The most exciting times are when we leave the past and try something new.

Do new things. 

Find new careers. 

Meet new people. 

Discover new things.

But too often we have to be forced into starting over.  It is a residue of something unfortunate that compels us to take action.  We eventually buck up and tackle the job of starting over because we have to.  And the results are almost always the best of times that follow no matter how things started.

What would happen if we didn’t wait for misfortune to descend upon us before starting over again?

Sports teams somehow need to hit rock bottom before they really shake things up to compete again.  In corporate America companies cling to their traditional streams of profit even if their revenue is consistently heading down.  Even in our personal lives we frequently overstay relationships that are without feeling due to fear of having nothing in its place.

The next time you’re ready to change the status quo and start over, let this inspire you:

1. Live in the future not the past.  As Carl Bard says, “Although no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending.”
2. Welcome failure because it is going to take a few failures to arrive at success.  There is no way around it.  Lee Iacocca saved Chrysler Corporation by trying things (and yes, failing) and he says, “So what do we do?  Anything.  Something.  So long as we just don’t sit there.  If we screw it up, start over.  Try something else.  If we wait until we’ve satisfied all the uncertainties, it may be too late.”
3. Use a new canvass every day.  When we paint a picture you don’t keep throwing paint on the same canvas.  We actually get a new canvass every single day.  Think of it like that.  How many empty canvasses do you have?
4. It’s never too late to start over.  If that’s our excuse, what we’re really saying is I’m not ready.  Today – even now – is a good time to start especially if you remember that the sooner we begin, the sooner things get better.  Guaranteed.

Subscribe to This Feed – Free Updates by Email