Perhaps The Best Guidance For the New Year - Do Now What You Would Do Later

"Do now what you would do later" makes sense here, even in its seeming capriciousness. Following a dream, as Jo March does in the excellent new film "Little Women", is worthy, even necessary, for us to become fully alive, fully who-we-might-be.

There is more to the equation, I think, than just up and doing something.  Do now what you would do later also - also, not solely - means taking on the daily tasks of - in the case of Jo March, Yo Yo Ma, Larry McMurtry, Tom Brady, I could go on and on - practicing one's discipline and of building our own character - that is, the type of person we wish to become.  That is, of making the decision to head to the: gym, writing table, cello, swimming pool.  Daily. Of speaking honestly, acting with love and humility and gratitude and generosity. Daily. Of saving the money, taking the time to develop a genuine relationship with, developing the skills and knowledge necessary to....

Daily. Now. Regularly. Cumulatively. 

As we end 2019, perhaps it is good to reflect not only upon what we want to accomplish in 2020, but also upon our practices - those disciplines that make us more of what we want to make of ourselves, of the type of people we want to be, over time.

This approach can also, of course, be applied to organizations, politics, and government.

Here are three essays, all originally written for The Profound Bartender, for your reflection as we close out the year: Do Now What You Would Do Later, My Morning Whatchamacallit, and My Biggest Battles.

What, if you did it now, would make your now AND your later ever so much better?