Daily Decisions Determine Destiny

 “Daily decisions are defining decisions.  Never underestimate the potential of one resolution to change your life.” ~ Mark Batterson

Every day we are compelled to make a plethora of decisions, what to ware, what to eat, how to act, what to do, but would it surprise you that though each of these decisions you are choosing who you will become.  The longer the list you make the easier it is easy to see that every decision you make come to define who you are and the legacy you will leave.  As my Mother always says, “Daily Decisions Determine Destiny”

While reading an article on Forbes[1],  I was reminded of the concept of daily development.  Daily development is simply a focused approach to a problem down into actions and time slots of feasible commitment, and then acting on these ‘bits’ persistently, daily.  Like old axiom goes, ‘Rome wasn’t built in a day.’  Wouldn’t it also be absurd for the Egyptian ruler Khufu[2], to order a Pyramid built, and expect it to be done overnight.  If you think about it this concept applies across the board, you cannot do in a day what you do in a lifetime but you can make a lifetime legacy by what you do every day!

Of all people in American history, Benjamin Franklin was by far the most ambitious, widespread, and inspirational individual.  His philosophical motives[3] are more than what I could ever hope to sum up in a few sentences; however he did just so, quite quaintly by stating, “By improving yourself, the world is made better.  Be not afraid of growing too slowly.  Be afraid only of standing still.  Forget your mistakes, but remember what they taught you.”

“Be afraid only of standing still.”, standing still however, is exactly what we do when we neglect the importance of our daily decisions.  If you can grasp this cardinal precept of daily development, it will allow you to see the fundamental importance of every aspect in your daily life.  Thus, to summarize I want you to hear from a new prospective, from expert prospective.

In his book, Training for Power and Leadership, Grenville Keiser wrote, “Your life is like a book. The title page is your name, the preface you introduction to the world.  The pages are a daily record of your efforts, trials, pleasures, discouragements, and achievements.  Day by day your thoughts and acts are being inscribed in your book of life.  Hour by hour, the record is being made that must stand for all time.  Once the word finis must be written, let it then be said of your book that it is a record of noble purpose, generous service, and work well-done.”

So I challenge you to take what decisions you have in your hands today and develop for tomorrow.  And remember the 4D’s because your Daily Decisions do Determine  your Destiny!

Sincerely,

--

^“15 But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” ~ NIV Joshua 24:15

Jordan D. Ulmer

Cited:

1.      Brans, Pat. "Twelve Time Management Habits to Master in 2013." Forbes. Forbes Magazine, 01 Jan. 2013. Web. 02 Jan. 2013. <http://www.forbes.com/sites/patbrans/2013/01/01/twelve-time-management-habits-to-master-in-2013/>.

2.      Shaw, Jonathan. "Who Built the Pyramids?" Harvard Magazine. Harvard Magazine Inc., Aug. 2003. Web. 02 Jan. 2013. <http://harvardmagazine.com/2003/07/who-built-the-pyramids-html>.

3.      "American Philosophical Society." American Philosophical Society. Independence Hall Association, n.d. Web. 02 Jan. 2013. <http://www.ushistory.org/franklin/philadelphia/aps.htm>.