Recently, I paid homage to someone special in my family by fixing a special recipe (Coleslaw) that was given to me a few years ago before she died.

 

Many are probably using specific recipes that have been time-tested and passed down from generation to generation.

 

Knowing that you have a recipe from another generation, have you ever wondered what is special about that specific recipe that can trigger emotions?

 

One thing that inspires me is that each time I choose to fix a specific meal, there is a specific amount of labor required to make it.

 

Sometimes it can seem as if it’s a labor of love.

 

We pay attention to the details, or maybe it’s the proper preparation to have all the ingredients available, in following a specific process.

 

Because in the end, should we decide to share that recipe, we might hear words like that was a recipe for success or a recipe for failure.

 

Some things are designed to go with a specific recipe, and some things may not always be common sense to add to it.

 

As a leader, the recipe for success might include getting the proper amount of sleep or knowing when you are most productive as one of your essential ingredients.

 

I’m sure we have witnessed people “burning both ends of the candle” and are not as sharp when called upon.  They seem exhausted because they stayed up all night to get something done.

 

On the other hand, a recipe for failure could be not following your intuition and leaving everything to chance.

 

You may know people who like spontaneity and are not so much of a planner.

 

As we continue to age and become wiser, we are told not to judge these days; however, we can see what works and what doesn’t work when we look at the options available.

 

Maybe you’re like me and have that thought in the back of your mind about “Never making the same mistake twice.” At least if you can help it.

 

You make a substitution in the recipe, and it doesn’t taste the same.

 

We all have different perspectives about what success might be for us, yet we question our self-worth or doubt our dedication to support a specific goal, vision/direction, and where we are heading.

 

Each of us has our learning laboratories associated with the school of hard knocks.  Although summer is not quite over, children are headed back to school with some attending the school of hard knocks over the summer, which has no set time to start or stop.

 

As adults, how we take those negative experiences in life year-round and learn from them can be our recipe for success.

 

The question is, where is your dedication in supporting your goals?

 

Have you ever wondered why Benjamin Franklin is on the $100 bill?

 

http://www.benjamin-franklin-history.org/100-dollar-bill/

 

Do you remember the phrase “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail,” attributed to Benjamin Franklin, emphasizes the critical importance of planning in achieving success.

 

If You Fail to Plan, You Plan to Fail

 

It was Benjamin Franklin who said, “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.” What he meant was that basically, success doesn’t happen by accident. It takes planning, knowing where you are heading and how you will get there. If you fail to do this, you may stumble upon a win here or there, but the ultimate success won’t be in that stumble.

 

“Without a plan, efforts can become disorganized, leading to wasted time and resources, and ultimately, failure.”

 

Today, take a moment and ask yourself which direction are you heading?

 

Do you have a well-defined plan that can act as your roadmap, guiding you toward your objectives and ensuring that you focus on the most important activities?

 

We know the consequences of failing to plan can be a recipe for failure, leading to confusion and inefficiency.   As Benjamin Franklin implied, “success is not a matter of chance; it requires careful preparation and foresight.”

 

Today, I challenge you to think about your specific recipes for success and how you are applying them each day.  Every day, we must be deliberate in our actions.

 

“The discovery of a new dish does more for the happiness of mankind than the discovery of a star.”   — Anthelme Brillat-Savarin.