Jan
12
I am positive it’s day #5 of Optimism/Pessimism Week at the NDD.
My friend Marcy (who I met via Blog World, read the story below to see the irony), wrote a recent blog post titled, ‘Asking the Universe to Dance’. In it she told the story of a young fellow who introduced himself to her at a conference but never asked her the important question of ’Are you looking to hire?’ He had the opportunity but he didn’t take it. Her point was that you have to ASK if you want something. The Universe (and the person you are talking to) does not have ESP.
I wrote the following in response to her story and then found the napkin quote a few minutes later. Because this is Optimism/Pessimism week it all seemed to fit together.
Just in case people need more reasons to ‘just ask’…In 2010 I just happen to see a tweet scroll by from someone I followed but didn’t really know from Eve. She simply said something like ‘So, what do you want?’ I was about to respond with something witty and silly but instead I decided to investigate who she was. I went to her twitter page, then to her website and found out she was a life and career coach focusing on helping creative people. So, I responded on twitter with, ‘I want two hours of your time.’
She called me that afternoon and we spent 1/2 an hour talking about how she couldn’t give 2, but would give 1 hour in a phone consultation the next day after she had time to review my work, my blog and my website.
The next day we spent 1 1/2 hours on the phone going over where I was, what steps I could take to move forward. What was essential to be fixed immediately, what could put off. How to focus on what would return good results, how to let go of distracting elements, and more.
Her request when I asked what I could do to return the favor was that I donate time to help the homeless. She didn’t want a follow up, didn’t want me to feel obligated to her. She just wanted me to help the homeless somehow.
As a result of that conversation I submitted a proposal to Social Media Tulsa to be a speaker. At that session I was heard by two women, one hired me to be a speaker at an organization’s state conference and another, Becky McCray, has become my champion and encouraged me to submit a proposal to Blog World.
As a result of my speaking at the state conference I was hired to be the keynote at their regional conference this year. As a result of speaking at Blog World I have been invited to speak at the Blog World New York event which is co-located with BookExpo NY, where you can be sure I will be asking all about getting my book published!
Are you listening for the door or complaining of the noise?
Drawing by Marty Coleman, who took typing in High School
Quote by Oscar Wilde, who did not.
Nov
19
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I think it is understood that not ALL opportunities need to be taken, and some you do take will end in dead ends. But this quote isn’t for those who are willing to take risks and step through the door, it is for those who are afraid.
They are afraid they will get hurt, or it will taste bad or they will get lost or they may look foolish or they might die or they will fail or they will lose what they already have or….the list is endless.
The truth is those things are excuses, not reasons. The reason to not take advantage of an opportunity is because, after evaluating, you honestly feel it is not worth doing. It isn’t likely to give the results you want, you might have already done it a number of times, who knows. But you have honestly thought it through.
Excuses are those things that you say to rationalize the unconscious real reason. And it isn’t just the things you say, it is the way you design your life to make grabbing opportunities impossible. Maybe you have too many obligations, or too many pets, or too little money or too few friends or too much weight or too little education or…..
What is your excuse and how and why did you design it into your life?
Drawing and commentary by Marty Coleman of The Napkin Dad Daily blog
Quote by Jim Carrey, 1962-not dead yet, American comedian and actor
Feb
07
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I am amazed when I look back at my professional life as an artist and realize how many times the opportunity window appeared and I pulled down the blinds. I didn’t think I was doing that. I actually thought I was opening the window and making my way through it. I know that many other people who were watching me from a distance thought I was doing the same thing as well. But in truth I fooled myself into thinking that opening the window a crack was opening it all the way.
Actually here is a better way to think of it. Opportunity is not one window appearing, it is a series of windows, one after another, that appear. Butou have to get through the first one to see the next one. And you may not see the next one if you are so impressed with yourself that you got through the first one. I think sometimes that is what I did. I thought, ‘Wow, I just got some publicity.’ Or ‘Hey, I got a piece in a show.’ and then left it at that. What I didn’t do was continue to look for the next window with the same purpose that directed me to the first one.
I have some regrets about that, wishing I had been more diligent, wondering what would have happened if I had been. But after that tinge of regret I move on, happy about learning what I have learned and grateful to know I always have more windows in front of me.
Where are your series of windows?
Jan
06
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When I was younger, I was a practicing artist, as I am still. I was having shows, getting awards, being published, etc. I was known for taking advantage of opportunities. But the truth was I wasn’t. I took advantage of some, but I did not take advantage with the diligence and tenacity I really need to have. As a result some crucial opportunities passed me by and it affected my career as a result. Each and every opportunity must be pursued if you want to say you did everything you could to make something happen, in your life, love, or something else.
Feb
25
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It is good to be prepared in case opportunity comes along, that is the well understood maxim. But, it is equally important that you think through how to create opportunities that would not exist otherwise. That might be getting the courage to meet or write those who could help you. It might be seeing a need and filling it in someone’s, or some enterprise’s life. But no matter what direction the opportunity resides in, it takes courage and confidence, above all else, to go in that direction. And courage and confidence do not exist without belief in one’s self and one’s vision and abilities. Do you have that?
