Preparation

“Success will never be a big step in the future. Success is a small step taken just now.” ~~Jonatan Mårtensson~~

We may never be really prepared to take that step. But if we wait until we’re ready, we may miss the opportunity. Some things we just have to do. Some things we just have to jump into. And, what we find along the way, even though we weren’t “ready” may be even better than what we were actually waiting for! It’s sort of like a good game of “hide and seek”. We plan, we seek out the best hiding spot, we crouch down and prepare to be as still as possible for the long haul, and then we hear, “ready or not, here I come!” and we hold our breath waiting to see what will happen. But think about it. How would you really feel if all that planning worked, and you missed out on all the fun because you were still hidden? Getting found is half the joy, even though you planned and prepared for the exact opposite.

Now, I’m not suggesting that preparation isn’t necessary; quite the contrary. Preparing for the small steps is critical. Mental preparation, physical preparation, and careful planning will help you know which small steps to take and feel really good about taking them. Just don’t let yourself get so caught up in the planning and preparing that you forget to actually “do.”

Motivation

“The willingness to accept responsibility for one's own life is the source from which self-respect springs.” ~~Joan Didion~~

Two topics I love rolled into one quote; accepting responsibility and self-respect. I really like this one. I’ve never thought about self-respect as tied to being 100% responsible… but it makes perfect sense. I certainly respect myself more when I take responsibility for my self and my actions. I certainly find it easier to be 100% responsible when my ego is intact. I wanted to explore this further. I even went as far as looking up the “root word” or suffix “resp” to see if there were some deeper meaning, and I found this, the suffix for breathe is: “resp” (respiratory, respirator, respiration)… hmmm… very interesting. So here’s a leap of faith: being 100% responsible for yourself helps you build your self-respect, which in turn helps you breathe (read: live). OK, it really is a leap, but one I’m willing to take.

“They cannot take away our self-respect if we do not give it to them.” ~Mahatma Gandhi

Don’t give up that power. Be responsible for your own actions. Build your sense of self. Be proud of who you are. Live. Breathe. Enjoy!

Goals

“Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars.” ~~Les Brown~~

I had a great conversation with a great friend last night, and for whatever reason we started talking about lottery tickets. (Really we were talking about money, but whatever!) I was asked if I ever actually bought them (lottery tickets, that is.) Honestly, occasionally I do, and my reasoning is that you have to keep the dream alive… which gout me to thinking… I keep the dream alive anyway! I set my sights high and do what it takes, and I am a firm believer that there isn’t anything that I “can’t” do. If you’re familiar with the Winnie the Pooh characters, this may ring a bell…

“They're quite a critter, those furry beasts
Why, to himself he's a mystery
He cannot think of one thing he can't do
Be it climbing trees or bouncing games
It doesn't matter, it's all the same
That's what Tiggers do best
Yes, that's what Tiggers do
It doesn't matter how or who
That's what Tiggers do best”

Winnie the Pooh: Take My Hand – “That's What Tiggers Do Best” Lyrics
Singers: The Owls

So, shoot for the moon, my friends! Keep dreaming, keep setting goals, and believe that achieving those goals is exactly what you do best!

Preparation

“Sometimes it seems your ever-increasing list of things to do can leave you feeling totally undone.” ~Susan Mitchell and Catherine Christie, I'd Kill for a Cookie~

Preparing for the day ahead is sometimes a challenge. It frequently takes too much self control and discipline for me to stop what I am doing right now, and plan for later. Sometimes it’s easier to plan for the week, month, or year ahead, because they seem so much more abstract. I’ve decided that while I know it’s a very good thing for me to have a plan and be as prepared as possible for the immediate tasks at hand, it’s sometimes just as much a good thing for me to have no short term plan at all, and just go with it. My long term plans are solid. The preparation to help me achieve my longer term goals has been ongoing. I know where I want to end up and feel really good about how I am going to get there. So, when I find myself stressing out about the utter lack of planning I have done for tomorrow, I can handle it. I simply remind myself that sometimes the best things happen by accident.

“Don't underestimate the value of Doing Nothing, of just going along, listening to all the things you can't hear, and not bothering.” ~Pooh's Little Instruction Book, inspired by A.A. Milne

“Some of the secret joys of living are not found by rushing from point A to point B, but by inventing some imaginary letters along the way.” ~Douglas Pagels, These Are the Gifts I'd Like to Give to You

Attitude

“[People] who never get carried away should be.” ~~Malcolm Forbes~~

I had the distinct pleasure of networking this morning with an entrepreneur extraordinaire. I don’t call her that because she’s “made it”. I call her that because she will! I’ve been witness to a transformation unlike many I have seen before. With more drive and determination to thrive than I have ever seen in one person, I have no doubt she and her new business will be a huge success. She is enthusiastic, gung-ho and working her tail off. Being “carried away” to higher heights is her new mission, and her enthusiasm is contagious. That’s one thing I love about networking with positive people!

“Attitudes are contagious. Are yours worth catching?” ~Dennis and Wendy Mannering

Preparation

“When a man does not know what harbor he is making for, no wind is the right wind.” ~Seneca~

Preparation: any proceeding, experience, or the like considered as a mode of preparing for the future.*

Preparing for what future? That may be the question. I had a conversation late last week about the importance of a plan; of being as prepared as possible, but directing the possibilities with that preparation. It was interesting. It was sort of a “chicken or egg” conversation. If you don’t know where you want to end up, how can you plan your path to get there? Contrarily, some of the best things happen when there is no plan. Synchronicity! Spontaneity! Surprise! So, while I agree with Seneca, maybe a better way to look at it would be that no wind is the wrong wind either.

*"preparation." Dictionary.com Unabridged. Random House, Inc. 26 Jul. 2010. .

Motivation

“Nothing diminishes anxiety faster than action.” ~~Walter Anderson~~

I’m going to semi- (and probably mis-) quote my dad again. It’s not the first time I’ve heard him say it, or, maybe it really was… Anxiety (fear) is the same emotion as excitement. The day I wrote about changing my internal dialogue (http://hireeffect.blogspot.com/2010/07/preparation.html) we had this conversation. And, it’s been on my mind ever since. I think I’m really getting it.

I love feeling excited about things; whether it’s a meeting with someone I haven’t seen in a while, or it’s a celebratory event, that kind of excitement is a lot of fun. Well, why can’t the anxiety I feel about the amount of work that lies ahead, or the challenges I’m facing be called “excitement”? Why not choose to feel “excited” about all the things I have on my plate? Why not choose to have my work be a source of fun? Anxiety really does go away when you “just do it”. And it’s so much easier to do things that you’re excited about than it is to do things you’re anxious about. What will you have fun with today?