Archive for July, 2009

Jul 30 2009

Are Your Pursuing Your Dreams?

Published by under Creating Success

Hopefully you have a dream – one that’s so big it scares you. One that causes you to get up every morning so you can begin again the process of running or inching towards that dream. It doesn’t matter – just as long as you’re doing it.

We talk a lot about developing our dream but what about once we have it? How do you sustain that enthusiasm when you’re constantly bombarded with obstacles, frustrations, negative input from “friends”? How do you work through those difficult times?

  • Surround yourself with those people who share your dream – a partner in a business, for instance.
  • Surround yourself with people who believe in you.
  • Read books that help you stay focused – i.e. motivational books.
  • And as bizarre as it may seem – watch shows like “America’s Got Talent” – once they get down to the quarter-finals, the talent is real. Most of these people have sacrificed a lot to get there. It’s a dream they’ve worked for over many years. It’s hard to put our dreams in someone else’s hands. But that’s what the people who go on “America’s Got Talent” do.

The first 3 items I do on a regular basis, but I must say that it never ceases to amaze me at how much inspiration I receive from watching people striving for their dreams. Interestingly, those people who are in groups receive a considerable amount of energy from the others in the group.  The groups and couples seem to handle disappointment better, as they prop each other up. It’s those who are hanging out on that stage by themselves that seem to be more vulnerable. Their “mental toughness” becomes apparent. What are you doing to build and maintain your mental toughness as you strive to realize your dream?

So once you discover your passion, don’t let go of it. Do whatever you need to keep it fueled, even by using others’ passion to remind yourself what yours means to you.

Good luck – go for it!

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Jul 25 2009

Ahh, Vacation!

Published by under Miscellaneous Musings

Sometimes we forget to take time. Time for ourselves. It’s so easy to get caught up in our daily routine, rushing from work to home to miscellaneous activities that crowd our days.

So yes, I just took some time. Being a workaholic, it was a great exercise in “doing nothing”. So often I go on vacation and rush from one activity to another. So I spent my time reading, watching the storms come across Lake Champlain (never been to Vermont before), visiting with family and friends, fishing and walking. No computer – now that was a shock. Well to be honest, I did check email on my BlackBerry.

Anyway, the point of all this is that I found it refreshing and I have a sense of both physical and mental renewal. I’m excited to get back to work. I feel more creative and have a better sense of well-being. My stress level is way down. It’s amazing what a little rest and relaxation can do for you.

When was the last time you did something just for you? Maybe you don’t have a vacation coming up but what about taking an afternoon to sit in the sun, read a good book, take a long bath or go to the park. Do something just for you, not for your kids or spouse. Just unwind. Daydream. We need more moments in our lives to replenish.

Why not take “time” for you today? You may be surprised by what a change of pace can do for you, I know I was.

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Jul 05 2009

Sense of Accomplishment

Published by under Miscellaneous Musings

I have spent the last week upgrading my blogs to self-hosted ones. Having never done anything like that before I was a little intimidated by the whole task. There were parts that I knew would be simple but I also recognized there were things I knew nothing about.

So I jumped into it and actually had a good time doing it. I’m sitting here today feeling an enormous sense of accomplishment. Interesting. I think about some of the major things I’ve done and many times there was little “sense of accomplishment”. I think when we delve into something new and maybe even something that carries some risk, we experience much more satisfaction when we complete it. Seems like the greater the apprehension the greater the satisfaction.

As I continue to review all the nuances of the new format, I have no doubt there is still much to “fix” on the new blogs but the major job is finished. If you notice any links broken or other problems, please let me know.

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