TODAY: WHY IT'S THE ONLY DAY THAT MATTERS

This article has been reposted from The Grip Mastery Playbook on plenteouslife.com.

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“Today’s the day!”

This was the rallying cry of Mel Fisher as he greeted his team every morning before setting out to search for the lost treasure of the Spanish galleon Nuestra Se?ora de Atocha off the coast of the Florida Keys.

The Atocha, one of a fleet of treasure ships that sank in a hurricane in 1622, held untold wealth—gold, silver, and jewels bound for the Spanish Crown. For Mel Fisher, the quest to recover this treasure became a 16-year odyssey that tested his resilience and fortitude.

From their beginning in 1969, Fisher and his team faced monumental challenges. The search demanded immense financial and personal sacrifice. The Fisher family, including his wife and children, were deeply involved in the mission. Tragically, in 1975, Mel’s son, daughter-in-law, and a crew member, all died in a diving accident related to the search.

Mel and his team battled not only the physical dangers of treasure hunting but also skepticism from naysayers and mounting financial pressures—the entire venture was self-funded. His neighbors and colleagues thought he was nuts. Many of the tools Mel needed hadn’t yet been invented; he and his team created them along the way.

Finally, on July 20, 1985—16 years later—Fisher’s team struck gold, literally. They uncovered the mother lode: over $400 million worth of treasure, including 40 tons of silver, gold coins, emeralds, and religious artifacts. This discovery stands as one of the most valuable finds in maritime history.

Mel’s fight didn’t end there. After the discovery was made, both the state of Florida and the US federal government tried to lay claim to the treasure! Eventually the courts sided with Mel and agreed that he had salvage rights to 100% of the find.

Mel Fisher’s relentless spirit embodies The Innovator Leader’s mindset—a commitment to keep creating in the face of uncertainty and adversity while working to bring the vision to life. And it is a powerful demonstration that our only access to impacting tomorrow is by acting today.

Read on to discover why!

TODAY VS. TOMORROW

As a leader, you likely have a natural leaning toward grand visions and aspirations—you can see it, smell it, hear it, feel it, and even taste it. But if you relate to that inspiring vision as a thing for the future, you unknowingly throw yourself off course.

In the world of direct experience, the future doesn’t exist. Have you ever done anything tomorrow? Never. The only time you have ever done anything is today. Our language creates a misperception that tomorrow is a viable option for getting things done; it’s not. “I’ll do it tomorrow.” No, you won’t. Because at the time you actually do it, it is today. Always.

Ideating for the future is inspiring, but attempting to live in the future is a disempowering waste of time. It doesn’t work. Life is lived now, in the present, today.

Why am I taking time to distinguish this? Because the action you need for creating the life you desire is always available today, never tomorrow. Today is your access point for materializing future plans and dreams. As the great coach, Steve Chandler, says, “You must pull the future into today.” Today is the only day you can or will ever act on your aspirations.

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The philosopher Alan Watts put it this way, “No valid plans for the future can be made by those who have no capacity for living now. I have realized that the past and future are real illusions, that they exist in the present, which is what there is and all there is.”

Mel Fisher experienced over 5,000 todays between the today he began his mission and the today he accomplished it. How many todays will it take for you to accomplish yours? It’s going to take all of them. There may be months, years, even decades between the today you start and the today you succeed.

But consider this: when you fill each today acting on the vision that calls you out of bed in the morning, “how many” todays it takes doesn’t matter as much.

Have you ever done anything tomorrow?

Today is the tomorrow you’ve been waiting for.

How are you spending today…are you living fully today, taking action today, building the life you love today?

Today is the only day you ever will.

Keep creating!

May you prosper in every way!

Becky & TPL Team