Goal Setting: Pops Proves Its Never Too Late

Pops first set the goal in high school, but when he graduated he thought he wasn't mature enough to pursue it so he enlisted in the U.S. Army.

He dreamed about it as a member of the 82nd Airborne as he became an Army Ranger. Later, in the first Gulf War, he thought about his goal again, as he also did during his service in the Kosovo conflict. For 20 years, through his Army career, a war, marriage and six children, Pops kept the dream and the goal alive.

Never mind that he was considered far too old to pursue his dream, Pops just couldn't let go.

When he retired from the Army at 39, he decided it was finally time to do something about the goal he'd set so many years before. He moved his family to Columbia, South Carolina and enrolled as a freshman at the University of South Carolina.

No, he wasn't considered too old for that. Many others, much older, have pursued college degrees for the first time. What Tim "Pops" Frisby did was even more special. At an age when even most professional players have hung up there helmets, he began working out with the South Carolina Gamecocks football team during the winter. Working out with players half his age, all of whom were young enough to be his son, he competed for a position on a Division One major College Football Team.

It was a goal that Pops had lived with for a long time and he began to realize it when coaches invited him back for fall drills. When South Carolina kicked off their season against the University of Georgia, Tim Frisby was on the sidelines wearing Gamecock jersey number 89. On September 25th, against Troy, the legendary Lou Holtz, head coach at South Carolina, sent Pops into the game for its final four plays. "I have a lot of respect for the guy," Holtz said. "A Ranger, 20 years in the Army, six kids. He loves this team. I thought it would be good to get him in. I'm sorry we could not throw it to him." But knowing the way that Pops Frisby makes his dreams come true, that's just a matter of time.

Frisby, who turns 40 in February, has been featured on ESPN's "College GameDay." ABC's "Good Morning America," CNN, the New York Times and the Los Angeles Times are all planning stories.

Incidentally, the father of six between the ages of six months and 16, also maintains a 3.88 (out of a possible 4.0) grade point average.

Still think it's too late for your dream? Goal setting and goal starting is a process that can start at any age and at any time. There's no need to wait until January 1st to set or start a goal. Goal setting and goal starting doesn't have to take place at the first of the month, or even the first of the week. I once started on a big goal at midnight on the 24th of the month.

Tim Frisby accomplished his goal and realized his dream for two simple reasons: he never let time take his dream away, and when the time finally came, he took action. It worked for Pops -- and it'll work for you too!

© 2004 Vic Johnson

Vic Johnson is a popular motivational speaker, author and Internet Infopreneur who has created some of the most visited personal development sites on the Web. His flagship site http://www.AsAManThinketh.net has given away over 200,000 eBook copies of James Allen's classic. He is co-author of "Goals 2004," which is found at http://www.Goals2005.com

---

I Have Failed Before

Have you failed before and wished the earth could open... Read More

The 8th Habit Covey Forgot - The Making of an Expert!

I could labor the idea but then that would only... Read More

If Only, If Only, If Only

Remove these words from your vocabulary!The words "If only ?"... Read More

How to Use Your Pain to Gain

Pain. All of us have felt that emotion some time... Read More

The 2-Word Phrase That Conquers Adversity and Breaks Through Obstacles

"All the adversity I've had in my life, all my... Read More

Wait, Thats Not on the Map

Back from my amazing summer excursion, a month long drive... Read More

Leave a Legacy

What do Sam Walton, Ray Kroc, Hilton, Marriot, Firestone, Elvis... Read More

Why Questions are so Important for Self Improvement and Success

Asking questions is one of the most basic ways that... Read More

8 Dos and Donts When Asking Your Boss for a Raise

Feeling overworked and underpaid? If you're starting to feel like... Read More

The True BMI of Success - What is the True Definition of Success?

The TRUE BMI of SUCCESS (B)e a (M)illionaire (I)ndexWhy am... Read More

Identity Theft - Defining Who We Are

Identity theft!We've all seen them. The commercials use the voices... Read More

Keeping Your Mind Tuned for Success

Absolutely no one can underestimate the power of the mind... Read More

Reach Your Goals - Believe In Your Own Divine Nature

Believe in your own Divine nature Despite the varying religious... Read More

Success Without Excuses

If we hope to achieve any worthwhile goal it will... Read More

The Bulging Right Pocket

It was one of the worst periods of time in... Read More

True Success is Generous

"Write checks on a regular basis to those who you... Read More

Average Sucks!

The very first "motivational speaker" I heard as an adult... Read More

Busy, Busy, Busy

Being busy has become a way of life for many... Read More

The Lazy Mans Way To Riches

The title of this article also happens to be the... Read More

Reaping a Multiple Reward

For every disciplined effort, there are multiple rewards. That's one... Read More

10 Compelling Reasons to Stop Singing the Blues

Are you:- feeling unfulfilled and dissatisfied with your life?- ready... Read More

Discipline

I've been thinking a lot about what I believe to... Read More

Professional Success: Avoid Becoming A Dinosaur

Jack Nichlaus was asked if there are really talented golfers... Read More

Candleburning 101

One of the questions that I am asked most often... Read More

The Courage To Act

The world is full of people with great intentions. They... Read More

Great Century, by George

George Burns' career could have ended as early as 1958,... Read More

Bring on the Boosters!

Nobody becomes a success alone, period. There is no such... Read More

The Parable of the Touchstone

The Great Library of Alexandria once held the wisdom of... Read More

Self-Development Through Asking Why?

The Enlightened Warrior's 'Keys to Success' Through the Power of... Read More

The Need To Be Successful

The need to be successful. This is the bottom line... Read More

7 Ways to improve Your Listening Skills

Do you know how much time do you spend listening?... Read More

Preparing For Success

Everyone wants to be successful. Everyone wants to have more,... Read More

Success Takes Practice

As a speaker and trainer, people often approach me after... Read More