One thing that keeps coming up in my notes is the concept of "clarity."

Clear vision. For eyeballs ... and ideas.

Over the last several years, I have experimented with blue light-blocking glasses for working on the computer. In fact, I'm wearing them right now.

They are supposed to reduce eye strain. The more "eye strain," the worse vision gets over time.

Whether it is real or the placebo effect, I am comforted by the glasses.

Whenever I am outdoors in daylight I wear sunglasses. Partially out of habit, mainly to reduce the eye strain.

I want to see clearly for as long as I can. Just seems beneficial for human existence.

Over the years, the "vision" for what I wanted to do when I grew up was never really clear. I was going to play in the big leagues and that was that.

Playing 81 day games every year at Wrigley never came close to happening and so I for a long time, I concerned myself with jobs or partial careers that were interesting, enjoyable, and where I could "get by."

Frankly, it wasn't so bad. Not at all. My life wasn't really too bad in retrospect.

But "not so bad" also isn't good.

Having a family probably changes the equation for most, I think. I still pursue things that are interesting and enjoyable, but no longer can I afford to get by. I must thrive.

Without a clear vision on what it is that will help me thrive, the road can get quite bumpy. But over the years, I've found that writing things down—getting "stuff" out of my head and on to a piece of paper—is extraordinarily helpful.

I've been doing some form of note-taking or another for a quarter-century or more. I knew it helped, but I didn't know why. I also didn't have a "system" in place to harness these thoughts.

Over the last several months, I've read a lot of books and articles on productivity, time management, and the rest of it.

Dan Kennedy's No B.S. Time Management for Entrepreneurs is a great start for anyone.

I'm glad I have the habit of writing things down because I have developed different systems where now my random thoughts and jottings will ultimately facilitate my own thriving. It used to be that I'd have a bunch of paper just sitting there on my desk or in a box of "stuff."

It's not easy, though. Occasionally I have to wipe the smudge off of my "idea glasses," review what I've been doing, and resolve to get a clearer vision on what it is I want or need.

A lot of credit goes to the good folks in the Tom Woods School of Life, with whom I spend several hours a week talking about things like this.

We are all trying to move forward. Clarifying our vision. Sometimes we need a new idea.

Oftentimes, our people need to be told that they are on the right track. Just keep truckin'! Folks believe this when trust is developed.

Meeting in small groups once per week is enormously rewarding for most people and helps build trust. We can download our thoughts to the group. Others in the group will either encourage us or maybe even kick us in the (virtual) fanny.

I may be doing a little bit of "preaching to the choir," as a handful of people that get these emails are also members of Tom's School. However, as Tom says (approximating from memory), "the choir also needs to hear the preaching. Do you think they're all just out back smoking cigarettes during the homily?"

Point being, that while I'm encouraging folks to join Tom's School of Life, I am also reminding those of you in Tom's School that I'm thankful for your perseverence and the great reality of "community" each and every day.

For more on what I'm talking about, go to:

As always,

Brian

P.S. -- When you try to escape my clutches and leave that page, a pop-up comes up (as long as you are on a desktop and have not blocked my particular style of pop-up).

In other words, I have some bonuses to offer.

If you don't get the pop-up, let me know. I'd be happy to send you the information. ~BO'L