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Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow
Which has the greater value?

by Kitty Stein, WCAA, CWP

December is such an important month of the year. I, and I hope you, will be sitting down to reflect on the past year and plan for the new year. Each year, as we prepare for the holidays and the New Year celebration, we see various images of Father Time and Baby New Year. The general idea is that the old year is dying and the new year is being born to start fresh.

Perhaps it is time to analyze how each of us perceives these two intangible entities.

How do you describe Father Time? Stooped over from the heaviness of life’s burdens? Sad that the world is forever changed with fear now considered normal? Sorry and perhaps feeling a little guilty from mistakes made? Weary? Ready or even eager to end his reign?

Or maybe you have a brighter picture of Father Time. Wiser. Grateful for all that he has learned from mistakes. Joyous that he has brought so much sunshine into the lives of others as he has made his way through the year. Enthusiastic about all the possibilities that lie ahead. Sad that he is being forced to retire just when he was “getting it.” Trusting that some of his hard-learned wisdom will be passed on and used by Baby New Year.

And how do you see Baby New Year? Trembling with fear as he peers out into the many days that lay before him? Reluctant to try new things because he might burn his fingers? Unwilling to trust that wisdom will surely come from experience?

Or is Baby New Year screaming to be heard? Eagerly looking for new ideas and new roads to follow. Enthusiastic about his own divine abilities to persevere and thrive. Willing to take risks and make changes to grow up strong and capable.

LOOKING IN THE MIRROR

As you consider how you perceive Father Time and Baby New Year, is it not like deciding whether the glass half full or half empty? Does it not reflect how you will take care of your business and, indeed, your personal growth in the New Year and the future beyond that?

For more than a year, we all have been adjusting to the truth (or terror) of the 21st century. Many of you may not know that I live in the northernmost point of Virginia—just about 40 minutes from where the sniper suspects who terrorized Virginia, Washington, D.C. and Maryland, were apprehended. I’m about one hour from one of the sites of a shooting—one of more than a dozen that killed or maimed innocent human beings during the month of October.

Yes, living is not what it used to be, and neither is making a living. Look in the mirror and truthfully describe what you see. Are you frightened for your children, your spouse, yourself or your business? Or do you see that there is still much hope and joy in this world and that it is to be cherished and nurtured? Do you see that life goes by whether we choose to fear it or to enjoy every ounce of it? Are you ready to take the risks necessary to live your life and create many fond memories? Are you ready to enjoy what you have and reap the joyous rewards instead of putting it away for a special occasion?

THE PAST

Every year, during the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day, I take a day to reflect and plan my goals for the next year. To prepare for this article, I looked back over the chart I made last December of all the goals I had for 2002. This year was the first time I went so far as to map out what I had to do to achieve each goal. In the past, I was content to reflect on the past, dream for the future and write down the goals, which certainly helped.

For the first six months of 2002, I adhered to a rule of visiting this chart (posted on my office wall) every Monday. As the months passed, some things dropped off the chart completely and are not even considerations for the future. I also saw I was making gradual progress on others. Then the bottom fell out of this time management program when my business computer got sick and died. Along with it went my planner software, which kept me focused and organized. At the same time, I was faced with four months of using a very old, slow and cranky computer—now very lovingly and thankfully called “Granny.”

I was amazed when I finally got the chance to review my map—for the first time since June! Out of 11 major goals, (Yes, I’m just like you thinking I can do more than is humanly possible!), two had disappeared forever; a major but necessary change stopped all progress on one goal; three are not even close to happening, but are still hoped for; three were accomplished; and major progress had been made on two others! Considering I had not looked at this map in more than four months, that is quite an accomplishment, even if I do say so myself.

Obviously, as I look over the year, I can say that mapping my goals was an excellent tool for accomplishment. However, true reflection needs to go a bit beyond the tangible evidence and accomplishments.

QUESTIONS FOR THE FUTURE

As we struggle almost daily with changes that appear to make our future more and more uncertain, what can we do to make our little part of the world more secure, more comfortable, more loving? Maybe answering these questions will help direct you in your future plans.

1. Am I happy with my accomplishments of this past year? (The key word is happy.)
2. What good thing(s) did I accomplish that I had not planned?
3. Did what I accomplish really matter? Will it matter 20 years from now? What about 100 years from now? (Think about this as you try to satisfy that difficult customer!)
4. If I were to depart this world tomorrow, would my accomplishments be remembered? How would I want to be remembered?
5. Did my presence in this world make a difference? (How many times have you seen the movie “It’s a Wonderful Life”?)
6. What is the reason for my presence on Earth at this time doing what I’m doing? Is it time to stop doing it and start doing something else?
7. What will I do different to make the coming year more meaningful to myself, more valuable to others, more memorable?
8. What can I do in the New Year that will make me proud and glad I did it when I pause for reflection next December?

THE GIFT

I’m sure you all have heard the saying, “Today is a gift. That’s why it is called the present.” Today is what matters! Please take the time to think about that. I just related to you how I accomplished some goals in my life during this past year, and it certainly gives me a good method for planning next year.

Admit it. Didn’t you expect me to tell you what works and what may not? Truly, accomplishing mapped goals is not what made my year a success. The accomplishment that I did not plan, and was never part of my map, is what matters the most to me and I hope has mattered to others. And what is that?

It has been my spiritual growth, i.e. learning to see the daily miracles that are all around me and trying to enhance the miracles for others. It has been a continual revelation of how truly blessed I am to have such a wonderful husband and children who have very special spouses (not blessed with grandchildren yet!), and to have many very close friends.

It has been an awakening that every day is special because it is all the time I’ll have to make a difference in someone else’s life. It has been a time of trying harder to be still and to listen to my higher power (for me, my Heavenly Father) and, yes, of slowly relinquishing control to that higher power.

I’ve learned that, yes, it is good to make plans and map them out, but it is not a good idea to have too many goals requiring too many steps to accomplish. It is self-created stress that is not necessary. We all think we can do more than we really can. I’ve learned that all good ideas are not necessarily for me to accomplish. In the last few years, I’ve learned that I must be flexible and not become too attached to goals just for the sake of accomplishment, because what I was meant to do yesterday may not be what I need to be doing today and tomorrow. I must listen to my inner spirit when it says it’s bored and has no enthusiasm for what I’m doing.

I also know I should put personal and spiritual goals on that same map with business goals. And, above all, it is not my happiness I should be seeking but the ability to help and bring joy to others. Yes, I need to enjoy my work, but over and above that there is greater joy in helping others find happiness and satisfaction.

Isn’t that why anyone is in business? If we cannot make our customers happy and help them resolve problems, then our work has no meaning. Yes, there are a few bad apples in the basket, but how much less stress would you have if you accepted that this is the way they are and you have no power to change them? Instead of being critical of those picky customers, try even harder to do what will make them happiest. That could be simply not working for them!

As you, I will never run out of work that needs to be done. One day I spent a little too much time trying to get to know a prospect and guide her on the best investment plan for her business. As I hung up the phone, knowing I did not make any money on the phone call, I thought, “We’re here to help!” I then realized that was my automatic first and sincere thought after every call. In fact, I was more likely to think it if I had not made a sale. I believe that what needs to be done will get done as long as you do all you can to help others.

Whatever you did yesterday or last week or 20 years ago does have value. Searching your soul to determine and plan for the future does have value. But what you do today to help someone else—be they competitor, customer, friend or family—will bring you closer to the sweetest success to be had! Welcome in the New Year with open arms and make your daily present a true gift to someone else!