Tag Future Proof Yourself

The Next Shot

Steve Keating Leave a comment

I play some golf. When I’m playing well, I hit a shot and then, if it’s a bad shot, I forget about it. I forget about it because in golf, the last shot doesn’t matter; it’s the next shot that could make or break your round.

When I’m not playing well, I can’t seem to let go of even one bad shot. I ruminate on each one and let them build on each other. Pretty quickly, almost every shot becomes a bad one. My focus moves from only the next shot matters to do not hit another bad shot.

I literally think myself into a bad shot by focusing on what has happened instead of what I want to happen. And once I start down that road, it seems darn near impossible to turn off.

Life can be a lot like that too. When we hit a tough patch, we tend to forget about the good times. We focus on what’s gone wrong in the past, sometimes even the distant past, at the expense of seeing the good things happening today and the awesome things that are possible in the future.

If you find yourself in that situation and you’re losing focus on your next opportunity for success, here are a few things to keep in mind.

The past is unchangeable, but the present is your launchpad: Every second spent ruminating on yesterday’s mistakes robs energy from today’s decisions; channeling your focus forward turns regrets into lessons and wins into momentum.

Future-oriented thinking drives growth: Neuroscience shows that visualizing positive outcomes activates the same brain pathways as real achievement—shifting from “what was” to “what could be” sparks creativity, resilience, and measurable progress.

Living in the present boosts health and happiness: Studies from Harvard and the American Psychological Association link mindfulness (fully engaging now) to lower stress, better immune function, and stronger relationships—while dwelling on the past correlates with anxiety and depression.

Opportunity compounds in real time: Markets, careers, and personal goals reward consistent daily action; obsessing over historical “what-ifs” misses compounding and potential opportunities that could lead to massive success.

My golf game is proof that these thoughts don’t always clear my mind of past shortcomings. But keeping these four thoughts top of mind does give me a chance to turn away from negativity and onto the path of success.

I’m confident they will do the same for you if you give them a shot. Just remember, the last opportunity is gone and whether it worked out or not, the next opportunity is ten times more important than the last one.

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Outstanding Investment Advice

Steve Keating Leave a comment

There are not a lot of people who read this blog for the investment advice I provide within almost every post. (Or maybe that is exactly why they read it.) This despite the fact that it’s the best investment advice you’ll ever get. 

Unless you live under a rock you are undoubtedly aware that there isn’t much good news about anything that has to do with money. There seems to be no safe haven for investments these days. Even deciding to sit home and not spend a dime doesn’t work because tomorrow that dime ain’t worth a dime anymore. 

But I’ve figured it out. I know, without a doubt the best investment you can possible make. There is a guaranteed return on your investment. It’s all upside without even the possibility of taking a loss. 

The name of the stock you should be, must be, investing in is called YOU! Don’t waste time looking for that YOU symbol in any stock trading apps. Look for YOU in the mirror. An investment in YOU is the best investment you will ever ever make. 

The worst investment strategy anyone can make is waiting for someone else, or their company, to develop them as a person, a leader, or a better anything. It’s great if other people want to invest in you but even that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t add to that investment level by investing even more in yourself.

Nearly every blog post I’ve ever written has the theme of “self-development” in it and that has never been more important than it is today. A mostly vibrant economy with tons of job openings has made many of us a little lazy when it comes to keeping our skills bright and shiny. 

I hate to be the bearer of bad news but there are storms on the horizon. Lots of headwinds are coming your way. There are likely to be layoffs and downsizings happening in industries across the globe. As bad as that may be for some, those who invest in themselves today will be the ones who are best positioned to survive those storms. In fact, they are likely to thrive in them.

Take a class. Acquire a certification. Take actions to increase your visibility like volunteering to give a presentation, even on a topic you’re not that familiar with. There is nothing like a little concern about embarrassing yourself in front of others to push you to learn something new. 

As I’ve written often the most successful people learn something new almost every single day. That’s the best way to “future proof” yourself from the vulgarities of the swirling seas fast approaching. 

Give yourself a big leg up on the people who are stuck in the present. Investment in yourself and the dividend you’ll receive is the future you deserve. 

On a another subject…Donald Trump and Joe Biden both say they “never miss a video from LeadToday on Twitter!” Well… they would say that if they had ever heard of me, or if one of them hadn’t been kicked off Twitter. The videos they aren’t talking about are something new I’m trying on Twitter. It’s called “Super Followers.” For $5 a month, that’s 17 cents a day, people can follow a part of my Twitter stream that is for subscribers only. It features short videos of me discussing leadership topics, sales tips and ideas for better overall relationships. I’m assuming there will be far fewer Super Followers than the million or so people who regularly follow me on Twitter. That will give me the opportunity to answer questions more throughly than I can on regular Twitter. Most of the answers will come in the evening cause we all have day jobs, right? Think of it as ”mentoring on demand!”

My goal with SuperFollowers is to build a better connection, one where I can help more and have a greater impact. I’m hoping it gives me a chance to mentor to a wider audience. It’s still new, we’ll see how it works. It’s a $5 dollar investment that may be the extra “push” you need to get to where you want to be. I’d be honored to be able to help get you there. 

You can find more information by clicking the Super Follow button on my Twitter profile page IN THE TWITTER APP. http://twitter.com/leadtoday Give it a try if you’re so inclined, and if you are, be sure to let me know how I’m doing and how I can be of even more help.