Progress. It’s the only way to know you are headed in the right direction. “The great goal of this human adventure is productivity.” – Jim Rohn
How do YOU get started toward reaching a dream? It’s baby steps, then slowly learn to walk. There is no such thing as an overnight success, it is hard work, discipline, doing the little things no one else wants to do, day in and day out, dig down deep and do it from the inside out. And all along the way, find a way to give back, to have an impact, to change the world, if that’s your goal.
I started this blog back on January 9th, 2013, and it had a different title then, Observations of Life, (http://markbrodinsky.com/2013/01/09/moments-observations-of-life/), but I thought that was a bit too cold, especially when all I attempt to do here is warm the heart. So it became, “Just About… Life” and each day I try to fill in the dots. I decided the blog would not be controversial, not political, not a sounding board for someone to shout louder than the next person, there are plenty of blogs, plenty of websites and plenty of TV news shows you can go to for that. No, this would be my outlet to become more by helping others to do the same.
Almost ten months in and nearly 19,000 participants later, it is working. I am giving, you are listening and it is making a difference. The blog helps keep me focused on what is right with the world, and kept my head on straight, focused and motivated while at the same time I worked to complete my first book, It Takes 2, (www.spouses-story.com). Publishing the heartfelt journal of my wife’s battle against breast cancer was one way to give back. It’s working, the book went to # 1 on Amazon in just a few days. I’m giving back and apparently people are paying attention.
Just yesterday I collected a check and wrote one of my own, to donate a portion of proceeds from the book launch party at Michael’s Cafe last week and sales of the book, going to Men Against Breast Cancer, (www.menagainstbreastcancer.org). It’s not a king’s ransom, but it’s a start.
Next Monday I will present the ladies who organized the Breast Lunch Ever, a check for the Tyanna Foundation, (www.tyanna.org). The more we sell, the more I give. The media push and the book signings begin tomorrow. The Amazon sales haven’t even been included yet in donations, those dollars will be tallied at the end of the month, we have plenty of time to drive up the numbers. We are just getting started.
Then there is the blog, my baby. Back on March 9th, I wrote a blog called Baby Blog, (http://markbrodinsky.com/2013/04/09/baby-blog-its-all-about-life/), about how the blog was still in its infancy. Baby steps, remember. This week I think I realized we are learning to walk.
Three different times yesterday I had people, unsolicited, tell me what an impact I was having on their lives. Barb Moore from CBS Radio told me she was an avid follower of everything I am doing, reads it every day, loves it, told me to keep doing it. A woman in my networking group came up to me to let me know how during a difficult weekend she thought of me and our one-on-one meeting from weeks back. She told me philosophy on gratitude, appreciation and a focus on even the few things that go right every day, helped her make it through that weekend. And then last night, after a long and busy day, I got a Facebook message from Wendy Brown, I barely know Wendy, but she has been following this blog and my activity and her message touched my heart: “Keep doing what you do. You make more of a difference in more people’s lives than anyone else I know!”
I am humbled, yet at the same time, vindicated that I am heading in the right direction. The comments above are not to pat myself on the back, far from it, they are to prove a point. It’s proof that the goal of this human adventure is productivity. I am making progress. My book, It Takes 2, did not write itself, though the subject matter of my wife’s courage and fight against cancer was inspirational fuel to get the job done. And this blog does not happen by accident. It’s very early morning wake-ups and sometimes late night writing sessions, so I can post even every other day. It’s discipline and focus and paying attention to the little moments in life with the end game in mind, to give back. My point is that I’m working really hard, day after day, toward my goal of becoming more, by helping others do the same. Anything you strive to achieve, which is bigger than you, takes hard work, patience and persistence. Add passion and use your G-d given talent and I don’t see how you can lose. You can’t. You won’t. Just do it. Time is not on our side, for any of us. Do it now.
For me, giving is working. But it doesn’t feel like work, it feels like I’m alive.
Until next time, thanks for taking the time.
Mark
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