Ask any sniper, combat pilot, or solider what's most important to hitting their target and they will tell you a clear line of sight. It's  obvious when using a combat analogy that a clear line of sight is of utmost importance to hitting a target and reaching a goal, however what about targets or goals that you have? What are the things that are getting in the way of your target? Maintaining a clear line of sight when it comes to reaching your goals is critical. For many the distractions of life seem to impair our vision.  Things that "have" to be done, enemies like procrastination and blinders like distraction,  all move in to block our sight on the ultimate target.  You need to be proactive in navigating around and through those things that get in the way between you and your goals.  Make it a point to keep a clear line of sight on your goals. What's Your Target? Having said that, what needs to come first is a clear vision, a target, a goal.  For many they get hung up on what the goal will accomplish and not the goal itself. For instance is that entrepreneurial idea you have the thing you focus most on or is it the lifestyle you hope it will afford you?  The later blocks your clear line of sight. Is it the idea of freedom from your current job that fills your head or the idea itself?   The point is that it's easy to allow things, even good things, to block our line of sight on the ultimate target. Maintaining a clear line of sight is critical to your success.  Whether it be on a project, goal or idea, don't allow things to get between you and the target. photo credit

Everyone's an Entrepreneur, why not you? Which excuse are you hiding behind? I'm not creative - Everyone is, look at your dreams, your personality I don't have money - Almost all start without money I'm not talented enough - Determination trumps talent I'm not capable - You're the only one who is. It's too risky - Doing nothing is much more risky It's too much pressure - No more than not being in control of your future That's been done before - Execution not originality leads to success That's never been done - Pioneering something can pay off I can't focus - Sure you can, it just takes some practice I can't make decisions - You do everyday, what to eat, what to wear, where to go I make decisions to quickly - Timely decisions are important My parents weren't and it worked for them - Perhaps but it won't in the future My parents were and it didn't work - Your opportunities are better My ideas are horrible - Horrible ideas can be successful too I have ideas but I don't know what to do - You're already well on your way

If you're familiar with Star Trek then you know of The Borg.  The Borg were a pseudo-race of cybernetic beings, half human - half cyborg, that were focused on capturing their enemies and forcing them to assimilate.  Assimilation consisted of turning their captured prey into a kind of half human - half cyborg type that only took direction from the mother ship. As they captured their enemies and prepared to turn them into Borg's they repeated "Resistance is futile" .  Why is it that many businesses treat their employees this way?

You've heard it said  "In order to succeed in business you have to be passionate." Ok, we'll then how do you find something you're passionate about ? To which you've been told "To find your passion just imagine something you would do even if you weren't getting paid." Good points, even ones I've made myself, but it's sometimes just not that simple. What if  imagining doing something even if you didn't get paid only makes you think about "ok how am I going to pay my bills?"  Hard to have passion when you've got problems like that. What if you just aren't passionate about anything? What is Passion Let's start first by looking at what passion is and isn't. First, it's not inherent it's cultivated.  Like an affinity for old movies, or a developing relationship , or learning to hit a golf ball, cultivating your passion is no different. Notice I said cultivated and not developed.  We are all born with interests towards one thing over another. You don't have to start from zero and completely develop your passion.  However you do have to look within to find things that interest you more than others, then cultivate those into passion.   Remember though like anything that you cultivate it takes time AND motivation.

The cover article on BusinessWeek Magazine  (issue 1/18) focuses on the current and future state of the workforce in the US.  An excerpt from  "The Disposable Worker" ..... this recession's unusual ferocity has accelerated trends—including offshoring, automation, the decline of labor unions' influence, new management techniques, and regulatory changes—that already had been eroding workers' economic standing. The forecast for the next five to 10 years: more of the same, with paltry pay gains, worsening working conditions, and little job security. Right on up to the C-suite, more jobs will be freelance and temporary, and even seemingly permanent positions will be at greater risk. "When I hear people talk about temp vs. permanent jobs, I laugh," says Barry Asin, chief analyst at the Los Altos (Calif.) labor-analysis firm Staffing Industry Analysts. "The idea that any job is permanent has been well proven not to be true." As Kelly Services CEO Carl Camden puts it: "We're all temps now." Wow, when you read that who the heck wants to work for any company.  Do yourself a favor and read the entire article it's chalk full of insight and realities that are bound to slap you between the eyes if your dreaming of working for one company until you retire. So why is this good news?