#1207 Wherever you go you take yourself with you

Last week, I asked you to create a motto for 2026.  Your motto is basically a theme for the year.  It is the sign above your door; one you pause a moment to tap as you leave each day.  That sign and touch are there to remind you of your intention for the year.

I don't have an actual sign that I touch.  That visual is to drive home the idea that you become what you think about.  My motto is on top of my planning page and in my email signature.  It's prevalent; a part of my daily consciousness.

I know that wherever I go, I take myself with me, so when I arrive, I want to be the me I envisioned before I got there.

Thought determines action.  Unfortunately, ungoverned, unintentional thoughts have the same power as deliberate thoughts. They both precede action, good or bad.

I love brainstorming and allowing thoughts to bubble up.  It is a great creative exercise. What usually happens is that we think freely about something, alone or with a group, list the ideas, then select the best ones and implement a plan.

That's different than ungoverned thoughts, which are the opposite of intentionality.

What I want is to be present and deliberate.  I want to respond thoughtfully to the stimulus of my day. My motto shapes my expectations as a person and conditions me to respond more thoughtfully.  Sometimes I react rather than respond.  Reacting is OK if you're grabbing your toddler's hand before they run into the street, but beyond instinctive moves like that, reacting usually results in regrettable behavior.

Is my motto magic?  Does it suddenly blanket me with wisdom and calm? 

Of course not.  It is only one of the brush strokes that will paint the scenes of my life in 2026, and without it, on 12/31/2026, I could be looking at a Pollack, whereas today I envision a DaVinci.

Own Your Sales Gene…