Dear Friends,
As we bid farewell to 2023 and welcome the dawn of 2024, in my capacity as CEO of MCA Resources, also known as MCA Training International, I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to all of you for your unwavering support and the invaluable friendships we’ve cultivated.
Surviving the challenges brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic made this year particularly significant. It allowed us to reconnect with many of our long-standing clients and forge new relationships with those who joined our community.
Over the course of my 33-year journey in the coaching, training, and consulting industry, I’ve had the privilege of learning profound life lessons from remarkable teachers, mentors, sages, and role models. It is my earnest desire to share these invaluable insights with you, hoping that they will guide you on your personal journeys and inspire you to become the very best versions of yourselves.
1. Choose your mentors and friends wisely.
I remember reading that you can predict the future success of a person simply by observing who they choose to spend their time with.
I can honestly say that anything I have accomplished in this life has been a direct result of following in the footsteps of someone who was there before me. Find yourself someone worthy of looking up to and observe how they live their life. Model these same behaviours for your own life.
2. Never pursue that which you do not want.
Don’t run off chasing someone else’s dream just because it sounds cool when they talk about it. You must be true to yourself. Figure out what you want in life and work your butt off until you get it.
3. Learn how to make decisions quickly.
Fail fast and often. It is only through failure that you will ever truly learn the most important lessons you need in this life. Fail fast, then get up, dust yourself off and then try another approach.
4. Have faith, nurture it, and keep it strong.
Don’t neglect your soul and spiritual life. God has made you with a purpose and you will never live a truly fulfilled and balanced life without Him.
5. Be fearless.
Forget the naysayers and always keep moving forward. Faith is the opposite of fear.
6. Life is not a popularity contest.
Most of what is popular today is worthless, shallow, rubbish. Be authentic and the right people will want to connect with you. Trying to please everyone is simply exhausting and will kill your productivity, personal identity, and your success.
7. Set goals and deadlines.
Finish what you start and don’t be a coward who quits the second things get tough (and things WILL get tough).
8. Be compassionate.
We are all “winging it” when it comes to life. Some people meet with more misfortune (and good fortune) than others.
Don’t think you are better than anybody else just because of what you have, who your friends are, what you have accomplished, how much money you have etc.
9. Nurture your friendships and don’t take them for granted.
In this life you are LUCKY if you have even ONE close friend with whom you can share your authentic feelings, thoughts, and beliefs. Never take this person (or persons) for granted.
10. Love yourself.
This sounds easier than it is. Loving yourself is not the same as being narcissistic.
To love yourself is to forgive yourself for your short comings and failures and to be thankful for all of your blessings- your body, your mind, your soul.
Be thankful for who you are and all of the characteristics that make you special, unique and wonderful. Don’t try to be someone else or somebody you are not. Be you and each day work to be at least 1 percent better. Live an authentic life and love who you are.
11. Behave as if God was sitting next to you everywhere you go.
Character is what you do when nobody else is looking. While no person may be looking God is always watching. Be everything you can to honour God.
12. Understand that your life will have chapters of pain, chapters of joy, chapters of success and chapters of failure.
Appreciate the seasons of goodness and prosperity and when the difficult seasons arrive lean on your faith, friends and family for support and KEEP MOVING FORWARD.
You are made in the image of an almighty powerful God and were created to live a purposeful life- but not necessarily an easy one.
13. Laugh- a lot. Don’t take things so seriously.
Laugh so hard at least once per day. Do this with another person whenever possible (because nothing is more fun than watching somebody explode with laughter- even if the joke is on you).
14. Have Patience.
Embrace delayed gratification. Remember that half of getting what you want is knowing what you have to give up to get it.
Remember that you must be willing to pay the price for everything you want in this life because you cannot get something for nothing.
15. Take care of your physical body.
Recognize that your body is a truly remarkable “machine” capable of sensing, feeling, and experiencing an infinite number of experiences here on earth. It is an incredible design, but it does require a significant amount of maintenance. Take care of your body as you would any priceless possession. Nourish, clean, and move it daily.
16. Never stop learning.
Develop an insatiable thirst for knowledge and stay curious. You will be the same person in ten years as you are today except for two things- the people you meet and the books you read.
17. Love your mother.
Mothers have the single toughest (and most important) job on this planet. Your mother will love, care, and nurture you more than any other person ever will.
Do your part by treating her with respect and telling her that you love and appreciate her. When you get married you must then demonstrate this to your children by showing how much you love and appreciate your wife.
18. Value time.
Time is the one resource that you cannot get more of. Most people waste their time here on this planet acting as if they have 1000 years to live.
Your time here is short so don’t waste it. If there is something you want to experience or accomplish you best do it sooner than later.
19. Be an action taker.
In this world it always seems like the people who criticise others the most are never the same people who are getting things done, taking chances, and making a difference. Recognise that ideas are great, but you only get paid for done.
20. Be grateful for everything you are and all that you have.
True happiness is found in appreciating your blessings, fostering personal growth, and contributing to others through service.
Sending heartfelt wishes for a 2024 filled with abundance, joy, personal growth, good health, kindness, wisdom, and ongoing lessons in life.
Warm regards,
Dave