Logistics Management

Michael Regan

Happy New Year ...If It's To Be
December 26, 2007

Happy New Year - If It’s To Be ….

With the New Year rapidly approaching, people will be making all sorts of resolutions. Typically, these resolutions are personal in nature, a.k.a. I will lose twenty pounds, or I will give up smoking, etc… But as we close out this year, do you mind me asking you a different question: What are you resolutions for your career in 2008? That’s right, have you thought about what you’d like to accomplish career wise in 2008?

Many years ago, I was attending a motivational seminar and the speaker was commenting on the fact that some (actually, most) people see themselves as powerless to improve their careers.  For these people, their careers are affected by external events over which they have no control. The speaker saw it quite differently and was teaching that career wise, we control our destinies through the decisions we make, the people we associate with, and the work and effort we put in to acquire or improve skill sets that are important in our chosen field.

The presentation was very dynamic, but the part that I have never forgotten was when he had us stand and face each other and repeat these words: “If it’s to be, it’s up to me.” We started slowly and softly and then kept repeating that phrase: If it’s to be, it’s up to me,” until it built to a crescendo and the whole auditorium was shouting: “If it’s to be, it’s up to me!” Even though that happened over twenty-five years ago, the words still ring in my ears and I have repeated them more times than I can count.

I have often asked why that phrase resonated so deeply. Perhaps it is because I was raised in an environment where I received a lot of positive encouragement; perhaps it’s because early on I met people that had overcome hardship to achieve great things. Whatever the reason, today when I see, or hear from people who exhibit a sense of powerlessness over their careers, I wish I had the power to transplant them to that seminar so that they could be encouraged and uplifted.

Since we can’t go back, maybe it would be good to look forward and ask the following question: What do you want your future to look like? It’s a question that only you can answer. As you think through that question, you will also have to “count the costs.” In other words, what sacrifices are you going to have to make, and what steps will you have to take in order to have the future you want and deserve?

As you go forward, remember it’s not up to your company to make you happy in your job; it’s not up to your spouse/significant other to see that you’re fulfilled; and you can stop blaming all those mean, miserable people you’ve met in the past – they are no longer there to design your future. You have a New Year, and with it the seeds for a great new life. If you want that happy, fulfilled life then remember:  "If it’s to be, it’s up to me”!  

TranzAct Technologies, Inc.

Posted by Michael Regan on December 26, 2007 | Comments (2)