Motivation

"Even the woodpecker owes his success to the fact that he uses his head and keeps pecking away until he finishes the job he starts." ~~Coleman Cox~~

Or, as Dory in “Finding Nemo” says, “just keep swimming…” One step at a time; baby steps, even. Just. Keep. Going!

“First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do.” ~Epictetus

Goals

"Change is the law of life and those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future." ~~John F. Kennedy~~

As I settle in to my new home and my new office I am reminded once again that everything truly does happen for a reason, even when we have no idea what that reason is. Change is good. It keeps us on our toes. Embrace the change, adjust your goals, and keep moving toward the future.

Motivation

“Little by little one walks far.” ~~Peruvian Proverb~~

Today I am reminded to take it one step at a time. With so much going on and some goals just seeming as if they are almost unreachable, it’s very easy to feel overwhelmed. It’s very easy to almost become paralyzed by the sense that there is no way to accomplish it all. When the tasks at hand seem like they are just too big, when things look like they are near impossible, just take them one at a time until you whittle them down. I had a conversation with a candidate yesterday who offered a great perspective. We were actually talking about Lean principles (operational excellence and continuous improvement). We were discussing something called “Hoshin Kanri”, a Lean method used to capture and cement strategic goals, and she said in the scenario that I presented, that would be like trying to run a marathon before you learned to walk. You have to learn to crawl; then take your first steps; then walk; then run; then train; and then maybe you’ll be ready for that marathon… One step at a time. First things first. Little by little. You will reach your destination!

Goals

“It isn't where you come from; it's where you're going that counts.” ~~Ella Fitzgerald~~

I heard this song this morning... seems rather fitting.

Do you know where you're going to?
Do you like the things that life is showing you?
Where are you going to?
Do you know?

Do you get what you're hoping for?
When you look behind you, there's no open doors
What are you hoping for?
Do you know?

"Theme from Mahogany (Do You Know Where You're Going To)" written by Michael Masser and Gerald Goffin, and recorded by Diana Ross

Preparation + Confidence Affirmations

“Confidence is preparation. Everything else is beyond your control.” ~~Richard Kline~~

When you believe in yourself, and you are confident in your ability to do something well, you are very likely to succeed. In the midst of things beyond my control, it’s really hard to hold on to that. As a believer in things happening for a reason, I am really trying to find the lesson that I apparently need to learn in the face of NOTHING going according to plan right now. Meanwhile, I will maintain my composure and protect my self-confidence.

I am reliant, self-confident, determined and successful.
I will remain confident and unaffected by the chaos around me.

Motivation

“Promise yourself to live your life as a revolution and not just a process of evolution.” ~~Anthony J. D'Angelo~~

Revolution: a sudden, complete or marked change in something. Evolution is much more gradual. While I do think success often comes in small doses and builds gradually, I also believe in sudden changes that boost instant wins! Today I am reminded to look for instant wins! I will make significant strides on the days that I can, so on the days that I do not, it’s not such a problem. Today my revolution begins!

Goals

"The most important thing about goals is having one." ~~Geoffry F. Abert~~

I think there is a lesson to be learned from my apparent inability to stick to my “plan of the day” on the days I write about goals. Yesterday, I had a very clear plan for today. Then life got in the way. A Honda minivan was driven directly into a classroom in my son’s daycare center; over the curb, across the sidewalk, through the bushes, and right through the wall. Miraculously, nobody was hurt. The teachers, for some inexplicable reason, had decided to take the kids outside early. The classroom was empty. I am eternally grateful to them for that decision.

Needless to say, daycare was closed today, and my “plans” changed. And, while this may be one of the more extreme situations I’ve faced recently (and, yes, really, everything is fine!), it certainly isn’t the only time that my goals were usurped by my reality.

Back to the lesson… I think I need to learn to better be that “river” I’ve written about. I think I need to learn to be more flexible, and “go with the flow” while keeping my eyes on the longer term goals and bigger picture. I know where I want to end up, but I need to stop being so hard on myself when my day’s plans are altered. I have a goal. And, I will get there…someday.