Decide To Do Better

I have a confession to make. I screw up. I screw up a lot!

I have a mean temper...had it for years.

I don't always do the right thing....sometimes logic and I don't mix.

I could be a better husband.

I could be a better dad.

I could be a better friend.

I could be a better man.

Yes there are a lot of things I could do better. There are things that I am determined to do better.

One of the important steps to change is understanding that a change needs to happen in the first place. Finding your internal moral and ethical compass is important for us all. It's a continual learning process and our internal compass is something that requires constant attention, calibration and recalibration.

Years ago I used to drink too much. I think it was mostly out of habit and my way to combat stress. I remember sitting at a bar after a hard day at work and finding myself watching an old drunk man that looked like he and the bar stool were a permanent fixture to the place. His mouth never stopped moving as he bitched and complained about how life had treated him unfairly and how the company he worked for screwed him over after years of loyalty. He rattled on until the people sitting next to him got up and moved and started again when someone new sat down. His age and his sadness seemed to emanate from his aura and the depressed existence he called his life was palatable. I thought to myself what a waste. Then I looked up from my beer and into the mirror behind the bar and saw my own face. The only difference between me and the old man was age.

Was this man a preview to my future? Maybe. Maybe not.

But through the beer buzz and anger that had sent me to the bar that night, I awoke to something that even at that moment was somewhat profound for me. My life is my own. My destiny is truly in my hands. I get to decide if I want to do better.

And at that moment I did.

We all have a choice when it comes to choosing our path. The decision to do better in whatever area of your life is yours. Guaranteed there is no one taking credit right now for your screw-ups and there likely won't be anyone there to pick you up when you fall. You have to and must always depend upon yourself to make things right. You and only you can make sure your compass is guiding you in the right direction.

Decide what you need to do better at in life and take the steps that are necessary.

I got up from that bar stool that night determined not to become that old man. I decided I could and would do better and I have.

Three years later I sold my company for more money than I could have possibly ever imagined. I am quite certain it would never have happened had I not made a conscious decision to do better. There was a lot of work along the way but to this day I still remember that reflection staring back at me and the pain that settled into m heart. I would either make the change myself or perhaps befall a destiny that wasn't so pretty.

I still have lots of work to do but with the grace of God, I will have a lot more time to keep at it.

How about you?

Ripple On!!!

Mental Mind Check To Not Miss Opportunities

Sometimes we end up having to do certain things in our lives that at the time we really don't want to do. Maybe it's a trip to the in-laws, that holiday mixer or having to attend a PTA meeting after a long day at the office. It always seems to be something that no matter how we slice it we simply don't get excited about having to do it.

When these opportunities present themselves and you have the nagging urge to whine and complain about having to "do it," don't. Instead turn that urge into a chance to explore inwardly as to why these feelings are occurring and do a little mental mind check. Maybe these overly sensitive feelings are actually a warning sign of some sort that despite what you want to do, someone else has something else in mind for you. One thing is for sure, when you focus only on complaining about whatever it is you don't want to do, you might actually miss the reason you were supposed to be there in the first place.

I speak from experience and recently this has happened to me with more frequency.

There was the coffee I didn't want to have with a colleague because I was teetering on burnout at the time. Despite my strong urge to call and cancel, I didn't and it turned out that the colleague wanted to talk to me about a lucrative speaking opportunity that turned into a substantial payday for me. It also turned out that someone from another table overheard us talking about the opportunity and asked me for my card because she was mesmerized by what I did and how it might work in her corporate environment.

Or there was the dinner I didn't want to go to with a colleague who wanted to introduce me to two friends of hers. They turned out to be two of the neatest people I have met in a long time and both have committed to help me expand my concept to some business areas I would never have be able to get into without help.

And then there was the time I went to a party and met someone while trying to stay low and melt into the scenery and not talk to anyone because I had a headache. One guy noticed me and started a casual conversation and it turned out that we both ended up talking football (sorry ladies, sports is big for me). He ended up purchasing a number of books for his executive team and is now talking about some significant training opportunities for his firm. Somehow that night my headache magically disappeared too.

I could literally bore you with hundreds of examples of these kinds of scenarios and of course not all of the ones that happen to me result in just a business outcome. My point is that sometimes we have to get out of our own way. Rather then look at the feelings of dread for participating in some function or going someplace you don't think you want to go to, change your focus from the negative to the potential positive outcomes that might come from it. Or at least let me say, be open to the possibilities. Use the negative feelings you experience as a wake-up call and get your attitude in check. You might just be surprised what you find when you do.

Besides whatever you think you don't want to do you likely have to "do it" anyway so why not make the best of it?

Ripple On My Friends!!!

Steve

Create The Life You Want By Rippling - Lesson Three

One the biggest things that will affect your ability to Ripple and Ripple well is your attitude. One of my favorite quotes on attitude puts it into perspective:

"Attitude is the little thing that makes a big difference."

-- Winston Churchill

A simple lesson today but a powerful one! Attitude is the "little thing" that people pick up on and perceive when they encounter you. It is this little thing that has the ability to positively or negatively affect those around you. Top Ripplers understand this and they intentionally focus on always having a positive upbeat attitude. Guess what, it's infectious.

Cynthia Treglia a good friend of mine is a Top Rippler. Her attitude is infectious. Every time I am around her, despite my mood, she has a way of infecting my brain with her attitude towards life. Despite being down or angry about something, I always leave each encounter with her with a much happier mood and a far better attitude. I suspect you know someone in your life that is like this right?

Cynthia has a thirst for life and because she does it envelopes her existence. Now I know she can't possibly have an upbeat and positive attitude all of the time; I doubt any of us can. However she chooses to have the positive attitude more often than not and because of that I believe she creates Ripples in abundance for her life, her marriage, her friendships and yes, her business.

Check your attitude people! Focus on your attitude. Take mental checkups throughout the day to make sure that your attitude is firing on all possible cylinders. Be infectious and watch the Ripples you create and those that come to you.

Until next time.....

Ripple On!

Steve Harper