| Dear John If you could have anything you want in 2021, what would that look like? Stronger relationships? Increased income? More stability? An atmosphere of peace at home? This year is drawing to a close, and it’s time for a reset, the hope of a new year, and a fresh start at achieving our big goals and dreams. I believe there are some key choices you can make NOW that will dictate what you achieve in the year ahead. Here are 3 important keys to keep in mind if you want to accomplish all your big goals in 2021: 1. Character Dad always said character was the #1 thing needed for success. He put it this way: “You can have everything money will buy without a lick of character, but you can’t have any of the things money can’t buy if you don’t have character.” Character is built brick by brick, with every decision we make and action we take. It comes from seeking positive input to help us maintain the right mindset, so we can trust we make the best choices along our path.
2. Planning Achieving your goals involves first determining where you want to be, and then planning the steps it will take to get there. The best goals are planned out down to small, incremental steps. 3. Action Of course, to achieve your goals you’ll need to take action. Or, as Dad often said, you need to put something in before you can get something out. One example Dad used often was “Priming the Pump,” and it illustrates this idea perfectly. If you’ve ever used an old-fashioned water pump, you know that there’s a lot of work to be done before any water comes out. You have to pour water in and prime the pump, and then pump hard, often for several minutes before the water finally rises to the top and starts flowing. Some of you feel like you’ve been pumping and pumping and pumping this year, and nothing’s coming out of that pump … and you’re about to give up. But here’s what Dad would say … “Don’t stop!” Everything that you’ve been putting in is getting that water closer and closer to coming out, and once it starts flowing—it’s all worth it. I believe there are big things coming for you in 2021. If you will be and do first, you can have all the things in life that you want. | 