What were you like 10 years ago?
I’ve been reading How to Stop Worrying and Start Living by Dale Carnegie the last few days. It’s a book I bought 6 years ago and just decided to revisit.
I started thinking about how much we change (or don’t) over time…
What were you like 6 years ago?
How many people actually write in those books where they ask you to, and then come back 6 years later to see what you wrote?
You know what I was worried about 6 years ago? The Code Red Virus. That’s right. That was my biggest worry. It feels so small in comparison to what I worry about now.
I remember when I first bought this book; I was 18, and wasn’t really getting it at that point in my life. I had just gotten into college and thought I was the coolest thing since sliced bread. I had a few friends but ask them now and they’d probably tell you how selfish I was.
Had I actually finished the book there are a few things in there that would have made my life so much easier at the time. Specifically - the more you help other people, the more they respect you. And the less they find negative aspects of you to point out.
What will I be like 10 years from today?
If you apply the success principles you learn in these books to your life, I believe you can be whatever you want to be
It’s proven that your associations make you who you are, and if you’re constantly referring to great men like Dale Carnegie, Shad Helmstetter, John Maxwell, and the rest of the pack, you can achieve pretty much anything you want, and fulfill all the dreams you had as a kid.
My dream is that in 10 years, I’ll be in a position where I’m teaching and mentoring a mass of people, who in turn are mentoring and teaching other masses of people. I’ve seen other people do it.
On top of that, I will be in the midst of experiencing what life has to offer - owning two houses (one would be a cabin in the mountains of New Hampshire), being with the best friends and wife in the world, everything. Plus a pretty sweet car!
Wrapping it up
How do you even get there from where you are now? I’m a full time web developer with a live-in girlfriend and a lot of good friends, a lot of self-confidence, and am definitely light years away from 6 years ago. Ask my college friends now!
How about you? Do you see a big change in where you were 6 years ago, 10 years ago, 20 years ago? If not, it might be the time to start reading some good books, associating with some better people.
Regardless of where you are now or where you have been, what do you envision yourself like in 10 years from now? What’s your game plan to get yourself there? Nothing happens by watching TV!