EXPAND YOUR MIND

Possibilities are always waiting to be uncovered and discovered. Think about that for a moment. That is so exciting! I was conversing with a client this week who shared that it is not easy for her to think out of the box as she can't be creative to think of what could actually be outside of the box.

If you have always eaten a red apple, view apples as red and expected apples as red, then how could they be any different? 
Do you actually know if apples were red to begin with or is more important that you experience with apples being red are what matters?

We should constantly be inquisitive enough to continually want to ask questions.   I have said for years that asking "What If" in most any situation can spur conversation, ideation and action.

Having trouble being creative and seeing possibility?  

Let go of what you assume what can and cannot work and just let your mind wander. Think of all of the possibilities before you strike them down as being unattainable and generally unthinkable.  For it is in the unthinkable that true innovation is born. 

Thoughts to ponder....

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@paulamorand.com or follow on twitter @paulamorand.

ASK YOURSELF "WHAT IF"

Asking the right question can elicit focused conversation and bring about results.  It can also be so useful in discussions with team and with customers when discussing ways to solve their problems.  Asking "What if" questions opens the doors of possibilities. For the last 23 years of my entrepreneurial journey it is when I have asked questions starting with "What If" that have opened doors to the most amazing of opportunities.

Feeling stuck in some area of your life? What if you started to dream about what you want? What if you allowed people in your network to volley ideas with you and what if you made a decision to take a risk an act?

Never underestimate the power of a good question.

THE BEST WAY

The great thing about new opportunities is that it is unchartered territory and there are new lessons to be learned and experiences to be had.   How many times do we let our fear and uncertainty about our capabilities get in the way of saying "YES"!   The next time an opportunity comes your way, consider jumping in instead of overthinking all the reasons why you shouldn't.

There are times when you just have to go and do and figure it out along the way!

Enjoy the experience and don''t forget to full submerse yourself into the experience.   It may just be the most refreshing thing you've taken on in a while.

OPPORTUNITY NEVER COMES WITH DIRECTIONS

This is just so true!

How many times do we have opportunities fall into our lap and don't act on them because we don't have the time or have a million excuses as to why it won't work?  What if your reaction could be "YES" and problem solve it from there.

One of the best success stories that I have ever had, is making one phone call 12 years ago which led to another cold call and then a contract within 24 hrs. That one contract led to a 10 year relationship worth hundreds of thousands of dollars and opened the door to a myriad of opportunities.   Thankful for the courage to make that one phone call all those years ago.

The best opportunities in life are often the ones that are unplanned or unprepared for.

BECOMING MORE FLEXIBLE

There is something to be said for learning resiliency.  Unfortunately the only way to do that is to come against obstacles and find ways of working through them.  How do you find those obstacles? Well most times, they find you.

Those moments that life hands you that seem unbearable to navigate through. The ones where you want to curl up in a ball and disappear.   Yep, those time.  

The interesting thing about overcoming is that you did it.  In retrospect, most people learn to be thankful for the lessons learned from those difficult times as it has made them who they are today.

The great thing about problem solving is that little by little your ability to adapt, change and learn to be flexible becomes better and better until the obstacles don't seem as big...just little bumps in the road.

Hang in there!

WHEN THE WHEEL FALLS OFF

The best laid plans can always have glitches.  

It often times doesn't mean that you did anything wrong but rather like a wheel falling off a cart, something got worn down or just fell off as it wasn't fastened tight enough to the main structure, or maybe it was just the wrong fit to begin with.

Take a look at your business, career and your life.

If you feel like you are off track, decide what needs fixing in order to get back on the road.  The only way to gain momentum is to fix what is broken. Figuring out how the right solution however, is often times the the most challenging part. Once you do, the wheels will be rolling and you will be off and moving again.

THE FOOTPRINT YOU ARE PROUD OF

Building a legacy starts with being consistent in who you are and what you do.  Having clarity of vision of the mission you are trying to accomplish and knowing the outcome that you hope to make is key to your success.

Leadership is a journey. It's more than a title but rather about the impression that one makes on humankind.  This is not won in a simple action or a one day event but rather your actions, efforts, attitude and ability to connect with others is what makes last change and impact.

Every person has their own leadership style and it is what makes each one of us unique.  Enjoy the process of growing in your own leadership journey and don't forget to lead others with the knowledge that they are also growing in their own leadership capabilities.

DON'T BE AFRAID TO SPREAD YOUR WINGS

The thing about confidence is that it is built upon through experience.

It's easy to do the things you are good at, however, it is a whole other story to tackle the things that challenge, stretch or intimidate you.   There is no telling your full potential unless you try and try and try again.   With experience comes wisdom and through that knowledge you will grow, learn and understand who you are and what you are capable of more and more as you go.

Learning to fly takes time, effort and skill however when you do take flight the feeling is amazing.

Photo Credit: Victoria Craig

DESIRE TO MOVE

We don't always know what road to take but having the mindset that you want to move forward is half the battle.  I know many people that say they want change but never do anything about it. It is like saying that they want change is enough of an action to make them happy.  However, there are the people whose desire is so deep and so determined for movement and change that they will see it through and make decisions toward that vision.

Does it mean it you always end up where you wanted to go?

Not always.  Sometimes it is an even better result that you never would have realized unless you did the work and try.

THE SUMMER STORM

I love the sound of a really good rain storm especially this time of year as it rolls in off the lake.  

I was thinking about the life of a business and it's relation to a summer storm.  Starting and running a business is exciting and also difficult many times.   It takes time to get your vision off the ground and a lot of hard work.

As with many leaders and entrepreneurs, you may think you are not making gains, but just like the brewing of a good storm, your ideas need time to form, grow and mature before it is unleashed.

The beauty of a great storm is that there is calm after the storm and often a rainbow ... and you know the old adage of the rainbow.  There is said to be the pot of gold waiting.

Don't give up when it seems all you are getting is rumblings from your hard work.   It just may be part of the process of creating an even bigger impact that what you currently imagine.

THE BEST WAY TO SOLVE A PROBLEM

The best way to solve problems is to learn to be flexible. Many times we can make our situation worse from either ignoring the circumstances or being so stubborn and set in our ways that we actually make the problem worse.  Take a moment to stop, look at the situation rationally and then consider various ways in which you could address and bring resolution to the problem.

You might just discover that in your ability to be flexible in your thinking and in your decisions, you just might solve that problem sooner than you think.

GO AFTER IT

When I was a teenager one of the most profound messages I had heard was a visiting speaker named Mark Sharenbroich who came to my high school.  His whole message was about "These are the best days of your life so far.. so make them count."

Now, over 30 years later, that message still resonates with me, and not that high school was the best days of my life....(although I did love my high school years).  It resonates because, right now, the present are the best years. Right here, right now, where I am. No matter the situation, this day has the potential to be a part of the best years of my life.

 I often ask myself "What can I do not to waste this precious time given to me?"

The answer is to always check in to your heart.  Dream big, feel more and follow your heart as it always knows the way.

HITTING A HOME RUN

So many times you hear stories of the hard climb that people have made to achieve success. Before hearing those stories though, there is often times the perception that every came so easy for that individual.

I remembered an old friend of mine hit it big in a well known television series that lasted for years. When she got her big break, she was written about that this was her first big break into the industry and that she made it big...by chance or luck. We often talked about that perception as the 12 years she had put in by doing commercials, off Broadway style theatre productions and voice over work didn't much matter in the story except for her. She had a big sigh of relief, knowing that she stuck it out long enough for her dream to happen.

Just because you don't feel like you have arrived at the big win, doesn't mean your efforts are not working toward it.

Keep going. Hang in there. You are just perfecting your swing!

NOT ALL IDEAS

Have you ever wanted to be one of those people with the coolest idea?  They are the ones that are always living in the hypothetical of "what could be tried next". Learning to be creative is a discipline and a gift many wish they had more of.  

Not always easy, I have learned that you need to allow your brain an opportunity to discover new ideas by using different ways of cultivating them.  Instead of sitting and staring at your computer for inspiration, here is a list to start you off.

1. Brainstorm with a Flip Chart or White Board or Post It Notes or create a Vision Board

2. Cooking, Baking 

3. Pottery, Playdoh, Knitting, Sewing

4. Colouring, Painting

5. Hiking, Running, Swimming...any sport 

6. Meeting new people

7. Prayer & Meditation

8. Journalling

9. Travelling

10. Rummage yard sales for items to repurpose - a great way to spur ideas.

You see, inspiration and the blooming of new ideas comes from experiencing life.  You start to open up your perspective on how you view the world weighed against the direct knowledge and experiences you have or haven't had. What is possible suddenly starts to come to life.

WITH A LITTLE INGENUITY

There is something to be said for ingenuity.

One who is clever,  original and inventive. We need more people in our world who have the gift of ingenuity. To be able to apply ideas to solve problems and meet challenges head on.

In today's marketplace the idea of "intellectual capital" is at a premium. Finding great people who not only have the willingness and desire to work, knowledge and awareness of what is need of them but also the 'ingenuity" to bring to the table their creative spirit. It is in this spirit where innovation is born.  If we were ever in a time of evolution and reinvention of how we work, it is now.

The years ahead will bring a myriad of new jobs we have never heard of before a new breed of thinkers and doers that don't let "what can't be done" hold them back as they are curious enough to find out "what can be done"

JUST ONE THING

There is no worse place to be than stuck.  Do you know what I am talking about? Whether it is because of a situation that is holding you back or maybe your own emotions, it is just a frustrating place to be.  I have never been one to feel okay with being out of control. As much as I am a big risk taker, it is usually through thought and calculation. When the moments in life come that really do have me stuck in a place of not being able to problem solve my way through it or I have just gotten in my own way...well, let's just say the faster I can move past it the better.

Learning how to make decisions and act on them, even if it is one little thing at a time can really help to build new momentum and shift the situation.

I have always lived with the motto of 'Just One Thing'.   Even though I can juggle a lot of things, at the end of the day I base my success one the little things that I have accomplishment. Every thing matters, even one thing at a time.

IT'S AN ATTITUDE

Throughout my working life, I have been blessed to have positions where creativity was fostered. Where my ideas mattered and no idea was a bad idea...well at the time of dreaming anyway.  I considered that great early training ground, as my years in entrepreneurship, which have been many now, I have found this is both a skill and a necessary attitude to be successful.

Entrepreneurship is not for the faint of heart. It is a journey of ups and downs and you are always learning something new about your industry, your product and most importantly, yourself.

Understand that you must always evolve.

That is one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself.  To do that though, means managing change well and to always see possibilities ... and often!

WILLING TO TRY

In the world of work there are often frustrations with schedule, pay, co-workers or even finding the right employment. If you are an entrepreneur it is always about generating more revenue, finding great team and making the right decisions and the right connections.

If you want to thrive at what you do, then it comes down to your willingness to try.   If external issues are getting in the way, then find another way.

My whole career has been about helping people move beyond barriers and find a straighter path. I have seen thousands of success stories. Those that have been really at their perceived rock bottom and then some time later their confidence is high, they are happy and they are thriving!

Why?  It all comes down to the fact that they didn't give up, they continued to try and they finally realized their efforts mattered and paid off.

IT'S AS SIMPLE AS THAT!

Moving through fear and uncertainty is a journey. One that is very personal and can fall anywhere on the spectrum of comfort level. For those that are risk averse, the idea of being courageous and maybe moving yourself out of your comfort zone can feel like the biggest leap of your life.

Who inspires you?   What is it about that person that does? How have they shown courage in their life?

Everything starts with making a decision. The next time you feel fear, who cares?   Just be courageous.  It really is as simple as that!

GROWTH NEEDS TIME TO ESTABLISH

How often do we wish that success could happen right away?

Whether it is for personal or business initiatives, brand building or just community impact, I believe that many times people give up to soon.  It takes time to build your brand and to share your vision.   It is rare to come out of the gate and be an instant success story.  More often than not, it is a series of ideas tried, figuring out what works and what doesn't work and what can be built upon.

Establishing the foundation for growth is a process.

Take the time to really understand your offering and what impact you can make.  How you as the leader can further drive that vision and articulate it clearly; and what tactics/ initiatives can you do, do better do this?

There are so many variables to growing anything.  The one variable that never changes is your passion, your stick-to-it-tiveness and your resiliency to keep pressing on.

Photo Credit: Victoria Craig