what’s the best way to brush my teeth. And I looked at my calendar and said, damn – i barely have time to do what I have to do on daily basis, and I really really don’t have time for anything like this.. What shall I do.. :-/
WTH am I doing? Seriously? I want to spend couple of days just to go ask and find out, nah. There got to be something wrong. I can do it the easier way. I can just search online, find the best way, and take this as the best way to brush my teeth until I find an opportunity in the future where I meet a doctor or part of my normal check-ups, whatever the opportunity was.
This has suddenly hit me, I have a lot of things in my life that I have been wanting to do, and been pending in my life because I overplan and over-analyze. I don’t go to the gym because I say I need a full 3 – 6 months commitment, I don’t learn Oud because I cannot allocate time to practice and learn on my own in my free time, I did not start searching for my MBA because I am busy with doing my job today.. Nope. not anymore.
What I learned is:
Hope is not a strategy
I cannot hope to do things in the future specially that I have the well to do it now,
If for anything I want to do, I don’t have time. I’ll learn on the spot how to do it the best way without delaying it any further.
Action, action, action.
This year’s resolution is:Do not wait until next year for new year’s resolution.
Time to get back to work and finish some of the stuff I have before SCC.
T
p.s. I like this video. Hope you find it useful =P
and met two of its key members that were very nice and helpful (Angel and George) Music is in their blood.. Artists and musicians are amazing people!
