Thursday, August 14, 2008

Message of the Day - Are you a go getter?

Good Morning,

 

Last week I went to a book sale at the local Jewish Family Vocational Services center with my Mom. At the sale I found this gem of a book called ‘The Go-Getter: A story that tells you how to be one’ by Peter Kyne (http://www.amazon.com/Go-Getter-Story-That-Tells-You/dp/080500548X). This book, written originally in 1921 still has value in today’s world. It tells the tale of a test used to see how much of a go getter the character of the story is, that is if they had what it took to fill a key role for the company.

 

The test is set up to be next to impossible, but seemingly very important to a person who the character holds in high regard. Purposeful misdirection is used to make the task harder and most of the people tested either failed or gave up. Those who passed the test were rewarded for their ingenuity, perseverance and hunger to finish the task.

 

While the task in the book is a bit extreme it ties into what Dr. Randy Pausch talked about when he mentioned barriers; the brick walls which are there to tell us how much we really want something. A go getter is someone who knows what they want and will work to get passed the barrier one way or another.

 

I learned long ago that if you want to get something done, you need to get up and get passed that barrier. If there is a door, open the door, and go through. If there is no door, find another way around, over, or if necessary, make your own door. More often than not, I found myself making my own door. Sometimes that proved great results and other times, it caused more problems than it solved. In either case, each event taught me to be more focused on getting tasks completed. ‘Whatever it took’ entered my vocabulary.

 

The more I accomplished goals, the better I became at accomplishing goals. The more I hemmed and hawed, the more complacent and less productive I became. At this point in time, there are some tasks I can do in my sleep, and others, I keep finding ways to put them off. I am trying to find ways to be more productive, to be a go getter and achieve more of my life’s goals.

 

How about you? Are you a go getter?  Will you do what you need to do to get the job done, or do you have a limit as to how far you will go? Is that limit far, or not as far as you would like to admit. Are you willing to do something about that?

 

Enjoy!

 

 

Sanford Berenberg

Sanford@berenberg.net

http://www.berenberg.net

http://sanfordberenberg.blogspot.com/

502-533-9336

 

PS: If you know others who may enjoy this message of the day, please pass this message on or invite them to receive them themselves by sending a request to me. If you wish to stop receiving these, please also let me know. Thank you!!!

 

 

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