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Henry David Thoreau on predictions

"The Brahmins say that in their books there are many predictions of times in which it will rain. But press those books as strongly as you can, you can not get out of them a drop of water. So you can not get out of all the books that contain the best precepts the smallest good deed."

I won't be making any predictions for 2008, but I will toss out one precept: Do something this year! Live! Don't just read, write or talk about what others should be doing to improve their businesses and their lives. Show them. Be an exemplar. Take a chance. Failure isn't as scary as it appears; you'll get over it.  But trust me, you will never get over regret.

Yesterday, on my walk from the gym to the Post Office, I passed the small convenience store where I typically grab the newspaper and my morning cup of Green Mountain coffee.  It was closed . . . for good.  I glanced through the glass doors and saw the very kind proprietor on his hands and knees filling cardboard boxes with unsold merchandise. He looked up at me and smiled. I returned the smile, ruefully, and wished him good luck.

As I walked away, contemplating his unfortunate circumstance, a flood of thoughts overwhelmed me: I wonder what he'll do now? What went wrong with his business model? I wonder how many local businesses are facing the same fate? How would the scores of bloggers, who are experts at telling others what they are doing wrong, have advised him? Then I caught myself, quickly calmed the voices in my head, and thanked the Universe that I had had the opportunity to be part of this man's story; a story of doing, of living . . . of passion and action.

Be inspired by the story of this kind store owner, and live fully in 2008. Experiences create your stairway to a successful, and memorable life. Remember, it is better to have filled cardboard boxes, to have tried something and lost, than never to have experienced at all.  Godspeed.

Posted January 1, 2008
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