Of course not.

But that's exactly what happens when you let distractions - albeit it attractive distractions - move you off your Life Map. You "end up" somewhere instead of where you really want to be. Time and space and conscious choice must be attached to any decisions to detour or stop along your way. Is there time? Can I do this at another time? Will it detract from my goal, or enhance it?

Don't let your temporary, current desires take precedence over what you REALLY want.

Because, you see, an important part of succeeding is deciding what is and what isn't a distraction. For example, as you were headed to your party, you saw a vendor with some fresh flowers and you decide to stop and pick up some for your friend. In that case, a stop along way ADDS to your goal. However, if instead you decide to stop and see a movie and arrive quite late at party, then you have detracted from your goal.

The Life Map functions same way. For example, if you are working on a College Degree, and you decide to stop and work at an entry level position in your field to learn nuts and bolts of industry, then that will ADD to your end result. However, if instead, you decide to take time off to back-pack through Europe, that will detract from your goal of finishing your degree.

Each "opportunity" must be evaluated in light of how it will affect your ultimate goal.will it contribute to it, or will it detract from it?

Therefore, both driving map and Life Map serve same high purpose: To Keep You On Track.

POST your Life Goals so that you can see them every day. Decide that you will put as much thought into your Life Map as you do into planning your Vacation. Grab on to steering wheel of your life. Check your map often, determine your current location, and move confidently toward where you want to go.

We all have "havetos" that aren't particularly thrilling in our life.doing breakfast dishes, running errands, paying bills, maybe mowing lawn, and especially that once a year tax aggravation.

But what if, instead, we look at bigger picture, instead of just "have to" itself. For example, "I have to do breakfast dishes." Yes, I have to, IF I want a clean sink, and IF I want clean dishes to eat off of again. I consider this my contribution to a happy household. I consider it a role or responsibility that I negotiated, and that I accept as part of obtaining my ultimate goal.having a happy, comfortable family life.

I also "have-to" market my business.definitely not most fun I ever had. But if I want business, if I want customers, if I want to make my living this way, then I "have-to" do marketing. But again I have options: 1. I can let go of business. 2. I can hire someone to help me. 3. I can delegate job to another person in business.

A friend recently said to me "I can't go to movies with you, I have to pay rent." Does she really "have-to" pay rent? No. She too has options: 1. She could move to a cheaper place so that she has extra money. 2. She could get a better job. 3. She could mooch off her friends. The point is that she is making choices about how she spends her money, and about how that money gives her most pleasure. It's not that she "can't" go to movies.it's that higher goal (living in house she wants) gives her more pleasure than movies.

"Have-tos" are a part of life. Instead of looking at them as drudgery, or work, or struggle, remember to consider bigger picture.