Time and time again, I have witnessed high - functioning, top - performing men and women carrying a little gold card in their wallets that they can review during the quieter moments of their day. The card simply lists their top life goals along with clear deadlines for achieving them. The discipline or reconnecting to your highest priorities, whether they are personal, professional or spiritual, is a smart one.
Montaigne said, “The great and glorious masterpiece of men is to live to the point.” The wisdom of life so succinctly expressed. And yet most of us live our lives like one long air raid drill, filling our days with activities that seem important in the moment but that count for little in the overall scheme of our lives. As I wrote in Leadership Wisdom from The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari, the person who tries to do everything ultimately accomplishes nothing. Having a goal card and coming back to it three or four times a day will keep your mind centred on the things that truly count. It will foster the self - control you need to concentrate only on activities that advance your goals, give you the discipline to say no to all the rest and, in so doing, restore focus to your days. I promise you that if you spend your life focusing on only the worthiest pursuits, it is certain to end in complete joy.
Excerpt from Who WIll Cry When You Die by Robin Sharma. www.robinsharma.com