Mikes Blog

Everything in stride
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Life will not unfold exactly the way you’d like it to. Of that you can be certain, no matter how much care and effort you put into arranging your affairs.

But that doesn’t mean you must be unhappy when things fail to go your way. Indeed, your biggest disappointments can often, eventually, lead you to your most profound joys.

Here’s a strategy you might want to consider. Take everything in stride.

Yes, plan, prepare, do the work, give your best. Then be thankful for the result, including all the unforeseen consequences.

Your fate won’t ever be precisely the way you envisioned it. Still, it is yours, it is something, and you’re better off living and enjoying it, than cursing it.

Let life be the way it has come to be. And let yourself find something good, useful, joyful, and thankful to do with every precious moment.

— Ralph Marston

A better way
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Do you feel there has to be a better way? Then figure it out and put it into practice.

Is your situation intolerable? Then refuse to tolerate it, and innovate your way beyond it.

Every challenge is insurmountable until somebody does something about it. Activate your imagination, your passion, your desire, and do something about it.

Innovation is not just for high-tech superstars. Innovation is built into who you are, and yours to make use of in every corner of life.

Open your eyes to how much power you have over the quality and direction of your own life. Then pick a problem, choose a nagging frustration, and do the work to fix it.

Make a rock-solid connection to all you care about, to what’s most meaningful in your world. And drive the energy of your purpose skillfully forward to create a better way.

— Ralph Marston

Difficult problems
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Problems are not pleasant. That’s why they bring out the best in you, and in many, many others.

When one person finds a problem unbearable, that person works hard to get beyond it. When millions of people cannot tolerate a problem, that problem gets solved.

Good times are enjoyable, and bring about marginal progress. Difficult times, however, give birth to massive breakthroughs.

There are always things you can do to make life better. When you’re faced with a serious challenge, you actually do those things.

When you’re not happy with the situation, that’s good. Because you’re also powerfully motivated to change it in a positive way.

Difficult, complicated problems don’t usually go away on their own, but they do go away. Because you, and a whole lot of other people, do the demanding work to make them go away.

— Ralph Marston

Keep on keeping on
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You’re doing good, so keep it up. You’re making progress, so make some more.

You’ve learned, you’ve adapted, you’ve done the work, and improved on it. You’ve had setbacks along the way, and conditions have changed, yet you’ve moved forward anyway.

Now, keep up the effective effort. Now, persist and get the job done.

You’ve resisted the temptation to hide behind excuses. You’ve chosen to pay the price necessary to reach the goal.

You’re heavily invested now, so make that investment count. Follow through, continue to do what must be done, and get where you’ve chosen to go.

You’ve already discovered you can do what it takes. Just keep on keeping on, and finish your good work.

— Ralph Marston