Where do your Bootstraps fit in?

Thanks to Lyman Reed, I have found an awesome new resource for a meeting of the minds.  Aaron Potts has created Personal Development Partners.  Summary - meet people, discuss ideas, find inspiration. 

I found a bit of that today.  I thought I would share my first thread here.  It is a question I would love to have you guys answer.

Special thanks to Lyman and Aaron - both have made me feel wonderfully welcome. Lyman has helped me sort through where I fit in.

I have a slightly different style. I have a husband, four children, a real estate clientele, and big dreams. In short…I am busy.

As I told Lyman, I believe in the LoA, positive thinking, and the like. I also believe in pulling up your bootstraps and getting it done - even if it doesn’t feel good or it’s not resonating - sometimes you just have to get to it anyway.

My bootstraps are my favorite weapon. When all else fails, I always have my hands firmly on them. Sometimes my mind gets right first, sometimes it doesn’t. Sometimes it is just raw tenacity.

Where do your bootstraps fit in?

Turn Around Tuesday

“Life ain’t always beautiful
Sometimes it’s just plain hard
Life can knock you down,
it can break your heart…
But the struggles make you stronger
And the changes make you wise
And happiness has its own way of takin’ it’s sweet time.”
- sung by Gary Allan, Life Ain’t
 Always Beautiful

Often we talk about the power of positive thinking. We are friends. We motivate each other. We cheer each other on. In fact, that is my main goal here at Turn Around Tuesday.

Rarely do we talk about the times that are tough. Some of these times feel more than tough - they seem impossible.

And I don’t advocate pessimism. I don’t see the point in waiting for the other shoe to drop. There is little to be gained in waiting for the unfortunate to happen.

But, it does happen. And when it does, how fortunate is it to have friends to rally around us and help carry the load the best they can. If we have just one friend like that, we can call ourselves blessed.

Friends like this, in times like these, display wonderful qualities. They let us mourn for awhile, yet still offer a silver lining. They let us hurt, but still encourage. They listen and they love. They accept us, bruises and all.

Be that person for another. Let us be that for each other.

Our Sympathies and a Request for Support

Lani Anglin is one of my dearest friends and my closest confidant. Many of you know Lani from My Beautiful Chaos. Tragedy has struck her family.

Lani’s baby brother, Aaron, was killed in a car accident Sunday. Surviving him is his wife and two baby daughters.

Like many of us, this family was not prepared for such a tragedy. Please visit Jay Thompson or Greg Swann to see how you can help this family in need. Michael Price is also auctioning an iPod on Geek Estate with proceeds to go to the family.

Time for Action

My heart is broken over at The Chaos for my dear friend Lani Anglin.  She lost her brother yesterday.  Her words are here.

Here at Life, I am passing on Greg Swann’s call to action.

Aaron Anglin is survived by a wife and two very young daughters. The way I’m reading things, he died without life insurance, which puts those three ladies on a very hard road.

If you can spare something for them, put it in the form of negotiable funds — cash, cashier’s check or money order — and overnight it to:

Aleisha Anglin
  c/o Lani Anglin
  2719 Costa Azul Cove
  Leander, TX
  78641

April is working on setting up a donation account with Bank of America, and I’ll amend this post when that account becomes available.

But: I will promise you that there are people who will want to be paid now, and this young family will have immediate and ongoing needs. There was a time in your life when fate could have hit you this hard. Now is your chance to redeem that good fortune.

Thanks, Greg.

Lani, our prayers are with you now and our help is on the way.

Remembering Who I Am with a Promise

For a while, the activity in my brain has been jumbled, stressed, and full of wonder. This feeling is exciting for about 2 seconds - then it just becomes overwhelming and scary. I am a fan of neither. Does this sound like anything you go through? Oh, I hope so or Lani’s right and I am just a weirdo.

Today I make the commitment to untangle the wires. I will regain my focus, set my intentions, and remember who I am - I invite you to come along with me. This journey is always better with a few friends. Laughter, support, new strategies, different perspectives - these are the beautiful aspects of friendships.

What better time to be tagged by Chris Cree with a suggestion of a promise. Although, with all the folks who have found it resonating, it is almost a pact.

Joe started it when he realized he had been noticeably absent.

It stuck a cord with Liz so much so that she made the promise herself and encouraged others to follow suit. That’s where my tag from Chris came into play.

Rick made the promise AND the buttons. (I like the blue, but he’s got green and red too!)

And now I make it as well.

• I will be sure to comment on other Blogs if I can add to the conversation.
• I will respond to comments on my own Blog.
• I will acknowledge any links to my Blog with a comment on the linker’s Blog.
• I will continue to link to other Blogs that are pertinent to a posts content.
• I will once again be a part of the Blogging Community.

However, in the interest of complete honesty, Troy’s reminder of the nature of a promise is ringing in my head. Especially after Chris’ reminder that most of us pay our bills in the face to face world.

But, I remember who I am. And that person is diverse and interested. That is the person who is ready to make this promise.

Should I tag some folks? I suppose I should. However, this was surprisingly personal to me. In a way that I appreciate Chris for, but am sure he couldn’t have imagined. If he did, he knows me better than I thought and I am grateful for friends like that. So, I tag you. The one who read this post and said, “Man, I really need to get on with it.” The one who read it and related. The one who was hoping I would tag them…I tag you.

Lots of Folks are Talking About the Umbrella

As I mentioned in yesterday’s post, I had the awesome experience of attending the 8th Annual A Working Woman in Need Gala last week.  During the event, I was able to present one of the awards to my dear friend Lisa. 

What a great opportunity it is to create relationships, give and get support, and learn and teach with those around you!  This has been on my mind a lot lately and I am apparently not the only one.

• Wendy from LifeHacker talks about learning from other people
• Ben the Instigator rightly identifies the role of friends
• Steve passes on a great story of some fabulous friendships and teamwork

I am lukewarm to the current pop music scene.  But the lyrics to Umbrella stay with me when this topic comes up.

When the sun shines, we’ll shine together
Told you I’ll be here forever
Said I’ll always be a friend
Took an oath I’ma stick it out till the end
Now that it’s raining more than ever
Know that we’ll still have each other
You can stand under my umbrella

I know why this particular set of lyrics resonates with me. 

• Real friends do well when things are really good, when they are really bad, and every stop in between.  It is tough when you have a person in your life that can only handle one or the other - can’t stand to see you succeed, or needs drama to feel useful.
• Umbrellas are great.  They keep you dry.  However, when there gets to be more than one person underneath it, everybody gets wet.  But, everybody is drier than they would have been.  We may be a little wet, but sharing the load benefits everybody.

So, even though the weather is beautiful here right now, I need to always be prepared and consider my own umbrella and the umbrellas of others. 

• Not all umbrellas are made the same. 
• Not all people share the same. 
• Not all people want you to share with them.

In a day where technology helps facilitate relationships, face to face networking has unlimited venues, and we are told never to eat alone, it can become a challenge to know who you can share your umbrella with and whose you can feel safe standing under.

I’d love to hear about your umbrella!

Turn Around Tuesday

“Let me tell you the secret that has led me to my goal. My strength lies solely in my tenacity.”
- Louis Pasteur (1822 - 1895), Scientist

Random April Factoid of the day - I love word definitions.

Today’s word is tenacious.

From Merriam Webster

1. Not easily pulled apart, cohesive. Tending to adhere or cling especially to another substance.
2. Persistent in maintaining, adhering to, or seeking something valued or desired.

Sit back and think about your goals for a second. Not the little ones or the short term ones - the BIG ones. You know those dreams you dare to dream when nobody is around. Those BHAGS (Big, Hairy, Audacious Goals) that you are afraid to even write down because you think they are so far fetched.

But you think them anyway because of that small voice deep inside that whispers, “Not impossible, just a little harder.”

Now, look back at the definition of tenacious. The qualities that you need are all there: not easily, cohesive, cling, persistent, desired.

I think the word “tenacity” is a great word. I find it empowering and motivating. Funny how some words can do that for you. I’d love to hear your motivator words.

Today’s challenge is an exercise in tenacity. What can you do today to step up your game? Push a little harder? Stretch yourself? These exercises aren’t just good for your body. They are good for your spirit too!

*Special thanks to Christy Hurlebaus and her Grand Style Tupperware crew for inviting me to speak to their group and inspiring today’s Turn Around Tuesday.

Congratulations!

The highlight of last week for me was being able to attend the 8th Annual A Working Woman in Need Awards Gala. Sarahlyn Argrow works hard everyday to grow an organization that assists single mothers in developing marketable skills so that they may provide for their families. Looking for an organization to support? AWWIN is a great place to start.

At the gala, AWWIN recognized the Top 10 Working Women in Savannah. Big congrats to each of them.

The Day Planned by Clinque

I am nearing the end of week two of Craig Harper’s GYST challenge. I am proud to report that I am still on track - mostly. Some days I am ahead, others I am behind, but it is all evening out in the end.

My goal was to clear my house of clutter so that it didn’t look so messy lived in all the time. I have thrown out lots of stuff and donated more to Goodwill. It is coming along nicely.

During this process, I have realized that some things that seem unrelated aren’t. Two examples.

This first one I already knew about myself. My day changes based on whether or not (or at what point) I put on makeup. I learned this when I was 17 and a tonsillectomy ruined my life (well, a few days of it). Mom grew weary of the moping and told me to go “get yourself together.” This meant a shower, fresh clothes, and “putting on your face.” I felt better.

Tested the theory when I delivered my first baby. After the delivery, I “got myself together.” Hmm…this works pretty good.

Now I know, if I want to be productive and feel ready to tackle the world, it is not a good idea to skip the makeup. If I plan on relaxing and getting some rest, I will probably do better without it.

The second example is new to me and a further stretch to understand than the makeup relationship. My house is beginning to lighten up. It stays cleancleaner, things are easier to find, progress happens faster. I feel motivated to eat better.

Huh? Motivated to eat better? Yep…the more I clean, the more I feel the urge to eat healthy. The more put together the house is, the more nutritious I feel. Weird.

I can’t explain the relationship between these things (maybe the first, but not the second). But, they are real and obvious. Makes me think I need to start paying more attention to how the seemingly unrelated things in my life are affecting each other. There may be a goldmine (or a land mine) lurking around somewhere that I can use to my advantage.

Have you considered that things that don’t seem like they would relate to each other actually do? Can you explain it (especially the house-food thing)? How can we discover these hidden relationships and leverage them to our advantage?

Turn Around Tuesday

“Are you guys ready? Let’s roll.”
- Todd Beamer (1968 - 2001), US Airlines Flight 93

I remember exactly where I was on September 11, 2001. I was teaching a group of new Navy Sailors how to be Electronic Technicians in Great Lakes, Illinois. My cell phone rang. I didn’t typically keep my phone on during instruction, but today was the exception as my husband was taking our daughter to the dentist for an involved visit.

“Baby!” I hear on the phone. “You are never going to belive what just happened.” The first plane had just hit.

I put the class on break and went to the faculty room. We were all around the television when the second plane hit. Not good.

By the time I had regained my class in the room, minor panic had taken hold. It was obvious the accident was intentional. What would be done about it was yet to be seen.

“Are they gonna let us out early?” The question from a young Sailor surprised me. Then I realized - they didn’t understand.

“No,” I replied. “In fact, we may double up the schedule to graduate you early. This is why you are here. This is when your job starts.”

A day to remember, to reflect, to honor. Not in a passive way. But in a “this is when my job starts” kind of way.

I considered not writing anything today. Considered the idea of blank space in honor of this day, September 11th. Decided that was a bad idea.

I don’t think that honor is given in blank spaces. Honor lives in the action of what we do next to build upon what they did first and on what others continue to do today.

M - Motivated Muller

My mind is relatively strong.  So is my will.  The combination of these two things have succeeded in making me a pretty motivated individual.  I can self motivate easily.  Motivational teachings resonate with me.  Motivation from others is not wasted.

Projects deadlines do not typically intimidate me - the project might, but not the deadline.  Short term goals are toast.  I have zero problem seeing them, moving towards them and getting where I need to go.

Thoughts are my best friend and my dearest enemy.  My brain does this thing that looks a whole lot like rabbit holes going places I never wanted to go.  Scenarios play out in my head like a bad movie.  I am a deep thinker.  When this is going well, the outcome can be beautiful.  When it doesn’t, the effects can be paralyzing.

I have a hard time letting go of the thoughts - especially the not so fun ones.  I must mull them over.  Reconsider them, plan around them, acknowledge the possibility even if it is not plausible.

Understanding Both is Important

The inability to harness in the madness that occurs when a thought has been mulled over for too long sucks every bit of energy that I receive from motivation.  The process of considering, thinking and getting in touch is a great one.  When it crosses over into mulling, I am travelling into the land of unproductive. 

However, motivation is the best defense to overcoming this thought sabotage.  Maintaining motivation allows you to remain focused and intentioned.  Leveraging motivation against mulling thoughts allows for prioritization and task orientated steps.  The battle can be intense - but there are few things that can beat honest motivation.

*Photo credit to Eskimo North

When is diversification too diverse?

Alrighty…this is April going out on a limb…ready? 

I am the picture of positive thinking.  The vision of visionary.  The princess of purpose.  I believe in finding what makes you thrive and turning that into what pays the bills.  I love the idea of going big.  I think that if your business branches into unlikely places that are beautiful and exciting none the less - climb that tree and diversify your income and live your dream.

But when is diverse too diverse?  And when is big too big?  Is it possible for your goals to be too great, too mammoth, too much for others to keep faith and believe that your thoughts of the future, while unconventional and kaleidoscopey, are still worth supporting?

When have we stretched too far?

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