Sunday, May 10, 2009

Aim High

The greatest waste of our natural resources is the number of people who never achieve their potential. Get out of that slow lane. Shift into the fast lane. If you think you can't you won't. If you think you can there's a good chance you will. Even making the effort will make you feel like a new person.

Reputations are made by searching for things that can't be done and doing them. Aim Low- Boring. Aim High- Soaring! - unknown.

Remember the power of positive thinking!! If you are having difficulty seeing and believing in your potential, you may want to join one of Bridge's virtual coaching sessions. Email me at jcwhitener@comcast.net and we'll get you on the path to being all you can be!

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Just Grab It!

I recently had the opportunity to hear Craig and Patsy Kent share their experiences of serving as missionaries in a rural farming community of Kenya for the past 7 years. They shared a story of how they were providing training and coaching to the chicken farmers of the area. Many of the farmers were loosing up to 50% of their flock each year. Their tradition was to allow the chickens to roam free thereby allowing the chickens to be subject to all types of harm. At first, Craig and Patsy simply shared with the farmers the need to house their livestock and to treat them for disease. These suggestions would significantly increase the farmer's potential earnings. But, no one came forward for help. It was not their tradition and many believed illness and tragedy occurred due to superstition. So, Craig and Patsy created a chicken coop for their own farm and treated their chickens for disease. Over time, the farmers noticed the Kent's were having great fortune with their livestock. The farmers began to change.

Why is it we have such a hard time letting go- even when the data and facts show it's the best path forward? Like it or not, change is difficult for most of us especially in areas where we have a depth of experience and history. If you're personally going through change, set a personal goal to "grab on" to the future. Celebrate incremental wins.. and take every opportunity to share your success. Other's will see your courage and model your behavior. Then, share your success story and the benefits of change again and again... Encourage others to follow! Success is yours. Have the courage to let go and "just grab it'!