Boom!

The Internet comes along, knowledge increases 10,000 percent over night, and society chases knowledge in greater numbers. More people are getting PhD’s and double master degrees than ever before. Stress-related diseases increased 100% last year alone.

What's wrong with this picture?

The subjective is now objective. You don't need any stats for this. Use your instincts. You "know" this already just with your own life. It's time for this cultural trance to awaken from a belief that has now proved itself incorrect.

So, then, what really needs to change?

Well, it didn't ever really change. The ladder was leaning against wrong wall, that’s all. We can't point fingers; we are just now seeing mantra. The motivational trainers like Tony Robbins sing this daily. What’s different is that we no longer can deny truth of it. My grandma told me long ago, "The proofs in pudding."

Do you relate to this? Even in a small way? Great! The good news -- it only takes 30 seconds to shift your perspective. That’s several 30-second times throughout day until its totally gone. It will not take long though. The real key that I'm getting into now will override ole mantra much faster.

The real key to success is action. Think about it. We already have tons of information swirling in our heads that we haven't used. So, when were you going to use it? Someday maybe. When you are sitting in rocking chair in retirement community? Now, don't get me wrong, it isn't too late to start it then either. But gosh darn it, who would want to wait until them. Not I. And I don't think you either. There’s more energy available younger you are.

Stop chasing more knowledge. Start taking action with what’s already available. When you use up what’s available, then reach out.

"Action leads to success." Adopt this new mantra. Set books aside. Pick up your brain instead. Start with a short and quick action plan with a clearly defined goal. Not a "long drawn out take a month to do" plan. Keep it simple. Keep it short. Don't overwhelm your mind with anything else. Then you are returning to ole mantra. Don't wait until kid’s soccer game this weekend.

Stop what you're doing. It will only take three minutes. Go ahead; grab post it notes. Aren't they beneath paper stack to your left? I play post-it note roulette on my office wall all time. It’s quick, easy, fast, and I can spend more time taking action. In my case, writing more.

My consulting expanded to include thought leadership after it crystallized for me that individual is vital to progress of whole and a key component to attaining success. An organization led by someone oblivious to how critical thought leadership is to success could be in for an extraordinarily bumpy road.

I have known or worked with so many people who’ve been in therapy for six or seven years with minimal progress because they were not being honest with therapist about what they really wanted.

What I observed, in a general sense, were people going to therapist for validation of their victimization. But what does it mean when it takes seven years to meet that need? Think of all other productive uses of that time that have been missed.

At some point preparation is supposed to end and business of journey undertaken.

I understand that awful things happen sometimes, but it simply does not serve us to define ourselves by worst events in our lives. Validation is only a step in process, it is not destination--- mission is to live from your core. Perhaps, it goes without saying, but I will for sake of clarification…I believe that this translates into highest and best use of our innate gifts and a genuine appreciation of same in others. I guess some would call that unconditional love, but I feel that genuine appreciation summons fewer presumptions.

However, without a genuine sense of self it can seem impossible to practice real self-love because without it I wonder if one can know what love really is. And this is what many of you say you want out of life believing it will magically make you happy.

This misperception is what I believe to be root of what often goes wrong in relationships when burden of making someone happy is dumped into lap of another individual. Each of us must take responsibility for our own experience, happy or otherwise. In best cases, people can enhance your life, but not complete it. (And I tell you this as someone who has been mostly happily married for fourteen years.)

I am not writing this because I have it all figured out. I face same challenges as everyone else, but coming to terms with my “stuff” required that I embrace all of my talents and find ways of applying them that supported my growth and integrity.