Famous Hockey Star Wayne Gretsky once said, "You miss 100% of the shots you never take." Famous Southern mother (mine) frequently said, "You can't win if you don't play". Those words often still ring in my ears today - Am I willing to agree to losing by not at least trying, I ask myself.

Many times I've heard myself complain, "I'm trying so hard, but nothing seems to be happening." When it actually comes down to it, however, what I'm doing is thinking about it a lot - not actually doing anything towards it.

When you don't try something, when you never start towards your goal, when you put-off and wait-out your dreams, you are AGREEING to lose, to not have it. Starting is the most important part of achieving your best life. If you want a better future, it begins today. It doesn't matter where you start -- it matters that you start. It doesn't have to be a big thing. Just Start.

Consider where your life is at this moment in reference to your goal, and if need be, start very small. Put $1 into an envelope each week as a savings plan. Take a 10 minute walk. Clean out a drawer. Make a phone call. Delegate a job. If you can, take a much larger step, like putting $100 each week into a savings account, or walking for 30 minutes or hiring some help. We all get too hung up on what we do, or how much we do. It doesn't matter what you do --just do! Move forward.

Are you sitting at home waiting on Mr. or Ms. Right? Mr/Ms. Right could be down at the corner bowling alley, or in the local church, or in the neighborhood restaurant RIGHT NOW. Are you waiting on your next raise, or the kids to grow up, or the economy to get better before you decide to work on your goals?

As difficult and painful as it is to hear, you must understand that by waiting on things to happen you have chosen to give your life over to circumstance. You agree to let something else make your decision for you - fear, money, resentment, anger, consequences, etc.

Every time you slip, or get off track, Start Again. Keep trying. If one thing doesn't work, try something else. You will find what works for you. Consider how many different shampoos you have had in your life. What worked for you at one time, doesn't work any more, but that doesn't mean you stop using shampoo!! How many movies do you watch before you find one you love? How many different restaurants have you visited before you find one that has everything you want? Isn't the quality of your life worth putting at least as much energy into finding what works as the amount of energy you put into choosing shampoo or movies or restaurants?

Don't AGREE to lose out on what's important to you Take one step right now towards your goal. Make a phone call, clean out a drawer, schedule in some gym time, take $1 and put it into an envelope in your underwear drawer. Imagine if you repeated that very same small step each day for the next 365 days. Where would you be 1 year from now? Imagine if you don't do anything -- where will you be 1 year from now? 1 year from now is still going to come - where will you be when it does?

Better future? Better start now! Start trying new things. Start eliminating the old. Start bringing in the new.

Kathy Gates, Professional Life Coach, believes that "Life Rewards Action". She can help you create goals, overcome procrastination, organize your time and money, find your true passion, and learn to love the real you. Visit www.reallifecoach.com, email Kathy@reallifecoach.com, or call 480.998.5843