In every decision we make, there is power--power to shape and control our own lives. The thrill of the game of life is charting a course, accepting problems as challenges, facing them head on, and holding someone else's hand along the way. Live to the fullest in the present moment.

If you could be anything you want to be, what would you be? If you could do anything you want to do, what would you do? If you could have anything you want to have, what would you have? If you were to design the life you want to be living ten years from now, what would it be like? You can make it happen.
There is no straight line from where you are to where you want to be. Life is not a linear process with steps following each other. Rather, it is an intricate weaving back and forth, in and out, of dreaming, planning, rewarding, enrolling, analyzing, evaluating. the most effective route I have found is reading learning from others, and setting my sights high. Once set upon something, commitment, determination, and persistence can take over. The dfference between success and a near miss is often knowing when to be flexible and when to stand firm.
MAKE A DECISION
In every single decision we make, there is power--power to shape and control our own lives. Unfortunately, most of the time we do not realize how powerful we really are. Instead of pursuing our own empowerment, we sometimes blame our choices on outside influences. We speak in terms of what acted upon us to cause a situation. How many times have you heard someone say, "I had no choice," or "I couldn't help it?" Was it true ? Or did the person just not understand the power of his or her personal choices?
EXERCISE YOUR POWER TO CHOOSE
Simply dreaming great dreams will not change your life, although it is a first step in getting what you want. What do you do with these dreams? How could they possibly become reality? What would it take?
Many factors need to be considered so that you can make an informed decision whether or not to take action on these great ideas. Sift your dreams, your right brain, imaginative thinking, through the logical sieve of the left brain. That will lead you to a reasoned course of action. We form the dream in the right hemisphere of our brain, but the left hemisphere has to believe that the dream is do-able, in the realm of possibility. This allows a belief to be born and from that belief a vision is born. The subconscious mind can then help us make it happen.
Visions are internal gyroscopes, guiding us in the direction of the person we want to become. They pull us in the direction of our desired outcome while we make daily decisions. When faced with choices, instead of thinking in terms of today or tomorrow, we are more inclined to look at the futrure and ask ourselves what those choices will mean in the long run.
FORM A SUPPORT TEAM and let them help you. Among the people you enroll in your dream will be those who can help you reach it. Allow them to be involved. They will provide energy and "know how" that may help you persevers. Remember, no person is an island. No one has all the answers and pay back can take many forms. Find support early in the process and your journey will be more fun and rewarding!
KEEP SCORE
You don't play baseball without keeping score; you don't play golf without counting the strokes. This is the game of life. You need to keep score so you can celebrate the "wins." Chart your progress; learn from your experiences. Keeping score helps you decide how you are going to close the gaps, the distance from where you are to where you want to be.
ESTABLISH A BASELINE
The baseline is where you are now, your line of scrimmage.
You have a vision; you have developed a plan of action; you may have people to help you achieve your desired outcome; you know what resources you have; youu know the first step to take. The object is to move forward from that baseline position. If something interrupts your progress, you will need to evaluate what went wrong and perhaps make some adjustments.
KNOW WHERE THE GOAL LINE IS
The goal line is your desired outcome. It may be the long-range, strategic vision or an intermediate goal. The goal line may change over time, just as our vision of technology has changed over time. That does not mean we can't proceed with the information we now have.
REWARD YOURSELF
Plan on it. There will be plenty of reasons to reward yourself. It may be difficult, but it's essential. Sure, kudos from others are rewards, but it's also important to be good to yourself. Take some time off. Treat yourself to a weekend getaway--even if there may be a seminar along with it. take that exotic cruise around the Greek Isles that you've dreamed about. Ski the Matterhorn, as well as the local mountains. Invite a friend to dinner. Go to a movie, the theater, or the beach. Go ahead, treat yourself!
YOUR GOLD MEDAL OF LIFE
The thrill of the game of life is charting a course, accepting problems as challenges, facing them head on, and holding someone else's hand along the way. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. Keep your eyes not on the individual battles, but on the outcome. The past is history. The future is unknown. Live to the fullest in the present moment. Make the most of it to achieve your vision--your Gold Medal of Life.

Note: This article is excerpterd from Jo's book, Take Charge of Your Life. GoalMinds, Inc, 208 page hardcover, $21.95 + $4.00 shipping and handling. (800) 697-5680 or FAX 661 273-0760. To order an autographed copy http://www.goalminds.com/Primer.cfm