Great Forbes Article on What Makes People Excel

Thanks to my buddy Carla for telling me about this article. I was very intrigued when she mentioned it because lately I've been trying to figure out why some people are motivated and others aren't. Having teenagers does tend to make one ponder such issues. Anyway, this article is applicable to all sorts of things in which one may excel. I was pleased that it validated what I've said about writing. Many times when I've sat down to write, I don't really want to do it. It seems like I'm not getting anywhere, or I don't understand what the plot needs, or why the character comes off as sort of flat. Well, this article says, "Quit complaining and keep at it. The more you do it, the more you'll learn. Push yourself! Reach for higher achievement, and guess what? You can be great!" It also says people weren't *born* to greatness. They worked for it. Even Tiger Woods. Wow. Even Tiger?

I like knowing things are "do-able" for all of us.

It *is* funny, though, how in the end of the article the writer confirms what I feared: even though the experts have figured out that working hard will get you to great places, they haven't figured out why some are motivated and others aren't.

Dang. I guess I'll have to research that some more.

So in order to constantly get better at this writing business, I'll keep trying to learn more, to practice more. I've seen the process work, as I have a friend who has a highly successful family. Every single one of them has achieved great things. They practice what this article says to do, and I'm convinced it's worked for them.

Anyway, here's the link:

http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2006/10/30/8391794/index.htm?postversion=2006101915

My New Website!

It has been a while since I posted. Sorry about that. I've been a little snowed under, with Mom sick this fall (she's fine now,) remodeling the master bath, Christmas decorating and shopping, etc,...

Now the bath is nearing completion and so is the shopping. And *my new website* is up! You'll find it at: www.melissabeck.com Please check out what my website designer created for me. I think Heidi is a genious, a goddess, a...what else was I supposed to say, Heidi? Just kidding! The truth is, I love what she did for me, and I love working with her. Visit her webspace at www.xuni.com and you'll see why I chose her to do my site. She truly is special.

What else is banging around in my head? Oh, yeah. My editor tells me our publishing house's site will be up very soon. Can't wait!

I hope you are having a fun holiday season. I know this time of year can be very stressful. I confess I've had a few meltdowns. Just this a.m. I was holed up in a downstairs bathroom, trying to shinny into my exercise outfit. Suddenly I hear the upstairs bathroom tile guy in the hall right outside my door going, "Hello? Miss?" Now, I know it's his job to finish *our* job for which we hired him, but I'm more than ready for this renovating to be finished. After all, it started the day after Halloween. We had a brown paper "path" taped with blue painter's tape in our front hallway for Thanksgiving, and now we'll have a white Christmas thanks to sheetrock dust!

And the final thing on my mind today is, why am I so behind with my writing goals? I know I've been discombobulated with all the stuff going on around here. But that's not a good excuse. All over the world, people are busy and they're still grabbing writing hours. So I'm just vowing to get my writing in every day and get back on schedule. Are you having difficulty writing lately? If so, please post and maybe we can start a discussion on ways to rev up our creativity engines. I'll take any suggestions you'd like to toss my way.