What Does Your Future Need From You?

Every once in a while, if you will just listen, you will hear a great line that will stick with you. Sometimes it comes from where you least expect it. Other times, you are listening for it. Either way, when you hear it, you know you need to burn it into your mind and apply it as quickly as possible. I heard one today about the future. I have to share it!

Greatness Takes Time!

Years ago, I heard a similar line that stuck with me – “The best time to plant an oak tree was 10 years ago. The next best time is now!” This line communicates the idea that greatness rarely happens overnight.

Greatness takes time and energy. It also takes forethought. If we never consider our future as we plan our current activities, then we will miss a lot of opportunities at greatness!

Question About Your Future

In light of that, I want to share what I heard today. While the idea is similar, I believe the more personal nature of today’s question can be even more impactful!

We have recently hired a good friend of mine to train our sales staff at the dealerships. I have come to truly respect the gifts that God has given him related to training and interacting with others. Once you have spent five minutes with him, you know he is a gifted communicator and that he is close to the Lord.

Just this morning, as he was encouraging our sales staff to start doing those activities that will pay dividends in the future, he asked a question about the future that grabbed my attention. Of course, as quickly as this question grabbed my attention, he lost me. From that point on, I was only thinking about his question! Here it is:

What is the five-years-from-now version of you begging you to start doing right now?!?

Future Questions

If you remember, I said he was a gifted communicator, not an English major! Regardless, I think you get the point. Try to imagine yourself five, ten, or twenty years from now. What would that version of you beg you to start doing right now?

What habits would he ask you to create?

Where would she plead with you to begin investing your time and energy?

What would he beg you to stop doing?

What might she urge you to begin learning?

Obviously, these are only a few of the questions that come to mind. If you spend any time at all thinking about this idea, then I am sure you can come up with more.

Take Time To Think

I encourage you to stop and take some time to think about this question. Think about the future you and what your desires and needs might be. Think about how your goals will likely change. Try to discern the best way for the current you to begin laying the groundwork.

As you do this, pray through it. Ask God to give you insights that you have not had before now. Ask Him for wisdom regarding your future and how He wants to use you in it. Finally, pray that He will give you the strength of commitment that you need in order to start on this new path.

I won’t promise anything, but I believe I see a few new posts coming from my own meditating over this question. I will share in future posts whatever comes up!

What are the first thoughts that come to your mind?

Have you thought about your future this way before?

Are you committed to lay groundwork for your future?