How do you set and manage the direction of your personal or professional life? Here are a few related posts you may have missed.
“Some people cross your path and change your whole direction.”
“Direction is so much more important than speed. Many are going nowhere fast.”
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What kind of driver are you?
To what degree do you see the speed limit as only a guideline for your consideration? What is your opinion of tailgating and passing on the right?
I am usually a very cautious driver, using the Waze app for directions, to confirm the speed limit, point out delays, accidents, police, and of course, watch for other folks in too much of a hurry.
I prefer to think of my driving efforts as similar to an autonomous vehicle constantly checking my surroundings to maintain the greatest possible safety margin to protect myself and others.
Where in your life do you have or need a greater margin?
What will be the benefit to you and others when you give this broader margin a road test?
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During my pharmaceutical career with The Upjohn Company between 1981 and 1992, we went through a TQM (Total Quality Management) initiative. As part of our efforts, we were requested/required to read the book Zapp — The lightning of Empowerment by William C Byham PhD and Jeff Cox. The intent was to inspire and create a culture of quality, productivity, and exceptional employee engagement.
The fictitious company in the book produced a product called a normalator, with which we are amusingly introduced to all sorts of Zapping (positive) and Sapping (negative) behaviors that uplift or squash people’s spirits.
Notice the zapping and sapping energies and behaviors that occur throughout your day in your personal and professional efforts.
Where and how can you pay forward the positive qualities that energize and inspire others to do the same?
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I love to cook.
It is one of the passions that help me express my creativity and serve it up to those I love. I consider recipes as mere guidelines for consideration.
We recently bought 75 pounds of peaches as part of my wife Wendy’s annual canning efforts. She, along with myself and our daughter Rachel as helpers, spent the better part of two days turning these orbs of juiciness into precious gifts for friends and family. This year Wendy chose peach salsa as a new culinary adventure which included all sorts of peppers and spices we rarely use. With my cooking experience, I tweaked the recipe to keep the heat tolerable and tasty.
Unfortunately, I also experienced what is called pepper hands, which had me holding an ice pack for most of that evening!
What are your passions?
How frequently do you engage in these activities?
What are some new and creative ways you can and will serve them up to others in your various communities?
—Calm App Reflection
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As a business professional for over 40 years, I’ve come to learn the value of a courteous “Thank You.”
I fully support the idea that we work best with people we know, like, and trust. If your upbringing was like mine, your parents and others strongly encouraged — and most likely exemplified — this grateful gesture throughout their days.
We were always taught to focus on others and not ourselves, and most people learned to place their gratuitous efforts elsewhere.
When we experiment with this idea and flip it around to thank ourselves it feels awkward and a bit narcissistic.
If we ask ourselves objectively who did the work and took the necessary actions to get where we are, we can justifiably pat ourselves on the back and truly appreciate our disciplined efforts.
Take out a piece of paper and write a Thank Me note to yourself.
Begin by listing the things you do each day without thinking that serve you in being your best. If you are willing, send a copy of your letter to barry@dempcoaching.com
How has self-determination shaped your life? Here are a few posts you may have missed.
“People who are empowered don’t go along to get along.”
“You can’t expect to hit the jackpot if you don’t put a few nickels in the machine.”
Image from Unsplash by Jon Tyson
Where are you on the bell-shaped curve in your life?
Based on your age and other factors you are either moving up, plateauing, or descending. Don’t worry just yet that you may be over the hill.
When you take a look at Nobel Prize winners over the years, it is remarkable how many received their recognition at a relatively young age — especially those who won a solo prize.
In more recent years I’ve been paying closer attention to when these awards are given to pairs or groups of individuals for their collective accomplishments.
To what degree are you an inventor or a synthesizer of ideas at this point in your life?
It may depend on how fast or how far you wish to go and not just your age.
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Over the 4th of July holiday we attended a family pool party. The weather and water temperature were perfect. It was extra special because everyone focused on each other the entire day without a cell phone in sight — except for one individual.
When not swimming or eating, this person was head down in his device, even when his bathing-suit-clad children were seeking his attention to talk or play.
Where do you or others in your life prioritize things over people? What addictive behaviors need some adjustment to demonstrate that the best things in life are not things?
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I am currently reading The Carbon Almanac, edited by Seth Godin, who also wrote the Forward. It is a 300+ page book of facts about climate change.
Representing the global efforts of more than three hundred volunteers in over 40 countries, it is the most up to date and well-vetted resource that presents where we are and how we got here, in language that we can all understand.
This book is a call to action to have all people, organizations, and governments come together to meet this moment in time to take care of our world and each other.
Please order, read, and discuss this important book with others in your various communities.
Encourage others to actively participate in this urgent global effort.
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Today’s thought reminds me of Hugh Laurie’s quote, “There is no such thing as ready. There is only now.”
How much of the time do you find yourself in a state of preparation before you shoot, ship, or act? When we wait to actually feel ready and 100% confident on our success, we are probably too late.
We recently saw and enjoyed the new Elvis movie. I was surprised to learn about how nervous and fearful Elvis was before getting on stage to shake things up in his unique and controversial style.
In what parts of your life are you waiting to be ready?
Where is it time to shake things up?
How would choosing to be more courageous help you realize more of your full potential?
It may be Now or Never.