The Thirty Day Year

The Achievers-Part 3–Getting Started and Learning As You Go

May 28th, 2008 | by Jeniffer |

photo credit: brennan.v

This post is part 3 in the seies, The Achievers.

Lodewijk van den Broek is a married dad who lives in the Netherlands. His blog, How To Be An Original, is about living an authentic life, setting goals, productivity, and improving yourself and your life.

He also writes at Scraping Pennies, where he chronicles his attempt to make money online.

Getting Started and Learning As You Go

The first rays of sunlight paint the clouds in various shades of pink against a dark blue sky. Birds are singing up in the trees to welcome the light and greet the day. Way down between the trees is a winding path. A lone traveller walks down the path and stops to enjoy the songs of the birds and the colors of the new day.

Just when he is about to continue his journey, he sees a young lady approaching him. She walks towards him with the deliberate pace of a woman with a plan. “Excuse me, traveller. Do you mind if I ask you a question?” she says as she closes in on the traveller. Without waiting for an answer she continues: “What is it that has made the biggest difference in your life, that you feel has positively impacted your life most greatly?”

A superb question, but not one that’s easy to answer I’m afraid. It would sure be great, if there was one thing you could do that would turn things around or set things in motion for the better. If it were only so simple. There sure are times I wish it was!

In reality it’s often a lot of things combined that cause positive change. It’s getting to know who you are, what talents you have, what passion lies hidden in your heart. It’s deciding what you want out of life, visualizing it, and most importantly acting upon it.

Making a decision was only the beginning of things. When someone makes a decision, he is really diving into a strong current that will carry him to places he had never dreamed of when he first made the decision. ~ Paulo Coelho in The Alchemist

I knew what I wanted from life, I learn to know myself a little better everyday and I know what my personal core values are. I also know that when I align my life with those values, I will receive loads of happiness in return. I knew, I thought, I visualized.

What was missing was action. Without distinct action, things will not change. Period.

The traveller pauses as he thinks about the lessons he has learned. His mind wanders off down the path, back to where it all started.

It took me a while to figure that out though. You can think all you want, visualize all the details of what you want to achieve, without action nothing is going to happen. Nothing is going to change, for the better anyway.

 

 “There is only one way to learn,” the alchemist answered. “It’s through action. Everything you need to know you have learned through your journey. ~ Paulo Coelho in The Alchemist

That last part is what made the biggest difference in my life over the past year or so. The decision to just start. To start my blog How to be an Original as the first step towards achieving my goals. Towards being a free spirit as an entrepreneur.

And I learned that when you take steps towards achieving your goal, things really get moving. You encounter people and opportunities that allow you to learn and grow. And by getting closer to it, it also gets easier to define it. The path towards achieving it, is filled with beautiful and at times difficult lessons. Those lessons are half the result, maybe even not more.

The tone of his voice was different now, and the traveller talked faster, excited about the new flash of insight that he was getting by explaining his lessons to this young lady.

So even if your goal is only partially clear, take action now to achieve it. Simply take the first step, it doesn’t have to be life changing yet. But by doing just that, you will set life changing energies in motion.

I know I did. I’m traveling my path as I write this. I’ve learned so much, but the path is long and windy and has many more lessons for me in the future.

“I know this answered your question”, the traveller said to the young lady, “whether it’s the lesson you need to learn at this point in your life however, is only up to you to decide.”

The traveller looked the young lady straight in the eyes with gratitude. “Thank you for asking me this question. Thank you for being part of my path. May yours be as inspirational as mine.”

His eyes turned towards the horizon. “It sure was nice talking to you. I have to continue now, my path awaits me.”

Series Navigation

«The Achievers-Part 2–Drive of FaithThe achievers-Part 4–Unexpected Impact»