What is it that separates those who find success and those who do not? Why do some people achieve their dreams while others find themselves stuck in a holding pattern?

I do not pretend to know all of the answers, but while I was reading this weekend, I stumbled upon a poem by William Arthur Ward that definitely points us in the right direction.

While Others are…

Believe while others are doubting.
Plan while others are playing.
Study while others are sleeping.
Decide while others are delaying.
Prepare while others are daydreaming.
Begin while others are procrastinating.
Work while others are wishing.
Save while others are wasting.
Listen while others are talking.
Smile while others are frowning.
Commend while others are criticizing.
Persist while others are quitting.

Boom!!! Did you guys hear that mic drop?!

How do I get ahead? While Others are… How do I achieve my dreams? While Others are… I want to be more intentional, but where do I start? While Others are… How do I stand out? While Others are…

I am definitely going to frame this and hang it in my office. I need this to be a daily reminder in my life.

As I continue to read over this poem, I cannot help but wonder, what else could we add to the list that Ward so thoughtfully created? I am not sure when he published this, but I do know that he passed away in 1994. Thanks to technology, an awful lot has changed in the last 24 years. I think everything he wrote is still 100% applicable today, and I would not suggest taking anything away from it. I am just curious… What might we add to it in order to possibly create a more updated version? Here are some things that I have thought of so far.

Read while others are “binging.”

Unplug while others are surfing.

Look up while others are staring down.

Exercise while others are lounging.

Call while others are texting.

Connect while others are “networking.”

What are your thoughts?

I’d love to hear from you on this one. If you’re willing, please share your thoughts either on social media or in the comments section. I have two things I’d like to know…

1. What else would you add to the “modern version?” What are the things we can do in 2018 to set ourselves apart?
2. Which of Ward’s original 12 lines hit home with you the most. Which line do you think you are already in the process of mastering? Which line presents the biggest area of growth for you?

“Study while others are sleeping” is one that I am in the process of mastering. I try to wake up at 5:00 every morning, so I can read and write before the rest of the family gets out of bed. I’m not batting .1000 on that one by any means, but it’s the line from the poem that I feel like I have the best grasp on. The biggest area of growth for me is probably “Begin while others are procrastinating.” That’s something I’ve always struggled with, and I wrote about it in my last post, “Learning and Doing.”

That is it for today. I kept it short, so you can have time to share your thoughts. I can’t wait to hear what you have to say.

Thanks for reading!

Side Note:

I found the poem in a book titled, Put Your Dream to the Test by John Maxwell. The book is all about identifying, working toward, and realizing your dreams. My principal gave it to me in the fall, and I just started digging into it this weekend. If you like Maxwell’s stuff, you should definitely read this one.