As we stand on the threshold of a brand new year, none of us knows what 2011 will bring. However, we can all be sure of one thing: increasingly rapid change will continue to reshape the way we live. I passionately believe, though, that there are certain things you must not allow to change in your life, even as you must be willing to adapt to all that is going on around us.
Faith. I’m not here to tell you what to believe in but I strongly suggest you choose something in which to believe. When everything seems transient, building your life on a foundation of the immutable and universal is critical to keeping your bearings. What is the rock upon which you’ll stand when the sands of change are shifting? Trust me, you won’t find what you need by relying on things and people. As you begin this new year, if you haven’t found it already, take some time to think, pray, or meditate on what has been constant, uplifting, and reassuring in your life. Discover for yourself what’s proven worthy of believing in.
Integrity. If faith is about where you stand, integrity is about what you stand for. What are your values? What is the code by which you conduct business, manage personal relationships, and interact with the world? Is your word worth anything? Do your actions meet up with your expressed intent? Resolve to be a person of the highest integrity in 2011. Few things are more valued in business than reliable people of consistently high integrity. This is even more true today, as rapid change greatly erodes our ability to count on the people around us.
Optimism. No matter what change brings in 2011, hold on to the belief that things can always get better. So much of what we experience is a matter of perspective, and so much of what we fear never comes to pass. If we’re honest with ourselves,
(Continued on next page)