Category: Uncategorized (Page 122 of 158)

There is an old salesmen saying that says, “You should Always Be Closing.” Hence, the title of this blog. I prefer to to utilize that anachronym for other purposes than trying to close a sale.

I would prefer to say ABE. Always Be Evolving. This encompasses more than making a quick buck. Although, I suppose we “close” all the time with other people even though it may not be a business or sales transaction. When I talk to my wife and introduce her to a new idea I believe in and hope she’ll consider, I’m trying to close her on the deal. Right? Or when I speak with my children about becoming independent and what that takes – I’m closing them on my idea of becoming an adult.

There is no doubt we should always be moving our feet in order to move forward in this life. How we do it? There is no right or wrong answer. And looking to “close” on our next project is not a bad thing. Let’s just keep in mind what is important to us.

Short-term successes or connecting with others and developing long-term relationships.

I’m a male. I have green eyes and I’m the youngest of 5 children in addition to being a father. Those are givens, facts I cannot change. There are the aspects in your life that you can change and there are others you cannot. We cannot change a “given.”

Being able to delineate between the two is an important aspect of moving forward in life. Often times we feel like we have “givens” in our lives when they really are not. Living in a particular city or state is a given for the time being. If it’s important to you, you can move. The same with your job (albeit your choices may be much more limited today than they were 2 years ago), but you can get another job somewhere else.

We may have many more options in our lives once we can identify what we can change and what we cannot. Often times, we get stuck in a rut and feel like we’re not evolving, only to realize we have made a series of less than strong choices which lead us down a path where we don’t want to be.

You’re not stuck. We just need to be able to see the world – and your choices from a new perspective. Mix it up. Change your point of view. Do something new. Stir the pot.

As much as you may not want to hear it: If you are bored with life, then life is most certainly bored with you. If you feel stuck, then identify your “givens” and what is not and make a change for the better. Your better.

Believe me, it can be a challenge to see each day on this earth as a gift. Especially when things aren’t going our way. But, if we don’t, we run the risk of living our days as a broken record that has no options but to repeat over and over again. This isn’t how any of us want to lead our day to day lives.

So, what’s the option? Engage. Risk. Commit. Create. Heads towards the unknown and blaze a path. Get inspired by something and follow that thread through until you have accomplished what you wanted and then do it again. Wake-up knowing today is a new day and the future is not written. The past does not have any bearing on this moment and anything can be the gateway to everything.

We also must follow our heart – our true compass. This is our calling. As crazy as it might sound to someone else. This is your life and you must live it out under your terms with no regrets.

Of course today is a gift. How can it not be? We’re here. Now, let’s us treat it as such.

If you were to ignore the homeless man standing on the corner with a sign asking for money as you wait for the light to change from red to green, you could probably justify that to yourself: “Here we go again. Another person looking for a handout.” If you were drive past the two men pushing a vehicle to the curb that mechanically failed two cars in front of you as you say to yourself: “Looks like they are handling the situation, I don’t have to get involved.” You could justify that as well. Or choosing not to help someone at the airport who is struggling with their bags. “I don’t even know that person.” We can justify all of it. Great. Now what?

Believe me, I’ve been that person who chose not to help. Repeatedly. And what is even more bothersome is I slept just fine those nights. What interests me is the people who choose to stop and help. They felt drawn to help another person while setting aside their own lives even if just for that moment. An act of unselfishness in order to help another human being out.

Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not entirely ruthless. I have chosen to help people out in many different ways over the years and no matter what their response to it, I have always felt better afterwards. I do my best not to judge that person, but I cannot help to wonder what’s going through their minds when I hold the door open for the person behind me and he walks through without even acknowledging my presence. Am I doing it for his response? I don’t know. Maybe. That’s part of it.

Nevertheless, I’m always glad I did it. Because I wanted to help and I that’s more important to me than anything else.

I know for me, with space brings perspective and with perspective brings reflection and with reflection comes a way to objectively assess where I’ve been and where I am now. It then becomes a opportune moment to get clear with my intentions as I move forward.

I’ve heard, “If you fail to plan then you plan to fail.” I’m not sure about that. It seems to be more true than false in my world. The times I’m clear with where I’m going and come up with a strategy for myself, I have more times than not accomplished my goal and/or attracted the intention I set before me.

When I’m in the thick of it, I’m not able to “pull back the zoom on my life” to see where I am or where I’m going. Space allows me to have that perspective. It doesn’t have to be a two week vacation or a retreat into a monastery – although I’m not discouraging you – it could be an hour during the day you schedule in after lunch – or even during lunch – to ask yourself questions about how you’re doing. “What has been working lately? What has not been working? If I continue on this path where do I think it will lead? Am I focusing on what’s important right now? Am I being fulfilled by what I’m doing?” I could go on and on. But, What I think is important is to begin.

Get some space from your “everyday.” Ask intelligent questions and listen for the response you hear in your head/heart.

Even if you break it down into “mini-space-moments” – a walk around the block, a trip in the car listening to relaxing music or you alone in your office – you can find moments to get the space you need in order to cultivate yourself and put in the important work that will define the next moment.

Space out!