This post is inspired by the great Lebron James and his comments after last nights loss to the Celtics. " Rome wasn't built in a day" was his response to the public's expectations after he joined Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh to play for the Miami Heat and lost in the season opener.
It seems so easy these days to get frustrated when things don't go exactly has planned. I set my own expectations very high and often times find myself disappointed with the outcome. Most of the times these outcomes aren't even "bad", just different than expected. I get down on myself and the situation which, of course, has a negative impact.
"Patience is passion tamed" ~Lymann Abbott. Being patient with your expectations is key to getting where you want to be. When your expectations are unrealistic you will not achieve because you will always be disappointed with each outcome along the way, causing disappointment, frustration and the possibility of giving up too soon. I have said it before and I will say it again, "no one said it was going to be easy!" Often times, when change happens, expectations are heightened for quick results and more times than not, those expectations are not satisfied because actual expectations were set higher than realistic results.
Be patient and remember that great things don't happen overnight. Instead, expect small incremental gains and successes and also small failures. And, actually, those failures, if treated as learning experiences, will end up being instrumental in your success . As long as your momentum is forward or upward you can rest assured your getting closer and closer to where you want to be. Remember, "Rome wasn't built in a day".
-Keep on keepin' on!
EC
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Thursday, October 21, 2010
When the going gets tough...I get going!
When the going gets tough....thats when I get going. And you should too! Who said it was going to be easy? Who said you wouldn't have to to overcome some adversity to get where you want to be? Who told you life would be simple and that everything would fall into place just how you expected it?
If it was that easy, wouldn't everyone be doing it? We all have some challenges in our life that we face. Whether it be relationships, your life, your job or your next move.....quit crying about it and make something happen. I am a firm believer in overcoming tough challenges. In fact, I think I am at my best when things are difficult. When I don't know what to expect or whats ahead I find a sliver of confidence that reminds me that getting where I want to be takes time, patience, and a ton of hard work! It takes challenge to remind me of who I am. I stand for busting my tail to reach my goals while enjoying the ride along the way!
Each day of your life will present new obstacles and the one that wins, is the one who not only gets through the tough times, but makes the best out of each situation and finds a way to make these experiences positive opportunities. Do you thrive when times are tough or do you get caught up in the moment and feel sorry for yourself? Isn't it better to keep moving forward and remember why you embarked on the journey you are on? I know that what I want for myself and my life is difficult to attain. I would not have it any other way because my goals and aspirations are set so that when I do accomplish them, I will be proud of myself for what I have become and the difference I have made in the lives of the people around me. I set my goals so that they are attainable ONLY by the best of the best. Working super hard to fulfill your dreams is how its supposed to be!
“Adversity introduces a man to himself.
Go get em tiger!
-EC
If it was that easy, wouldn't everyone be doing it? We all have some challenges in our life that we face. Whether it be relationships, your life, your job or your next move.....quit crying about it and make something happen. I am a firm believer in overcoming tough challenges. In fact, I think I am at my best when things are difficult. When I don't know what to expect or whats ahead I find a sliver of confidence that reminds me that getting where I want to be takes time, patience, and a ton of hard work! It takes challenge to remind me of who I am. I stand for busting my tail to reach my goals while enjoying the ride along the way!
Each day of your life will present new obstacles and the one that wins, is the one who not only gets through the tough times, but makes the best out of each situation and finds a way to make these experiences positive opportunities. Do you thrive when times are tough or do you get caught up in the moment and feel sorry for yourself? Isn't it better to keep moving forward and remember why you embarked on the journey you are on? I know that what I want for myself and my life is difficult to attain. I would not have it any other way because my goals and aspirations are set so that when I do accomplish them, I will be proud of myself for what I have become and the difference I have made in the lives of the people around me. I set my goals so that they are attainable ONLY by the best of the best. Working super hard to fulfill your dreams is how its supposed to be!
“Adversity introduces a man to himself.
Go get em tiger!
-EC
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
More on Passion
Yesterday's blog was all about finding your passion but after thinking more about it I feel I left a few things out that I would like to share.
First off, finding your passion does not mean you need to stop everything you are doing and go off on some wild sabbatical into the mountains to find your new life. It doesn't mean you need to quit your current job and join the millions of other Americans that are jobless right now. Your passion may be right in front of your face, staring you down, waiting for you to discover it. Your current job may be exactly what you have been looking for and may be something you can get passionate about. Maybe there is another position within your current company that is where your passion lies. Just because you haven't found your passion doesn't mean it may not be present. Simply changing your life will not ensure you find passion. Opening your eyes and allowing yourself to be passionate will help you find this passion.
Passion and purpose go hand in hand. When you discover your purpose, you will normally find it’s something you’re tremendously passionate about.
~Steve Pavlina
Also, it is so important to stay realistic with your passion. Of course we all would love to go and be a professional golfer, or become a famous actress or model but passion must be focused precisely on an accomplishable goal or vision. Now I am not hear to shatter the dreams of those of you who want to play professional sports or earn a spot on TV. If you have a natural talent, along with unmatched dedication, commitment, drive, determination and of course some good luck, then go for it! But for most of us, these "far out" dreams may be unrealistic and could be a waste of good passion. If you love golf so much that you want to become a professional, how about the idea of becoming a golf coach, or looking for a job within the PGA? Passion is not about making a lot of money and passion shouldn't be about holding a certain position within an organization just because you think it would be fun. Passion is about doing what you love and loving what you do!
When writing my blog yesterday I actually deleted a very important part of the message that I wanted to add back in. That is the understanding that some of us may have to take a job for financial reasons, or for some other circumstance(s) that force us into less than ideal scenarios. I get this 100% but if this is the case then shouldn't this current job or situation just be a "means" to the things you are passionate about. If you focus your mind on the place you want to get, then you should be passionate about the current situation as it now becomes a part of fulfilling your passion. Too many people get stuck in a bad situation without a plan to overcome it, to change it. If you hate working mindless jobs and want to own your own business, then get passionate about starting a business and find a way to use your current job to help fuel that passion. Here is an idea, get a mindless job at a company that is similar to the type of business you want to own. Instead of walking in the door of work with a bad attitude, go in with the mindset that I am going to be a sponge and soak up everything I can about this industry, business, product, work environment etc so that when my time comes I will have the knowledge and experience necessary to achieve success. (Of course you may get in trouble for this type of behavior but you get the point.)
"A strong passion for any object will ensure success, for the desire of the end will point out the means"
~ William Hazlitt
Waka Waka Wednesday!
-EC
First off, finding your passion does not mean you need to stop everything you are doing and go off on some wild sabbatical into the mountains to find your new life. It doesn't mean you need to quit your current job and join the millions of other Americans that are jobless right now. Your passion may be right in front of your face, staring you down, waiting for you to discover it. Your current job may be exactly what you have been looking for and may be something you can get passionate about. Maybe there is another position within your current company that is where your passion lies. Just because you haven't found your passion doesn't mean it may not be present. Simply changing your life will not ensure you find passion. Opening your eyes and allowing yourself to be passionate will help you find this passion.
Passion and purpose go hand in hand. When you discover your purpose, you will normally find it’s something you’re tremendously passionate about.
~Steve Pavlina
Also, it is so important to stay realistic with your passion. Of course we all would love to go and be a professional golfer, or become a famous actress or model but passion must be focused precisely on an accomplishable goal or vision. Now I am not hear to shatter the dreams of those of you who want to play professional sports or earn a spot on TV. If you have a natural talent, along with unmatched dedication, commitment, drive, determination and of course some good luck, then go for it! But for most of us, these "far out" dreams may be unrealistic and could be a waste of good passion. If you love golf so much that you want to become a professional, how about the idea of becoming a golf coach, or looking for a job within the PGA? Passion is not about making a lot of money and passion shouldn't be about holding a certain position within an organization just because you think it would be fun. Passion is about doing what you love and loving what you do!
When writing my blog yesterday I actually deleted a very important part of the message that I wanted to add back in. That is the understanding that some of us may have to take a job for financial reasons, or for some other circumstance(s) that force us into less than ideal scenarios. I get this 100% but if this is the case then shouldn't this current job or situation just be a "means" to the things you are passionate about. If you focus your mind on the place you want to get, then you should be passionate about the current situation as it now becomes a part of fulfilling your passion. Too many people get stuck in a bad situation without a plan to overcome it, to change it. If you hate working mindless jobs and want to own your own business, then get passionate about starting a business and find a way to use your current job to help fuel that passion. Here is an idea, get a mindless job at a company that is similar to the type of business you want to own. Instead of walking in the door of work with a bad attitude, go in with the mindset that I am going to be a sponge and soak up everything I can about this industry, business, product, work environment etc so that when my time comes I will have the knowledge and experience necessary to achieve success. (Of course you may get in trouble for this type of behavior but you get the point.)
"A strong passion for any object will ensure success, for the desire of the end will point out the means"
~ William Hazlitt
Waka Waka Wednesday!
-EC
Monday, October 18, 2010
Find your Passion
Wouldn't it be amazing if you could find "passion" in your work? Would you still call it work? Or would you call it life or fulfilling your purpose? I absolutely love my work, my business, the people I work with, the tailgates, selling, leasing and managing houses. I love growing something from nothing to something of value, to something that can not only provide for me, but can provide for others, something that contributes to society. I love to inspire others around me and help them become the best they can be. Are there days when I get stressed out beyond belief and wish I was working in some mindless job that paid me a guaranteed paycheck every two weeks, of course. But I am passionate about what I do which is why I do it.
Whats your passion? What makes you excited to get up in the morning? What in your life do you do and lose track of time because you are so focused on the task at hand? Anything in your life that you love to talk about? Thefreedictionary.com defines Passion as "Boundless enthusiasm". Is there anything in your life that you can honestly say you have "Boundless Enthusiasm" for?
It seems like all to many times I talk to and hear people that don't love what they do. That actually have a job, just to have one. They seem to be going through the motions of life without any purpose or direction. How can you possibly give your full efforts to something you are not passionate about? Do you think Michael Jordan was the best basketball player ever without passion for the game? Without passion for something, how can you work for anything because you really don't "love " something enough to work for it?
Here is a good example of this - I am passionate about being the best leader of my business I can be. Because I am so passionate about this, I am constantly looking for ways to improve in that area. I strongly believe that exercise is a key element to me being the best leader I can be. Why? Because I believe it creates energy, I believe it helps me clear my mind, it helps me come up with new ideas, it helps me relax and rid myself of stress and it forces me to stay disciplined in other areas of my life. Do I love to run? Well I don't hate it but I can think of 1000 other things that I would rather do with my time. However, because I am passionate about being the best leader I allow myself to be passionate about running because without one its going to be much harder to accomplish the other. This mentality has allowed me to actually enjoy and look forward to running.
"Nothing great in this world has ever been accomplished without passion."
~Hebbel
Passion, if used correctly, should be a driving force behind you and your life. Passion is something that others can sense in you. When someone exerts passion people sense it and its amazing how they respond. Finding your passion will change your world because the moment you find it and pursue it, everything becomes a part of that passion. You will no longer "have to wake up" but you will "get to wake up" and just maybe it will no longer be called work! Wait and see what you can accomplish with a little passion.
And one more thing: Passion is not something only for work or your job. Passion should be prevalent in all aspects of your life. If you spend any amount of relevant time doing something, why not be passionate about it! Passion can be exerted with your family, your friends, your hobbies, your faith, helping others, whatever it may be. This idea may actually make you stop and reconsider where you are spending your time and on what? If time is the limited resource, shouldn't we be spending all of ours on things we are passionate about?
“If there is no passion in your life, then have you really lived? Find your passion, whatever it may be. Become it, and let it become you and you will find great things happen FOR you, TO you and BECAUSE of you.”
~T. Alan Armstrong
Happy Tuesday!
-EC
Whats your passion? What makes you excited to get up in the morning? What in your life do you do and lose track of time because you are so focused on the task at hand? Anything in your life that you love to talk about? Thefreedictionary.com defines Passion as "Boundless enthusiasm". Is there anything in your life that you can honestly say you have "Boundless Enthusiasm" for?
It seems like all to many times I talk to and hear people that don't love what they do. That actually have a job, just to have one. They seem to be going through the motions of life without any purpose or direction. How can you possibly give your full efforts to something you are not passionate about? Do you think Michael Jordan was the best basketball player ever without passion for the game? Without passion for something, how can you work for anything because you really don't "love " something enough to work for it?
Here is a good example of this - I am passionate about being the best leader of my business I can be. Because I am so passionate about this, I am constantly looking for ways to improve in that area. I strongly believe that exercise is a key element to me being the best leader I can be. Why? Because I believe it creates energy, I believe it helps me clear my mind, it helps me come up with new ideas, it helps me relax and rid myself of stress and it forces me to stay disciplined in other areas of my life. Do I love to run? Well I don't hate it but I can think of 1000 other things that I would rather do with my time. However, because I am passionate about being the best leader I allow myself to be passionate about running because without one its going to be much harder to accomplish the other. This mentality has allowed me to actually enjoy and look forward to running.
"Nothing great in this world has ever been accomplished without passion."
~Hebbel
Passion, if used correctly, should be a driving force behind you and your life. Passion is something that others can sense in you. When someone exerts passion people sense it and its amazing how they respond. Finding your passion will change your world because the moment you find it and pursue it, everything becomes a part of that passion. You will no longer "have to wake up" but you will "get to wake up" and just maybe it will no longer be called work! Wait and see what you can accomplish with a little passion.
And one more thing: Passion is not something only for work or your job. Passion should be prevalent in all aspects of your life. If you spend any amount of relevant time doing something, why not be passionate about it! Passion can be exerted with your family, your friends, your hobbies, your faith, helping others, whatever it may be. This idea may actually make you stop and reconsider where you are spending your time and on what? If time is the limited resource, shouldn't we be spending all of ours on things we are passionate about?
“If there is no passion in your life, then have you really lived? Find your passion, whatever it may be. Become it, and let it become you and you will find great things happen FOR you, TO you and BECAUSE of you.”
~T. Alan Armstrong
Happy Tuesday!
-EC
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
