Our ship is coming in
Will 2019 be the year your ship comes in? I am planning ahead for my ship arriving. I have cleared room in the port (I'm not really sure of nautical terms!). I have cleared the path of whatever perils I could to make sure it is smooth sailing.
While we may not be able to control everything that happens on our journey, we certainly can plan and prepare.
Here are a couple of quotes I found that I really like that have to do with setting our sails...
I can't change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination. Jimmy Dean
(Who knew that the guy who did those sausages was so insightful?!)
It is the set of the sails, not the direction of the wind that determines which way we will go. Jim Rohn
And here's a bonus quote that I truly love:
One ship drives east and [the] other drives west by the same winds that blow. It's the set of the sails and not the gales that determines the way they go. Ella Wheeler Wilcox
What do all three of these quotes have in common? Simply put, we can't control the wind or the way it blows, but we can control something. We can set our sails to catch the wind so that we can travel in whatever direction we choose.
It means we have some control. But we have to take action. We have to adjust the sails. We have to do whatever it takes to keep ourselves on course. Even one degree off-course and our entire journey can end badly.
Keeping on course
Keeping on course may involve study and research. We have to look carefully at the instruments at our disposal. The compass, the maps, the surrounding water, the skies. These things could be translated into the tools we have at Wealthy Affiliate—including Wealthy Affiliate itself. We have Jaxxy to help us navigate and set our course. We have Wealthy Affiliate to map out the course. We have friends through Wealthy Affiliate that can help us see more clearly through the waves and dark skies.
We have all of those things and so much more at our disposal. But we have to make use of them. If we don't understand how to use them, we have to ask!
My fascination with ships began with the Titanic. I will not let it end the same way—decaying at the bottom of the ocean!
Today, I encourage you to use the tools we have to chart your course and keep you on the course you have chosen.
Here is another "bonus" quote, just because!
The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails. William Arthur Ward
Hope you all have a happy and prosperous new year!
Best wishes,
Karin :)
Recent Comments
44
Great Advice, useful and relevant!
The New Year continues with purpose!
All the best,
Diane
Thanks Karin, great message. Adjust my sails. If I don't the winds will be in control and not help me. I like the metaphor.
I see it as accept what is and work to adjust. Funny it takes a whole lot of pressure off me. lols!
Mahalo Karin, nicely done!
frank
Thank you dear friend, Frank! I hope this new year will be very good for you!
Best wishes,
Karin :)
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Hi Karin,
This is a very helpful and encouraging article. Lack of proper planning and complacency suk the Titanic.
Staying on course is and not getting distracted is vital.
I hope you won't be mind if I add an aviation story about why staying on course is so vital.
Many years ago at the beginning of the jet age, a jetliner was scheduled to fly from Australia to Honolulu. The technology of the day required a Navigator in the crew to plot the course as they flew. As with many crew positions, a student Navigator was being trained by a veteran but the Navigator got a little complacent like Captain Smith of the Titanic. The veteran crew member let the student do most of the work, periodically checking him. Unbeknownst to the veteran, the student had made a 1-degree error shortly after take-off.
After several hours it became apparent that the flight might be off course a little. They were off-course big-time with just a 1-degree error, so they ended having to land at Guam over 3,000 miles West of Honolulu.
While a 1-degree error did not seem like a big deal it sent the jet so far off-course that they had to land at an airport thousands of miles away from their destination.
What does that mean to us, small distractions can cost you a lot in terms of your business.
Stay Focused!!
Bill
Yes! I love this story! It really illustrates the point and blows it up! Small distractions have often taken me off-course and I have had to correct things to get back on course. Unfortunately, those "small" distractions have cost me time and money and kept me from doing work on my business.
Best wishes,
Karin :)
Hi Karin,
I am glad you liked it. I am so often guilty of being distracted and not getting done what I should have.
This year I vow to stay on course or stay focused.
Best wishes for a great year.
Bill