Monthly Archives: January 2024

Sometimes we need to be cautious about getting into action too quickly and take our time to discover the learning

Posted on by

“Sometimes we need to be cautious about getting into action too quickly and take our time to discover the learning.”

— Author Unknown

Image from Unsplash by Leonard Reese

Have you ever played checkers? How about chess or Go? How long does it usually take before you make a move?

Where do you skip aiming before you shoot in the direction of your targets? How often does being too quick on the draw get you in trouble?

Life is an iterative game in which we are constantly receiving feedback from the world around us. Without taking enough time to examine what we have learned from previous moves, we can find ourselves on the losing end of the many games we play.

EXERCISE:

In what areas of your life are you too quick to act on limited information?

Where would slowing down to embrace more teachable moments help you better navigate your world?

 

Be a gardener and plant seeds of kindness and service. 

Posted on by

“Be a gardener and plant seeds of kindness and service. Take an ECO versus EGO approach to life and watch things bloom.”

—Author Unknown

Image from Unsplash by Mei-Ling Mirow

Over the years, I’ve been a big fan of the National Geographic show Life Below Zero. The show has become so popular that in recent years it has evolved in a few new spin offs.

With the harsh weather and limited growing season, profiled residents have invested considerable time building greenhouses to grow their own food. Doing this protects the seeds and delicate young plants, and extends the growing season by about a month — resulting in a far more abundant harvest.

EXERCISE:

Where do you plant seeds of kindness and service in your world?

How have these ECO efforts enriched your life and contributed to your communities?

In your attempts to achieve and succeed, celebrate the efforts not just the outcomes

Posted on by

In your attempts to achieve and succeed, celebrate the efforts not just the outcomes.

—Calm App Reflection

Image from Unsplash by Anna Samoylova

In my most active business development years I invented a point system to keep me motivated and in action. Instead of only looking at my sales metrics for how I was doing, I gave myself points for all actions that could and often did lead to quantifiable results.

Phone calls, emails, social media efforts, and even research on prospective customers all counted. Attending networking functions, scheduling meetings, and even getting business cards and contact information scored points.

At the end of each day, I could quantify my level of activity and knew that my efforts would eventually pay off.

EXERCISE:

Where and how do you celebrate and give yourself credit for your attempts and efforts, regardless of the outcomes?  How would such a practice help keep you motivated when you might otherwise become discouraged?