no ladies, it’s not time to “frost yourself” (as in how to lose a man in 10 days). that was just a movie. this is the now. we live in a society where far too many people lack self respect and discipline. the sad thing is that many of the crazy things people will say and do are done dishonestly — that is to say that they’re offered out of a genuine nervousness or desire to give others what we envision they want to see and hear. they are not actual reflections of how we honestly feel in real-time. they are fear. they are preventing connections that could lead to wonderful outcomes down the line. i’m here to say that we must run in the other direction. that’s right — run not walk.
find something you do well. if you don’t have that “special” thing, then it’s time to explore and cultivate it. doesn’t need to be otherworldly either. some of the most impressive talents are subtle — like being a good listener, or being able to put yourself in others’ shoes. many, many people lack those two, which makes them just as rare as being a genius, or being a top athlete, or any of the flashier talents.
once you have your talent, then share it with others. become a catalyst. do not sit back and accept things as they are. that is living in smoke and mirrors. insist upon what’s real and make a positive impact. this may be too brave for some (i get that), so maybe start with those closest to you. the bottom line is to start reaching out. america needs to be shaken up, adjusted and reformed. our people are not adored across the globe. sad but true. some things about us will always be liked — like the freedoms we enjoy — but many other levels of respect are fast falling from us. we need to fix our brand!
here’s a simple thing that many overlook. many of us work, work, work and then work some more. we all get that run-down feeling, or we get sick from time to time. are you the kind to work through that and not take the time to shut it down for a bit to recover? i was just talking with a colleague of mine who is attempting to work through a serious condition. i asked him to look at what he’s doing from a business perspective. when you don’t value yourself, why should others? it’s an opportunity to show others that not only do you care about yourself, but that you also have others relying on you. we often hear about this line of thinking with families, but it should also be same for service/product providers and clients. i have a dear client who is consistently concerned about whether i’m taking care of myself. we haven’t known each other all that long, and she is naturally a kind, caring woman. the reality is that i’m also important to her success. if i’m down, then she is down. if you don’t have these kind of connections, then it’s time to ask yourself why.
it’s time to treasure yourself. it’s such a strong word in our culture, but the concept of people being treasures is not lost on other peoples. in some countries, they actively employ the identification of national treasures — people who are so valuable that they must be protected at all costs. i’m not saying you need to be such a treasure, but i am saying that it may be overdue to treasure yourself. if you’re laughing, snickering or scratching your head at this, then maybe you don’t have anything of value to offer society as a whole. you’re probably posturing like you do. change that. i challenge you. get real. look beyond what naturally comes to you and do something special. it starts with each one of us, then it expands outwards to a greater nation. please note — these may sound like harsh words, but they are not intended as such. you may feel an innate desire to come back at me, but this is not a puffchest, build myself up kind of thing. this is an honest call for meaningful action.
we need to start this process somewhere, some time. why not now?!?!
