2 - Today Can Become a Masterpiece

This chapter, like the first chapter is still in the introductory phase of the book. Maxwell asks us to questions to think about as we begin the chapter:

1. How would you describe your life?

2. Are you achieving what you desire?

3. Are you accomplishing the things that are important to you?

4. De you consider yourself a success?

5. How do your prospects look for the future?

Thinking about these questions, Maxwell also uses another great quote making us think about success. “You will never change your life until you change something you do daily… Every day of your life is merely preparation for the next.”

Maxwell then goes into detail about this process of preparation.

1. You are Preparing for Something – Maxwell quotes his father in saying “You can pay now and play later, or you can play now and play later.”

2. Preparation Today Give Confidence Tomorrow – Simply stated, if we can apply ourselves to something today, that same task will be easier the next day when we encounter it.

3. Preparation Today Give Success Tomorrow – Maxwell quotes Benjamin Disraeli to define this theory. The quote reads, “The secret of success in life is for a man to be ready for his time when it comes.”

Maxwell continues by stressing to us that there are two critical factors that go into this process

1. Decisions (Maxwell uses quotes from Theodore Hesburgh to expand on this idea):

“You don’t make decisions because they’re EASY; You don’t make decisions because they’re CHEAP; You don’t make decisions because they’re POPULAR; You make decisions because they’re RIGHT!”

Maxwell then adds his own ideas on what critical areas we need to focus on to make good decisions:

1. ATTITUDE: choose and display the right attitudes

2. PRIORITIES: determine and act on important priorities

3. HEALTH: know and follow healthy guidelines

4. FAMILY: communicate with and care for your family

5. THINKING: practice and develop good thinking

6. COMMITMENT: make and keep proper commitments

7. FINANCES: make and manage money properly

8. FAITH: deepen and live out your faith

9. RELATIONSHIPS: initiate and invest in good relationships

10. GENEROSITY: plan for and model generosity

11. VALUES: embrace and practice good values

12. GROWTH: seek and experience improvements

2. Discipline – “The disciplines you practice today will give you a better tomorrow!”

Maxwell continues on by sharing with us the steps and the process it takes to make better decisions and what he calls “The First Steps to Success.” He lays these out for us in four steps:

1. Start With Yourself

2. Start Early

3. Start Small

4. Start Now

Maxwell then closes the chapter by telling us about a meeting he had with the legendary basketball coach John Wooden. Wooded shared two quotes with Maxwell and I think that all of us can apply them to our daily lives. The first read “Success is peace of mind, which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you did your best to become the best you are capable of being.” The second quote simply stated, “Make each day your masterpiece.”

These quotes were a great way to finish the chapter, and I am excited to continuing reading and learn more!