STAY FOCUSED TO REACH YOUR DREAMS

     The main reason people succeed is they usually do a half-dozen things consistently correct. It’s not that people fail; they never give themselves the opportunity to succeed. Winston Churchill said, “Never quit.”

     So here is your opportunity to choose success. Doran Andry taught me five reasons why people succeed and I have applied them to my writing career.
     1. Make a real decision, take action and choose success. What this means is you must make a real decision and cut off all other options – forcing you to forge forward and succeed. Start with the end in mind. Stay focused to reach your dreams. Joseph McClinton III said, “Your imagination is the most powerful tool you possess.” Remember, ‘more of the same produces more of the same.’ By that I mean; if you want things to change—don’t keep doing the same old things.
     2. Become a teachable willing student. Again, you don’t know it all. The only way to get better is to have an open, willing mind to grow. Each book you write must be better than the last. If it isn’t, ask yourself if you’re a teachable willing student. It’s paramount to your success to write better than your wildest dream. I read an interview with Dean Koontz and was impressed when he said, “I’m still learning the craft.”
     3. Consistently execute a daily writing goal. What that means is have a plan and work that plan every day with a willing spirit. The key is focusing on the activity long enough so you get your desired results. Learn to master the ‘do’ part.
     4. Take advantage of your writing mentors/groups/partners. Find someone you know who is willing to partner in goal setting. It’s harder to slide on goals when you know someone else is checking on whether you are meeting or exceeding your goals. When you are struggling with insecurities, missed deadlines, or even a certain plot or chapter, that’s the time to turn to your mentor, group or writing partner. Buy CDs or books on plot, characterization, timing, query letters, and many others out there to improve your writing and help further your career. When the student is ready…the teacher will appear.
     5. Grow as a person. We all might call this ‘personal development.’ Whether you’re just starting or a seasoned writer, always be a student of personal development. The key to sustaining being a successful writer is to grow as a person. Buy technology, CDs, eBooks, or printed books, you have the opportunity to impact your life and grow as a person. I urge you to be a student of personal development – it will pay huge dividends. Nightingale Conant and The Pacific Institute are great sources of personal development.

     If you implement these key five points consistently to your writing career, I believe it will give you the opportunity to soar and succeed. The exciting thing is when you look at someone who is highly successful, now you’ll understand the difference between the two of you is only five things.

PICTOGRAPH CAVE STATE PARK PICTOGRAPH CAVE STATE PARK ~ Billings, Montana

     First there was the land, the mountains and the rivers. Humans are but recent newcomers to this place now called Montana. However, when and how they arrived is still a mystery. Pictograph Cave State Park is a place to contemplate the origins of human habitation of Montana.

     The pictographs are more than 2,100 years old. Their interpretations are still subject to great debate. Do they simply document hunts, or do they honor people or their scripts? The images of animals, warriors and even rifles tell a story that has lasted thousands of years. The three main caves - Pictograph, Middle, and Ghost cave complex was home to generations of prehistoric hunters. They were carved from the Eagle sandstone cliff by the forces of water and wind erosion. The first major discovery of artifacts and paintings in the caves was made in 1936.
     Approximately 30,000 artifacts, ranging from stone tools, weapons, paintings and the instruments used, have been identified from the site. The red, black and white pigments used provide key information and evidence suggesting that the caves were first used by nomadic hunters seeking shelter. The artifacts discovered allow researchers to pinpoint which peoples used the caves and when they inhabited the region.
     The park has paved trails to the caves, with interpretative displays along the route identifying and explaining the natural features, the prehistoric paintings and vegetation found in the area. The Pictograph Cave is the deepest of the three main caves, at approximately 160 feet wide and 45 feet deep.