Traveling! It’s mind-blowing!It expands our thinking. It opens doors to things we never dreamed of. Often it comes with frustrating exasperations of missed flights, airport treks, trains, taxis, and more.
Why do you Travel?
Recently I’ve been traveling on business attending conferences, public forum and more that I’m involved in. But in spite of the busyness accompanied by lack of sleep, travel provides satisfaction. The food. The people. Culture. Hotels. Bed n breakfasts. But it all comes together to form an enriching experience that all would do well to Committo experience.
Travel is not an Illusion. Live it, do it, learn.
Hats off to times of travel… no matter the reason.
The book club. It was the first. The apologies came in droves. Oh I started but couldn’t finish. It was the kids, the husband, household chores and so much more. Who has time to read anyway?
My secret and I remained silent. I had ordered the required paperback to be read by the time the group met. But delivery time would be a few days before the meeting. For sure I would have barely started much less finished reading.
Audiobook Rescue
Then the idea came to me. Why not order the audiobook version online and start listening immediately? Then by the time the paperback arrived I could finish my reading with the hard copy. And that I did.
So as the group complained they finally asked and I told them what I did. The envy on their faces grew like a fiery furnace.
Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Prince, Beyoncé, Adele, Will, Denzel Washington, Taylor Swift, and the list goes on. Without a doubt few will argue that these individuals experienced success. Come to think of it, Michael Jackson even produced an album 5 years after his death! Now to many…that’s success! But… is it really?
Determined to find out Why Some Individuals Succeed While Others Don’t, I decided to research the topic of success. I conducted a phenomenological study, interviewed outstanding leaders in business, and other industries. I even wrote a book on Success, and published a peer reviewed article in the JAABC Business Journal about it.
So what does Success really mean to those who try so hard to get it, yet it moves further and further away as they draw near. Trying the short route some play the lotto… anticipating overnight success. Some marry rich. Some scheme, connive, and conspire…
Books have been known to inspire, motivate, encourage and change the lives many individuals. Entrepreneurs Strut their stuff gleaning pages of business books to find success strategies. Careerist search to find the secrets to a better job/life. Children Gingerly fantasize of fairy tales, lovers dream, and some gravitate to the scares of horror, action or adventure.
We dare not forget books that have spiraled into movies that entertain readers and non-readers alike. Well known authors such as Stephen King, J.K. Rowling, John Grisham, and many more, spring to mind.
Curiosity sparked, one publisher asked writers to share the name of a book that has changed their lives. The responses came in droves. Here I share a few:
What you are is God’s gift to you, what you become is your gift to God.
I overheard a discussion between two ladies in the salon as they were listening to the song ‘bless the lord oh my soul… oh my soul, I worship his holy name…‘
It was being sung by a little child … hence the reflection on ‘gifts’. Anyway, it caused me to think about the gifts God provides to us. One lady said all I do is talk, gab a lot. I thought quietly… that in itself is in fact a gift. She can use that to become a speaker even in small group. She can use her gift of ‘gab’ to write a book, sharing her thoughts with others provided she will be positive. Personally I believe there is enough negativity in the world.
Books are knowledge. Books are reflection. Books change your mind,
-Toni Morrison
How do you get your child to read? Popular question 21st century parents ask. It can also be extended to adults. Booklovers find themselves lost in books facing curiosity for the reason many defy reading as avidly as a decade ago. Too many distractions most say. Parents have it the hardest especially during the era of virtual games. But as far back as my own family’s history, I can think of my uncle who was a school principal, I received books on birthdays and holidays. Didn’t like it at the time but appreciate it in the years that ensued.
So, parents there’s hope. Here are 13 ways booklovers shared to spark that fire.
Goodreads asked the question in a public forum “what books should everyone read this year?” As authors and readers chimed in, here’s a list of 41 extracted. They include classics to recently released books in different genres.
Don’t worry if you can’t get through them all. Just keep the list as a yearly reference
Be patient with yourself. Self-growth is tender; it’s holy ground. There’s no greater investment.”
Stephen Covey
The concept to sharpen the saw highlights the point that when you have been going, going, and going …and you can’t seem to see any results. Acknowledge that it’s time to stop. It’s time to refresh. It’s time for a break to get the rest you need to start thinking so you can be productive again.
I went to the grocery store that’s been in the same locale for more than 10 years. As I stepped in, the Traditional Fragrance of the familiar faces was missing. Confused, I enquired, where are they? I was told that the owners sold the business and had moved to a different location for a bigger and better venture.
I felt cheated. Immediately I decided I’d go find them for… how could they do that to ‘me’?!
Then I started thinking about my own passion. Daily I encourage individuals to take the leap…, go do what you have always wanted to do. Yet here I was–feeling cheated. How dare me?
Has that ever happened to you? We love the familiar. The thing that so Harmonizes and makes us comfortable. Safe. Tranquil. At peace. When it’s gone, we feel a hollow in our life…in our soul. I reflect on the…
If we were having coffee right now I’d tell you how much I still love my delicious black tea. It seems I am never able to quiet my desire for that soothing hot taste. The drive and energy it gives reinvigorates my day. Sometimes I sneak away for fear of those questioning eyes saying…”what’s up with her and her constant commute to the coffee machine”? Forget them I say! I work more assiduously when I’m fully dosed up!
If we were having coffee right now, I’d tell you that I’ve started this …well not really started but revamped my blog. That said, WordPress has this amazing Blogging University which is available for those who are interested in pushing their personal writing careers up a notch. So I decided to enroll and have been doing so for the past six months. The thought came to me after I published my book on
Character is like a tree and reputation like a shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing. When wealth is lost, nothing is lost; when health is lost, something is lost; when character is lost, all is lost.
Billy Graham
I was a sprinter. I ran the 100 meter dash; 200 meter and 4 x 100 meter races. This was my thing. When I was called upon, I was ready. It was a desire to achieve not for me but for the wider team’s goal. That’s one of the memories held dear throughout my childhood into adulthood where I participated in events well into my late 20’s.
As I reflect, I am taken aback by the same habits that I used which has stuck with me even today. Here I share.
7 Habits Of A Highly Effective Athlete
1.Discipline
Here it is not about being forced to do something. It is about maintaining daily habits to achieve good or satisfactory outcomes. My dad was a boxing champion who fought for the land of my birth. He was a winner. I would rise early mornings and go running with him before daybreak. Then in the evenings after school I would go practice with fellow athletes. This daily mantra improved my abilities. It was not for personal gratification but for helping the team to win; whether it was school, church camps, or organizational competitive games to come out on top.
Determination means the ability to do something even when the odds are against you. My natural prowess slowed in recent years because I became latent. I sit at the computer all day working without hardly ever getting up to stretch. So after discussion with a personal coach, I decided to start working out. On my second class, I had to drive a 4-hour return trip. I was 5 minutes late for the class due to traffic and was turned away. I had missed the warm-up and didn’t know much. I was disappointed. But through my determination, I decided to make sure it never happened again. I have been attending and haven’t been late again. In this case, my health goals are too important to miss.
3.Drive To Succeed
This trait has driven me to go after my goals, dreams and aspirations. My studies and organizational leadership prowess has helped me to manage business operations with a desire to see others succeed. My published books on Success, leadership, career development and motivation are solid proof.
4.Never Give Up
In the first course I did after I left high school, a teacher lost the end of term paperwork I submitted. She searched and couldn’t find it. This was not submitted online but in person. Talk about being disappointed. I was devastated but I was determined to graduate. So I took a deep breath, asked to redo the major assignment and turned it in again. Yes, I graduated and found that my early training to never give up has stayed with me throughout life’s ups and downs. That experience helped build my strength of character.
5.Commitment
This quality is one that many organizations desire in people. It is a pledge or an agreement to do something. The problem is, we have to strike that balance. Overcommitment, especially for workaholics, can lead to restricted work/life balance or self-care.
The more committed you are, the more work you get….yikes! Certainly the goal you planned (smile)
6.Planning
One thing an athlete must do is plan. No plan easily translates into failure with missed deadlines, priorities and more. A friend shared the woes of a politician who was busy working in the community trying to attract votes. He was successful at that but later discovered that he had missed the application deadline. After all he had done, he was left off the ballot.
7.Teamwork & Care For Others
Teamwork means working together with a group of people to achieve a common goal. Running a relay is never easy. Sometimes teammates become injured, tired, fall behind, or become overworked and the rest of the team must collaborate to build and eliminate the gap. This is not an easy feat but the effort is always well worth it and provides the reward. That’s what I did all those years. Collaborate.
Today, caring for others is my mantra. It goes deep within my inner being and provides that lasting satisfaction when as a professional leadership coach, I help individuals achieve their goals.
I look back and reflect on these traits and with renewed fervor and realize that they made me who I am today. What about you? Did any of the characteristics resonate? Any you would add? Do share, we would love to hear.
Wishing you joy that springs from deep within Wishing you brave heart that’s infinite Wishing you love beyond measure Wishing you smiles that’s hard to dissolve Wishing you peace even when things go wrong Wishing you God’s divine direction in all you do
May God grant your heart’s desire, throughout the new year and beyond.
If we were having coffee right now I’d tell you how much I still love my delicious black tea. It seems I am never able to quiet my desire for that soothing hot taste. The drive and energy it gives reinvigorates my day. Sometimes I sneak away for fear of those questioning eyes saying…”what’s up with her and her constant commute to the coffee machine”? Forget them I say! I work more assiduously when I’m fully dosed up!
