Your To-Do List For Success! Part 5

And I'm back! With more tips for you. These suggestions, if implemented, will bring you success. All you have to do is, well...do them. I can only suggest, plant seeds, make you think, etc. It's up to you to do. So what have we got here today? Let's begin...

1) Your Body Has Moving Parts! Move them.

I'm sure you've noticed by now that your body has many moving parts. In fact, there's not much on your body that can't move. These moving parts (i.e., arms, head, legs, feet, toes, hands, fingers, etc.) all have a purpose. They're meant to move and move often. We're kind of like a car. It needs to be started and taken for nice, long drives. One of my cousins had a car. An old car. It was parked in his driveway. For years. One day, he decided he needed to do something with it. He got his keys and got in the car and turned on the key switch. Nothing happened. Nada! The car was dead. It had sat for so many years, that it was basically a heap of metal.

If we sit around not moving, keeping our bodies in a constant state of rest, it will just be a matter of time before they begin to fail us. They will atrophy, get weak, refuse to pick us up off the floor if we fall; refuse to carry our groceries into the house.

We're living longer. That means we'll be a lot older when we die. It's critical to keep our bodies exercised, active, strong. In that way, when reach our golden years, we won't be prisoners of the Lazy Boy in front of the TV. Move your moving parts. And keep them moving. You'll be glad you did!

2) Start Conversations.

It seems that everywhere I go where there's a wait time and other people are waiting--the doctor's office, the dentist, the DMV, the computer store--you name it, people are all on their Devices. Rare is the case where someone strikes up a conversation with someone waiting with them. I am from the generation where people, strangers, used to start up conversations while waiting in a line. I met a lot of people out in the world because I was open, and so were they. Nowadays, everyone seems to be content with the group they currently have because they're not doing anything to enlarge their circle.

Maybe you don't want to meet anyone new. Perhaps you're satisfied with your people and don't want to do anything with anyone else. Fair enough! But wouldn't it be great to learn something from someone sharing your space? To engage with a different life, a different personality, a different viewpoint? I say it's fabulous! I make it a point to strike up conversations with strangers. For instance, the other day I took my Jeep in to get serviced. As my paperwork was being filled out, I told the guy that I loved his hat. I really did. He then shared with me that it had been handmade in Ireland. He told me where I could purchase a hat like that (Hanna Hats) (which I want to buy for my son), and then we started talking about music. I learned about the Squirrel Nut Zippers (a band I'd never heard of), and I told him about my book. In that 10 minute conversation we learned a great deal about each other. It was wonderful. I could have just stood there as he filled out the paperwork, maybe checking Facebook or Twitter, but instead I engaged another human being and it turned into a great exchange.

Don't be shy! Take a risk. Make small talk, start talking. Meet new people. Your heart will feel very full.

3) Follow Through

I'm sure you're not guilty of this. This suggestion is for other people. Just read along, however. Do you know someone who says they're going to do something or go somewhere, and they don't? Or someone who says they're going to start working out, or take a class, or call you for lunch, and then they don't? Yeah, there are a lot of people like that. Lots of people.

People like this, after a while, lose all trust and credibility. Maybe once you don't follow through when you've followed through 99 other times. That's OK. But if you've followed through once, and 99 times not, then Houston We've Got a Problem!

You don't understand how important your Word is. If you want to earn the trust, respect, and admiration of people, you must follow through with what you say you're going to do. Let your words be words of honor; let them stand on their own. Let them show the world who you really are. Don't allow your words to deceive others, intentionally or not. If you're not sure you can do something, then for goodness sake, don't say it. Keep it to yourself until you're certain you can do it.

Sometimes you have the best of intentions and something unexpected does come up. That does happen. But every time? Really?

Become an honorable person. Do what you say you're going to do when you say you're going to do it. You'll be amazed what shape your image will take. You will be admired and trusted.

In summary, move your body. It wasn't made to sit still. Talk to people! There are a lot of people out there who could become friends. And last but not least, do what you say you're going to do. You'll be amazed how accomplished you'll feel.