There's a popular Latin expression - Carpe Diem! It means, literally, 'Sieze the day'. Or, in a looser interpretation, 'take advantage of the opportunity being offered right now'.

Quick! What's the best investment you could possibly make right now? One that would show a substantial return not only for you but also for everyone else with whom you have contact? Did you think about 'Self Improvement'?

I remember once being told by an life insurance salesman that the only thing I could bet on in this life was - myself! At the time I thought it was a clever sales approach, but really I didn't understand it. Looking back now, I see so many different interpretations - and consequences.

Think about it! A small change in you and/or me can be leveraged through every contact we make in the course of a day. In terms of my influence on another person, I know I could never change one thing through one hundred percent, but I could change as many as one hundred things by one percent! These one hundred interventions in turn, could change one hundred other things in other people by one percent. Ah - the power of the exponent!

So what could you change? There are so many options. If you were to wait, in order to rely on the right input from others, you could be waiting a while. Confucius said that 'person can stand with mouth open for ten thousand years before roast duck flies in!' The successful person doesn't wait for roast ducks, s/he obtains a raw one and learns to cook.

'Responsive learning' is a popular strategy these days. 'When and as the need arises, go learn whatever is needed'. Efficient? Hardly! When facing a 'crisis', one does not have the time to start looking for new knowledge or skills - solutions are needed now! But what could be usefully learned when the need has not yet been defined? There are so many possibilities.

Most of us are already aware of our personal inadequacies and shortcomings. If, by chance we're not, others will gladly inform us - sometimes even before we ask. But this too, is not good strategy, for it's difficult and unrewarding work to attempt to master those things we know we're not good at. Better by far to develop and refine those things we already know to be our principle strengths. Let others undertake to master the things we'll have problems with, then we can trade, using the strengths we possess in exchange for theirs.

When was the last time you took an inventory of your strengths? Within every major category of endeavor there are some things where you already excel. Why not invest a few moments and take score? There's a simple Diagnostic here for you. All good initiatives start with a clear statement of where we are now, our current position. All journeys start with a first step. Here's yours!

What does the Analysis reveal? The secret of success lies in a balanced approach reflecting clear priorities. Milestones along the way will help you to determine the progress you're making. Well designed Action Plans will enable you to monitor your progress and then to reinforce your invested energies. Being successful is not so difficult, but getting started is. Carpe Diem!