Attitude: More Lessons From My Son

“Enjoy the little things in life, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things." ~~Antonio Smith~~

Do you remember when something as simple as getting to use an electric mixer was sure to be the start of an awesome day? How about when eating pancakes for breakfast was the Best. Thing. Ever. Or, when waiting a WHOLE WEEK until your birthday seemed like an eternity, and you couldn’t think of anything more important than who was coming to your party? Was life simpler then? I don’t think so. 5 year olds struggle enormously with peer pressure (yes, even at that age!), fears, uncertainty, and setting boundaries… That sounds a lot like what most adults suffer from too… so, what’s changed? Personally, I think it’s nothing more than attitude. Sure, the pressure is about more significant things, as are the fears and uncertainty, but you would think that since our power of deduction is also more significant, and our experiences are certainly much more vast, we would be able to handle the pressure as well as the little ones do…

I want to go back to getting excited about the “small stuff”. (And, I’d go as far as arguing that these things really are NOT the “small stuff”!) So, here’s my Attitude Adjustment for today: I will rejoice in what’s REALLY important in my life! I know my day will be awesome because I made pancakes with my son this morning, and we had fun! I’m celebrating the fact that there’s a smile on my face, and one on his too.

Motivation

“In everyone's life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit.” ~~Albert Schweitzer~~

Today’s call to action: Rekindle someone’s inner spirit! Be part of their “positive posse”!

I want to take this time to thank all of you who rekindle my inner fire every day. Some through reading this blog, some through inspiring its posts, some by just being there… I am grateful for you all.

Motivation

“Life is partly what we make it, and partly what it is made by the friends we choose.” ~~Tennessee Williams~~

Some great comments on my post yesterday really got me thinking about how we get and stay motivated. I was reminded by a colleague Sheree Van Vreede (@rezlady) that we’re not in this game alone. It really does take a village, and we can rely on our networks for support. So true! My personal advisory board helps me not only stay on track, but is a huge support to me when I feel I need a little something… And, that something can be anything, really! Sometimes it’s motivation and encouragement. Sometimes it’s a sounding board. Sometimes it’s advice. Sometimes it’s a swift kick in the pants! It’s not only motivating, but extremely comforting to know I have a village out there! Social media applications like LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, (and now I’m exploring Quora) have helped make that village even larger. In fact, that’s how I know of Sheree! It’s wonderful to know that there’s a whole world of people out there who are willing to help!

“If ever there is tomorrow when we're not together there is something you must always remember. You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. But the most important thing is, even if we're apart; I'll always be with you.” ~Winnie the Pooh

Attitude & Gratitude: AThanksgiving Post

“Thanksgiving Day is a jewel, to set in the hearts of honest men; but be careful that you do not take the day, and leave out the gratitude.” ~E.P. Powell

My 4 year old did a Thanksgiving art project in school yesterday. His teachers asked him what he was thankful for, and they helped him write his thoughts on his masterpiece. (I can’t wait to see it!) He told me he was thankful for me, Daddy, and his old and new friends. WOW! I love my kid!

So, typical Thanksgiving-style post here I go!

I am thankful for my family. I am thankful for my friends. I am thankful for my colleagues, my clients, and my readers. I am thankful that my business is successful. I am thankful for each and every one of the people with whom I network, have networked, have helped, or in some other way have helped me.

I am thankful that my son often wakes up singing. I am thankful that he loves to learn and that I am learning the patience I need to teach him. I am thankful that my husband is my partner. I am thankful that I have friends who care about me enough to reach out to me when I get so busy that I go “radio silent”. I am thankful that I get reminded to stop and take care of myself.

I am especially thankful that it doesn’t take a holiday for me to express my gratitude.

I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very Happy and Healthy Thanksgiving full of laughter, joy, peace and gratitude.

Goals

“It must be borne in mind that the tragedy of life does not lie in not reaching your goal. The tragedy of life lies in having no goal to reach.” ~~Benjamin E. Mays~~

Sometimes I lose sight of the goal. Sometimes I forget why I do what I do and I wallow in the self-pity that I create. Sometimes it takes just getting off my a$$ and doing “it” anyway to remind me of why I do what I do and how much I love doing it.

Today, I am grateful for the woman who called me yesterday, out of the blue, and asked for my help. She was referred to me by someone else she didn’t really know, and had the courage, strength and conviction to pick up the phone and ask a perfect stranger for assistance. I respect that tremendously. And, in offering her some basic job search advice and the names of some networking contacts, my mood changed. My attitude shifted. I love helping people! That’s why I do what I do. So, thank you person who shall remain nameless because I didn’t ask you if I could blog about you… Thank you, also, the person who gave you my name in the first place.

My goals, all of them, even the one in my long term 20-year plan, are about helping people and having fun while doing so! Sure, there‘s some level of selfishness in there… I deserve to have fun and to be happy.  So, here’s to my goals and to the journey of discovery along the path to reach them!

Goals

“Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment.” ~~Jim Rohn~~

I mentioned yesterday that dreams are critical to success and that if you knew how to get there, or knew how to do it, it would be a TO DO, not a dream. Something else I learned from Brad Sugars two nights ago was that once a dream gets within 5 years of happening, it becomes a goal.

Accomplishing goals requires planning, and then requires action. Here’s what I learned yesterday and today; planning requires discipline. I have ideas about what I want. I have visualized my future. I know my 20 year plan. But I have no idea how I’m actually going to REALLY accomplish my next goal. I have broad stroke thoughts on how I’m going to get there, and I have my nitty-gritty TO DOs to get my daily work done. What I don’t have is a real plan. I have a lot of work to do, and today, with you as my witness, I am beginning to plan the way to accomplish my goals, devoting myself to the discipline needed, and frankly, calling my coach!

I know I don’t have to do this alone. I am grateful to my network, and to all of those who support me.

Have you tapped your network today?

Preparation

“Plans are only good intentions unless they immediately degenerate into hard work.” ~~Peter F. Drucker~~

I am once again amazed (not surprised, just amazed) by the power of the affirmation and the drive that I have when I am mentally prepared for greatness. Preparation for a great day, a great week, and in conjunction, great success comes from within, and help to realize that power within does exist!

Committed to taking advantage of the enthusiasm I gained after networking with an Action Coach late last week, and once again re-energized beyond my norm, I feel ready to conquer even the largest obstacle (my own tendency towards procrastination!) and know that I will be successful! The power of networking, be it with one colleague or a whole accountability group, really helps me mentally prepare for the greatness I know I can achieve.

Planning for this week actually started last Friday. Over the weekend, instead of stressing about what I still hadn’t done, I wrote down things on my “to do” list as they entered my mind. Last night, I organized my desk a bit, downloaded my email from the weekend and deleted the junk, and prioritized my to do list for today. I went to bed last night repeating to myself, “I am healthy, well-rested, energized and focused. I stay on track and successfully accomplish my tasks.”

As I said, I am again amazed by the power of affirmation… My allergies, which were really starting to get the best of me, seem to have cleared quite a bit, and I have gotten more done already this morning than I expected.

I am jazzed, and I love this feeling! So, THANK YOU to my network, my readers, my family, and specifically, my friend and Action Coach. I’ve always said that every great player needs a coach, and I’m so happy that at least in this instance, I took my own advice!

“Happy people plan actions, they don't plan results.” ~Dennis Wholey

Friday: Motivation

"In everyone's life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit." ~Albert Schweitzer

Ahhh…. The power of networking! Who’s inner spirit can you rekindle today?