I'm starting with the man in the mirror,
I'm asking him to change his ways.
And no message could've been any clearer:
If you want to make the world a better place,
Take a look at yourself, and make a change.
--Michael Jackson, "Man in the Mirror"
The more I learn about how the world works, the more I realize that I have no right to expect change in others if I'm not willing to change myself. I know I'll never be perfect, but if I am not constantly striving to improve myself, can I really expect anyone else to? The purest form of leadership is by example, after all. Of all the goals we can achieve during our 5000 days, improving ourselves each and every day will bear the greatest dividends.
I'm not talking about re-inventing ourselves. Sure, some of us need major overhauls, but most of us just need minor adjustments, little changes that add up over time. Can you imagine the impact of 5000 little daily improvements in your character, your people skills, your talents? Lessons drawn from mistakes and internalized, or small truths drawn from the words or examples of others and incorporated into ourselves, can result in changes beyond anything we could have imagined.
Not sure what kinds of changes I'm talking about? Here are a few ideas:
If we think of every moment of our lives as a potential learning experience, we can't help but get better and better as time goes on. I still won't be perfect when my 5000 days are up, but I intend to be better than I was when I started. And that's a goal worth pursuing.
I'm not talking about re-inventing ourselves. Sure, some of us need major overhauls, but most of us just need minor adjustments, little changes that add up over time. Can you imagine the impact of 5000 little daily improvements in your character, your people skills, your talents? Lessons drawn from mistakes and internalized, or small truths drawn from the words or examples of others and incorporated into ourselves, can result in changes beyond anything we could have imagined.
Not sure what kinds of changes I'm talking about? Here are a few ideas:
- exercise more
- smile at strangers more often
- become more knowledgeable about current events
- get involved in a local charity
- use better grammar
- visit friends you haven't seen for a while
- learn to play an instrument (it doesn't have to be well)
If we think of every moment of our lives as a potential learning experience, we can't help but get better and better as time goes on. I still won't be perfect when my 5000 days are up, but I intend to be better than I was when I started. And that's a goal worth pursuing.
