For this group of speakers listed below, the Blogathon has officially ended. If you're visiting me today and would like to check out what the group as a whole as been up to, then the final list of participants is here along with blog addresses. We're all from the Greater Phoenix area. We all signed up to agree to try blogging once a day for the month of July.
While we may not have hit that number exactly (31), all of us gained a greater understanding of what the blogging experience and blogging world is all about. We learned new skills, such as how to Stumble--even if we all aren't doing it yet (including me). We saw benefits we didn't know exisited (We could be asked to contribute to a book. We could find new places to publish our posts. We could explore information we never knew existed.) And we've grown as friends, which I like to think is the better part of the whole experience.
As for me, personally, I gained insight into what works and what might not. I think that'll be an on-going lesson. And I've continued to see the benefit of regular posting and finding new blogs that touch on my themes: travel and self-help. There's a larger world out there that I intend to exlpore further as I move my two blogs forward.
I hope you'll continue to visit mine and my friends' blogs. If we have something to say that really resonates with you, I hope you'll post a comment and let us know how to find you. Together, we can build a stronger community of people who want to help others. I know that's the key component of all the members on this team listed below. We're coaches, motivational speakers, business developers, team leaders, healthy living advisors, designers, authors, movers, shakers and so much more.
Even if you just happened to "stumble upon" my blog today, take a look at the list below. There might be something here that interests you. If so, let us know:
Jackie Dishner
http://bikewithjackie.blogspot.com/
http://www.thephoenixtraveler.com/
Susan Ratliff
http://www.blingmybooth.com/
Andrea Beaulieu
http://www.conspiracyoflove.net/
Mimi Meredith
http://blog.thegoodnessgrows.com/
Suzy Graven
http://articles.secretsofthesavvywoman.com/
Beth Terry
http://www.corporatecowgirl.com/
Vickie Mullins
http://www.mullinscreative.blogspot.com/
Michelle May
http://blogs.eastvalleytribune.com/consumed/
Arlene Rosenberg
http://www.leadingachievers.com/
Stanley Bronstein
http://stanleybronstein.com/
Stephanie Angelo
http://hressential.com/wordpress
Quinn McDonald
http://quinncreative.wordpress.com/
Barbara McNichol
http://www.nonfictioneditor.wordpress.com/
Suzanne Holman
http://www.lessonsforyourmilliondollarlife.com/
Jean McFarland
http://bulliesamongus.blogspot.com/
Bonnie Mattick
www.YourBusinessDetective.com
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Monday, July 28, 2008
Replace the "yes, but..." with a "yes, and..."
I've had my moments where I've felt stuck.
I've had piles on my desk, for instance, and didn't get any work done because they were there. So I'd clean off my desk, the piles would no longer be present, but still I'd not accomplish what I thought I should be getting done. I was kidding myself.
I felt stuck. But I wasn't recognizing that it wasn't the piles that kept me stuck, it was me. Just me. I was convincing myself that it was the piles--or something else altogether--but I wasn't being honest with myself.
Now, whenever I find myself not accomplishing what I've set out to do, I've learned to pay attention to what I'm saying to other people. What am I telling them about my progress, or lack thereof.
If I hear myself saying, "Yes, BUT...," or any variation of those words, I know I'm making excuses. For example, people often ask me, "Are you still writing?" I've often heard myself say something like, "Yes, but no one's buying, so I'm not selling much." Or perhaps they've asked me, "Are you still working on that book?" And I've responded, "Yes, but I've still got so much to do, so I'm not really getting anywhere." Whenever I've responded with a "Yes, but (fill-in-the-blank)," I know I'm just making excuses. Most people I know have "so much to do," so what's so different about that for me? Why do I even need to announce that? It doesn't really make me feel better that I'm not accomplishing what I set out to do. I'm just making excuses. I'm limiting myself by not doing all I possibly can. I'm devaluing what I have to offer.
So I've had to train myself to instead say, "Yes, AND..." phrases. That way, I know I'm looking for a solution, instead of looking to stay stuck. So, yes, maybe I am working hard, and maybe I'm not selling enough. Maybe all of that's true. With the "AND" connector, I'm giving myself the right to find the solution, instead of the right to stay stuck. Who wants to stay stuck, anyway?
So, yes, I'm still writing, and yes, I'm still working on the book, AND I'm also looking at ways to increase my sales, pitching ideas to more and more publications that ever, AND I'm feeling very productive these days. That's the difference between those two three-letter words. One is empowering. The other is deflating.
The next time you hear yourself make excuses for what you're not accomplishing, give yourself permission to listen to what you're really saying behind the words. Are you looking for the solution, or are you just looking to stay stuck? Don't let the piles make up your mind. You make up your mind.
This week, if there's something you've been meaning to get done, if there's something you want to accomplish but haven't, I encourage you to listen to what you're saying to yourself and others. Become aware of the words you're using. You'll accomplish so much more if you remind yourself to use language that empowers you. That's the best path to progress. Even if you're not where you want to be right now, if you empower yourself with the right to find solutions, you'll get there.
All my best,
Jackie
I've had piles on my desk, for instance, and didn't get any work done because they were there. So I'd clean off my desk, the piles would no longer be present, but still I'd not accomplish what I thought I should be getting done. I was kidding myself.
I felt stuck. But I wasn't recognizing that it wasn't the piles that kept me stuck, it was me. Just me. I was convincing myself that it was the piles--or something else altogether--but I wasn't being honest with myself.
Now, whenever I find myself not accomplishing what I've set out to do, I've learned to pay attention to what I'm saying to other people. What am I telling them about my progress, or lack thereof.
If I hear myself saying, "Yes, BUT...," or any variation of those words, I know I'm making excuses. For example, people often ask me, "Are you still writing?" I've often heard myself say something like, "Yes, but no one's buying, so I'm not selling much." Or perhaps they've asked me, "Are you still working on that book?" And I've responded, "Yes, but I've still got so much to do, so I'm not really getting anywhere." Whenever I've responded with a "Yes, but (fill-in-the-blank)," I know I'm just making excuses. Most people I know have "so much to do," so what's so different about that for me? Why do I even need to announce that? It doesn't really make me feel better that I'm not accomplishing what I set out to do. I'm just making excuses. I'm limiting myself by not doing all I possibly can. I'm devaluing what I have to offer.
So I've had to train myself to instead say, "Yes, AND..." phrases. That way, I know I'm looking for a solution, instead of looking to stay stuck. So, yes, maybe I am working hard, and maybe I'm not selling enough. Maybe all of that's true. With the "AND" connector, I'm giving myself the right to find the solution, instead of the right to stay stuck. Who wants to stay stuck, anyway?
So, yes, I'm still writing, and yes, I'm still working on the book, AND I'm also looking at ways to increase my sales, pitching ideas to more and more publications that ever, AND I'm feeling very productive these days. That's the difference between those two three-letter words. One is empowering. The other is deflating.
The next time you hear yourself make excuses for what you're not accomplishing, give yourself permission to listen to what you're really saying behind the words. Are you looking for the solution, or are you just looking to stay stuck? Don't let the piles make up your mind. You make up your mind.
This week, if there's something you've been meaning to get done, if there's something you want to accomplish but haven't, I encourage you to listen to what you're saying to yourself and others. Become aware of the words you're using. You'll accomplish so much more if you remind yourself to use language that empowers you. That's the best path to progress. Even if you're not where you want to be right now, if you empower yourself with the right to find solutions, you'll get there.
All my best,
Jackie
Saturday, July 26, 2008
A neighbor's wildflowers
Two years ago during the spring, I took these photos of my neighbor's garden. She plants wildflowers every year, and I love to go see what's growing in her backyard. It's always different; it's always beautiful. So I wanted to capture it on film.
These photos remind me to take time to pause and reflect.
These photos remind me to take time to pause and reflect.
Friday, July 25, 2008
The power of change
My daughter got married this year. She and her husband moved in with me just before the wedding occurred and stayed with me for a few months after. They brought their dog with them; he didn't get along well with mine. They learned to tolerate each other. The three of them just moved out last month. My son, I just found out, is going to have a baby. I'm going to be a grandparent. My book deadline got pushed back to a different date. I'm constantly working on a different assignment with a different publication with a different editor. I just accepted a last minute offer to present a speech I didn't have, so I had to create it.
And the list goes on.
I encounter change in my life almost daily. I do not have a single boss. In fact, technically, though I am self-employed, I work for many people; therefore, I suppose you could say I have many bosses. So work is never static. There are always different contracts to read and review, different copyrights to consider, different ways to format a story. I juggle a lot of balls.
I'm not so different than most people I know.
A press representative that I work with at The Phoenician resort told me last month she had gotten married. This month, she told me she'll be leaving her job. Her husband got transferred, and she's moving with him to Colorado. She'll need to find a new job, a new house, new friends. She's ready to embrace the change, though she's slightly concerned. Her concern won't hold her back. It's just her humanity speaking. She'll miss her family and friends that she's leaving behind, especially her 13-year-old brother. She told me he's playing tennis now, and loving it, and competing. She's sorry she'll miss his games. I found that touching to hear her say this. But she's accepting the move.
My daughter--the one who just got married--told me their house may need new duct work for the air conditioning to work properly. She and her husband need to decide how they'll manage to make the repairs on their tight budget. They are working on a plan to make the important necessary repairs and save for the major and more costly one later.
Change. It's constant. We all experience it. We all live it. We all need to know how to manage it.
Some of us do it well. Some of us not so much. And some of us do it well some of the time, but not always.
Do you have a process in place that you use to manage the change in your life? Have you learned to do what my neighbor said to me recently, "Go with the flow"? Is that always the appropriate response?
I don't always accept change gracefully or openly. There are times when I reject it outright. My daughter says I need about four days to deal with really dramatic change, the kind that is so unexpected. She may be right. I do seem to have a time-frame, but I'm not sure if it can be measured in days.
Generally, I like to think I go with the flow, but I know that's not always the case. Certain kinds of change are easier to accept than others.
My process is altered, I think, according to what the change involves. Is is going to cost me a lot of money? Do I have the money it's going to cost? Is it going to cost me time--where am I going to get the extra hours I may need? How is the change going to affect me? What will I need to do to adapt?
I think I go quickly through a check-list of questions and considerations, sometimes without even knowing it, before I come to accept the change, depending on its severity.
The power of change involves lesson-building and learning. Change may hold the key to your self-confidence. You don't have to always be great at adapting to change. You just have to believe in yourself enough to know that you will.
So, if my daughter's right, and I do take around four days to adapt to big changes in my life. I'm okay with that. It means I will adapt. It means I will find the solution to acceptance. It means I will continue moving forward.
What are your thoughts about the change that occurs in your life? If chaos were to knock on your door today, would you be able to answer? Would you ignore the knock, hoping it would go away? How prepared are you to handle whatever comes next?
Not even counting this year, I've experienced a lot of change in my life. With each new experience, I've gained greater confidence in knowing I can adapt, I can create solutions, I can accept the inevitable.
Can you?
And the list goes on.
I encounter change in my life almost daily. I do not have a single boss. In fact, technically, though I am self-employed, I work for many people; therefore, I suppose you could say I have many bosses. So work is never static. There are always different contracts to read and review, different copyrights to consider, different ways to format a story. I juggle a lot of balls.
I'm not so different than most people I know.
A press representative that I work with at The Phoenician resort told me last month she had gotten married. This month, she told me she'll be leaving her job. Her husband got transferred, and she's moving with him to Colorado. She'll need to find a new job, a new house, new friends. She's ready to embrace the change, though she's slightly concerned. Her concern won't hold her back. It's just her humanity speaking. She'll miss her family and friends that she's leaving behind, especially her 13-year-old brother. She told me he's playing tennis now, and loving it, and competing. She's sorry she'll miss his games. I found that touching to hear her say this. But she's accepting the move.
My daughter--the one who just got married--told me their house may need new duct work for the air conditioning to work properly. She and her husband need to decide how they'll manage to make the repairs on their tight budget. They are working on a plan to make the important necessary repairs and save for the major and more costly one later.
Change. It's constant. We all experience it. We all live it. We all need to know how to manage it.
Some of us do it well. Some of us not so much. And some of us do it well some of the time, but not always.
Do you have a process in place that you use to manage the change in your life? Have you learned to do what my neighbor said to me recently, "Go with the flow"? Is that always the appropriate response?
I don't always accept change gracefully or openly. There are times when I reject it outright. My daughter says I need about four days to deal with really dramatic change, the kind that is so unexpected. She may be right. I do seem to have a time-frame, but I'm not sure if it can be measured in days.
Generally, I like to think I go with the flow, but I know that's not always the case. Certain kinds of change are easier to accept than others.
My process is altered, I think, according to what the change involves. Is is going to cost me a lot of money? Do I have the money it's going to cost? Is it going to cost me time--where am I going to get the extra hours I may need? How is the change going to affect me? What will I need to do to adapt?
I think I go quickly through a check-list of questions and considerations, sometimes without even knowing it, before I come to accept the change, depending on its severity.
The power of change involves lesson-building and learning. Change may hold the key to your self-confidence. You don't have to always be great at adapting to change. You just have to believe in yourself enough to know that you will.
So, if my daughter's right, and I do take around four days to adapt to big changes in my life. I'm okay with that. It means I will adapt. It means I will find the solution to acceptance. It means I will continue moving forward.
What are your thoughts about the change that occurs in your life? If chaos were to knock on your door today, would you be able to answer? Would you ignore the knock, hoping it would go away? How prepared are you to handle whatever comes next?
Not even counting this year, I've experienced a lot of change in my life. With each new experience, I've gained greater confidence in knowing I can adapt, I can create solutions, I can accept the inevitable.
Can you?
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Transforming a life
"I used to be a hardcore, hardhearted guy. Once you make the decision to change, all kinds of things happen...When I was out there on stage and the guys were laughing, I could see I had them in the palm of my hand. I thought, 'I just discovered what I was born to do.' It was an enormous kind of power."
These are the words of award-winning actor Charles Dutton. He spent seven and 1/2 years in prison for fatally stabbing a man in a street fight. In prison, he found his passion in theater and went on to study at Yale. He just sold his memoir to Crown. In it, he writes about growing up in the East Baltimore projects, where he spent much of his young life incarcerated. Theater did for him what my bike did for me; it transformed his life. Itseems to have had a lot to do with awareness.
His has to be a powerful story. I'll be interested in reading this book when it is published. Would you?
These are the words of award-winning actor Charles Dutton. He spent seven and 1/2 years in prison for fatally stabbing a man in a street fight. In prison, he found his passion in theater and went on to study at Yale. He just sold his memoir to Crown. In it, he writes about growing up in the East Baltimore projects, where he spent much of his young life incarcerated. Theater did for him what my bike did for me; it transformed his life. Itseems to have had a lot to do with awareness.
His has to be a powerful story. I'll be interested in reading this book when it is published. Would you?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
