Thank You.

Two simple words, powerful in meaning, yet often forgotten.

Perhaps we take thanks for granted, assume that everyone does as their told just because, already knows their own milestones, or shares your exact same vision. Maybe our audiences are not worthy and haven’t earned enough to get their praise. Possibly this is a sign of weakness, fear of providing some gratitude will be the inch before someone takes a foot. Simply, they can read your mind and there isn’t a need.

Somehow I think some or all of us could use a few more thanks thrown our way. Better yet, we probably have an opportunity to dole out a few more ourselves. Surely we can make the time. Practice saying it today.

Mean it. Say it. Let it be.

Thank you.

In the Moment…Live for it!

You blink, you miss it. A moment to alter your next can change in a split second. Hesitate and the moment shifts, takes on a new flight, perhaps lost forever. Your moment can come and go just that fast.

On the other hand, you step into that moment, firmly in the light of what is about to happen… bliss. It feels like a moment that should have been, the justification of a struggle, an unexplainable euphoria. That moment is something meant to be, energetic & exhilarating!

Some moments can be prepared for, others come unannounced. They offer suspense, agony, thrill, excitement and pain. A moment can both give you a breath and take it away. A moment can win it all or leave you wondering what could have been. A moment can create legacy, expand learning, or ignite your movement. A moment can stifle a relationship, hinder communication, or impede progress. They accelerate thinking and defer knowledge, spur on change and hold back different. Moments are amazing.

Moments define us, the decisions we make in them and what happens after they occur. You can’t live in the moments that already occurred but you can set your eyes on the now and beyond. Trust me those moments are there and will be going forward, the question is… Will you live for it?

"Get Up... Get Into It... Get Involved..."

Great lyric written by the famed James Brown, sampled and brought to life in many songs ever since. Arguable it’s meaning when it was initially written, but impossible to deny the impact these words have had. Reading these lyrics, regardless of the context, their meaning challenges us to do something different. It’s all about making things happen.

Think about how you can “Get up. Get into it. Get involved.”  All it takes is one person, one little poke at the status quo, mundane, even predictable day that stands before you to change the trajectory of what is possible. Crank it up further and challenge your neighbor to do the same. Think about the impact you could have by leading the charge, influencing your peers, or rallying those who surround you to do the same to tackle something bold. 

Go make something happen. Go be different. I dare you.

"Get Up… Get into It… Get Involved!” 

The Weather

There is always chance of something or a percentage of that or an opportunity for this. It seems the weather is always unpredictable and the weather person never seems to be right. Not to mention how often the weather changes throughout the day. Those who live here in the Pacific Northwest can probably relate.

What if I said the weather was actually your choice? What if you could be the one to choose how clear the skies are? What if you had a 100% chance of something, a 100% of that, or a 100% opportunity for this? I think you do.

The weather is about perception, yours and mine. Some of us have scattered showers, some have a chance of rain, while others have clear skies. All of which is a choice. We decide how clear or perfect our weather can be. Don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of “rain clouds” in this world waiting for you, perhaps even looking for you to succumb to their negative weather. Don’t let someone else’s weather affect yours. We control how clear our skies are.

How do you stack your numbers?

We all have some number we review, examine, or dissect. We create what if scenario’s based on projected outcomes or re-evaluate a target, bask in the security they provide or question the actions taken. Numbers often define our success or failure. Not that simple, numbers say more.

Numbers are directional, pointing you down a path to engage more or change course. They paint a picture, define behaviors, or highlight leadership. They provide a tale of trials and errors, very specific evidence of actions taken or avoided. Its numbers that define our choices made, showcasing our level of involvement or lack thereof. Your numbers tell your story.

As you digest the numbers in front of you, how do you stack them? Where is the #1 spot located? What spot is your eye drawn to? Whose name, result, or input do you look to first? How you answer these questions (if yer honest) says a lot about where you spend your time, seeking out success or finding failure. How you stack your numbers is about how you take on the day, it helps build your mission next. What could happen if you changed the way you stacked your numbers? Do share.

Inner Fight

We have something inside of us that makes us do what we do… an inner fight.

It’s a book, a song, or a movie in our head that hasn’t been written yet. Maybe it’s a math problem, a painting, or a blueprint that hasn’t been authored. Or it’s a clothing design, an invention, or an amazing meal that hasn’t been created. Perhaps it’s something else… Regardless it’s an idea. Your very own oasis. It’s your inner fight.

Your drive, the flame that never burns out, an ache in our gut that advances us forward. Our inner fight gets us up in the morning and keeps us up at night. Makes us day dream, thinking about the “what if’s”. Our inner fight is perfect, clear, and beautiful. It’s rational, original, and creative.

Name your inner fight. Believe it. Share it. Be it.

Are You a Teammate or Team Member?

What’s the difference? Participation.

True that just by including the name TEAM into the title there is a sense of being a part of something. There is some inherent involvement included. Understand there is more to it. Think a point guard, distributing the ball, droppin dimes, or chalking up assists. Think involvement, partnering, working together. Think small, between the spaces, filling gaps. Think teammate.

Teammates show up differently.

Teammates study and analyze, strategically anticipate what’s next. Teammates help the next customer in line. Teammates say what they can do. Being a teammate is hard.

Team members show up differently.

Team members cram and react, tactically execute in the moment. A team member reluctantly involves others. Team members choose their next customer. Team members say what they can’t do. Being a team member is easy.

Are you a teammate or a team member? Would those around you agree? What could you do (differently) today to make sure you are who you or others want you to be? How could you be a better teammate and less a team member? Think hard and go do. Now!

“The participation in the success of others is my single driving force.”

(V- Thanks for being a great teammate!)