Rule 5 – Don’t complain about the wind; adjust your sails

Rule 5 – Don’t complain about the wind; adjust your sails

The only difference between being 20 and being 78, is that I no longer make twenty-year plans.

Riding the river of life, you must always check your course and make adjustments. At 78, I recognize that much closer to the mouth of that river; hopefully, the rest of the ride will be placid and smooth.

The only way I can be sure of that is to pull up to the bank and check out the river ahead to the best of my ability. The government policies of printing money to pay debt will drive inflation and interest rates. This is not the time to have an adjustable rate second mortgage. An economic slowdown caused by the freeze up in the financial market will make it tough for everyone. With a fixed income this means my river ahead is still full rapids.

I recognized the need to make $5-$10,000 a year more than I'm currently making. More will allow me to pay down my debt. I've set my course to help people understand what we must do to pass on a viable environment to our children. My tool is video. My products are environmental documentaries. Unfortunately this goal is both expensive and not necessarily financially rewarding.

The most reliable way I can make extra money is by taking a second job. The problem with that captains set their own course, and I'm neither good at taking orders or in working for other people's goals. You might say I'm a mutineer.

Business people are reluctant to hire someone approaching 80. So, I have to find someone who doesn't discriminate against age, who allows me to help others and has the potential to provide the income I need. I'm not physically able to work construction. I'd even have problems working on my feet for eight hours. For me, tax preparation seems to be the best route. The business is not dependent on the state of the economy. Everyone has to pay taxes. I can work hard for 3 1/2 months and reach my financial goals. The rest of the year. I'll be able to pursue my own course.

The course you plot will depend on three aspects of your brain. The right side is your explorer. The explorer manages your creativity and your ability to dream. But your explorer gets nothing down. It's your navigator, who sets the course toward your goals. Your navigator is the logical left side of your brain. Your navigator looks at where you want to go and figures out how to get there

The third part of your brain is the workhorse. You've all heard of the workaholic. The workhorse gets things done. If the workhorse moves forward on the steps they navigator has created, you will know that you're moving forward toward your goals.

To accomplish anything worthwhile, you have to get the explorer, the navigator and the workhorse all working together. Unless they do, your boat will be stuck in an eddy going around in circles. They call it busy work.

There are tools you can use to pull the three aspects of your brain together.

One is strategic thinking. It's the process of plotting your course backwards from your goal. Once you have the major steps you need to take to accomplish your goal, you then set small measurable objectives, which will help keep you on course.

A Harvard business school survey of their MBA graduates found that 27% of their MBA graduates were living on assistance. These people didn't budget their money or set any goals. 60% were living paycheck to paycheck. They found that these people did budget their finances, but had set no strategic goals. 10% reported they were comfortable, all of these people also reported they had a general, five-year financial and life plan. Only 3% reported that they were independently wealthy and happy with their lives. The study discovered that all these people developed written lists of their long-term goals and action plans for achieving those goals. They all develop a strategy for success and a way to monitor their progress.

My grandmother used to quote Robert Burns, “The best laid plans of mice and men gang aft algae”. When you plans go wrong, pull up to the bank and figure out how you have to readjust you course. You never fail until you quit trying.

Brainstorming is the explorer's second tool. Brainstorming is where a group of people get together to throw out ideas. These ideas are never ridiculed or rejected during the brainstorming process. After all ideas have been suggested, it's time for careful deliberation to determine which ideas are best and most practical.

Another form of brainstorming is to work on something as fast as possible. It forces the creative side of your brain to work. A writer is told to write without stopping. When the chapter or article is complete, it will be time to go back and use your navigating side of the brain to edit and revise.

The third tool is visualization. We've all seen an athlete pause before executing a difficult maneuver. He is visualizing every aspect of what he is about to do.

For the navigator to plan her course, you need an accurate map. The more you know, the better your map will be. That's why education is so important.

You need a steady rudder. That is your determination and drive. Trim your sail to catch the wind. Your sail is your passion, your joy and your vocation.

Most important is your moral compass. Your compass is your conscience. Your compass is based on your values. If you value honesty and loyalty, you won't lie and you won't cheat. You will be loyal to your wife and pass your values on to your kids.

You need a solid anchor in a storm to avoid being washed up on the rocks. Your anchor is the value to place on yourself. It gives you your ability to make difficult decisions and to know you're on the right course even when others disapprove. It allows you to stand up for what you believe, despite any criticism.

Your friends are a great influence on your life. If you choose a mate who is abusive and domineering, your anchor will slip and you are in a world of trouble. If you choose friends who are positive, they will help you achieve. They will be a loyal crew. You can call on when you need help.

How do you make this all work? Write down a personal declaration of you who you are, what you value and what you intend to accomplish with your life. Yes it must be written. When you write down your personal declaration, you are more committed to it and you can come back to review it whenever you need to make an important decision. If the course you set is inconsistent with your values, you either need to revise your values or more probably reset your course.

The bottom line is, if you don't care where you're going any course will get you there. If you want a meaningful life, understand your goals, set your course and put your workhorse to work.