MamaWriters are thrilled to have author Diana Cosby with us today! She’s been a hardworking Navy Chief mom of three, and as they’ve all made it successfully to adulthood, and Diana and her husband survived the trip, she probably has a few useful tips.  :-)   Her second book  is out from Kensington, with more on the way.

Help us welcome Diana Cosby!

Diana CosbyRules To Live By – Your Own
©Diana Cosby 2009

As a working mom over the years, I understand the demands of every day life, the challenges faced.  While living in Spain, I gave birth to my third child.  The responsibilities of working the twelve hour rotating shift as an active duty Navy Chief, of raising three young children and nursing my newborn, as well as having a husband who was often deployed, created unique challenges that taught me two crucial lessons:

  • Organization is important.

  • Correct priorities are essential.

Since my amazing tour in Rota, Spain, I have moved twice, retired, watched two of my children grow and move onto their own lives, but the lessons learned from those hectic days remain.

Each of us has dreams, what we hope to one day achieve.  Have you written them down?  Evaluated the steps needed to achieve them?  If so, excellent.  If not, grab your pen!  Your dreams will remain exactly that as long as you sit from afar taking no steps to achieve them.  When you decide to make that step forward, it behooves you to do so with a plan:

  • hiscaptivebookClarify your dream: Write down EXACTLY what your dream is.  With a clear cut goal, then you can break down the steps needed to achieve your dream.  Does it seem impossible?  From the base of the base of a mountain, it very well could appear so.  But like mountain climbers, you begin your journey one step at a time.
  • Arm yourself with knowledge:   Like a hiker with a lofty goal to reach Mount Everest you must research, plan the event, and take every detail into account.  Research others attempts with similar goals to yours, their strategies, what worked, and what they could they have done better.  Make notes and focus them to your strengths.  To me, as essential as the preparing for the journey is to prepare yourself with a plan honed to your strengths.
  • Reevaluate the journey:  After a military event, we would write an “After Action Report.”  This was our evaluation of the event, what worked, what didn’t, and recommendations to better future events.  This is an amazing tool that you can use with each step in your journey. Look back at what you did, what you could make better.  Also, this is a time to ensure you are still on track with your goal.  At times, what we think we want changes along the way.  This isn’t right or wrong, but growth of self.  I believe life offers us challenges to test if we truly want what we say we do.  So, if you find your desire changing and you’re happy with the new goal, refocus your strategy and move forward with that dream.
  • Achieve your dream your way:  Throughout the journey, you will have people advise you as to what they think would be the best way. Though it’s always nice to have input, too often our doubts as well as lack of knowledge sway us to follow a path that isn’t truly our own.  Listen to your instinct, even if at the moment you cannot see a clear path. I find it truly amazing at the opportunities that arise if we merely look, put forward positive energy, work hard and believe in our dreams.

My dream – to become a NYT bestselling author.  Another goal – to make a positive difference in others lives.  Will I achieve them – I’m hiswomanbookgiving both my best shot. and yes, my heart is definitely involved!

Though your kids may be young and your schedule hectic, it’s never to early to begin the road to achieving your dreams.  As you open your notebook to jot down your dreams remember, the Rules to Live by – Your Own!

Diana Cosby
www.dianacosby.com
U.S. Navy Chief Meteorologist/Oceanographer, Diana Cosby <http://www.dianacosby.com/> , an award-winning international author, began her last tour in the military by re-enlisting on the back of a camel in Tangier, Africa.  With 31 moves and an incredible career, she decided to create characters who reflected the amazing cultures and people she’s met over the years. Her years of living in Europe influenced her decision to write in the medieval time frame, hence the MacGruder brothers were born.

Her second novel in the MacGruder Brothers series, “His Woman,” is available now – 4 Stars from RT- HOT
“Former lovers find each other again in book two of Cosby’s Scottish trilogy. She deftly combines historical accuracy, well-rounded characters and continuous action in this sweeping romance, which should keep readers engaged until the last page.”
- Romantic Times