Fear and greed are what drives change. You’re either so fearful of what’s going to happen to you — and believe me, the thought of losing what you love most in life is scary—or you’re so tempted by what you can have that you do what’s necessary to get it. The question is: what drives you? If it’s fear, be a big boy or a big girl and accept it. If it’s greed—you feel like you want a bigger home, or a new boat—that’s fine, but you have to understand that those motivations are totally different. Fear is looking backward. Greed is looking forward. What is it that is going to inspire you to change?

Positive or negative, change is coming. Who’s going to pick it for you? Being a follower is never a recipe for satisfaction. You’re called to be the leader of your own life. You’re not called to have somebody else decide for you. It’s not the government’s job to dictate what you do. The number one step toward taking charge of your own life is looking in the mirror and saying, I’m changing because I want to change. It happened to me, and it’s the reason I have a wonderful wife and three great kids.

So many “self-help” books and “motivational” speakers have tried to give people easy-to- digest ways to change that the entire subject has almost become a cliché. And to be honest, most of them diminish how important change is—reducing it to some sort of superficial New Year’s Resolution process that will make you feel better about yourself for a few days or a few weeks.

In my best selling book “The Good Life Rules,” (available in book stores in North America, or from my website, www.bryandodge.com , click the link under the featured product on the home page), I share with you the eight rules for being your best at work and at play. But when it comes to making a successful change, I have to stress that understanding why change has to happen is more important than the physical steps to achieving it. Become a why-focused person and always remember those who focus on the “how” in life always end up working for those who focus on the “why.” I challenge each of you in the next 48 hours to e-mail me your why list, and I will send you a gift. Send that email to whylist@bryandodge.com . This list is crucial because that’s what generates all the energy and discipline for your efforts. If you’re inspired, you’re determination will help you succeed. In my book, I walk you through the actual steps you will take and the 48-hour action plan to recharge your life, and that process will change your life for the better.
habits.

I wish you the best that life has to offer you and those that depend on you.
Find the energy from within,
Bryan Dodge

I believe with all my heart that this is a great time of the year to look in the mirror and decide what you must do to eliminate a destructive habit, whether it is obesity, habitually being late, profanity, smoking, having a short temper, alcoholism, promiscuity, etc.

The first and most important thing you must do is to decide that you are better than these habits. Always remember good habits seldom come to you, it is the bad habits that are easy to attract and make your life harder. You have to first decide that you are in charge of your life and then take responsibility for your life. This, my friend, is the first step towards building a better you.

Here is some practical advice. Seek after better habits and replace those bad habits that found you. With that mindset you will attract the habits that are harder to find and even harder to develop, but are easier to live with over time. That is a decision you and only you can make. Without this type of true inspiration on your part, no person or procedure will have any significant impact. If someone else or the world “talks you into it,” the chances are strong you will perhaps start but the effort will be short-lived. Many times you end up further behind than you would have been had you not attempted to quit a habit which you were not ready to give up.

It is important to be reminded that bad habits like when they have a place to stay and will fight back when you are trying to fire them from your life. So first, and most importantly, decide you no longer are going to be a slave to any destructive habit. It’s your life, and you are the boss of your life. It’s time to fire those habits that need to be fired so you can hire better habits that will help you achieve that control you need over your life to accomplish a better you both at work and at home.

Fight for your own best interest. I want you to have that wonderful feeling of being free. Decide today, not tomorrow that this is what you want for your life. Choose to do things with your life instead of having things done to your life. Remember it is your life, and last time I checked you’re the boss.

Building a better you starts with building better habits.

I wish you the best that life has to offer you and those that depend on you.
Find the energy from within,
Bryan Dodge