“When a person really desires something, all the universe conspires to help that person to realize his dream.”

- Paulo Coelho

“Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan “press on” has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.”

- Calvin Coolidge

“Determination is the wake-up call to the human will.”

- Anthony Robbins

Add a Google News Alert for their name.

I sometimes skip over the artistic performances at Ted, but I’m so glad I gave this one a chance:

Click here to watch Anna’s TED Talk.

“If I were dropped out of a plane into the ocean and told the nearest land was a thousand miles away, I’d still swim. And I’d despise the one who gave up.”

– Abraham Maslow

There has been a growing productivity backlash across the blogosphere, and quite frankly, I’m tired of it.

There’s Get Nothing Done (a play on the productivity system Getting Things Done), and countless blog posts about how they’re not setting New Year’s Resolutions and that resolutions are stupid.

Perhaps all of these negative people are simply trying to be “controversial” in an effort to gain readers. Here’s a hint, guys: I read 758 different blogs every day. When you ALL write “Anti-Resolutions” posts, it’s not controversial, it’s yawn-inducing. I’ve never skipped through posts faster.

Goals are not the problem. Resolutions are not the problem. Your failure to achieve your own goals and resolutions is the problem.

This is nothing to be embarrassed about. No one is perfect. We all fail, all the time.

The key is to get back up and keep on trying.

You will never accomplish anything if you don’t try. You will die alone and anonymously. And I’m willing to bet you’ll have a LOT of regrets on your deathbed.

Stop settling for mediocrity. You are better than that. I know that deep down inside, you know you’re better than that, too. So start acting like it!

Get up. Set your goals. Set big goals. Set really big goals. Then make a plan and follow through on your plan. If you get off track, get back on track.

Just stop giving up! Or if you do give up for good, quit taking pride in it. Giving up is the only true way to fail.

I’m too busy to wallow in self-pity alongside you. In fact, I’m too busy to write anymore of this post.

If you didn’t send holiday cards this year, it’s not too late to still touch base with old classmates, co-workers, neighbors, and friends.

Keeping in touch with even your most distant contacts on at least a yearly basis is always a good idea. You never know when an old acquaintance will turn into a new trusted friend, or if that guy who sat next to you sophomore year is hiring for a position you’d be perfect for (or would be perfect candidate for the position you’re hiring for).

Send off short “Happy New Year” messages via email. You might also want to take the time to connect with them on Facebook or your social networking site of choice — after you’ve optimized your Facebook profile, that is!

Don’t wait until next year — send those messages now!