Exerpts

This afternoon I had the opportunity to finally touch base with a long time and great friend who I have spent far too time away from. Our conversation hit home with all too many statements I had made that I personally need to live by, as well as others.
1. Figure out what you want. What do you want out of life? It's a broad question, that I ask myself every day. Wake up tomorrow morning and ask yourself what are the three most important things I am striving for in my future. WRITE THEM DOWN.
2. Be realistic. That's great you want a ferrari and a beach house in the Hamptons (which by the way, is in no way a dream anyone should have), but you need to think realistically. Practically in economics, education, geography, economy, health, family, etc. are all factors you need to incorporate into what you want.
3. Take the steps necessary to open doors. Many people don't know what they want to do in life. I've got on average about 5 career paths that are ever changing. Look at yourself (literally or figuatively) and imagine those -realistic- wants coming to life. How are you going to get there?
Taking the steps to open doors means following the procedures that are required of you to be able to follow a particular path. For example, you want to be a doctor. You need to go to college and earn top grades and earn credits for required courses for medical school, doing so you need to study for the MCAT. Dependent upon your score, you need to apply. Upon acceptance you need to go to med. school, graduate, follow with residencies... and you get the picture. It doesn't matter if you want to become a grocery bagger, it's not going to happen unless you follow the steps to open that door. Follow all steps for all realistic and determined wants you have.
4. Believe in yourself. We're obviously going through a tough economic time. I can't stress patience enough, equally to faith. Have faith in yourself to work hard, do what you need to do, and find an open door to walk through at some point in the near future. Believing in yourself provides the truest form of support that you will need to follow through in any endeavor.

As I said, these need to hit home as much as anyone else. Sometimes a little reassurance doesn't hurt either, but ultimately the only person that is in control of behaviors, actions, and outcomes is you. I feel like I need to continue adding, but short and sweet is what I like to deliver.