Quotes That Resonate

"Would you like me to give you a formula for success? It’s quite simple, really. Double your rate of failure. You are thinking of failure as the enemy of success. But it isn’t at all. You can be discouraged by failure or you can learn from it, So go ahead and make mistakes. Make all you can. Because remember that’s where you will find success." - Thomas Watson

Thank you to IWIL reader Michele for this quote. She shared with me about the J.K. Rowling quote and as I read this, I got chills. At the rate I'm going, I should be wildly successful very soon! Big Friday Smiles!

2011 And Beyond!

All of you know about the Intentional Winning In Life concept and anthology book series plan. I'm ready to start sending that plan into action! November first marks the three year anniversary of writing this blog, can you believe it's been that long? Here's the plan and how you can help:

• Each month starting in January, I plan to take a specific topic, the topic of your dreams placed on hold, and show you in twelve posts (give or take) how to put that dream back to work making you happy!
  
  
• I need you to share with me what it was you wanted to be when you grew up, or a dream you realized later in life that for one reason or another you stopped pursuing. I also need to know why you came to believe you couldn't see it through.
  
  
• I also need you to put this call out to everyone you know in hopes that with your blessing, they will share their dreams "not" come true with me, too.
  
  

I'm going to pick ten of the most popular topics and two of the most unusual to work with next year. This will then become the foundation of what Intentional Winning In Life books will be about. Intentional Winning In Wine Making. Intentional Winning In Writing. Intentional Winning In Nursing. You get the idea. This is going to be really fun, and if I use your topic, how cool will it be to have a real road map to making your dreams come true?

Will you help me? Send me your dreams and why you are not pursuing them and send this request out to your family and friends. I can't wait to make things happen as this year wraps up and we welcome a new year!

Inspired!

Inspiration is one of those things that I get flashes of. If only I could feel the same inspired feelings I feel after a leadership retreat, or while listening to a really amazing speaker. I had such a weekend recently and today I am asking myself how I can keep those fires burning and apply them to all areas of my life. Here's a few of the ideas I came up with:

• Make a list of words that represent my values and hang it on my bathroom mirror. This will serve as a reminder at the beginning and end of my day.

• Keep a running log of one thing I've done each day to move me closer to my goals. These could be things like making a phone call to someone who could mentor me, sending out media kits to new prospects, or going to a yoga class.

• Continually surrounding myself with inspired people. We are what we think and when we are sharing our daily space with people who are making their dreams come true, you will continue to be inspired.

What do you do to stay inspired after an event that really fired you up? Share your thoughts and ideas, I'm listening!

Lollipops!

I had a scheduled appointment for Mason and I to get our flu shots and as I expected, Mason was scared. He worked himself up with all the fear and angst that comes with anticipating a shot! I assured him it would be fine, a little pinch at most and would be over before he would even have time to cry. Moreover, I stepped up and said I would go first to show him how uneventful it would be.

The time came and I sat up on the exam table while the nurse prepared the injections, four all together...yes, four! It was then I learned that I would be getting three to Mason's one! Yikes! Flu, whooping cough, and shot #2 of an earlier immunization that I never completed. Well, I took it like a trooper and like I told Mason, the pinch was nothing, but the medication soaking into my flesh was painful! The worst part, I didn't dare flinch as I didn't want Mason to be scared. I prayed the burning medication was not the flu shot as that's the only one he had to get.

When Mason's turn came, he asked some questions, examined the needle up close, and then gave the go-ahead. He winced a little and it was over. No tears! He hopped off the table and went to get a sticker, a pencil, and a lollipop. I was fairly certain that my three injection sites were going to get sorer before feeling better and I was right. Both of my arms are really sore but I did get a lollipop! Doesn't that make it all better? I think so!

Happy Hump-Day!

Why is Wednesday Hump-Day? Because it's the middle of the week, or when you get there, you are over the "hump" and on the way to the weekend! I've talked about it before, how much I love Fridays, and Wednesdays are just the prelude to the weekend.

It's not so much about the day itself, but how you see it. In fact, isn't that the way it is with everything in life? You get to choose how you see things, the good, the bad, and the ugly. There are really bad things that happen to all of us and for me, it's important to recognize that it's not personal, it's just life. Look for the lessons in those really tough times and keep moving to the brighter side, the good times, the things memories are made of!

Quotes That Resonate

"Rock bottom became the solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life. It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all."

J.K. Rowling

(Harvard University Commencement, June 2008)

I want to write something about what this means to me and I just can't find the words. It resonates with me to my very core and even brought tears to my eyes. I have failed. I have failed again, and again, and again. I have made the same mistakes more than once, and half way through the second (or third) time, I think What the heck are you doing? and I stop. Is it still a failure if you stop before you finish? No matter what, failure is essential to success. I believe this is true. What do you think?

Hope Feels Good.

I don't know if the good news from Wednesday is going to turn the tides, but having the hope that it may is worth the outcome. And if nothing comes of it, it is fun thinking about "what if" it does? I have to live and feel what is appropriate this very minute and right now, EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE!! Happy Friday and never lose sight of something to hope for.