I found this quote on a blog the other day:
“Until a man selects a definite purpose in life, he dissipates his energies and spreads his thoughts over so many subjects and in so many different directions that they lead not to power, but to indecision and weakness.
With the aid of a small reading glass, you can teach yourself a great lesson on the value of organized effort. Through the use of such a glass, you can focus the sun’s rays on a definite spot so strongly that they will burn a hole through a plank. Remove the glass (which represents the definite purpose), and the same rays of sun may shine on that same plank for a million years without burning it.“ - Napoleon Hill, The Law of Success
I've definitely been feeling this way these last couple of months. I'm pulling myself in a lot of directions, feeling like I want to accomplish something and yet getting nothing done. I need to focus and get one of these projects to 'done'.
One of the things I'm dealing with at the moment isn't something phenomenal or profound or earth-shattering, though it does turn things a bit topsy-turvy for me. I'm being deployed overseas this year. I think that is what is making me feel rushed to try to finish things. I've postponed my MBA work until I return. I've put off a project I started a couple of weeks ago. And I've primarily focused on working on my JPME* work at the moment. I have a few personal projects that are up in the air, and I just need to drop them all right now, finalize some preparations and pick one of these projects to work from start to finish. Otherwise I'll just drive myself crazy shuttling between indecision and incompleteness.
Priorities are in order - work, get affairs in order, JPME work, and ONE project to complete. Since my first NaNo novel is 50-75% complete, I'll work on that to get it from rough draft to first draft quality. While I can say I've 'written a novel' I can't really say I've completed nor published. I need to get to completed.
The immensity of my reading has gone up these last couple of months, trying to drill through my JPME material. One class is nearly finished, leaving me 2 more to complete. I hope I have time to finish one more before heading out. I can't neglect getting affairs in order though, and that will start to ramp up as I get closer.
An object in motion remains in motion unless acted upon by an external unbalanced force. I'm not at rest, but my vector has changed. As I'll be writing more, there'll be more to follow.
*Joint Professional Military Education
Nice to hear/read a catch-up. Sounds like a lot's going on and yeah, prioritizing and focus will help you move forward and take care of that which needs your attention. I've often regretted not going into the military (while at the same time understanding why I chose not to). Do you know where you're going and when?
Posted by: Allycatadventures.wordpress.com | 02/15/2011 at 05:07 PM