Here’s an important question for you – are you a “Future-Based” person or a “Past-Based” one?

In the past few days this distinction has really hit home with me on Facebook.

I’ve had several people from my elementary school dig up school pics of our class in 5th grade and now 3rd grade. It’s painful to admit but I’m on the bottom row all the way to the left. (Missy says if the kids are geeky it’s because of me.)

Now I certainly can understand (and enjoy) the occasional looking back, laughing, reminiscing of the past – but some people are truly just stuck there

It’s like the Bruce Springsteen song “Glory Days”.

“Now I think I’m going down to the well tonight
and I’m going to drink till I get my fill
And I hope when I get old I don’t sit around thinking about it
but I probably will
Yeah, just sitting back trying to recapture
a little of the glory of, well time slips away
and leaves you with nothing mister but
boring stories of glory days”

Facebook really shows me how many people want to re-live their ‘Glory Days’. That’s all they talk about.  They only connect with old friends and are obsessed with what’s already happened.  There’s no forward progress. Or in a sadder way, some people hold some deep hurt or wrong that’s been done to them. This past-based person will not and cannot get over it even though it’s history. They’ve let it become their permanent identity.

Now with all that said I actually believe there’s one important aspect of past-based living that’s important to your success and I’ll share it in a moment.

The second type of person is the “Future-Based” one…

This is the kind of person who believes the best is yet to come and nearly anything is possible. Every year is going to be even better than the last one. A lot of entrepreneurs fall into this camp. Personally, I’m optimistic 2009 is going to be even better than ever. And I bet I’ll say the same thing for 2010, 2011, etc.

It’s also someone who doesn’t let their past circumstances, situations, bank account dictate their future. I love looking forward and seeing possibilities and what can happen. What kind of ideas I can take and make real.  (To me that’s my biggest thrill!)

The Trap of the Future-Based Person

Now there’s a caveat and a real trap you can fall into if you are a future-based person and that’s always looking forward that you discount today. I know first-hand about this. One of my 34 Rules for Maverick Entrepreneurs is “Celebrate Your Victories”. For Future-based people that’s not so easy. We’re hard wired to move on and look to our next project, idea, etc.

I have to truly force myself to stop and celebrate the wins. Or stop myself and attempt to “be” just in the moment. I work hard on this when I’m with Zak and Zoe. I’m not always successful but it’s something I strive for. My favorite moments are comforting Zoe in the middle of the night while she cuddles up on my chest in the glider in her room. I stop and think she’ll never be this small again and take a freeze frame image/vision/feeling of that moment.

And that’s one of the benefits future-based people can take from past-based people (what I hinted at earlier).

Anytime I am working on a real big, challenging project I go back into my head and think about the feelings I had when I “won”. You know, that all powerful “I can do anything” feeling that comes from a success. I use that as my stepping-stone and anchor for the next project my future-based self is always working on. (Side note: After any victory or time you really feel on top of the world – file that away in your head so you can call it up again and again.)

I also heard an interesting concept by Dan Sullivan of Strategic Coach that plays into part of this discussion. He has a theory of people being disappointed because they cannot reach their “ideal”. I think this is especially important for future-based people who don’t stop and consider their wins enough. It’s part of his “Pure Genius” Audio program (which if you can find it is well worth grabbing if you can find it anywhere still).

Why The ‘Ideal’ is Impossible to Reach

Dan gives the example of the horizon. We all know it’s silly to think we can ever reach the horizon because it keeps moving as we move closer to it. Same with an “ideal”. We feel despondent and maybe even depressed in our greatest victories if we attempt to measure them up to our ultimate ideals. But the people who are happiest are the ones of take stock of where they are today (Point B) than when they started (Point A). And we can all look back and gain that confidence and awe of how far we’ve come.

I just made a list last night of what I’ve done and accomplished in 2008. Before making that list I didn’t think I had such a great year. Our overall business revenue and profits were down because I’ve been heavily investing in Maverick Business Adventures® (time-wise and capital-wise). But when I actually made the list I was shocked at how incredible the year had been.

Everything from meeting my business hero, Sir Richard Branson on Necker Island, to having 3 sold-out Maverick Business Adventures experiences and launching the Maverick Business Insider newsletter with 5000+ charter subscribers. Or simple accomplishments like having Zak potty-trained & sleeping in a big-boy bed and Zoe taking her first steps.

It really made me appreciate the accomplishments and celebrate them (which isn’t my nature as a future-based person).  So as 2008 winds down take stock of your accomplishments and maybe you’ll be further along than you imagine.

Here’s to an incredible 2009 and beyond!

Side note: Speaking of 2009 – if you want your future to be bigger than your past you should consider attending the Underground® 5 seminar (Feb 20-22, 2009). Not only do you get the real inside from an incredible line-up of speakers bringing in over $200,000,000.00 each year.  But more importantly it’s about the connections and networking that happens there. (And for people that sign-up before January 15th you get access to a private VIP dinner and Casino Royale night where big deals will happen.)

I got documented testimonial after testimonial about people meeting there, hearing one idea or simply finding that one spark they needed.

In fact, here’s what one of my MasterMind members and Underground® 5 presenter, Carrie Wilkerson, reported back to me about her connection at Underground® 4 last year…

“At UG4 last year (at the blackjack table to be exact, before UG even STARTED), Vic [MaserMind member] and I discussed this model for the women’s audience and he gave me contact info for his programmers. I branded it out as PowerLinesforWomen and started list-building

Our list is 8,000+ and we’re going to monetize it with our first affiliate promotion this week!! (I should mention that I’ve not promoted this AT ALL to ANY of my lists yet – I wanted to get the kinks worked out first…so I think it’s going to be big) I know you’ve heard me say that UG4 was a huge catalyst for me…I’m not just saying that – I have example after example after example…”

Sign-up now before the price goes up and VIP networking bonuses go away

(Plus you get to write off the ticket on this year’s taxes!)

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