Try a thing you haven’t done three times. Once, to get over the fear of doing it. Twice, to learn how to do it. And a third time to figure out whether you like it or not.”
— Virgil Thomson
Tag: Personalgrowth
What Advice Would You Give To Your Younger Self? 17 Professionals Share…
If you could give advice to your younger self, what would it be?
Life changes. We evolve, make decisions, choose careers, relationships, and enlarge our own space to embrace and create our own circle of influence including nuclear families. Recently I came across the common question about life and pondering the changes you would have made if you had the chance to advise your younger self. In deep thought I decided to ask professionals what their thoughts were. Most reflected. Here are excerpts of those who quickly chimed in:
- Stop and smell the roses. Life passes by in a flash. Children grow up. Relationships mature, evolve, change. Enjoy life. Appreciate the little things.
- Take more adventures. Let go of traditions.
- Enjoy life more along my journey. To be fearless and take more risks.
- Slow down, travel, start a business, invest, read more.
- Things don’t need to be perfect or need the approval of others. Dream big and go after your dream.
- Believe in Yourself
- Start walking with the Lord earlier
- Take great risks. Step out in faith. It has put me in a shrunken box…away from a life I was used to….but I am satisfied and firmly believe I will get to the dream I desire, despite the tough road I tarry. Perhaps I would not have known God the way I now do.
- Always have courage as life is not linear. Even if you don’t think it makes sense stop reflect and listen to the universe. The path is already defined
- Be bold
- Don’t give up and push for the reality of your dreams
- Be bolder in your steps. Everyone is trying to pave a path for themselves in life and are also facing their own doubts and struggles. They may act out in both love and hate so don’t react to either and never be discouraged when you don’t always hear what you want or allow naysayers to erode your confidence.
- You’ll get there. Everything doesn’t have to happen right away. Don’t dwell on the worst parts
- Pray more and listen to people less.
- Experience Peace and happiness always
- Be more patient. Do not feel so rushed all of the time. Give things a chance.
- Put your energy into things that can truly change or improve. Don’t spin your wheels on dead-end projects.
What about you? What advice would you give to your younger self? Do share. We would love to hear!
Cheers!
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If You Could Read Only One Author For The Rest Of Your Life, Who Would It Be? 18 Writers Share…
Read. Write. Read. There’s no writing without reading.
Some thought it difficult to select but here I share as Writers chimed in to Penguin Publishers’ public forum question:
If you could read only one author for the rest of your life, who would it be?
- Stephen King
- Don DeLillo
- J. K. Rowling
- Jane Austen
- Agatha Christie
- Margate Atwood
- William Shakespeare
- J.R.R. Tolkien
- Virginia Woolf
- Toni Morrison
- Paulo Coelho
- The Bible
- John Green
- Alice Munro
- C.S. Lewis
- Ernest Hemmingway
- James Baldwin
- Dickens
If you had to choose, who would it be? Do share. We would love to hear!
Cheers!
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The Hikes of Success
Hiking is like life. The Journey requires you to put one foot in front of the other …again and again. And if you allow yourself to be present throughout the entirety of the trek, you will witness beauty every step of the way, not only at the summit. ~Unknown
Traveling in the slow lane, I get angry. I get upset. Forgetting that I’m traveling in the slow lane. My progress is slowed. My destination eludes me and seem to get further away. My anger grows. My frustration… like a fuse lights up, ready to explode!
But that’s how it is with life. Missed steps, missed deadlines, procrastination. Failed business, exams, twisted careers, and more cause us to feel like we are driving in the slow lane. Our goals, dreams, aspirations seems unreachable. We get angry, frustrated, feel punished. But that’s because we have gone off course. We fail to plan. We fail to focus. We fail to keep our eyes on the goal. Milestones recede…ebbs away in the distance. One by one. We procrastinate saying I’ll get it done tomorrow…, but tomorrow never comes.
But all is not lost. Achieving our goal is like a Hike. If carefully planned our long…
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The Writing Process…
Writing is usually done in a private space… as in a cave all by ourselves. We tell no one unless we choose to share with those close. Oft it can even be top secret or shouted from the mountain top as happens when some celebrities write. It’s entirely up to you.
It’s Your Prerogative
Writers commit a month, a year, 2, 3 or more to their Writing process. It’s your prerogative. It all depends on you. No need to attend a retreat, until or unless you’re ready and you can always remain silent in the background listening to others speak. At a writers Retreat, some talk. Some don’t.
Spend time doing what you want to do before, during and after the retreat.
Why Bother?
People approach me to share my knowledge and (writing) experience with them. That’s the whole point of doing a Retreat. Facilitators or Hosts often incur a loss or just barely meet the expense for meals and accommodation for a small group retreat when it’s done for aspiring local authors. Over the years, it becomes more profitable.
But it’s worth it because of the satisfaction it brings. Often though some aspiring authors who actually need the help tend to hesitate to go the extra mile to acquire the knowledge. For me, before I wrote my first book about my phenomenalogical study on leadership and success, I attended a writers event and it helped me a lot. I invested resources to attend and like a sponge was happy to hear from the facilitators on their experiences. Before that I attended many writing events held throughout the industry and on campus to boost my craft.
Personally, I tend… to attend both good and bad’ sessions. Essentially, I love to compare what’s happening in the marketplace. From the ‘bad’ I learn what NOT to do. From the good…well that’s self-explanatory. I want to do better than the best while helping others achieve their best potential, whatever that is.
All in all, Writers have to test what works. Each individual differs. What works for one person may not work for the other.
What works for you? Do share. We would love to hear!
Cheers!
Register now to attend Writers Retreat and boost your writing project
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Read. Write. 27 Things I Like…
As I look over the circus of things I like, I realize that though I enjoy them and they bring me satisfaction, I find myself not doing them as much and in some cases at all. For over two decades I have been caught up in work, work, work. So this prompt helped me pull away and ponder the things I once enjoyed, or get to enjoy on a rare occasion.
But even as I finalize the list I realize that life’s not promised, so I intend to start doing the things I like and stop leaving them for …one day soon.
Watch The Waves By The Sea
That said, the things I like are:
-
- People watch
- Explore the world
- Simple things
- Enjoy a good laugh
- Acting | Participating in drama presentations
- Wearing a smile
- See people mentored achieve their best potential
- Watch movies
- Write, ponder, reflect
- Decorate the house
- Go shopping
- Watch HGTV | Travel channel
- Learn new things
- Read
- Cook
- Enjoy the company of my two young adult kids
- Dream of Venice | Alaska
- People watch in downtown Disney, Washington DC Parks
- Watch the waves by the beach
- Nature – stare at birds, squirrels, and circus of trees
- Christmas Lights
- Look out at the horizon from a hill or mountain
- Capturing candid photos (new experience)
- Finding a new route after getting lost in a new place (yikes!)
- Quiet time
- Solving a mystery or a problem
- New baby hugs
- Listening to that Still Small Voice Of Faith
Any of the above resonate. Do share. We would love to hear.
Cheers!
Register now to attend Writers Retreat and boost your writing project.
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5 Brain Power Boost. I Did 4…
The Entrepreneur business series shared Thai Nguyen’s 5 Daily activities that will boost your brain power. I tried a few of them and it got me…well thinking! Then I thought I’d share!
- Do Something with your less dominant hand. You could brush your teeth with your left hand, or do like me and try writing the alphabet with your left hand. And yes, it got me thinking!
- Look up in the sky and describe the cloud. It’s a childhood game but it was liberating like not a care in the world… except praise!
- To boost focus and concentration, close your eyes and take 10 breaths out, without a thought intercepting your breathing.
- Work on memorizing something. It could be your favorite quote, or poem. Memorize one line each day and you will be surprised at the result.
- Add a new word to your vocabulary each day.
Immediately, I did 4! How many can you do? Do share. We would love to hear.
Cheers!
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Stop. Sharpen The Saw….
Stop. Sharpen the saw. Then move ahead. What does it mean too sharpen the saw? The concept arose from celebrated Author Steven Covey who wrote the best selling book Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. He shared this story to clarify his point:
Suppose you were to come upon someone in the woods working feverishly to saw down a tree.
“What are you doing?” you ask.
“Can’t you see?” comes the impatient reply. “I’m sawing down this tree.”
“You look exhausted!” you exclaim. “How long have you been at it?”
“Over five hours,” he returns, “and I’m beat! This is hard work.”
“Well, why don’t you take a break for a few minutes and sharpen that saw?” you inquire. “I’m sure it would go a lot faster.”
“I don’t have time to sharpen the saw,” the man says emphatically. “I’m too busy sawing!”
So the concept to sharpen the saw highlights the point that when you have been going, 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.
So stop. Sharpen the saw. So you can move ahead.
Cheers!
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Must. Go. Faster…
You’ve got to work hard for your success and you’ve got to have a steady presence. That’s the secret. ~Kid Rock
Must. Go. Faster. So said the Ad. But in this case they were talking about getting away from a tyrannosaurus chasing themin the movie Jurassic Park.
But I’m thinking if it from life as we strive towards our goals. Must. Go. Faster.
The Difference
But there’s a difference. Seeking goals is not about speed but steadiness…as in studying to getting an education. Just stick to it. Speed create mistakes as in microwave marriages these days. Jump in before knowing the person. What of education? Would you like a surgeon to operate on you knowing he got his degree in a month? One would question that.
And even a stellar athlete /Olympian. It takes years of practice to achieve the success that lasts.
So today be mindful of your goals. Speed is not the real deal …unless you’re running to save your life from creatures like a tyrannosaurus.
Thoughts? Do share. We would love to hear.
Cheers!
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The 10 Key Tips To Beat Workplace Woes…
Some days are just a mess. It’s even worse during prolonged Quarter or month-end report preparations or during times of change. It’s at those times that anything we can do to lessen the stress is welcomed. I fell aghast when I bumped into Amy Jackson’s 10 tips to beat workplace woes repeated by writer Ariana Huffington. Read the full piece here. For those who gotta have a quick peek, here I share the abbreviated list.
- Brighten up your Desk (make it personal)
- Do Something you enjoy during your Lunch Break (not errands)
- Plan things to look forward to (weekend getaways, vacations)
- Eat & Drink to boost your mood (water is good)
- Meditate (breathe)
- Make use of Perks (if you’re lucky to get them…check HR to see what exists)
- Chat to your Colleagues
- Laugh (look at memes or YouTube video)
- Look at your work life balance
- Identify if there’s an underlying problem
I found this list interesting to beat the workplace woes and I hope you will too. Any burning tip missing? Do share! We would love to hear.
Cheers!
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I’m Too Old…
I’M TOO OLD
I’m too old for a new career
I’m too old for changing what they say
I’m too old for finding sweet love
I’m too old for my dreams to come through
I’m too old
I’m just too old
Silly…
You’re never too old to live your dreams
You’re never too old to change your life
You’re never too old to go after your heart’s desire
You’re never too old to do anything you want
You’re never too old.
Never. Ever. Too Old.
~Dr. Shelly C
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Your Vision, Brand And Growth…
“That cross-trainer you’re wearing; one look at the distinctive swoosh on the side tells everyone who’s got you branded. That coffee travel mug you’re carrying…ah, you’re a Starbucks woman! Your T-shirt with the distinctive Champion “C” on the sleeve, the blue jeans with the prominent Levi’s rivets, your fountain pen with the maker’s symbol crafted into the end” … and we could go on, and on. So said Brand Guru, Tom Peters.
Branding
Branding is the experience that individuals have when they do business with other individuals. Now as I consider my own brand, my vision becomes clear. To motivate and inspire others to go after their dreams. The impetus is for them to believe; to achieve; and to succeed.
Even though I have studied leadership and success at the post graduate level, and subsequently published book on Success Strategies, there still needs to be beauty and style in the platform used to interact with others. That’s where my Blogging and use of social media comes to the rescue! The intention is use these medium (twitter, facebook, instagram) to fuel the traction to build trust and solidify the brand’s reputation. The goal is to enhance success to grow the following and reach those new entrepreneurs and individuals in transition.
It’s about all motivation, leadership, inspiration and success.
Cheers!
