The minutes on the clock tick away ominously turning hours into years.

The dreams you once had seem to be passing you by at a breakneck speed.
How are you utilizing the passing time?

When I signed up for my first half marathon my only thoughts were what I was going to wear.

I was shopping for tiaras and tutus instead of putting in the time it took to actually train for running 13.1 miles.
I soon learned

There is a difference between focusing on a goal and daydreaming about a destination.

My days were consumed with thoughts of crossing the finish line in my tiara and not the work it took to get there.

What destination are you dreaming about?
Is it a career, a promotion, a corner office or perhaps an income that would give you a more flexible lifestyle?

I once held the position as director for a local pageant.

Young women applied almost weekly with dreams of reigning as the current title holder.

Yet few ever came in to learn what it actually required to prepare for the event.

When pageant night arrived poise and preparation set the few apart not only onstage but also when interviewed by the judges.

Many were honestly shocked at the end of the night that they were not among the selected title holders.

They had spent weeks, even months shopping for the perfect outfits and dreaming of walking the stage adorned with the prestigious tiara.

     Unfortunately they were in no way prepared for the weight of it.

When it came time to advance to the next level, a handful of qualifiers now recognized the necessity of training.

The ones who began when it wasn’t urgent we’re already far advanced in the preparation process.

They had been diligent in making use of the first phase and built strategically on that foundation.

When the time came to place the crown on a young woman, she was prepared to carry the weight and responsibilities of that title.
Are you?

Fortunately, I didn’t waste all of my early days shopping and daydreaming – I eventually charted out a plan very similar to the ones we used for our pageant training.
I researched and soon found a consistent pattern-
First, determine where you are starting from and build up to where you want to be.
Second, determine your timeframe and divide it into manageable increments.
Then, plug action items from your first list into your timeline.
Finally, and most importantly, actually follow through.
Step by step.

You have to walk before you can run.

If you don’t know where to start, do what I did and research.
Find a coach or a mentor.
Don’t be afraid to reach out and ask questions.

What is that destination you are dreaming about?
What is one thing you can do today to move forward in that direction?

The minutes on the clock are ticking –
This is your training time for reigning time!

Some skills you may never use, but the learning process is never wasted.