The key ingredient to getting where you want to go

First I would like to apologize for my disappearance for the past two months. I had a lot going on in both my business and personal lives. I have also been working my tail off getting an amazing course off the ground that I will soon be offering thru SproutPoint. On top of that our family got hit by one of those hurricane viruses. My son ended up with pneumonia and my wife shortly after was in bed for a few days. But that is all gone now, everyone is well and I got things straightened out and here I am again with a new post.

“You either have reasons or results!” was once said.

Although I listed a bunch of reasons that explain my absence they do not justify the results. The fact that no blog post was added last month is inexcusable.

That leads to the main  topic of this post: Do you have a key ingredient that will get you where you want to go?

Life will go on, the clock will continue to tick, the bills will continue to come, the kids will continue to grow up fast regardless of what is being thrown at us. Some people look themselves in the mirror and say: “Do something about it now!” Others will blame someone else, whine, or play the victim game only to find out later on that won’t make anything better. Actually it will make things worse. Success and happiness belong to those that set up a goal, map out a plan to achieve them and then TAKE ACTION! That is a key ingredient to getting wherever it is that you want to go. But that is not the one ingredient I am talking about today. The key ingredient is…

Discipline! The discipline to painstakingly take action day in and day out, regardless of what is being thrown at you is THE key ingredient. Having the plan mapped out but taking action only sporadically will not do it. If you want to get a specific result, acquire and master a skill, work on it EVERY DAY. And to do that, make that decision today and stick to it.

When I was a preliminary resident in general surgery, I took my first in-training examination two months after moving to the US and starting into a totally new environment. I did not even know what an in-training examination was (for those who don’t, every year residents take a test that compares them to everyone else in the country at the same level). In a nutshell, my results were terrible. If my  memory does not fail me, I scored below the 30TH percentile. I had a lot of reasons to justify it but at the end of the day they were irrelevant. The standards I held for myself were (and still are) very high and I was looking to secure a categorical position so I could graduate as a surgeon and execute my plan to become a cardiothoracic surgeon. I knew that regardless of how good I would do clinically, for me to move ahead I had to score high. I then mapped out a bold plan for someone working 100+ hours a week (this was before the 80 hr/wk rule): Regardless of what happened that day I would study for at least one extra hour. I picked up the textbook selected by the residency program and started. By the end of that year I had read the cinder-block thick book from cover-to-cover. The following year, my score skyrocketed to 75th percentile and the rest is history.

Was it easy? Hell no! There were days that I slipped others that I was almost unconscious after working 36hrs straight. But when that happened I did not beat myself up. I picked up where I left off and moved on with my plan.

The same discipline allowed me to excel during my Cardiothoracic fellowship, to land the jobs I wanted, to negotiate the deals I did, to learn about finance, marketing, investing, to found SproutPoint, write my little e-book and to be of service to someone like you. There is not one day, that I don’t do something towards achieving the goals my wife and I have set for ourselves. Not a single one. Even if that means a simple phone call. What have you done today to achieve your goals?

I know this may sound more like “motivational verborrhea” but this is what will get you to wherever you want to go. Creating and sticking to rigid plans in order to achieve anything is not easy, and that is why so few do. But if you have the opportunity to have an honest conversation with high-achievers, you will find out that they do it too.

What you get may not always be what you decide. But without discipline and clear decision you will certainly get what others decide for you. Which one would you prefer?

Making 2012 an Amazing Year!

  I don’t know about yours, but my 2011 was quite a ride!

  I had great moments and very bad ones. I had times when I wanted to give it all up, tough moments that deprived me of time with my family, time to rest, time to have fun, time to make money, time to pray, time to simply be. Moments that made me ask myself: What are you doing this for?

  Fortunately those were intertwined with wonderful moments and accomplishments in all areas of my life.
Seeing my now 3-1/2 year-old son grow, learn new skills, laugh, run towards me when I come home late only to find him awake waiting for me was absolutely priceless. My wife and I celebrated our 13th Wedding Anniversary, and each and every day we become closer to each other. I was able to launch my e-book and with your help get SproutPoint going. Starting a company requires a huge amount of energy. Way beyond what I thought. That was a 5 year project that finally took shape. Although SproutPoint is in its infancy and we have a looong way to go, I have received great feedback. The feeling of being able to help people like you is just indescribable. Thank you for the opportunity!

  I also had some tough times. A few months ago, my father lost his battle against lung cancer. Despite the sadness of the moment, I was very fortunate to be at his bedside, giving my love and support to him and my family.  I remember sitting at his bedside, holding his hand and in the silence of the room, experience my mind race with flashbacks of moments we had together… Life is really funny. As a cardiac surgeon, I deal with potential life and death situations on a daily basis, but things are quite different when you are “on the other side.”

  All in all, it was a good year and I am grateful for the life I have. Despite the bumps on the road, a lot was accomplished. Not by accident, but by a constant, unrelenting pursue of the goals I have established for myself as an individual and goals my wife and I have established for us as a family. Someone once said (paraphrasing) “It is OK to think about giving up, provided that you don’t!” I am glad I continue to pursue my goals.

  Goal setting unfortunately has been portrayed as something mundane and “woo woo” reserved for late hour TV infomercials. Goals for some have become just simple “nice to have’s” and not reaching them are now considered to be totally OK. Not for me. Life is too short. I like to dream and dream big, and from that I set my short and long-term goals. I make my wife’s goals as mine and together we march forward. When setting my goals I constantly ask myself two key questions:

Why not?!
and
Why not me?!

  Coach Lou Holtz once said “The only thing that will change you from where you are today to where you will be in five years from now are the people you meet, the dreams you dream, and the books you read.” I think there is a key ingredient missing that I would like to add: The ACTIONS you take.

  As a new year is just hours away from it’s first dawn most of us reflect upon the year that comes to an end. We get filled with hopes and desires that will bubble up inside us. That is a prime moment to TAKE ACTION. Seize the opportunity. Get a piece of paper and a pen, or your laptop or iPad and write down the things you have accomplished and are proud of, mistakes you’ve made and the lessons you’ve learned from them. Then write down your wildest dreams and what you TRULY want to accomplish and ask yourself these two questions:

Why not?!
and
Why not me?!

 Then write down the first three actions you will take THIS WEEK towards accomplishing that.

  Desire is the beginning of all achievement. Talk is cheap! Take action TODAY, start right now and have the courage to make 2012 your best year EVER!!!

  I wish you and your family a Wonderful 2012! May you have the courage, the determination and the confidence to pursue your dreams!

  For your success,

Fernando Lamounier, MD

PS. Take 10 minutes of your time and watch this video!

It is not mine but I have successfully used the strategies Don presents.

And the winner of the 32GB iPad 2 is….

The big day has arrived and the winner of the Brand New 32 GB iPad2 has been randomnly drawn.

WOW!!! I can’t believe I am giving away such a prize! It is worth over $ 600.00!!!!

Once again I would like to thank you all for participating. If you are not the winner, don’t worry! I have plenty of things coming your way. Just keep an eye on your email inbox and our blog.

Remember the e-Book Review Contest is still on. Just post your review of the e-book on this blog and the two best reviews will have full access to my yet to be released negotiation audio training: NEGOTIAID.

In the meantime lets give a big hand to the lucky winner of the iPad2…

Roll of Drums Please!!!!

THE WINNER OF THE 32 GB iPad2 IS….

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DAVE KOLLHOFF!

Congratulations Dave! Please look for a message in your inbox with instructions on how to claim your prize!

 For the not so lucky ones, I will soon be posting VERY IMPORTANT TIPS on negotiating, job hunting, interviewing, money management and how to become more successful.

Happy Holidays!

For your success,

Fernando Lamounier, MD

Are you ready to negotiate your dream job?

The e-book/iPad give away is now closed!

Thank you for participating!

You can still receive a free copy of the e-book by clicking HERE.