Tag: nevergiveup

What Can Be Awesome About Goals? Finishing! That’s What…

What can be awesome about finishing last? Finishing! ~ODB

The race is not for the swift. Too often we watch others. What are they going to say? How will they feel? They will hate. Discourage…say bad things.

Finish

The story was told by Our Daily Bread about a mom who went to the finish line to check on her daughter who finished the race last. Her goal? To encourage her. She was the one encouraged when the young girl exclaimed… I finished! She was running against her personal best.

This adage reminds us to focus on ourselves, our goals, our own prowess. If we continue to let the notion of “what will they say” impact us, then we will always lag behind. Even remain stuck.

Take a Stand

Today go out and do your best. What have you been holding back on? What do you need to go after? No matter how simple, Go out and do it. Rid the fear. Start now. Start today. With one step at a time, you’re sure to surprise yourself when you focus on you.

Need help? Let’s connect.

Cheers!

Cancer. My Sister’s Journey…

My sister’s Journey. We all know someone who has been affected. For me, it has personally been my grandma, my mom but most of all my little sister. Here I share her journey as a fighter. A leader extraordinaire. She never gave up and I hope her journey inspires someone who needs it.

Success Strategies

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She’ll have my head if she knows I’m writing this but some stories must be told.

That was how I started this story four years ago but don’t think it was ever published. It was the spring of 2003, after experiencing discomfort and a series of medical tests, the news was relayed to my sister. Not only did they find a lump in her breast but it was also malignant. Visits to Specialists left her with two options; remove the breast, or embark on a series of chemo treatment. The option of removal was an uncommon feat at the time, so after engaging family, friends and mountains of prayers, she made the decision to save the breast and embrace the chemo treatment.

Past The Worst

Over 10 years later and different rounds of chemo treatment combined with the usual side effects of hair loss, nervous system changes such as numbness…

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The Dreams That Tug…

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We all have dreams, goals and aspirations that consistently tug at our hearts. Some annoyingly, some quietly. We sleep, gaze, visualize, but the ideas just won’t go away. Most often we are stuck….afraid to take the leap. Here I share the story of how one dreamer who made the move that impacted generations. May it inspire you to never ever give up.

The cheesecake Factory story begins in Detroit, Michigan in the 1940’s. Evelyn Overton found a recipe in the local newspaper that would inspire her “Original” Cheesecake. Everyone loved her recipe so much that she decided to open a small Cheesecake shop, but eventually gave up her dream of owning her own business in order to raise her two small children, David and Renee. She moved her baking equipment to a kitchen in her basement and continued to supply cakes to several of the best restaurants in town while raising her family.

In 1972, with her children grown, Evelyn and her husband Oscar decided to pack up all of her belongings and move to Los Angeles to make one last attempt at owning her own business. With the last of their savings, they opened “The Cheesecake Factory Bakery” and began selling Evelyn’s cheesecakes to restaurants throughout Los Angeles. 

Through hard work and determination their business grew to a modest size and Evelyn was soon baking more than 20 varieties of cheesecakes and other desserts.

With a great foresight and intuition, their son David decided to open a restaurant to showcase his mother’s selection of cheesecakes. Somehow he just knew that guests would enjoy a restaurant with an extensive dessert menu. It was 1978 and he opened the first The Cheesecake Factory restaurant in Beverly Hills, California. The restaurant was an immediate success and today there are nearly 200 The Cheesecake Factory restaurants around the world that share the Overton’s commitment to quality and spirit of innovation and hard work.

 

May the delicious delicacy of the Cheesecake’s story ignite your passion to step out, go after your dream, and do what you have always wanted to do.

Have a dream? It’s never too late. Go get it.

Need help? Let’s connect.

Cheers!

 

The Challenge That Equipped Me…

I procrastinated. Year after year I’d say …I’ll do it next year. But then in my early 20s, during a heated conversation about salary increase my boss shouted “you don’t even have a degree!” That hit me like a ton of bricks. I promised myself that I’d never ever let anyone say that to me again. I was not only gonna get a first degree but also a second.

That’s How You Do It

Today, I have two Masters and a Doctorate.

That’s how you do it. I’m one for a challenge to not only achieve but also exceed. So even though at the time I had several diplomas, certifications and had never stopped studying, I fell short of that industry’s ultimate standard. I limited myself and did not go after the best.

My parents never thought of …nor encouraged me to get a degree. They never had it themselves. What’s more, while I studied those years, my dad kept saying “that godamn girl won’t stop studying”. He never understood my drive.

Do Not Let Anything Stop You

Today I encourage you to go after your dreams. Don’t let anything stop you from achieving.

  • Not financial.
  • Not the negatives from those who hate.
  • Not fear.

Do not let anything stop you from going after your dreams.

Remember where there’s a will, there’s a way.

Cheers!

The Power Of Resilience When Things Go Wrong…

Sometimes bad things happen to good people. Those were the words echoed by Susan. She suffered a massive stroke. Her life as she knew it was turned upside down. Here’s her story of resilience.

Be inspired to overcome the odds.

Sometimes in life, bad things happen to good people? Life is happily going along and things are relatively in a good place. One event can occur and your life as you know it is completely turned upside down. In June of 2016, I had this happen to me. I experienced a stroke, due to a carted artery dissection. I went from an actively engaged, full time working school nurse and mother of two daughters, to be in a rehabilitation hospital for a month trying to recover from left-sided hemiplegia..learning to walk, swallow, eat and move my left arm and hand. I had no indication.

Other than being human, I was at risk for this to happen to me. When I was discharged home, I had around the clock caregivers. I attended therapy three days a week until my insurance visits were exhausted I was only allotted 20 visits per year, I was fortunate to be able to begin walking independently, by September. It was about this point that I learned I would have to enroll in intensive rehabilitative therapy to return to work. It took 6 months and a lot of my savings to graduate. Then I learned my old job which I loved and I was motivated to return to, had been given to someone else. I was offered a different position. It was very kind of the school, I accepted the new challenge with a positive attitude. My left arm and hand were no longer making progress like the rest of my body had. I received an email from Saebo about their products and the no plateau in sight motto. I also learned about neuroplasticity. The only thing holding me back from my old career path at this point is that I am still unable to effectively use my left hand and arm.

When I saw the advertisement for an arm boot camp I knew I had to attend. I learned I would be a good candidate. I was thrilled they were able to schedule me in April of 2017. Three intensive days of therapy, with the opportunity to take over your own recovery at home and continue therapy on your own. I was initially so excited I ordered the Saebo devise to help me with the gross movement of my fingers. My therapist near my home helped me to put together the device. It did enable me to pick up objects. However, it was not until I actually attended boot vamp that I learned about the balls and how important repetitive movement is to stimulate the brain to regain the lost function. It felt so awesome to actually be able to use my left arm and hand for something again. Upon arrival to camp, Henry promptly refitted my devise and I was determined to become the Saebo ball transfer champion. We were introduced to many other devices and activities. By the time I left, I had put together my own program to continue my therapy independently at home. I am still using my therapy equipment. I went back to one day one on one camp day this year. During the camp it is a 1:1 ration one camper per therapist you get the therapist for a full day of therapy. I came home with a new glove to help my fine motor movements improve. I am still not 100% back to my old self in the left arm. I am seeing continued improvement and I am not going backward. Saebo provides the therapeutic avenue for independent stroke recovery. I am so grateful I took the chance in the initial boot camp experience and have built this therapy routine into my busy life. The best thing is to tailor it to fit your needs and fit it into your lifestyle in the way it works best for you. I wish all stroke patients were introduced to these devices immediately after the stroke. I was seven months out before I began this therapy.

-Susan T.

Career: My 3 Mistakes…

Reflecting

I have made many mistakes along my career. Mistakes that disappointed. Mistakes that caused hurt and pain. Here I share 3 with the hopes that they can help someone along the way. Someone who is just starting out. Or perhaps someone who needs a reality check (smile).

1. Don’t Tell All

Never tell all. When I got my very first job out of high school in an accounting firm, a week went by then the owner decided to have a talk. I was asked my goal to which I replied innocently, naively, stupidly (you decide which word best suits), that I wanted to be a nurse. By Monday I was no longer working there. What’s a nurse doing in an accounting firm? Using them to get to the next level?

Learning: Be wise. Don’t tell all.

2. Dress Appropriately

I wore a beautiful career top to an interview with a major insurance provider. The interview went well. Later after a few weeks went by, I was confused why no response. Digging deeper through a friend that works with the company, I was told that my blouse was too revealing–as in transparent. Beautiful career top with frills it was. But it was not appropriate without a jacket or blazer.

Learning: Be Professional. Dress For Success

3. Punctuality is Key

I am ALWAYS early. But for this interview, I wanted to look my absolute best! It was with a major airline. I went to get my hair re-styled. As ‘fate’ would have it, I arrived 5 minutes late. Never-the-less my interview went very well. However a couple of weeks later, I was confused about the lack of response and enquired the reason. The response…. I was late. Airlines need people who are always on time. Reliable. Punctual. I was all of these but my 5-minute tardiness cost me the job.

Learning: Arrive On Time. Punctuality is Key

Reflect: Connect The Dots

Often we go through disappointments. But when we look back and connect the dots, we learn in the process. Sometimes the disappointment is a path to the ideal career, or whatever goal we seek. I finally landed a job working with people (not nursing like I’d dreamed), but into managing the Human Resource portfolio for various countries for a major international pharmaceutical company. But I had to go through the disappointments to get to where I was supposed to be.

Today I implore you to hold on. Never give up. As I shared my mistakes along the way, I hope they serve to encourage someone who is waiting. Someone who needs it. I now spend my time coaching individuals making career decisions that I never knew I needed.

Share these learnings with someone who can benefit today. Prefer to go it alone? Get copy of book Success Strategies: Want To Succeed, Here’s How.

Cheers!

Write. Something Old. Something New…

Write. Just Write. Write about something old, something new. Twist it. Turn it. Then spool it into something you.

Cheers!

The Power of U-Turns…

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Strive and Reach for what you can Achieve

My eyes caught the attention of an article titled “Giving up”. It quickly sparked my interest because I usually steer away from ever giving up. In my youth I did track, and for all those athletes out there, you know just how much effort it takes to get in shape. To stick to your goal. To become fit and ready for that race. As I advanced into maturity, the same held true for me. It became the very grain of my existence. During college, and career advancement, I never gave up. Now as a consultant and coach, I Mentor and encourage entrepreneurs, managers, and employees, to stick to their goals, dreams, and aspirations.

That article reminded me of another I had read about success and fear. Both fear and the desire to give up intertwine and cripple us, often fueling negative thoughts and actions. There are many individuals who throw away their lives becoming lethargic, stuck, wasted, straying away from their goals, get into trouble, end up self-imprisoned, or worse. Not to mention those dying at age 25, yet buried at 75.

I say burst that Bubble! It is delightful to strive and reach for what you can achieve!

The Power Of U-Turns

Enter the power of U-Turns. U-Turns remind us to get up, dust off, find a mentor or support system, and get back on track.

The writer in  the first article “Giving up” concluded with a twist. He suggested being wise enough to know when to stop, refuel, and get back on track. So make that U-Turn today. Shake off that fear. Shake off the very thought of giving up…and as Mahatma Gandhi said, “Be the change you wish to see in the world”. Apply it to yourself. Be your change today.

Need help? Let’s connect.

Cheers!

What You Need To Do To Achieve Success…

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Set your Goals High and Don’t Stop until you Get There

Richard Byerley was ‘officially’ the oldest person to reach the summit of Kilimanjaro. Byerley reached the summit in October 2010 at the ripe old age of 84 years and 71 days. However, his record was surpassed by Martin Kafer (85) and his wife Esther (84) in October 2012 (Kilimanjaro Guide).

Not to be outdone, the oldest woman to climb Mount Kilimanjaro (5,895 m; 19,340 ft) Angela Vorobeva, reached the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, at age 86 years 267 days, on 29 October 2015 (Guinness book of records).

Naturally, these examples of goal achievement is no small feat. What of athletes, professionals, politicians, and more? We all have goals. But what really are they? Are goals just a wish or a figment of our imagination of some ideal place that we want to be in the future? Think carefully. A goal is not a simple wish that you had a better car, a bigger house, a better job, a more profitable business, or going on a great vacation. Though it may begin with those thoughts, they are way too Vague. Goals are so much more. Achieving your goal starts with understanding where you want to be and how you intend to get there.

A goal is defined as the object of a person’s ambition or effort, an aim or desired result.

Simply put, a goal is something that you are trying to do or achieve, not something that you bury. Now that we know what goals are, let’s consider why we should set them? Simply because they give our life a sense of direction. In order to achieve our goals we must take action. We must break it down into steps to achieve. If it is for your business, what business do you want to be engaged in? How much should you be earning per day to get to your goal to become profitable? Your goals must be concrete and clear. It is very important to be clear. Spend time  making sure your goal is clear. Enlist the help of a coach if you need help.

Create A Plan

The first step to achieving your goals is to have a plan. All runners know that each race has starting blocks and a finish line. They know exactly how long the distance is and how much time it will take them to get there. They have also mapped out what they will do at each stage along the way to accomplish their goal. It’s a step by step calculated plan to succeed.To achieve your goals, start with a plan.

Write Down Your Goal

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Take the time to think about the goals you want to achieve. Then write down your goal. Commit to them in writing. Writing down your goal is the first step to achieving it. It creates a contract with yourself to make your goals come true.

Don’t worry if the goal will take time. If you plan for it, you can do it. Don’t be afraid to dream big! Dream the impossible!

Goals Must Reflect your Values

Your goals must reflect your highest values. If you don’t believe in something, then you won’t do it. Take a moment and think about where you want your life to be, professionally and personally. See yourself doing what you dream. Make this a strong mental picture

Create a Map for Success

Next, create a map for your own destiny. By setting goals, you are acting on your life, rather than simply reacting. Make the goals Big and compelling! Something that will stretch you that when you achieve it, you feel completely satisfied. Heck, you will even motivate others!

Break into Measurable Parts

The next step in setting goals is to break it down into manageable, measurable parts. Let’s say you set a goal to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. The first thing you would do is break the goal of the trek down into smaller steps. Find out things like… where is it? How high is it? How do I get there? What is the best time of the year to climb? What guide company should I book with? How can I prepare mentally, physically, financially? And the list goes on.

Once you do your research, you will find that each small accomplishment will lead you closer to your goal. Once you have done all your preparations and you find yourself in the middle of the trek, exhausted and overwhelmed, this step-by-step thinking will keep you on course and help you reach your goal.

Create A Deadline

Assign a realistic deadline to each component of your goal, and write the deadline in your smart phone’s calendar, or whatever instrument you use. Tell someone you trust about your goal and deadline. Enlist a team if you think it will motivate you more. Bestowed, doing so will further solidify your commitment.

Review Them Daily

Once that is done, you must review them daily. Look at them often so it stays on top of your mind. Don’t worry about not making all your deadlines. If you miss a deadline, set another. Keep setting deadlines until you complete it.

Don’t Beat Yourself Up

Keep a positive attitude in order to make your dreams a reality.

So there you have it. Now go, create your plan. Already started? Review to make sure you’re on target to be successful.

Need help? Let’s connect.

Cheers!