If not now, when?
I cannot believe that it’s almost the end of the year, have you started working on that “thing” that you have always wanted to do? If not now, when? Regular readers know that one of my big goals for this year was to conduct the Virtual Literary World Tour, and I completed it. It wasn’t perfect, and the way it unfolded wasn’t exactly the way I envisioned it. But I’m satisfied with what I accomplished with the Tour because I have the opportunity to work on version 2.0, integrating the lessons that I learned from version 1.0. There are several years when I did not achieve my goals, and sometimes, one of the hardest thing for me is to get started.
How about you, is it more difficult to start a project or to complete it? I’m presently working on my non-degreed liberal arts education, and as I’m working my way through it, I realize that for the second part of my personal non-degreed program, the classic books that I will be reading, can form the basis for the Virtual Literary World Tour 2.0. Therefore, I have to stick to the plan. I have noticed something about myself, sometimes I have a difficult time sticking to the plan. Yes, it’s very important to be flexible, so that you allow yourself to do unexpected things when the opportunities arise, but there is a danger in not sticking to the plan.
I didn’t stick to reading all the books that I had set out to read for the first Virtual Literary World Tour – they are the books that some of the most successful people read. These books are not a walk in the park, more often than not, you have to slog through them. I have been trying to read some of these classic books for at least three years. As 2013 is winding down, I find myself asking the question, if not now, when will I get around to reading the right old books?
One thing I am doing differently for my goal of acquiring a liberal arts education is that I have scheduled it into my day. First thing in the mornings, for two to three hours, I am attending “school,” and this has made a big difference for me. I have also been taking notes and placing them in my liberal arts education binder. The other thing that I am doing, which may be of benefit to you, is that I am working on a blueprint. Based on the lessons I learned while running the Virtual Literary World Tour 1.0, I have discovered when to stick to the plan and when I can be flexible. By doing this, I will ensure that I have read the right old books, and hopefully next year this time, I will not be asking, if not now, when?
For the important goals that you would like to achieve and haven’t started working on yet, if you do not start now, when will you get around to them? Would creating a blueprint be of assistance to you? Please let me know your thoughts in the comments section below. Liked this post? Share it and subscribe to my RSS feed and get loads more!
Author Bio: Avil Beckford, an expert interviewer, entrepreneur and published author is passionate about books and professional development, and that's why she founded The Invisible Mentor and the Virtual Literary World Tour to give you your ideal mentors virtually in the palm of your hands by offering book reviews and book summaries, biographies of wise people and interviews of successful people.
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