Accept. Adapt. Achieve! ®

If you have read any of my previous posts, you are aware of my mantra, Accept. Adapt. Achieve. ®
 
It’s more than a catchy bumper sticker and actually a great way to sum up a powerful theory on how to effectively handle everyday life at work, home, and play.
 
But what does “Accept. Adapt. Achieve” really mean?
 
Well, let’s start with the obvious:
 
ACCEPT. Don’t fight what is; accept reality.  Here’s a powerful fact: We cannot change anything that has already happened.  The best we can do is to actually love it.  This caution to love the bad things in your life may seem morbid, especially when terrible things sometimes happen to seemingly good people.  However, by loving what “is,” we fully embrace what has already happened, and what was always meant to be, and will always be.  By loving what is, we accept the reality of how things are.  As the great poet Rumi said, “Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it.” 
 
ADAPT. Choose your battles and, more importantly, choose how to use your energy. Become adaptable. The word “adapt” is mentioned almost 50 times in my recent book, The Ideal.  That’s 50 times in a book with 220 pages… hmmm; perhaps there is a theme within the book.  When we become adaptable, we spend our energy working withpeople – not against the things that people do.  When we become adaptable, we manifest life as described by Rumi when he said, “God teaches by means of opposites, so that you will have two wings to fly, not one.”  
When we become adaptable, we leverage our strengths and learn to extract value from what has already happened.  When we become adaptable, we embrace change.
 
And when we embrace change, we embrace life.  For what is life without change?
 
ACHIEVE.  This last one is interesting.  At the various keynote speeches I provide, I often conduct an informal poll asking the attendees which one of the three (Accept, Adapt, or Achieve) are most important.  
 
Time and time again, most people say, “Accept!”  
 
Only a handful will say, “Adapt.”
 
And no one ever says, “Achieve.”
 
However, “Achieve” is the most important of the three verbs.
 
The ability to accept is necessary and powerful; yet it is often difficult to implement.  Accordingly, one of my other frequent statements is, “Never underestimate the power of denial” (which is the opposite of “acceptance”).
 
Likewise, the ability to adapt is highly desired; adaptability is a very practical trait in this ever-changing world.
 
Above all… in almost everything we plan to do, we must begin with the end in mind.
 
More to the point: What do you want to achieve?
 
Sure, we can accept all kinds of things that happen without our knowledge or approval. 

And we can probably adapt to almost anything if we simply had to do it.
 
But mere puppies, cats, and mice also accept and adapt. 

On the other hand, many species don’t adapt… and they eventually become extinct. 

The same can be said for bad employees, horrible bosses, and every other person in the world who does not adapt to their respective environment.
 
As for you and me… when we learn to simply accept and successfully adapt, we can actually set the stage for awesome performance in this production called life.  As the playwright, producer, director, and actor of your specific life, you have more than a starring role. 
 
You actually have access to the Master Plan, the goal, the target, and (dare I say it…) the purpose. 

So here’s the million-dollar question: 
 
What is your purpose?
 
Try this word exercise:  Say the following six words aloud, with a strong emphasis on the capitalized word.

1. WHAT do you want to achieve?
2. What do YOU want to achieve?
3. What do you WANT to achieve?
4. What do you want to ACHIEVE?

 
A. Before you can create lasting change in your life, there are a few things you have to ACCEPT. What must you accept?

B. Then, you can begin to ADAPT your daily lifestyle (or style of living) to a plan that facilitates the achievement of your goals.  Change your life to match your goals.  What do you need to change?

C. If and when you can answer the aforementioned 4 questions, you will know this: What do you want to ACHIEVE?

Only YOU know the answers to A, B, and C above.
 
So again I ask you…
 
What do YOU want to achieve?

Accept. Adapt. Achieve. ® 

John H. Clark III is an optimistic realist.

Principal consultant at The PIE Group, John believes better development of leaders is what we (all) need.  And to be better organizations, we need more good leaders, not followers. To build better leaders, we must start with the individual (you, she, he, and me).
 
Described as “an innovative leader,” John teaches leaders, organizations, and individuals how to inspire each other. With a bold goal to inspire a worldwide community of optimistic realists who continuously accept, adapt to, and achieve the bold and beautiful concept of The Ideal Life, John is leading a movement to inspire people to apply his trademarked mantra {Accept. Adapt. Achieve! ®}.
 
An innovative business manager and retired naval officer, John is fascinated by leaders and organizations that make the greatest impact within their organizational culture and within the “real” world — people who “get it.” Over the course of his life as a military leader, corporate mentor, and innovative content creator, John has discovered a wealth of insight about how we think, act and communicate within our respective work/life environments. As a career naval officer, mentor, educator, and optimistic realist, he has devoted his life to sharing insights to assist in our quests to become better at what we all do – live @ work!
 
An optimist with a penchant for writing about realistic solutions to the challenges of everyday life, John is the author of 3 books: a leadership-development insider, "The Ideal: Your guide to An Ideal Life," a teen-focused guide, "Getting Out: Expert Advice for Today’s Teens," and the Christian-based book, "God’s Heartbeat: A Powerful Premise for Leading a Christian Life."
 
He delivers a unique and refreshing point of view to life's seemingly overwhelming situations. 
 
Through books, blogs, and everyday conversation, John's message resonates with an empowering blend of ideals that enrich, uplift, and “authorize” people to set and achieve goals far beyond current mindsets.  His trademarked phrase is a winner: