In today’s competitive world, you must invest in yourself if you want to get ahead, if you want to get a better job, or a promotion.

I constantly see people struggle because they know where they want to go, what they want their new software to do, or new processes they would like implemented, but they don’t know how to get there. Wouldn’t it be great if we just put in all our coordinates and a road map came out? Yes, it would. But unlike GPS, there is just so much more to life that needs to be taken into account.

While fear can be real, we typically use it as a defense mechanism to protect us from failure. Fear can never go away, but we can learn to dance with it.

What would a younger you say to an older you? What would 22- year-old Marty say to a 57-year-old Marty?

So many people are afraid to make mistakes, to try something new and give it a shot! But doing this adds to your story. It makes you more interesting.

Without answering the "so what" an idea is just that, an idea without a purpose.

See if this is a leader you want to follow:

Leadership is patient, leadership is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Leadership does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Leadership never fails.

Everything we do, everything we make, involves people.

When you start to write, you will find that new ideas will emerge. These ideas will surprise you and uncover feelings and thoughts you did not know existed. Writing can bring clarity to a situation and lets you make sense of what is happening around you.

Have you ever heard someone say, “If I was in control I would do it this way”? Well I hate to break the bad news to you, but unless you are a dictator or a supreme overlord you will never have total control. The good news is that leadership is not about control, and it’s not about having authority.