Georgia on My Mind

I absolutely love the south.  The slower pace, lower cost of living, friendly people, hot Summers and mild Winters are all to my liking.  Since moving here over 4 years ago, I've felt more and more comfortable with the area. 

A new day means I get to awake to the songs of the birds, that are carried by the light, warm breeze.  As I lie in bed, through my bedroom window, I see the massive acorn and oak trees, heavy with the weight of new green leaves.  

Everyday I get to enjoy my garden, and if time permits, I sit and watch the birds and squirrels peck and nibble at the feeders or occassionally drink from the bird bath.  Yes, I'm in love with where I live and each new day is another opportunity to enjoy the serenity of my surroundings.

There's no place like home.  (clicks heels together 3 times)  There's no place like home.

What I Choose

In my newsletter today I wrote about choices. At the end of the newsletter I asked what choices my readers were willing to declare. So, I thought I'd be the first to declare one of my choices. Since I have been off the exercise wagon for a while, my choice is to get back on track and get back to regular exercise. Now, it's out there. All of you can hold me accountable.

Have You Told Them Lately?

"Have I told you lately that I love you?  Have I told you there's no one else above you? 

Fill my heart with gladness, take away all my sadness.  Ease my troubles, that's what you do."

Recorded by:  Rod Stewart       Written By: Van Morrison


What Have You Said Lately?

Those closest to our hearts can often be the ones we most often fail to tell what joy, inspiration, support, peace or understanding they provide in our life. We often assume they know how much we love them or how important they are to us.

The old saying, "Actions speak louder than words", is definitely true. We've all seen the people who publicly show affection and are always saying how much they love each other. Some of these same people are the ones who are forever arguing or whose relationship ends in a bitter divorce. So, I agree that words alone don't always tell the entire relationship story.

Despite this, people still enjoy hearing someone say they value, admire, appreciate or love them, and truly mean it. "People who feel loved, or when it's reciprocated, live longer, are happier, have better health and make more money," says Glen Jenson, Utah State University Family and Human Development professor and extension specialist.

Not only do people who feel loved have a better life expectancy, but when people experience relationships with other people, they are often experiencing a healthy lifestyle.  "To have someone who cares for you and loves you, you feel more encouraged," Jenson said.

Speak Up and Touch a Heart

Have you told someone lately that you love them? Have you told someone they fill your heart with gladness? Who inspires you to be a better person? Who is always there to give sound advice and support? Take the time to tell them and show them how much they mean to you. Don't put it off.  Make it one of the most important things on your "to do" list today.

It's About Movement

"You must take the first step. The first steps will take some effort, may be pain. But after that, everything that has to be done is real-life movement."
Ben Stein

On the road to success, there will be times when your momentum slows. In fact, there may be times when you come to a complete halt. This can be due to many factors. Time, money, health, family, motivation and direction confusion are just some of the challenges.

Once we get off track, it becomes far easier to stay off track and allow every little distraction to validate our reasons for not getting back to what needs to be done. The evidence can be seen in the many unfinished projects, regrets, unfinished plans and great ideas that were never pursued. All of those could'ves and should'ves that fill our homes, hearts and minds. The key is to pick a project, a should've, an idea or a direction and do one thing to begin it's completion/realization.

Newton’s First Law of Motion: "An object at rest, stays at rest and an object in motion, stays in motion, with the same speed and in the same direction, unless acted upon by an unbalanced force."

Where have you lost your momentum? What one thing can you do today to get your momentum back?

Here are some ways to get traction and start the momentum:  

• Make a list of the steps that need to be taken for goal accomplishment. Place the steps in proper order. Take the first step.
• If your goal feels too big to manage, break it into smaller segments (e.g. instead of focusing on a weekly goal, beak it into daily amounts) 
• Set a specific time each day for working on your goal. This should be precious time that you give up only for extreme emergencies. Use a timer to manage the time. Don't do anything else until the timer says the set amount of time is up. 
• For momentum to build and carry you forward, frequency and consistency are extremely important. Do something everyday that is directly related to achievement of your goal. 
• Share your goal with someone who will hold you accountable, be supportive and help to keep you focused. Knowing someone is watching can be a great motivator and can help to keep us moving forward. 
• Eliminate goal sabotaging elements and people. Anything or anyone who works against your goal accomplishment is causing momentum resistance. Keeping goal sabotaging elements out of reach will work in your best interest. Overcoming the saboteurs will make your success even sweeter. 
• Don't ask yourself if you should. Just get moving on the next step. Asking yourself only leads to internal chatter. Without question, whatever the next step is, it needs to be done. Just do it.

Whatever you've been planning to begin, start anew or venture into, the time to start is now. Take the first step and begin or continue the journey you were meant to take. Think of all you'll learn and experience along the way. It's all part of the joy of living, learning and growing.

 Let me know how you’re doing. Post your next steps on this blog. Also, on the right side of this post is this month's poll.  I'd appreciate it if you'd post your answer.

One Success At a Time

Success is a fairly short word that packs a lot of power. It is the driving force behind every accomplishment. Goal attainment consists of many smaller successes along the way.

If your goal is to purchase a new vehicle at a reasonable interest rate, you must first be successful in managing your expenses, paying them in a timely manner and saving for a down payment. The accomplishment of each component denotes a personal success and will eventually lead to the ultimate success, the vehicle you desire.

Too often we associate success with a major win and forget that it took many smaller successes to reach the ultimate goal. We also often tend to wait until the major goal is accomplished before we celebrate.

Those who have received my newsletters over the last ten years are well aware of my belief that celebration should be a key component of our daily life. Every accomplishment should be cause for a thank you and a self-congratulatory pat on the back, thumbs up or fist pump.

Celebrating the little wins provides motivation to keep moving forward toward the bigger win. Also, knowing there is a reward at various milestones/mini-goals along the way gives us a short-term incentive, as we work towards the long-term endpoint.

Let’s also not forget the most important success of all. Upon awaking each day, I say, “Thank you” for another opportunity to learn, grow, share and love. Don’t take this success lightly or for granted. As I’ve recently experienced (with the unexpected death of a family member), you never know when a day might be your last. Cherish, be thankful and celebrate every day as a success bonus.

Try this for the next 30 days. Each evening, write in your journal, Blackberry, Ipad or any other place, one success of the day. You might even want to make it a family affair and use this exercise as a dinner table activity or topic of conversation. However, recording successes provides a record of accomplishments over time.

At the end of 30 days, review your recorded successes. You’ll be surprised at how many wins you’ve had (at least 30) and how much you’ve accomplished. Also, remember to set your milestone rewards in advance. Doing so will provide additional motivation to stay the course, drive for tackling future challenges and desire to set additional goals.

Let me know how you’re doing.  Post your successes in the comments section.

To Thyself Give Love

It's that time again. Hearts, candies and flowers abound. In another lifetime, I owned multiple retail floral locations and this was our busiest time of the year.

This is also the time of year when expectations are high. We sometimes anxiously await a gift, a card or a romantic evening with someone special. On February 15th, there will be thoughts of dreams fulfilled, underwhelmed gift recipients and lonely hearts.

Why wait for someone to demonstrate their love or affection for you? Resolve to show yourself love. and continue to do so throughout the year. Whatever you decide you'd like to experience, do it for yourself. Begin to give yourself the love you want from others.

Too often, I see people searching for "the one" who will "complete" them. Pssst. That person doesn't exist. News flash. You're already complete. Now take the complete package that you are and start enjoying yourself. How do you love thee? In countless ways.

If you're already in a relationship, this applies to you as well. Whatever you want for you, don't wait for your partner to give it to you. If you need more from your relationships, don't hope other's will guess what you need, be clear about what you require and how you want it.

Take care of yourself. Work to make yourself feel complete, and you will be okay, regardless. People will enter and exit your life, but wherever you go, there you'll be. Since you'll be with you for a long time, might as well learn to love yourself.

Oh, and on the subject of finding someone to love...the more fun you learn to have with you, the more attractive you'll be to others. Though looking good will definitely help your ego, the package wrapping is always far less valuable than its contents.

I believe a man/woman should not be a necessity, in your life, but an accessory. Their presence should only complement what is already beautiful.

Appreciate the beauty in and of you, and the world will reflect the same.

Making the Best of Any Situation & Change

Our Shih Tzu has lost most of his sight due to detached retinas. However, he hasn't missed a beat. Though he never was a very active dog, he has maintained his personality and managed to adapt to his near blindness.

His nose has become his bumper guard. As it bumps against walls or other objects, he realizes the need to go in a different direction. I've also taught him to follow the sound of my clapping hands. I clap to let him hear sound from the direction he should walk toward. Whenever his sense of direction is off, I say, "No" and he course corrects toward the direction of the clapping sound.

When I think of him and how well he has adapted, I think of how we humans so often put a great deal of energy into fighting change. Rather than "going with the flow", we can dig our heals in and go absolutely nowhere. In so doing, we halt our growth and progress.

What if our dog, "Deak", had decided to dig his heels (paws) in and refuse to walk anywhere, because he wasn't certain of where he was going? He'd never be able to walk outside, smell fresh air, relieve himself outside (very important) or sniff another dog (he probably thinks this one is also important). His life would be less fulfilling, less normal and less interesting.

Change was forced upon him. Yet, he adapted and made the best of his situation. Seemingly, with little or no fear. What situation are you afraid to deal with? What change are you refusing to make? What uncertainty are you afraid to face? You too have a bumper guard. You can use your instincts to course correct.

Don't hold back your opportunities for learning and growth. Though you may move forward with uncertainty, you take your instincts along. You have the ability to couse correct at any time. Don't hold back. Discover all the wonders of life that await. You'll be better for it.

Kennette Reed
www.speakerkennettereed.com

Is Eight Enough or Too Many?

With all the hype surrounding the Gosselin family, I've been wondering a lot about how the kids are fairing and thinking about the entire concept of a large family. Can parents with so many children even consider divorce to be an option?

With so many children, how can two parents possibly provide each child the time, attention and nurturing they need to become a healthy, happy, well-adjusted adult? It's certainly challenging to raise and send one well-adjusted person off into the world. Even when parents seemingly do everything right, the adult who emerges may not always be the responsible and successful person the parents had hoped for.

With all of the out-of-control in vitro fertilization (and the resulting multiple births) occurring, do you think it is unfair, unwise and unjustified for couples to be able to bring more than two or three children into the world at a time? I've seen too many parents who thought about having babies, but didn't think about all the years after the baby stage. Many of these parents will be the ones who fail to instill / enforce behaviors / values in their children during their "formative years" to help them effectively manage life and their relationships as teens and adults. These ill-prepared children are often unable to cope with a world that requires them to adhere to a code of conduct, effectively manage relationships and accept responsibility for the consequences of their behavior.

Parenting isn't easy when there is only one child in the family, let alone four or more. Add on the in-your-face messages of worldly influences constantly reaching out and touching our children and the cost of living steadily climbing. With all of this, effectively managing, nurturing and supplying for the needs of a large family in the twenty-first century seems to be untenable.

Am I the only one thinking about these things? What do you think? What's the answer?

Kennette Reed
http://kennettereed.com

Thank You!

Thanks to everyone who allowed me to give to them on my birthday. It was wonderful hearing from so many of you. This is definitely going to be a continuing birthday tradition.

Here's the amazing thing, no one asked for anything outrageous. All requests were reasonable and achievable.

I'm still feeling generous. Therefore, from now until the end of May, I'll give a 40% discount to anyone who purchases any products from my site:

1. Go to the site http://kennettereed.com/products
2. Choose the products you want to purchase
3. Click "View Cart" to see the checkout page
4. Once on the checkout page, enter the Customer Code "maygift" (without the quotation marks)
5. Then click the "Submit" button to the right of the Customer Code area

Your 40% discount will then be deducted from the cart total. Enjoy your shopping trip.

Kennette Reed
http://kennettereed.com/products

What can I do for you today?

Native American and other cultures have a custom of giving to others on your birthday, instead of receiving. Since today is my birthday, I wanted to do something different. So, I am flipping the script and asking, "What I can do for you?" Tell me how I can help you today.

There is a catch to this. Your request can't cost money!

Do you need something edited? Do you need advice for your business, personal life or to help a friend? Do you need career change advice? How about publishing advcie? Or something else? Let me know via a linkedin message/reply http://www.linkedin.com/in/kennettereed, e-mail kennette@gmail.com, comment on my blog using this link http://www.thoughtstream1.blogspot.com , or Twitter it to me at 7fppbr@twittermail.com .

If I can write, do, act, ask or tell, send your request my way. If I can't do it myself, I will work to find someone who can.

What Are You Willing To Stand For?

In my newsletter today I wrote about an incident that occurred with one of my consulting clients. The client wanted me to comply with their intention to unethically require a contractor to complete additional out of contract scope work or not be paid for the work they had already completed according to the contract terms. Since the contractor had already satisfied all the terms of the contract, I refused to withhold the contractor's payment. Because of my "blatant defiance" the client felt he had the right to speak to me in a highly escalated and demeaning tone. Finding this behavior and his unethical intentions to be unacceptable, I suggested that we part ways. He agreed.

What would you have done? Would the possible loss of income keep you working for someone who lacked integrity and respect for you? How would you justify working hard for someone who didn't value you? Do you feel allowing an employer or manager to speak to you in a demeaning manner is acceptable? If it happened once, and you did nothing, aren't you telling them it's okay? If you've allowed them to compromise your integrity, what will keep them from doing it again? At what point do you say, "No!"?

We must all have a line we will not cross. There must be a choice made as to how we want to operate in the world. If we want to be treated fairly and be respected, we must give the same to others. When we know what is right and true, we must stand up for it. It won't always be easy, but stand we must. It's not just about the respect that others have for us, it's about the respect we have for ourselves. I could not respect myself if I were blindly obedient and caused another harm as a result of being so.

Don't allow fear of losing your job or contract to compromise your principles. Stand up for what is right. You and the world will be better for it.

http://www.kennettereed.com/

Planning and Holding Your Plans Loosely

This is the time of year when we begin reflecting on what has come to pass and what the future holds. We reflect, evaluate and adjust. As you take stock and begin planning for the coming year(s), remember that plans are guidelines for our business and personal lives. They are not unchanging steadfast rules for what we can and cannot do.

Too often, people set their plans and when life throws in an unplanned event (which it often does), they loose their way or resent the event's occurrence. This leads to frustration, anger and sometimes a need to micro-manage one's life, events or other people.

I love the saying, "We make plans, God laughs." If we hold onto our plans too tightly, we'll forget to laugh when the unexpected occurs. If we were to hold onto our plans more loosely, the unexpected may be viewed as an opportunity to improve upon the plan, view the plan from a different perspective or include others in the plan. A tightly held plan can be squeezed until it is devoid of life.

As 2008 comes to a close, remember to hold your 2009 and beyond plans loosely. Whatever you do, know that the best made plans can be great in the moment they are made, but the future may hold a few surprises. In an instant, our circumstances can profoundly change. What we currently view as important, can instantly become insignificant.

Remember to laugh. The unexpected is bound to happen, and when it does, know that God is laughing with you.

What plans do you have for 2009? How do you plan to manage the unexpected?

Keeping Hope Alive

Last night, we witnessed history in the making. Yesterday's election will be the water cooler talk of today and the academic lesson of tomorrow. For many of us who had lost our direction, felt disenfranchised, had waning hope or thought "The American Dream" was not possible, hope has been restored.

As I viewed the television broadcasting millions of celebrating people around the world, I was moved to tears. As the young people would say, "Don't get it twisted". This was not a victory for some, but a victory for everyone. This dream became a reality due to the support of people across the country and around the world. People with distinctive characteristics (ethnic, religious, etc) came together to elect two men who spoke of cooperation, appreciation, involvement and a future we can all be proud of. Their words of change raised eyebrows, but they also inspired and raised hope.

This is the beginning of a new day for our country and our relationship with the world. I look forward to all of us showing our neighbors both near and far that we are ready and willing to reach across all that divides us and work together for the good of everyone and the world in which we live. We have kept hope alive. God Bless All of Us.

Congratulations to the First Family & the people they will serve.

Do it Now! Don't Wait!

Get out and vote! Don't procrastinate.

Yes, your vote matters.

You can make a difference.

The time to stand up and be counted is NOW!!!

If you want a change, know that change starts with you!

Get out and vote!

Get out and vote!

Get to your polling place and vote.

Vote early and avoid the election day craziness.

From Idea to Author Has Been Released

Yes, I know it's been a while since my last post, but I've had my head down and been focused on getting the book completed and ready for printing. Hooray!! Finally, the book has been released. The books have finally arrived and are being shipped today. Over the past few months we have been through numerous revisions, redesigns and delays. However, From Idea to Author: How to Become Successfully Published is finally available. This has been a great learning experience and it would not have worked as well without the help of some great people. Thanks to everyone for their support and assistance. Larry, you provided the perfect final touches.

Visit the From Idea to Author: How to Become Successfully Published website at http://www.ideatoauthor.com/ .

Keep The Ideas Flowing

Like Diamonds In The Rough
Ever seen a rough diamond? They appear to be a bit interesting. They stir a bit of curiosity, but on the surface, may not appear to be such a big deal. The beauty of the stone is not truly apparent until after someone takes the time to clean and polish it. Then it begins to show more promise. When the diamond is expertly cut, the true beauty and brilliance of the stone is revealed.

Ideas can be compared to rough diamonds. On the surface, some ideas may not appear to have much value, could be discounted or overlooked. However, when the right person looks at the idea, takes time to consider it, and sees beyond the surface, the true brilliance can be revealed.

Ideas Have Many Sources
In an organization, ideas are born out of personal experiences, business experiences, accidents, mistakes, customer interactions, product returns, miscommunications and in numerous other unpredictable ways. The number of ideas produced each day are countless. The number that actually reach the ear of management are few. Why? Oftentimes, due to fear of being considered foolish, misguided, disruptive, a dreamer, a complainer, fiscally irresponsible or unrealistic.

It's important to create an environment where ideas are welcomed and encouraged. Provide opportunities for staff to make suggestions. Know that many products and discoveries were born out of mistakes or miscalculations. Acknowledge and reward suggestions made by anyone. Most importantly, be careful not to kill good ideas or individual's spirits. To keep ideas flowing, avoid doing the following:

• Ignore the idea. Dead silence is a sure killer of an idea
• Laugh it off. By reacting to an idea as if it is a joke, you discount the individual
• Respond with, "Oh, we've tried that before." It makes the idea generator feel out of the loop
• Modifying the idea. Saying it is a good idea, and proceeding to change it, says you really didn't think is was such a good idea after all
• Personally attacking the idea originator. Once recovered, they surely will not come your way again
• Doubt the originator is the owner of the idea. "Did you come up with that all by yourself?"
• Multiple postponements of a decision on the idea. If it's such a good idea, why is it not important enough to address in a timely manner?

Develop An Idea Processing System
If you don't already have a plan /vpolicy in place for processing ideas, why not establish one. What does your organization do with customer or employee ideas? How do you manage them, give credit, reward, and encourage creativity? In what ways do you encourage idea generation and sharing in your department? What recognition systems are in place to reward generators of useful, money saving, or profit generating ideas?

Take the time to look at your organization. If staff aren't generating and sharing ideas, find out why. Once you know the why, use this information to facilitate the transformation of your organization. You can do this by encouraging idea generation, taking action, implementing ideas, recognizing originators and providing originator rewards. Not all ideas will be winners, but encourage their continued flow. Who knows when a diamond will be discovered, disguised as a dirty stone.

Use the Recession, Gain an Advantage

Some time ago, I read the dip, by Seth Godin. Recently, during conversation, a friend suggested that I revisit the book. So, I picked up my copy and started reading parts of it again. I found much of it seemed new to me and far more relevant than it had before.

the dip is about knowing the difference between when to ride out the low points (the dip) and keep working toward your goal and when you're in what Godin calls a "Cul-e-Sac" (a place where you're stuck and no matter what you do, you can't improve your state). During a recession, many people begin to jump ship. Businesses begin to suffer from fewer sales, less production, fewer shipments, less foot traffic, etc. The affect is a hit to the bottom-line. Many businesses close up shop.

However, the dip is a time when businesses should get creative and look for opportunities. A time when leaders, managers, supervisors or business owners should take a deep breath and spend some time examining the ways in which they can create a more effective, focused, efficient, specialized business, department or team. Too often, we try to increase revenues by spreading ourselves and our teams too thin. We try to cover too much or too many markets.

If instead, we were to focus our energies on fewer tasks, products, customer segments or markets, the concerted effort and focus would have a greater impact. Therefore, it would more likely have a more beneficial result. It's the dispersed effort and the eventual quitting, that keeps us from being successful during a recession. Many successful businesses, unable or unwilling to push themselves through the dip, quit. Prior to the recession, those same businesses may have been close to realizing the level of success they were seeking.

Push yourself, your team or your business through the dip. Here are some ways to help you do that:

• First be sure you are in a dip and not a Cul-de-Sac. If there is no possible way to improve the situation, it's time to quit and move on. Quitting is not failure. Quitting allows you to redirect your resources (time, energy, money, ideas, people). Quit products, services or features. Don't quit markets, strategies or a niche.
• Look at your organization, department or team. How are you managing your resources (people, dollars, time, etc.)? To push through the dip, you'll need to examine your resources and be sure they aren't spread too thin or underutilized. Review your team and be sure you're effectively using their talents, skills and interests. There may be diamonds in the rough. Pluck them out, polish them and let them sparkle.
• Use the slow times to work on being better, faster, smarter, leaner or more specialized than your competitors.
• Market better. During a recession many organizations cut their marketing budgets. While they're cutting, you fill the marketing gaps their cuts have left behind. Your name will be seen more times and make more impressions than the competition.
• Since 80% of your revenue comes from 20% of the market. Determine who your 20% are and focus your resources on them.

Pushing through the dip makes you, your team and your organization stronger, wiser, quicker, resilient and confident you can do it again (if necessary).

Kennette Reed
http://www.kennettereed.com/

What's Wrong With Hope?

Throughout most of the past nine months, we've heard a lot about hope. From Obama's "The Audacity of Hope" to both Democratic Presidential candidates inclusion of "Change" in their campaign slogans, to the popularity of Joel Osteen. However, despite the many voices of encouragement and visions of a better and brighter future, there are probably just as many voices shouting words of skepticism, discouragement and heresy.

Why do people feel offering "Hope" to those who may have previously had none is "false hope"? If you encourage others to imagine a future which includes what they wish for and dream of, is this wrong? If I have the "audacity" to hope for more than what is, to dream of all that could be or to envision what has never been, what's wrong with that? What's wrong with believing turning hope into reality is possible and working to make it so?

"Hope" is what encouraged Europeans to make the journey to The New World. "Hope" is what kept Africans believing they'd one day be able to escape the inhumane treatment of slavery. An end to military conflicts, a chief executive with concern for the "everyday person", job security and better education are what many voters "Hope" for. Yet, there are the naysayers who issue their discouragements with statements like, "Be realistic" or "You can't have change for change's sake".

There's much that is broken and needs to be fixed. There's much that isn't broken, but should be fixed anyway. There's also much that is great and wonderful. Here's the thing. We'll never know how much we are capable of or how great we can be until we stretch beyond what's comfortable. As individuals, as families, as organizations, as Americans, let's become more hopeful and look for ways to go beyond where we are. Let's imagine who and what we can be. Let's "Hope" for the opportunity to keep growing and learning everyday.

May all your todays and tomorrows be filled with "Hope".

Kennette Reed
http://www.resiliencecoach.com/

Stand Tall

"You have to have confidence in your ability, and then be tough enough to follow through."
Rosalyn Carter

Stand Tall

One of the biggest challenges we face is hanging in there when life doesn't go as we expected. Too often, we give up when we're closer to reaching our goals than we realize. When you feel like giving up, Stand Tall. When fear knots your stomach, Stand Tall. When others tell you it can't be done, Stand Tall. Persevere. When the going gets tough, Stand Tall for what you believe in. Stand Tall in the face of adversity.

Regardless of appearances, stay focused on where you want to go. It doesn't matter where you are now, where you've been or what other think about who you are. Keep the finish line in your mind's eye. If you should start to lose sight of your vision, direction or goal, here are some ways you can Stand Tall:

• Stay true to who you are, not what others want you to be.
• Do what's right, regardless of whether it's politically correct, or the "in" thing to do.
• Be kind to others, even when they may not have offered you the same courtesy.
• Take a risk, even if the outcome is uncertain. This "stepping out on faith" may be just what your spirit needs.
• Find ways to become more self-sufficient. Doing this may be uncomfortable, but you will stimulate personal growth and creativity.

Go for your dreams. Do something everyday that draws you closer to the life you dream about.

What are you waiting for? Beginning now, find more opportunities to Stand Tall, Get Tough, & Be All You Were Meant To Be. It all starts with a choice. You are the only one who gets to choose for you. Go ahead, choose your dreams and Stand Tall!

Kennette Reed

Work What You've Got

"Na na work what you got

I'm talking bout things that I know

Na na work what you got

It's okay show yourself some love

Na na work what you got

Don't worry bout who's saying what

It's gonna be fine

Work what you got"
Sung by, Mary J. Blige
From the album, "Growing Pains"

There Is Only One You
Each of us is unique and special. It is this external and internal diversity that makes the world interesting. Learning to appreciate our individual differences, moves us toward finding ways to best utilize them.

Not looking like some of the people in magazines or on television, makes us no less interesting or beautiful. The very attributes we dislike can be "worked" to our advantage. I've heard people say they dislike their:

• Freckles
• Height
• Hair color
• Larger than average size feet
• Weight
• Job
• Poor vision (and the need for glasses)

It's possible to change, enhance or eliminate some of the above, but you can also "play the hand you've been dealt".

Work What You've Got
If you've got it, find a way to make it work for you. Work what you've got. Use your freckles, height, hair color, size, glasses or job to your best advantage. Show the world you can proudly dress your tall frame, work you hair color so it looks like a crown of glory or find a store that sells stylish shoes for the above average shoe size.
If you're not loving your job, until you make a change, work what you've got. Choose projects you find interesting and use them to help you shine. If you can't choose your own projects, do an outstanding job with the projects you're given.

It's not just about making lemonade when you're given lemons. It's about "working" whatever you are working with. Can't afford that new car you want? Then work the old one. Make it the best looking older car on the road.
Want to get rid of a few pounds? In the meantime, work the body you've got. Dress your best and look fabulous, regardless of your size.

It's about knowing "it's all good". Show the world you appreciate all that you are and all that you have, regardless of the opinions or thoughts of others. Go ahead, Work What You've Got!

If you're uncertain as to how to work what you've got, give me a call. We can work on it together. With my support, you'll begin appreciating and working what you've got in no time. Don't wait. Use this link to review and complete our Coaching Intake Form or phone me today at: 510-352-2121 or 678-344-6373.

Kennette Reed