Hi,

A few of us were talking. The conversation took an interesting turn when Sarah (I’ve changed her name) started rattling off what she’s up to…

… Like how she’s working on a novel, grows her own vegetables, has taken up painting as a new hobby, got a new puppy, and has made a regular practice of yoga.

And as if that hadn’t impressed us enough, Sarah, gleaming ever so much, goes on… telling us how she’s also looking forward to going whale watching this Spring (if she can talk her best friend into coming along), one day becoming a midwife, riding in a hot air balloon, and on and on.

In an instant, I knew it was a good time for us to revisit what’s on our “bucket list.” And since there were a few new people in our group, I first explained what is a bucket list.

For the uninitiated, a bucket list is simply those things you want to do before you kick the bucket (actually this expression doesn’t especially do it for me, and if you’re not familiar with it, the term means “before you die”).

Anyway, getting back to where we were in our discussion… Most of us have all had the odd thing or two or three we want to do “some day” that we toss around in our heads every now and then. Some of us carry as many as ten or twelve around. You may have more, or you may have less.

That’s why the first time I asked everyone to do the following bucket list exercise you’re about to read, you can imagine why it was quite a challenge.

My instructions were simple – and by the way you can do this yourself if you like:

1) Pull out a few sheets of paper and a pen or pencil

2) Ask yourself: “If I was given less than one year left to live, what would I make sure to do?”

3) Make a list of 100 things you want to do before you kick the bucket. Not 10 items, not 20 goals, not even 50… we’re talking a list of a whopping 100 items.

If you sit down to do this, you’ll discover that writing a list of things you want to do before you die is a way to really examine your life.

Realistically you’ll need to give yourself a fair amount of time to do this. That’s why it will help to even give yourself a deadline of completing the first list.

And let me add this…

Your list doesn’t have to be perfect. Remember that just because you’ve made a list doesn’t mean it won’t change. In fact, the very opposite is true, especially because of step 4:

4) Start crossing items off your list – today!

It’s a fact – your list will change. You might add to the list or you may change your mind and drop a few things. And most satisfying of all, you will check things off your list when you’ve achieved them.

Now let me ask you, are you spending your time and money doing what you want to do, things you really care about? Are you going where you want to go? Are you experiencing the life you want to live? Are you seeing yourself become who you want to be?

Most people putt off their dreams for “some day” – but not those who go through with the exercise.

I wonder where you dream of traveling, what thrills do you seek, what experiences do you want, what are your goals? Maybe it’s places to see before you die, things to do before you die and books to read.

.. Just imagine where your list will take you.

There are two more important points worth mentioning:

First, remember this is your life. Choose what YOU want to do. And what I mean by that is avoid adding something to your list for the wrong reasons. Like to try and impress someone else, because you feel pushed into choosing it, because you think you should (yes, there’s that “should” word again) do it, or because you feel it’s expected of you.

Second, realize that the dreams on your list can be simple or can be a huge undertaking. They can cost a small fortune, or they can be free. And forget neglecting to add something because you don’t think you’ll ever be able to do it. Who knows if you won’t? So if you have the desire to do it, just put it right there on your list.

Okay, here are some categories to give you a few bucket list ideas and help you get started right now:

• Family
• Health/Fitness
• Money/Financial
• Relationships
• Romance
• Career/Professional
• Contribution/Volunteer
• Spiritual
• Home
• Sports
• Books
• Hobbies
• Travel
• Adventure
• Education
• New Skills
• Entertainment
• Celebrity
• Music
• Events
• Food

Just as I finished going through the list above, I thought of the old saying you may have heard time and again:

“No man ever said on his deathbed I wish I spent more time at the office.”
-Unknown

So let’s have a little fun… Share five items from your “bucket list” right here. When you commit them in writing, you are more likely to focus on doing these things.

If you’re one of the first 10 approved comments, you’ll get a peek at a little something I’m putting together that will boost your goal setting and goal getting abilities.

Here’s to making your life a grand adventure.

Ciao!

Taylor

Hi…

It’s time for the answer to this week’s quiz…

Judging by the response, I’d say most didn’t have time to comment, which is a bit in keeping with the quiz and could be good or bad news depending on how you look at it.

Now, for the answer…

Or at least let’s head in that direction…

The answer to the question I posed (“What’s the key intrinsic reason why we do what we do instead of what we know we should do in support of our goals?”) also has a lot to do with why we do something vs. why we don’t.

Ask yourself why you do something to inch closer to a goal.

Maybe you want something. Maybe it’s material. Perhaps it’s a state. Maybe you desire it so badly you can taste it. Or maybe you don’t.

That’s a clue.

Here’s another one…

All across town, crowds of customers lined up hoping to get their hands on the new iPhone 3GS.

Which reminds me of a chilly night back in college. It was the first time I’d ever camped out to get concert tickets. Darn cold actually. But we were a big group of friends, we came prepared, we had a tent, food, beverages-you know how it is in college-and we stuck it out together… because it was worth it.

But you want to know the big reason why? Because my girlfriend wanted tickets.

Same with the iPhone fans. See, even though some stores wouldn’t open till 10 AM, Apple devotees were willing to get in line at the crack of dawn.

… Because they wanted to be one of the first to have the latest and greatest. Or maybe their reason why is because they wanted to get it as a gift for someone else.

Okay, so back to my example of the two random people who both have a goal of losing the same amount of weight.

One goes to the gym three times a week. And through persistent action and consistent effort, ultimately loses the weight. The other complains about not having enough time and remains overweight.

Here’s the reason why the second person doesn’t pull the trigger on losing weight…

Their bugaboo is “motivation.” Motivation, that combination of feeling, decision, and commitment.

That is the answer to the quiz: motivation.

Things get done in this world because we are motivated to do them. (Write that down and stick it to your wall.) And things don’t get done when we don’t have enough motivation.

There, the cat’s out of the bag.

It’s not glamorous.

Nevertheless, it’s the most critical driver for personal and business success.

Not getting the results you want? Check your motivation.

It’s not voodoo.

Setting and expecting to achieve goals without having the right motivation, IS relying on voodoo.

Because if you are not motivated enough, it is highly unlikely you’re going to do what’s necessary to achieve your goal.

I’ve lost count of how many goals of mine have fallen off the radar because I wasn’t motivated enough. I’m probably better off too for it too.

I’m guessing you can relate to this, can’t you, that to take action you need to be motivated? Even if it’s just to get the silly thing done?

My fingers are getting tired, so let me think how do I say this best again… Things are worthwhile when we have worthwhile goals.

And when things are worth doing, you’re motivated to do them.

The flip side of this is, you’re not really going to do something if you don’t think it’s worthwhile…

…In other words, you are not going to go after your goals if you’re not motivated …if you don’t have a BIG ENOUGH REASON WHY.

Okay, I’ve rambled on enough.

Now, about the prize, even though you didn’t offer the answer, I’m feeling compelled to give TWO prizes.

One for the answer that at least is on the right wavelength… which gives us a taste of the effects of fear.

And the other for shedding some light on the workings of our mind.

So, the winners:

Carolyn, the second response.

And Zana, the first response.

Both of you get access to my Personal Renaissance group coaching and mentoring program. You’ll be contacted assuming you left your correct email address in your profile when you posted your comment.

Again, you get credit for giving this some thought and taking action.

Everyone else who read about the quiz and MISSED giving a response, I wonder if you can answer next time.

Well, that’s it for today.

We’ll have to do another quiz here soon.

Ciao!

Taylor

P.S. If you are a doer, want to be a doer, want to lead a truly extraordinary life, to enhance and enrich your lifestyle, to influence the world and leave a legacy, join me for your Personal Renaissance.

A long time ago, before I was able to really get it and was clueless about the meaning of life, a mentor of mine said:

“Taylor…we all get the same amount of time!”

No matter how simple and profound this statement is, at the time, his words didn’t sink in.

But as the years went by, I’d hear those words a few more times. Returning like a refrain, I’d slowly appreciate this song.

See, there’s a thing with people who live their dreams, people who lead extraordinary lives. These folks have mastered the simple truth about time–that we all get the same amount of time.

…And they know something else too…

That it’s what you do with your time that gets you different results from everyone else.

That how you spend your time determines your future.

Now if you’re like me, that probably sounds elementary. But on some level it’s hard to disagree, right?

It’s time to get this out in the open… People who live a richer, more fulfilling life in every sense of the word, realize it’s not about needing more time. Let’s face it… We all have all the time we’re ever going to get. So the secret is in how you use that time, how you leverage time.

When someone has an issue with time, often we’ll talk about their relationship with time.

Not surprisingly, they’ll tell me they don’t have enough time to do this that or the other. I mean really, ask a random person at the grocery store… it’s rare to find anyone who has time to do anything. Or is it?

They like money, but they don’t have time to get organized to make more money.

They say they wish they were in better shape, but they don’t have time to eat healthier or to take better care of themselves physically or emotionally.

They dream of better relationships, but they don’t have time to create strong, long-lasting bonds.

They describe in detail what they hate about their current job, but they don’t have time to think of a more rewarding line of work or to design a career they can be passionate about.

Sometimes we talk about how things take effort. But mostly it’s about how things take time.

In a way, it’s funny. Because if you ask them to journal how they spend their time, they make some amazing discoveries.

When someone first told me about journaling, I couldn’t help but think of a large, worn-in, leather-bound journal. Like an artist’s sketchbook or something. But the fact is you can journal on a small pad you keep in your back pocket or purse, on your computer, iphone, or whatever way makes you most comfortable. And when you make it a habit to keep a journal of how you spend your time, you too will see patterns in what you do with your time–those precious hours, days, months and years of your life.

And so when on the one hand they say “I’m so busy… I don’t have time…” and then on the other hand they see right there in black and white what it is they’re actually busy doing, it’s quite eye-opening, and at times down-right shocking.

For example, just imagine their surprise when they realize how many hours they spend watching television…

A.C. Nielsen Co. reported the average American watches more than 4 hours of TV each day (in reality, the TV is on more than that, an average of 6 hours, 47 minutes each day)

Why not try some simple math…

4 hours a day is 28 hours a week, or 2 months of nonstop TV-watching per year. 60 days of nonstop TV a year.

In a 65-year life, someone watching this much TV will have spent 9 years glued to the tube–more time today considering people are living longer. Tell me if that’s not alarming. Maybe it’s a wake up call.

Now, depending on what kind of television they watch, there may be some educational value to it. You know …if they’re watching things like the History Channel or the Discovery Channel.

And that’s just picking a classic example, people watching television hours and hours a day, wasting their gifts and lives in front of the television.

Listen, I used to be busy too. In fact, I still am quite often. At times you might have even seen me wearing “busyness” (is that a word?) almost as if it were a badge of honor.

Yes, I used to enjoy being busy.  The busier I was, the better I felt.

But that was a superficial feeling of fulfillment.

At a much deeper level, truth be told, I was far from satisfied with the things that were keeping me busy.

So there I was “busy”…

You know, there’s a thing about being busy…

When you are busy, you can get nowhere real fast.

Busy, busy, busy, at work. Or busy, busy, busy at home with the kids. Busy, maybe feeling like you’re a hamster on the hamster wheel. Busy getting tired, burning out.

Busy like our dogs running around in circles, chasing their tails.

That’s when along the road, another mentor taught this dog a new trick… Anyway, let me stay focused here…

What do you say let’s do a quickie quiz?

I’m giving away a prize, naturally.

And to make it relevant to the subject at hand, how about access to my Personal Renaissance group coaching and mentoring program to the first right answer?

Sound good?

Okay. Here’s the quiz:

You know people have goals. Spoken personal goals, the ones they’ll openly and easily share. And unspoken ones-goals maybe they would rather keep to themselves or don’t typically realize they have.

You probably even know a person or two who’s told you they have this or that goal. And yet in the same breath they also will painfully share that they don’t have time to work toward their goal because of how busy they are doing one thing or another.

You also know we all get the same amount of time. So if you take 2 random people who both have a goal of losing the same amount of weight and one of them gets to the gym 3 times a week and the other doesn’t, it isn’t because the first has more time.

So here’s the Big Question for today’s quiz:

What is it that makes someone who has a goal, clear or hazy, spoken or unspoken, as it may be, engage in logic-defying acts, squandering precious time when instead they could be taking action in support of their goals?

Why the self sabotage?

What is at the root of our self defeating behaviors?

Is it procrastination, fear …or something deeper?

What’s the key intrinsic reason why we do what we do instead of what we know we should do in support of our goals?

Toss your hat into the ring.

Well?

There IS a single answer.

Do you know what it is?

Be the first to nail it in the comments section, and you win entry into my coaching program, “Personal Renaissance.”

Okay… go.

Answer (and winner announced) Wednesday afternoon.

Good luck.

Ciao!

Taylor

Today I want to share something that was truly beautiful, and is related to goal setting…

Part of me says you had to be there, but when you read this, you be the judge.

There I am stuck in traffic, waiting for my turn at the stoplight, which as it happens is flashing red, so we all have to wait our turns to get where we’re headed.

When my turn comes up, I hit the gas. I’ve barely gone a few hundred yards and I notice there is a small animal ahead and to my right. Yep, I was right… it’s a fox!

My heart skips a beat.

I’m surprised. Concerned. Hopeful.

It’s almost like a perfect scene from a movie, where the director has carefully staged this moment.

So there’s the fox…

A beautiful, reddish-brown fox. She’s  nodding her head back and forth–and with it, shaking something that’s hanging out of her mouth–studying traffic, calculating how she is going to cross the road.

This is all happening in a matter of seconds. I see her, the fox, I have my thoughts, and immediately worry whether the car quickly approaching me from the left has spotted the fox too.

And yes, luckily, the car next to me also pauses.

And that is when it happens…

The fox sees her opportunity. She knows it’s her chance.

Bird in mouth, she crosses my two lanes, and then two more lanes of traffic which catch on to what’s going on  and also slow down she quickly approaches.

Yes-she made it!

And you can almost hear the crowd cheering.

I’m somewhat emotionally caught up just telling you this story for several reasons.

It’s a story of determination.

It’s a story of knowing what your outcome is and being clear on your goal.

It’s a story of motivation.

I was worried for the fox. I was rooting for her. Hoping she would successfully make it across the road, which of course meant others would have to notice her too and allow her to have a safe journey.

I can only imagine what was going on in her mind.

Perhaps she was focused on getting her little ones some food. And watching her with there holding a bird in her mouth, preparing to take a feast to her little ones, was a sight to be seen.

And so I was touched by the fox, I had respect, compassion, and a host of other feelings about this experience, about this determined mother knowing clearly what she wanted to go after and going for it.

Now you might question this and say it has nothing to do with goal setting strategies and that the animal was acting out of pure instincts.

Whatever the case might be, she reminded me of an important lesson and made me contemplate this valuable experience.

Her reminder was if you really want something, you get yourself in the right mind set, you understand what it is that motivates you, and you do what’s necessary to go after your goal.

See, the fox was on a mission. She was clear on her outcome. She knew what she had to do.

And she was determined to do whatever it takes to reach her destination.

She was highly motivated. Not getting her goal would mean that her little ones would starve. And that wasn’t an option in her book.

The fox knew what she wanted, she was clear on her goal. And she had a good reason why. No question about that.

In her book, that’s how you cross the road. And that’s exactly what she did.

Who would have thought you can learn goal setting techniques from a mother fox?

Ciao!

Taylor Coburn

First, before anything… have you watched my latest videos and did you give me feedback? If not, do it now.

OK, with that out of the way… I made this recording for you on the run.

My goal in this update was to explore the subject of what holds us back.

Whatever your purpose in life, I wonder what patterns you can find. Patterns are clues. Patterns are opportunities. Imagine the changes you can make when you listen now.

I hope it will make you want to leave feedback.

Ciao!

Taylor