Goals and Success.

I have three goals in place at the moment. One is a second phase for an existing dating back to 2000, the other is a by product of one from 2002, and the third for a talent I posses from as early as I can recall. 

1) Secure the investments in my career, continue to build my studio for greater relevance and strength.

2) Invest and develop within my industry to secure my company as a full service advertising agency within 12 years focusing on business development with multi-market insight.

3) Prepare for and secure a transition out of my industry for retirement within another. Writing novels, non fiction and fiction, as well manuscripts addressing principles and practices within my current industry's ecology.  

I have a history of setting five year goals and reaching them. In the past they were simpler statements: "In five years I will be doing..." "...school work and almost finished with my degree.", "...living abroad and researching areas, while learning a new language.", "...finishing up with my training in how brands works and how to make them work." 

It's not uncommon to set goals. 1989 is when I began by looking at mine. And the state of my life. It wasn't terrible then. I was 26 years old, considering a career in Math or Insurance. Odd isn't it. I had a little college under my belt, but more importantly possessed a keen interest in continuing. I was however still a bit traumatized by a past set-back, a major set-back and had yet to fully place its correction in motion.

The set back was clear evidence I was not the most talented swimmer. Funny isn't it.

I also found I had neither the support (training) or discipline to continue competing. For a consummate athlete and competitor this was devastating. I had invited several friends, one from high school and the other a new college friend into my workouts at Pearce College In Woodland Hills.

And was slaughtered!

It almost broke me. I had leading up to that point moderate success as a young adult qualifying and placing within the top high school athletes throughout Los Angeles County City trials (I think I was 13th in one): Qualifying for City consistently through high school In three disciplines; having competed at the Varsity level from day one of three years; and having the awesome responsibility of competing for my team in the 100 m Breast Stroke, 400 I.M. events, winning my league, and being of one of two for the 100 m Butterfly event; MVP, and team co-captain.

I had plans on staying the course until either earning a scholarship to attend college and compete for my team or if that failed in taking me all the way, earning a national title as an amateur athlete in Masters swimming. I had to be realistic and needed two plans. I was getting old, almost 20 and well past the prime age for a swimmer which is 15.

If the track is not set by that age, it's all over.

Watching Olympic competitions would bring me to tears, I was so proud of the those who made it, so proud I could make it, so eager to be one of them. Oddly, six months before joining the swim team at Los Angeles High School, I myself had to be rescued by a lifeguard while trying to save a friend who was drowning. 

I could not swim. I didn't know how.

The set back was, although my Breast stroke was as fast as most freestyler's, short by only 4 seconds comparing meet times, I could not freestyle or backstroke to save my life. My fly and breast strokes where "pscyhe" killers in I.M. events. But in those practices with my two friends, A.A.U. athletes and gifted swimmers, I encountered a frustration so deep I withdrew and wept inconsolably on the deck.

Attempting to correct this in later practices I eventually ripped through both shoulders and damaged both rotator cups. I could not lift myself out of the pool workout's end. 

The injuries were just the tip of the iceberg. I could not enter in to a pool without working out. I could not swim at the ocean without swimming out a half mile to mark a lap. I lost sight of how to enjoy water.

To address this, I threw every trophy and medal earned into the wastebin vowing never to allow another to be the gauge of success or the example of my potential.

I found in damaging my shoulders the mind was far more powerful than I ever imagined or would admit. I could block out pain, channel it to different areas and heal myself in short order if needed. If I could do this and couple it with a key lesson from my mother, then there would be no object out of my reach or control. 

I had to change and decided to use it differently, and to use it correctly. I went about setting new goals and unlike positive affirmation where every channel and ounce of energy is arranged for the goal, my goals would appear. And would appear when I decided.

Some things about me never change.

The difference however was is in the method. Reading once we use 10% of our mind, I decided to find the remaining 90%. And have.

I removed all influences the market applies to the psyche beginning with advertising statements of power and success. I knew personally, and had no need or use for these removed and unsubstantiated claims in empathy. There is not a single example of an athlete running an ad agency. Used within campaigns yes, author of the copy - never! They are, like every person on the planet an example of success. The One and Only's.

I also made it a point not to "support" my goals but to insist on my goals appearing. Again, no need for a manufactured empathy program.

I form one goal statement every five years. One moment to clearly articulate them. And rely completely on success, as an event waiting for me. Of course, always, acknowledging my outstanding debt to God and the promise to use my skills as instructed.

I have always reached my goals. Finding my person, in place, in-goal I never take them for granted. I never form a goal along a material possession. My goals are always designed to enrich my life and life as best I can.

Here are the points I follow:

1) Definitively state aloud your success as an occurrence scheduled to meet you at a specific point in time.

2) Find your cycle - where your success moments leave evidence of your natural timing.

3) Meet your goal enriching yourself with all other interests and topics of the world.

4) Never limit your interests by assuming a complete understanding.

5) Reject "thinking out of the box". Assuming a box exists is pre-establishing a limit for you to then struggle with.

6) Remove all market influences from your psyche. This will clearly reveal the breadth of your conscience.

7) Never ignore your doubt. They are concise outlines of areas requiring attention. Where insight is present. They are access points to a deeper understanding of human nature, society, economy, and the value of life itself.

8) Listen carefully to your doubt. It is the single most challenging competitor you'll ever face. Allow yourself to experience the hardship of competition. Addressing them will strengthen you.

9) Once you have achieved a goal, destroy the method used in reaching it. Trust that you have absorbed its lessons. Your psyche will expand to search for all other potentials. This secures your ability to nurture efficient use and practices of intelligence skills. It secures creative thinking.

10) Never state potential. It is a direct conflict to Success as the inherent capacity, the occurrence in waiting, of every person's Courage and Confidence. Gauge readiness. Never potential.

These let me work smarter and secures a safety area where common misunderstandings, arguments, mean people, and unfavorable situations can be converted into learning opportunities for greater and broader strengths.

A career in advertising and design has one very interesting requirement. Commitment to competition. Notwithstanding arguments in value and honesty of our profession its worth is contingent on the effective competitive positioning and competitive strength of our assets. For Design and Advertising: Insight, Research, and Leadership.

Investments within are a constant. The effort can be likened to being one of hundreds of thousands of worker ants charged with changing the grain direction in a piece of wood. 

Competition and business development are the same thing. This entire article in fact is not unlike an outline of a business developing. From why's a drowning can frighten someone into skill acquisitions and later competing to secure goals.

We want a better world. We want a safer world. We want a more consistent world for others to find their way through, enjoying life, being alive, pursuing the benefits of their freedom.

The rest of it (money, vacations, time), we couldn't care less, it's included in the package and waiting to meet us at a specific point in time. Some day soon. Funny isn't it.