Making the Most of Today
By Del Denney
One of my favorite mission statements comes from the Notre Dame locker room. As the players rush onto the field, they have a tradition of touching a sign. It’s not just any sign. It’s a personal slogan. It’s an agenda that reads, “Play like a champion today.” I find that so intriguing. While the saying as a whole is quite profound, I want to put emphasis on the word today.
In my investing life, my personal life, and my spiritual life, today is what counts. I cannot count on the good fortune of the past, nor can I hang onto the bad things that happened to me. By the same token, I cannot and will not waste time in anticipation or apprehension of what in the future may affect me. Just as your mother told you when you were younger, “Don’t wish your life away.” With the current economic turmoil we face, it is all too easy to simply wait to take action until some future date that we have set. However, we need to stay away from the sidelines and get into the game, today.
To illustrate this concept, I would like to share a story. When I first learned to golf, I was so excited to get out on the green every time I played. Each time, I got dressed up in my nice golf shirt and slacks, retrieved my clubs from the garage, and felt absolutely pumped for a day out with the guys. Upon arriving at the first hole, I would get up to tee off, smack the ball, and watch it dart off right into the woods. Upon finding my ball, I would take another mighty whack, typically sending the ball into a sand trap. It was about this time that my buddies would chuckle and tell me that I spent more time in the sand than David Hasselhoff of the TV series Baywatch.
By then, I would be frustrated. Not only had I had two bad hits in a row, but I was then faced with the monumental task of getting the ball out of the sand trap. Did I mention sand traps are my nemesis? I would hit it again, and much to my dismay, the ball would invariably fly over the green and nestle itself in another sand trap. My whole day was often filled with frustration and, quite frankly, I often began to wish that I wasn’t playing golf anymore. My whole attitude changed for the worse in a matter of 20 minutes. Isn’t life a lot like this?
The moral of the story is this: Do not let your bad shots affect your current shot; do not let your future swings affect your current swing.
Focus on right now! Just as a golfer must focus on his or her current swing, we all need to focus on the current day. Erase from your mind what has happened in the past. Cross the bridge of your “next shot” when you get there. Success is about staying in the moment. In other words, think about the shot you are taking right now. Look around you. What are your opportunities? What are the dangers? How can you improve your current position?
Here are some suggestions to make today more productive:
1. Your past
Learn from the past, but don’t dwell on it. Today, you can move farther than any accomplishments of yesterday. Upon winning a third world championship in bull riding, Tuff Hedman soon began training for his next rodeo. He spent little time celebrating his victory; instead, he began preparing himself for the next season. Someone took notice of this, and questioned him about his routine. He simply said, “The bull won’t care what I did last week.” The same rings true for our lives. Life doesn’t care about our past victories, or even our past failures. Each day we have an opportunity to move forward, no matter where we are in life.
2. Your future
Set your priorities straight today. As the classic quote says, “A goal not written down is merely a wish.” It’s important to dream, but you must have your goals in place in order to achieve those dreams. What do you want to achieve? How will you get there? Set a large goal, then break it into smaller goals in order to accomplish the bigger picture. When you wake up in the morning, make a list of everything you want to achieve for that day.
3. The present
Start your day with an uplifting book. It will help set the tone for the rest of the day. Many people report experiencing great results when they set aside a part of their morning for religious or spiritual devotion or meditation. If you lack time in the morning, audio books are great for your morning commute to work.
Something that I have found helpful is keeping a personal journal. Every night, take the time to write in your journal what happened that day. You may be surprised at all you have accomplished. If you’re trading in the stock market, write down your trades. Write down why you are in the trade and what it was that triggered you into the trade. If you are investing in real estate, write down how many offers you have made. Write down the description of the experiences you had with the people with whom you networked. The next day, push yourself to be better than the day before. If you are actively involved with keeping a good journal, you may find yourself thinking during the day about what you are going to put in your journal for that night. I’ve even found myself going the extra mile just so I could have a good journal entry. Your journal will also be a valuable legacy to leave behind to your loved ones. It may help inspire them one day to live to their fullest potential.
In conclusion, the greatest gift that we have is the opportunities that avail themselves to us everyday. Make the most of the day no matter how mundane or busy it might be. In your work ethic, remember the adage, “Do today what others won’t so you can live tomorrow like others can’t.” This is a new day; what are you going to do with it?