Reinvention or Stagnation? It's Your Choice.
Author: E.R. Haas

Reinventing your life means doing things differently from what you are currently doing. You cannot expect to do the same things, in the same way, for the same reasons, and expect different results.

The idea of reinvention and rebirth is timeless. There have been many great authors before me -- and I am certain there will be many to follow -- with ideas, inspiration and motivation for reinvention.

But look deeper and you'll find that we all agree on one thing. There is a process for change.

Inventory Your Strengths and Weaknesses...

Reinvention begins with taking a complete inventory of your strengths and weaknesses -- the positives and negatives currently driving your successes and failures.

The objective, of course, is to start producing better results -- by amplifying your strengths and eliminating your weaknesses.

Three "Starter" Questions...

To get you in the reinvention "state of mind" ask yourself this:

Do you know exactly what you WANT for the top 3 roles in your life?
Do you have a working 5 year PLAN?
Do you consistently FOCUS your time and talent on what's most important to you personally?
If you can't honestly answer YES to each, it's time to take inventory and make some changes.
Yes? Yes? Yes?

If you are under 30, don't sweat it -- there's lots of time for you to get it together. If you are 30-something, it's time to actually THINK about these questions. Because the amazing truth is, you're not growing younger!

However, if you are over 40 and can't honestly answer YES to all 3, it's time to take inventory and quickly make some changes... because you already have all the TIME there is... and sadly, it's running out.

If not now, just WHEN are you going to start living the life you want?

Advice...

Stop getting ready to get ready. The first step in reinventing your life is to ask and answer the tough questions... to take stock of where you are right now... and to make the changes necessary to put your life back on the track towards achieving your dreams.

Yes? No? No?

There are 8 possible outcomes from the above 3 questions. Like a slot machine, 3 Yes's in a row spell real success!

However, a Yes to the first question (you know what you want,) but No to the other 2 means that you will never get what you want... because you don't have a plan... or lack the focus to work your plans.

Three No's in a row means that not only do you NOT know what you want, there's no HOPE of living the life of your dreams -- until you start doing things differently.

It's worse than a slot machine just taking your MONEY. Time is quite literally taking your LIFE!

If you are struggling with career, financial or personal issues, maybe it's high time to look in the mirror.

The Dark Side...

If you relate to ANY of the following statements, it's definitely time for a NEW YOU. Think about what these points are telling you -- and costing you.

You know you could accomplish great things, if you only knew what they were.
You're not sure why you're even in the different roles in your life.
Nothing seems to matter, and you wonder why nothing ever comes your way.
Big decisions are always difficult because you've never determined what's more important than something else.
You believe life has little inherent meaning, and even less purpose.
You believe that the future is out of your control, and you're better off getting by -- taking it one day at a time.
What's most important on your list of things to do each day always takes a back seat to what's most urgent. Y
ou spend time only on what is the easiest or most pressing, regardless of its value.
You are forever running at full throttle, but your rewards never match your efforts.
You are constantly frustrated and feeling guilty because there's always something else you should be doing.
You believe there will never be enough time for what you want to do, because there's always something more urgent.
Worse -- you think the best part of your life is in the PAST and that your FUTURE is doomed to repeat a life of failed hopes and dreams.
The Contrast is Stunning...

There are people who know exactly where they are going -- and what they are going to do when they get there. Their lives are quite different from people who just struggle each day to get by.

How many of these positive traits can you claim?

Be honest -- this may be painful -- but VERY beneficial. How do you compare?


You're focused on specific lifetime visions, and each day brings new opportunities to make your dreams come true.
You can articulate exactly what you want from -- and what you expect to give to -- each role in your life.
You find ways to make a difference with your time and your life in a pursuit higher than your own personal interests.
Decisions are easy, because your mission always clarifies what's most important.
You believe life is full of meaning and purpose, meant to be lived to its fullest each and every day.
You believe that the future is in your control, and you are busy mapping future steps to an ideal life.
You understand that what's most important should always come first, and therefore, you always focus on what's most important right now.
Your efforts are highly rewarding because you invest your time on those activities with the highest payoff.
You are always on purpose and enjoying the moment, because you've determined in advance that this is exactly what you should be doing, right now.
You believe that what's most important should never be sacrificed for what's merely urgent.
Better -- you know the best part of your life lies AHEAD -- and your FUTURE is so bright you have to wear shades!

Reinvention or Stagnation? It's your Choice.

Life is a constant evolution of preferred ideals. If your life is on track -- and you'll know it by the way you feel -- keep going.

But, if you're not satisfied with your life as it is... or you don't like who you are... or where you're going... change your path. It's okay to change your mind -- especially when the change is an improvement.

Remember, the act of creation starts with defining something that does not yet exist. This especially applies to creating a New You.

Advice...

If you want to reinvent your life, find out which part of your life needs to be reinvented. Not ALL of you is "broken"!

Discover what you are doing right -- so you can spend your time doing more of that. Find out precisely what you are doing wrong -- so you can identify and isolate those issues and deal with them.

Not sure what's broken? Or where to start? Try taking the free TQ Test at www.thinktq.com.

Einstein was right...

The definition of insanity is repeating the same actions, and expecting different results.

As such, your life isn't going to get better until you do something different.

When are you going to start?

Think about it.






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Haas is CEO of ThinkTQ.com, the world's leading site designed to help people find out what they're doing right, doing wrong, and need to do different in order to immediately get and produce better results.


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