Today I continue applying into my own life the 50 Lessons I Learned From the World’s # 1 Achiever by Vic Johnson.

Making New Friends Everywhere

Helping others is a way of enjoying the journey as go. A few days ago I started a conversation with a guy who as knowledgeable and interested in gardening as I was. The conversation was refreshing for both of us. I even shared with him my secret for preventing blossom end rot in tomatoes. I always dust dried powdered kelp in the planting holes before I plant the tomatoes. He said that he would help me with work on my trailer if I need it.

Another thing that I am doing this month in this department is (I alluded to it earlier in this post) is that I am moving out of my current living situation. My roommate and I decided that this was not the best situation for either of us. In order to keep our friendship, both of us agree that it is best that I leave. The trailer out in the country is so much better for me because I can garden and care for animals which something that I have not done for several years now.

In addition, by moving into my new place, I will be able to help my friends with some issues that they are not able to do themselves and they will be able to help me in other ways. It will be a win-win for us.

Sharing What I Have With Others With The Same Goal

One way that I have been sharing with individuals  with the same goal is helping others with their writing projects. I have done is that I have been writing on Bubblews different aspects and definitions used in self-publishing. I am amazed at how much I already know about this subject and that helps build my confidence as well as helping others.

Another way that I share with others who Have the same goal is that I share my gardening experiences with people who are interested in learning about gardening without using insecticides or chemical fertilizers. My gardens get better and better. Unlike chemically treated gardens, my soil always increases in earthworms and gets deeper and darker every year.

Visualization

I have started visualizing that everything is panning out. This one involves developing visualization techniques related to success. This month I have been visualizing what I envision my trailer will look like when I am done fixing it up. I am visualizing what my book covers will look like when I am done re-creating them.  I am visualizing how things will look in more distant future. I see myself traveling around the country, and speaking at churches, doing book signings, and helping others. I will be discussing more of this on a future post.

Doing Not Just Dreaming

What we dream will never materialize unless we do something about it. Taking action takes time, so it is important to examine how we spend our time to help us get the time we need to do the things that we really value in life. Back in January,  I determined what I am doing that is valuable and what I have been doing that is a waste of time. I am sure that on my death bed I will never say, “I should have spent more time vegging in front of the television or aimlessly surfing the internet”. I am currently working on finding two hours of wasted time per day that I can eliminate. I have started a daily log to determine every waking hour for two full days during the week and one day on the weekend.

Over the weekend I was trying to figure out how I could find another two hours per day that I could better utilize. Usually I read a book on my kindle at work and sometimes will write down a few things. This last weekend, I helped paint the kitchen at work and I wrote down how I was going to spend my week and didn’t do any writing or reading while at work. However, I did write a bubblew on Saturday for Sunday after work.

Book writing  has been taking a back seat lately to doing other things. I seem to take barely any time right now to work on them. Last week I added a Bible Study blog post on  Wednesdays. The rest of my writing is going pretty well. I think it would benefit me if I would take a few minutes every day to determine what I need to do next in each area and then outline that idea.

I think that the most time wasting things that I do is that I am watching old television shows at the same time that I write so my focus is not, well, focused. I like background noise, but perhaps it would behoove me if I listened to music rather than watching television.

What My Accountability Partner Is To Do

To help me keep on track, I will hold myself accountable by asking a friend to be my accountability partner.  My friend will help me stay accountable for staying on track and completing  my planned actions. I plan to ask my friend to meet me for coffee or lunch one day per month. When we get together, I will tell my friend about what  I have finished during the month since I saw her and then tell her what I intend to do during the next month. If my friend has any suggestions, I will listen, but she doesn’t have to provide any added benefits. She just needs to listen and hold me accountable to my own goals. Just the fact that I have to explain myself to someone else will provide me with incentive to follow through with my monthly plans.

Donna Brown is an ordained minister. As Author Cygnet Brown, she  has recently published her first nonfiction book: Simply Vegetable Gardening: Simple Organic Gardening Tips for the Beginning Gardener

She is also the author of historical fiction series The Locket Saga. which includes When God Turned His Head and Soldiers Don’t Cry, the Locket Saga Continues. Her upcoming book A Coward’s Solace will be available soon. Click here for more information about Cygnet Brown and her books.