I'm not sure I understand the

concept of timing. How many times have your heard, or said, "I'm

waiting for the right timing"? Who sets the time?

I'm not sure I'm the one to

answer such questions, but I think the timing is so very right for a book

I recently discovered. In fact, I know it is the right time for me to

have discovered it.

"Success Is Not An Accident"

a long time. As I go through the book (you can't just read it - you have

to study it), I am wondering where this book was twenty years ago, or

even ten years ago. I needed it then!

And then I think about timing.

Has there been a period any time in my past when I would have taken seriously

the concepts that are so skillfully conveyed on the pages? I honestly

do not know.

I have been tempted to become

discouraged of late. Actually, that's not true, I became so discouraged

on Thursday night, Sept. 21, that I actually considered going home and

burning everything I had ever written and "put away."

Any writer knows what I'm talking

about here. The stuff we write and stick in a box or file it back or...

well, you know, if you are a writer. I was at the Margaret Mitchell museum.

I was standing in front of one of the wall displays (I thinks it's call

a shadow box, maybe) of some of her early work. We're talking childhood

here.

I cannot begin to tell you

what came over me. I almost became ill. I felt like I was invading her

privacy. Like she would not want me or anybody else looking at what was

on display. I could look no further. I didn't even let my eyes wonder

to other exhibits. I only wanted to escape that building.

Am I making any sense here?

Anyway, I was already discouraged.

My mind started wondering... If my work ever really caught on was there

a chance I could one day be exposed like Margaret? The last thing on earth

I would want! But, of course, I'd be dead, so what would it matter? I

was really heading down.

And the next day I continued

to spiral downward. It got so bad that I began to pray and asked several

other folks to pray for me. I mean, normally, it takes months to become

as discouraged as I had grown in less than 72 hours.

THEN, the next day, I discovered

"Success Is Not An Accident." I interviewed the author. He glowed.

He was real. No canned pitched going on here. I can spot a phony a mile

off. Tommy Newberry was/is a blessing. And so is his book from which I

quote today:

Page 81: "It has been

said that four simple words characterize mediocrity most accurately and

they are, 'I didn't have time.' Four simple words. 'I didn't have time.'

There is no excuse more damaging that you or anyone else could have concerning

success. When you tell someone you didn't have time, you simply reinforce

their perception of you as someone who can't be relied upon to get the

job done. And when you tell yourself that you didn't have time, you undermine

your inner credibility and fortify a self-image of underachievement and

irresponsibility."

Trust me here, that quote does

not even begin to tap into the wisdom shared in this remarkable book.

I am reading and studying it. I feel quite strongly that the book is helping

to change my life. The timing is perfect.

Other books by Newberry include:

"366 Days of Wisdom & Inspiration with America's Success Coach,"

"Getting Results," "High Speed Success," "Peak

Performance For Christ," "The Secret Place," "Talk

Yourself Into Success," and "Vital Time."

In closing, another quote from

"Success Is Not An Accident":

Page 69: "Planning really

means evaluating your life in light of where you've been, where you are

now, and where you intend to go. You must be willing to question how well

you've managed your life up until now. Effective planning allows you to

avoid life management by crisis. Crises divert your attention from the

vital people and activities in your life and are nearly always a result

of inadequate planning. Systematic, long-term, yearly, quarterly, monthly,

weekly, daily planning is absolutely critical to your success. Remind

yourself that all successful people plan on paper. Unsuccessful people

simply 'cannot find the time.'"