Success Starts Here!

You know you do it. We all do. Even people who say their only resolution is not to make a resolution do it. They just don't tell anybody. Let's face it, New Years just happens to be a seemingly logical start point to us reaching our goals, whatever they might be. That is why we are all so drawn to making resolutions. Sadly, we also know very few people actually succeed at accomplishing their resolutions. Just look at any gym the first week of January. You can barely walk there are so many people. By March, only the loyal few are still there. So what is the secret? What allows those "loyal few" to succeed where the vast majority of those who begin with the best intentions, ultimately fail? I believe it is two very specific things which separate those who will reach the year 2013 with successes in their resolutions and the majority of us who will be resolving yet again 12 months from now to do it all over again. I believe the secret to goal/resolution success are these

As Christmas day quickly approaches, those who celebrate the holiday are rushing to get last minute gifts, finish up last minute plans for get-togethers, and just hustling and bustling to prepare for the big day. Christmas has always been a very, very special holiday for my family and I. It has also regularly been the sharpest reminder the Army I serve is a jealous mate who regularly reminds me my allegiance to it must come before all other things. This has been the reality of my life for 21 years. It comes with the territory and at the end of the day I signed up for it and am proud of my service to my country. I hold no anonymity towards my Army. Luckily for me, my family has stood in support of me every time I have had to endure this holiday alone and far from home. So have my friends who always remind me I am not forgotten even when half a world away. This year, for what I hope will be the last time, I am literally half a world away from those I love. I believe in my mission and I

The holidays are upon us. We are all scurrying around between work and activities and the extra pressures of preparing for the respective traditions we participate in during this time of year. As some of you know, I'm just the type of geek who ponders the meanings of many things and who always looks for what might be learned from life. In this case, I thought of how interestingly the various world religions celebrate their most festive holidays. It may not seem like they have much to do with each other. I mean what do Hindu holidays celebrating the birth of Krishna have to do with Christian holidays celebrating the birth of Jesus? How do I tie the Muslim Ramadan to the Jewish Hanukkah? Oh, and then there's that chubby elf with a big beard and that red suit of his. Well, we'll leave the elf alone on this one. To me, if there is anything to be learned from these holidays and if there is any similarity among them, it is that good people long ago did noteworthy things which b