"It takes a little courage, and a little self-control. And some grim determination, If you want to reach the goal. It takes a great deal of striving, and a firm and stern-set chin. No matter what the battle, if you really want to win, there's no easy path to glory. There is no road to fame. Life, however we may view it, Is no simple parlor game; But its prizes call for fighting, For endurance and for grit; For a rugged disposition that will not quit." Navy SEAL Masterchief
I love this quote and use it often to remind me of what it takes to overcome and win. I am motivated to keep going and never quit. If your goals are worthy and lofty, it may not be easy, though the battle is tough it is worth it!
June 1 - The first day of the month, for me, is a great day to set or reaffirm my goals and commitments. I am setting aside some uninterrupted time today to define my direction.
“Do more than belong: participate. Do more than care: help. Do more than believe: practice. Do more than be fair: be kind. Do more than forgive: forget. Do more than dream: work.” William Arthur Ward
Excellent article... Interviewing for that new job can be nerve racking and the stress of the situation can keep you from putting your best foot forward. This article has some great tips and simple reminders to take your interview skills to a new level of confidence and success. http://amplify.com/u/ek4r
You know your credit score, your bank account balance, and how your investments are performing, but do you know how much trust your clients have in you?
In any relationship, trust rises and falls much like the balance in a bank account. Your clients’ trust is more valuable to your business than any other commodity. If they know they can depend on you, you’ll have more freedom to propose new things and to negotiate when you have to, without endangering your relationship. On the other hand, if you let your account shrink, you will have an uphill battle just keeping that client, let alone growing your business with them.
A few days ago I was making Tuna Salad for lunch. I asked Jonathan, my 7 year old if he wanted some too. He replied, “No thanks, I’m not real big on Tuna.” (Where did he learn that?) He would rather have Mac ‘n Cheese.
As I continued to prepare the Tuna Salad, chopping the fresh ingredients, he came into the kitchen, took one look at what I was doing and said; “Well… I’ll take some Tuna Salad, except all I want is the pickles and onions, no Tuna.” He cracks me up!
While I laughed at the silliness of his request, I realized we as adults sometimes have this same thought pattern. When we look at things in life, especially when we look at someone else’s life, we want the spicy, tangy parts, but not the meat. You know, we want the nice cars, big houses and the great “zesty” life style, but we don’t want the “meat”… We’re “not real big” on the work that goes with it.
Throughout my years as a Financial Advisor and Wealth Coach, I have seen this thought pattern sabotage family financial stability. It didn’t matter if they had a portfolio worth millions or if they were trying to figure out how to pay off all the debt. I have seen great fortunes lost and I have seen people never rise out of poverty because they wanted… even envied the great life that others were experiencing but they were not willing to “eat the meat” with the zesty stuff. They only wanted to experience the fun parts of life without the time and effort needed to create long-term stable wealth.
It’s about the character we build and display as we pursue success.
No matter what our status is currently, if we cannot handle the meat, the work, the determination, the difficult decisions, we will not succeed in the long run. Vince Lombardi said, “The price of success is hard work, dedication to the job at hand, and the determination that whether we win or lose, we have applied the best of ourselves to the task at hand.” Life is not just about the glamor and glitz or winning the trophy. It is about the character we build and display as we pursue success.
What is in life that you would like, but maybe the “meat” isn’t so appealing. I encourage you to count the cost and pay the price. Anything worth anything costs something.
James Allen, an English author observed, “Men are anxious to improve their circumstances, but are unwilling to improve themselves; they therefore remain bound. The man who does not shrink from self-crucifixion can never fail to accomplish the object upon which his heart is set. This is as true of earthly as of heavenly things. Even the man whose object is to acquire wealth must be prepared to make great personal sacrifices before he can accomplish his object; and how much more so he who would realize a strong and well-poised life.”
By the way Jonathan didn’t just eat the pickles and onions, I encouraged him to try the meat too… he ate the whole sandwich and to his surprise really liked it, even the Tuna.
As I reflect on so many wonderful, strong, humble, beautiful women who have made history I am challenged to help many more women make history for our God, our countries, our families, our communities and yes, the whole world.
Most the women we credit today for making history, did not set out to do such an awesome thing, certainly not for fame or recognition. They did what they knew to do, they did what was right in spite of fear, discrimination & injustice. They changed the world, one day, one word, one action at a time. We the women of today can and should do the same.
Two years ago I had the privilege of being in Douala Cameroon, Africa as a guest speaker for the National and International Women's Conference 2007 and lecturer/facilitator for Global Advance Business Institute. It was an incredible experience. We had 700-800 women from 7 different African nations. Many of the women I met were powerful change makers in their third world settings; Judges, Doctors, Ministers, Missionaries, Business Owners, Vice Presidents of major international companies. Against great odds these women have accepted the challenge of making a difference in their world. I was inspired by their focus, tenacity, ingenuity and collaboration. No doubt one day some of these women will be known as History Makers.
Being a History Maker is not predicated upon gender, age, creed, or preference. It is predicated on the 4 attributes I observed in these women, focus, tenacity, ingenuity and collaboration.
I challenge you to focus on YOUR purpose, be tenacious in the pursuit of that purpose. Always look for ingenious ways to fulfill your purpose. Above all collaborate with others around you of like purpose.
We as women can and will make history, by changing our world one day, one word, one action at a time.
