I must!

“I have been impressed with the urgency of doing.
Knowing is not enough; we must apply.
Being willing is not enough; we must do.”
Leonardo da Vinci   

I went into a Verizon store this week to buy a new phone...  It was a big event for me as I was switching from a flip phone to an IPhone and I had a ton of questions.  I was also switching services. A young man named David waited on me. As we talked about the cost of the service, I asked David if a teacher discount was available, and that got us started talking about the college where I work.  He said he used to go there.  I asked him what he got his degree in...he said he didn't finish.  "Oh...that's too bad," I responded. 
"Yeah, he said, "and I live right by the college so it's close, and Verizon will pay for me to go to school." 
"Really!" I said.

I asked him about his major.  He said, "It was Criminal Justice.  I don't think I have much further to go to get my AA degree."  He sighed,  "I know I should probably go back to school."

I suggested to David that he just call the college and make an appointment to  talk to an advisor and see how many classes he had left.  "The college has on line classes, summer school classes, short classes, you name it.... we offer it...!  You should easily be able to find classes that the fit with your work schedule and hey.... and you'll be able to go for free!" I continued,   "You know David, I don't know you at all, but I do know this....you have a wonderful opportunity for a free education and if you don't take it...you will always look back and regret it."
"Yeah," he sighed once again, "I know I should."
I was beginning to sound way too much like a mother, "David, this doesn't look to me like a should?  It looks to me more like a must." I kept at it...."What are the downsides to your going back to college? "
He said there were none.  And we were both quiet for a while
"You're right," he murmured, busy on the register...."I must go back to school."  He repeated it...."I must".  As if feeling a jolt he responded.  "Hey, that feels different when I say it like that."
I said..."So then?"....
He smiled..."You're right...I must go back to college!"
I grabbed my fancy Verizon bag, with my brand new iPhone in it, and shook David's hand. I told him I appreciated his help and expertise with buying the phone.   I said goodbye, smiled and told him I wasn't a stalker...but I'd be looking for him out at the college.

Sometimes the 'must's in our lives are right under our noses...and it just takes somebody else to point them out to us, and maybe light a fire while they're at it.  Do we know what your musts are in your life? Are your daily habits, decisions and your goals all aligned with your musts?

I have decided to make that part of my 2014 goal planning...do you want to join me? We can start by creating two columns:  One column for the 'musts' in our life and one column for the 'shoulds' that might pop up as we make that list.

Email me: smallsteps4bigresults@yahoo.com