You will never win the lottery if you are just a spectator.  If you want to have a chance to win, you have to participate by purchasing a ticket.  Likewise, in your life you won’t win unless you participate.  As a spectator, you have no influence over your direction.  However, unlike the lottery, you have control over the odds of your success.

Too many people watch life go by without playing an active role.  This approach can lead to frustration, disappointment, and even anger.  These spectators wait for things to happen instead of making them happen.

Being in it to win it requires proactive participation in your life.  You start by looking in the mirror to see who’s responsible for where you are and where you are going.  You are in control.  Only you can make adjustments.  Refusing to acknowledge this responsibility doesn’t change anything.  If you refuse to participate, you are effectively agreeing to accept whatever befalls you.

Here’s how you stay in the game.  Start by understanding yourself.  Determine your likes and dislikes as well as your strengths and weaknesses.  Thoroughly knowing yourself enables you to determine the most rewarding path to take.  If you are frustrated with your current direction, decide what adjustments to make and then take action.

Although it’s great to proactively tackle problems, working to prevent problems from arising in the first place should be your objective.  To do this, analyze the causes of your past problems.  As part of this process, try to determine what could have been done to avoid the problems.  Use this knowledge to make better decisions today and in the future.

When you do encounter a problem, develop an attitude of seeking a solution rather than dwelling on the problem or lamenting what you should have done to avoid it.  Once you devise a solution, take action to implement it. 

When a problem is outside of your control, don’t waste any time worrying about it.  Take mitigating action where possible and move on to issues that are within your control.  It’s too common for people to focus on what they have no control over and neglect those problems they can solve.

When you’re in the game, you’ve got to be productive.  However, your energy is dissipated without significant results when you spend time on day-to-day tasks which produce little or no results. 

Prioritizing your work ensures that the most important items are completed first.  Work initially on those things that either can’t wait or will generate the most measurable results.  This approach will appreciably boost your productivity.  Your success is based on your accomplishments rather than how busy you are.

Continuously monitor your strategies for effectiveness.  If you are not getting the results you are looking for, make adjustments.  Success requires constant refining of procedures and techniques.  In life, as in sports, the participants are constantly monitoring their performance and altering their tactics as needed to deal with changing conditions.

Focus on today while anticipating your needs and planning for tomorrow.  Use your past experience as a guide for the future.  There is a lot to be learned from endeavors that didn’t work out as planned. 

Success requires active participation in your life.  You are responsible.  You are in control.  Don’t wait for things to happen, go out and make them happen.  Formulate goals, make plans, and take action.  Learn from you past while always moving forward.  Stay in it and you will win it.

NOW AVAILABLE:  "Dare to Live Without Limits," the book.  Visit www.BryanGolden.com or your bookstore. Bryan is a management consultant, motivational speaker, author, and adjunct professor. E-mail Bryan at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or write him c/o this paper.  2011 Bryan Golden

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