What have you done well this week?

Week 2:

?? Ralph Waldo Emerson, observed, “The reward for a thing well done, is to have done it.”

There is nothing, nothing greater than ticking a task that you knew was important off the to-do list.

As soon as I published Week 1, I was elated. I walked tall…no..I sauntered, feeling light on my feet. It was a wonderful feeling!

And then the voices in my head- you told everyone, everyone, that you will write every week? Every Thursday? You are traveling next week- you will fail even before you start! I said NO, I will find a way to honor week two... and so here I am doing just that.

So I started thinking about which is an appropriate book when doing a bucket list activity. You see, I don’t have a neat way of doing this- I will simply try to relate what is happening to a particular week to a certain book. Is that called association?? ? I digress... I settled on Who Will Cry for You When You Die? by? Robin Sharma

The book draws out 101 ways by which we all could live a more carefree life and not sacrifice our today for a worried tomorrow. What I love best about it is that the Chapters are very short, you can complete a chapter or more as you queue at airports, ride in ubers, and you aren't in the mood to talk with the driver, waiting in line …for whatever. You get the drift. It is my book for this week as I move around. Something else, the chapters are stand-alone, so you can skip, come back, whatever, deciding on the chapter title that you like.? It's a great re-read!

I had a really, really hard time choosing just two items to talk about. I jotted down 5 phrases, and now I have to re-read them, and decide which two to keep- it's hard- All of them are great nuggets of relatable wisdom!?

1. Practice Tough Love?

The golden thread of a highly successful and meaningful life is self–discipline. Discipline allows you to do all those things you know in your heart you should do but never feel like doing. Without self–discipline, you will not set clear goals, manage your time effectively, treat people well, persist through the tough times, care for your health or think positive thoughts.

And Aristotle made this point of wisdom in yet another way: “Whatever we learn to do, we learn by actually doing it: men come to be builders, for instance, by building, and harp players, by playing the harp. In the same way, by doing just acts we come to be just; by doing self–controlled acts, we come to be self–controlled; and by doing brave acts, we come to be brave.”

I settled on this because it resonated with some conversations I have had with friends. Many people shy away from applying for new jobs, asking for promotions, consultancies, etc because they are ‘still mastering the craft’ or feel the need to start yet another degree, diploma, etc to feel ready for whatever it is.? Here is Aristotle wisdom for you:? “Whatever we learn to do, we learn by actually doing it’’. Stop procrastinating, and start doing! You can read/ learn alongside, but start DOING! ?Does this resonate with you? What is it that you are committing to yourself to start doing? or to scale up?

1. Learn to ask

The more you ask, the more you get, but it takes practice to get good at it. Success is a number game. As the Buddhist sages observed, “Every arrow that hits the bull’s eye is the result of one hundred misses.” Over the coming weeks, flex your “asking muscles” by asking for a better table at your favorite restaurant, for a free second scoop at your local ice cream shop or for a complimentary upgrade on your next airline flight. You might be surprised at the abundance that will flow into your life when you just ask sincerely for the things you want. Remember, the person who asks for what he wants at least has a chance of getting what he wants. The person who does not ask has no chance.

I am re-reading the above as I queue at airport Check-in. Now I have to practice it- I will let you know if I will get an upgrade. But why did I choose the above phrase? Last week I had a heart-to-heart conversation with a dear friend, who seems to have settled on the salary the employer pays him. He is loyal, committed, and a star performer. He is what marketing calls a cash cow, and yet he doesn't seem to see it himself. I asked him..’ why don't you show these sales figures to your employer and ask for a raise or commission’?? 'It's the employer’s policy not to pay commission’ he replied. 'Even when your sales figures consistently, all the time are above targets? 'Yes', he said. 'Isn't it time then you moved on? Do you realize what you are denying yourself and your family?' ‘Ahhh yes, but…but…I am loyal. LOYAL TO WHO? Anyway, you see how that conversation went, I was getting quite mad, but I also respect grown-ups and their reasoning, and as a coach, I can't tell him what to do. I ended the conversation by saying: 'Think about what you are worth, and if you find out that you are not underrenting your brain and your time, then you are fine. But if you are, then you need to do something about it'. He said thank you for the push, it seems to be the season for people to push him…

Why am I narrating this? Not to shame my friend, but to help you reflect if you are asking for the things you know you should be asking for, but you are too afraid of getting a no. Did you know a NO is an answer too? It moves you from wondering and creating scenarios in your head, to releasing you to think of other things.

SO… Now that you know, and we agreed?Inspiration is perishable if not acted upon, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO ASK FOR THIS WEEKEND??????

?#Consistency #GrowthJourney #PersonalDevelopment