It was warm this morning. The driveway was wet, I guess it rained last night. Thats not unusual for this time of year in this part of the country, but never the less this morning’s weather took me by suprise. I poured myself into my vehicle, set the radio to my favorite morning show, and started off to make my “daily contribution to the machine”. Half listenting to Mike and Mike, hosts of the morning program I listen to, I started wondering what events in their lives led them to where they are now.

Mike Greenberg started out as a columnist for a newspaper, and Mike Golic a football player. There are a lot of columnists and football players in the world, but not all of these columnists and football players acheive such success and recognition as Mike and Mike currently enjoy. What set them apart from their peers? What decisions did they make to get to where they are? While contemplating these questions I reflected upon myself. I thought about where I want to go in life. I thought about my mentor, Kellie, and her journey to where she is now, and where her current success will take her. What are the attributes all successful people have in common? Are great people born or are they made? Could I enjoy even a fracture of the same level of success as Mike and Mike or Kellie? I am sure I can. I am driven and focused. I have a plan, and I am following it. I have set my priorities and I am making strides to align my thoughts with those priorities. What else should I be doing?

I got a fortune cookie a while back and as expected, tucked neatly inside was a slip of paper. There was nothing different about this slip of paper from the many I have gotten before, but the fortune, this time, was very different. It read: “Focus on the journey, not the destination”. I never before felt like a piece of paper could speak to me, but this one did. I placed it in the change part of my wallet for safe keeping. I now have this indescript slip of paper nestled in the corner of a picture frame at my desk at work. Each day I look over and see it there, and it helps keep me fixed on my goal while reminding me to focus on the task at hand.

I will take away from this morning’s introspection this: I can be successful and acheive my goals so long as my mind is clear and focused and my actions directly impact my progress toward my goal.