Inputs.

If there is one thing I know about you, it's that you have a vision for yourself. Whether it be a vision of what your career will look like, what kind of leader you'll be, what kind of shape you'll be in, etc. Whatever it is, you have a vision for some area of your life. So what are you doing to make that vision a reality?

Vision without the right inputs is useless. Ingredients matter. We don't put cake batter in the oven and expect to pull out a meatloaf. Likewise, we don't put cake batter in the oven and then find ourselves dumbfounded when we pull out a cake. So why do we do it with our own lives?

The physical inputs are very easy to identify as they provide objective outputs. We eat what we want, relax every second we get, (all with an expectation to be in great shape) and then we look in the mirror one day and go, "Where did all this weight come from?!" (Guilty) Well, now we look like the guy who put cake in the oven and is waiting on his meatloaf. Hate to break it to him, but he's gonna be waiting on that meatloaf for a while.

What about the psychological inputs though? It is much more difficult to notice bad psychological outputs ourselves because they are often subjective. Your vision now might be to be a kind, caring individual when you're older, just to find that 30 years from now your circle of people finds you rude and frustrating to be around. If they don't tell you you're rude and frustrating to be around, you may never know. So how do you avoid being in that position? You manage your psychological inputs now, and better yet, you manage them with your vision in mind. The best news is that you can always restart. Your brain can change, it's a fact. If you're making a meatloaf and decide you want a cake, just change the ingredients.

Whatever your vision for your life is, find inputs for it. You're cooking your future and it is indeed within your control, but every ingredient counts. If your inputs are right, you're going to get the outcomes you want.