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On Being Genuine

Now is the time to be more than who you are. Being more is as important as eating or breathing is to the human body.  Currently, you are who you are and the sooner you understand that you have to grow to be a better individual, the sooner you can grow beyond who you are. Grow beyond who you are?

Being genuine is the only way to grow beyond who you currently are.

To grow as an individual you can only do so as an individual. However, you must take certain precautions so as not to come across inauthentic or disingenuous.

While it may be a slippery slope do your best to not make it a competition. We are all taught that you have to be the best. You have to be number one. Excessive competitiveness does nothing but bring you down when you win and you resent those who do win. Be careful.

Let go of what other people say or expect. Just be yourself. You want to be genuine, the real deal then you cannot be when you are at the mercy of others. When others tell you you should do this or say that then you are nothing but a follower. Remember you are the only person that gets to say who you are. So be that person. While the “cool” kids are doing what the “cool” kids do when it is all said and done they are nothing but followers. Remember that.

Being genuine means, you are not following anyone but blazing your own trail. Then those that want to be with you will find a way to be near you and they will do so because you are genuine in your intents and actions. Trust the process and most of all trust yourself.

Do not force it. Forcing yourself to be genuine well that does come shining through o anyone and everyone. So do not force it.

All in all, just be yourself.

 

 

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It’s Time To Be Clear And Concise

Happy New Year!

A New Calendar, A New Way of Thinking, and most certainly, A New Way of DOING!

Too many people, I mean way too many people for one reason of another refuse to be clear and concise in any communication they use. However, it all begins with the face-to-face conversation. For whatever reason, people have trouble communicating face to face. This then carries over to other forms of communication with voice-to-voice a very close second place.

This indirect activity creates a feeling that the speaker believes everyone within the sound of his voice can also read his mind and is 100% in tune with what he (or she) is trying to say. However, with this mindset, the speaker will fail 100% of the time.

When a speaker starts to hint at things and sends mixed messages the listeners become lost and unfocused. At that point, the speaker has lost his place and getting it back is a trick not even the greatest magicians could accomplish.

When the speaker hints at things or sends the mixed messages, they also fail to get to the point as quickly as possible. Again, failing to get to the point will result in not getting what you want or are asking for.

When the time comes and it is your turn to speak be careful to avoid being so vague that nobody will ever understand what you want or asking for. Failing to be clear and concise will lead you to fall short of your desired goal. So step up your game and start clearly and concisely vocalizing what you want or where you stand.

A word of warning is careful that you do not come across as abrupt, unfriendly, arrogant or rude. Just say what you feel and while it may be difficult at first you will find that right balance. That is why you must work every day, every single day, on conveying that clear and concise message. Do that vocally. Remember, the number one culprit is face-to-face communication. Practice. Practice because that is the only way to become clear and concise. You have to work on it. If you are not constantly practicing and working on being clear and concise and just doing it every once in a while you are going to get stuck at hinting at things and sending mix mixed messages and avoid getting to the point as quickly as possible.

That my friends is not a good thing. Get to work!

 

 

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All Roads (In Life) Must Have Curves!

In a recent discussion with a long time friend, I was talking about changes in life and changes are part of of life. I also mentioned that bends in the road (literally and figuratively) are part of that change. When it comes to change in life, the curves are always there. Of course, you can accept those curves or you can stick your head in the sand thus leaving your backside sticking up in the air for the whole world to (well you know where I am going with this). No matter whether your head is in the sand or you are facing the curves head on you nor I can change the fact that the curves are coming whether we like them or not.

There are just so many things in life we cannot change. The twists and turns in life are a guarantee. There are just too many outside factors and influences to make the twist and turns, the curves in the road unavoidable. So don’t fight it. Realize the fact that curves in the road are essential to moving forward. It is critical to growing. When you are moving forward and growing you are winning.

No matter where you go, how careful you are or what you try to do to avoid them, there will always be curves in the road (of life).

Unfortunately, too many people instead of accepting the curves would rather stick their head in the sand and hope the upcoming curves leave their exposed backsides in one piece. Sticking your head in the sand is certainly something that real leaders cannot afford to do. They cannot afford to look weak or appear afraid. A leader that shows fear and acts with fear is not a leader. Sure, it is acceptable to have fear and to be afraid. Fear and being afraid is a healthy part of being a human being. When people look to you to guide them through those curves that is when fear should take a back seat and not be the dominant force that drives or dictates your actions. As a leader, you must control your fear and move forward. Moving forward and moving past the curves is what happens when you gain and maintain control of your fears.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I am not saying that you should be fearless when it comes to facing the curves in life. What I am saying is to know and understand that all curves are there to slow us down when life moves too fast or to help make certain we are on the right path. I see the curves as one of those few warnings that are part of life. Unfortunately, too many don’t see them that way and end up going off track or completely spin out of control. No matter what they do, they cannot change the fact that there will be more curves ahead.

Just like change, there will be some curves we like and there will be some we don’t like, but both are a good thing. It means that we faced a challenge and we either reap the reward or we have to try harder to get to that place where we reach the rewards we are looking for. The curves are the “hard knocks” we have to endure to get there. Whether we like them or not, there is no one size fits all approach to dealing with the curves as they happen. Sure they are a hassle but they are worth it? Of course, the curves are worth it. See anything going through is worth going through so long as you do the best that you can to deal with those issues, as they happen. Sure you can try to prepare for the upcoming curves, just like a road sign warning us before it is too late.

Posted or not, the warning signs are there because there will always be curves in the road (of life). Now you can choose to accept them or you can stick your head in the sand. Personally, accepting the fact there will always be curves ahead makes dealing with those curves a little easier.  Dealing with them head on and not side stepping them or avoiding altogether will get you to where you want to go. Besides the reality is that the path from Point A to Point B is seldom a straight line but one loaded with twists, turns, curves, exit ramps and sometimes, a few dead ends. Then again, a journey navigated on a straight line is rarely any fun and where’s the fun in that. Just keep you eyes on the road and you will get there.

 

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