Category: motivation

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motivation

Failure is Success if…

Failure is success if we learn from it

Malcom Forbes in Brainyquote.com

That is the whole key to success. Success isn’t about doing everything right the first time. If it is that easy for you, then you probably aren’t living up to your potential. After all, how do you know what your limits are if you’ve succeeded at everything you’ve set out to do?

The challenge is to learn from it. We humans can get stuck at doing the same foolish thing over and over again. Addictive behaviors, negative thinking patterns and unhealthy habits can make us believe we can never escape from failure.

It reminds me of the verse found in Proverbs 26:11. As a dog returns to his vomit… what a repulsive image! Yet when we don’t learn from our failures and repeat unhealthy behaviors, whe are like the dog and the fool who returns to his folly.

Let’s learn from our failures. They don’t have to hold us down. We can use them as a springboard to success.

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motivation

The Opportunity of Change

Winter scene with snow on branches

This weekend, I made my way out into the snow. The roads were slick. So I wore ice cleats. The wind was stiff, so I wore a jacket. Cars and SUV’s were out, so I had a bright orange cap. The winter weather didn’t bother me. In fact, I enjoyed the change of pace.

It would have been easy to chuck it all. It looked frigid outside. The coffee was already brewing and I smelled breakfast. But I knew I would enjoy it more after I went out for a run. The scenery was beautiful, after all. It reminded me of a quote from a book I am reading.

Above all, effective executives treat change as an opportunity rather than a threat.

Peter Drucker in The Effective Executive, Page xviii

I could have decided what was outside was a threat or an opportunity. I am glad I took the opportunity and I got some great views out of the venture. the trees and bushes were covered in snow. By the afternoon, it was all off the branches.

  • Winter scene on a roadway
  • Snowy scene
  • snowy scene with a pedestrian bridge and a creek
  • Winter scene with snow on branches
Winter scenes on a January, morning run

Circumstances are changing all the time, like wet snow on a January morning. Do you see it as an opportunity or a threat? In order to be effective, choose to see the changing environment as an opportunity.

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motivation

Are You in the Right Place for Encouragement?

Cartoon of two boys arguing

This weekend, I’m with friends that have been with us through good and tough times. They were there for us when we struggled in a Southwest venture and when we came back to the Midwest.

It feels good to be among friends that listen and encourage. We all need those friends. And we need to be one of those friends.

My hope and prayer for you is that this blog is that type of encouragement. None of us have to look far to find worry and discouragement. In fact, it is more than happy to find us. I have no desire to add to the easily obtained commodity of doom and gloom.

Look for places that give you encouragement. Look for people that want to build up instead of tear down. Find books and media that are uplifting. It will strengthen you and give you the strength to keep going.

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motivation

A Little Birdie Told Me

Cartoon of two boys and tweeting bird

The other day, I heard the phrase, A little bird told me when someone wanted to pass along anonymous information. It wasn’t very helpful. Whenever I’ve heard that phrase, it means someone really wants to give gossip instead of something useful.

I like Twitter and I have spent some quality time reading through tweets. It can be entertaining, much like gossip. But it frequently doesn’t leave me a better, improved person, much like gossip.

Cartoon of two boys and tweeting bird

Beware of who you follow and what you listen to. The wrong voice can bring you down and ruin your productivity. An anonymous little birdie can make you wonder who else is grumbling and who can you trust.

The tongue can cause great damage. It’s amazing how incessant chirping and tweeting can affect you.

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motivation

Failure is an Option if You Want Success

cartoon of a girl and a monster. The monster is eating someone. A girl says, "You see Roger? This is why I don't like facing my fears."

The fear of failure grips us all. Who wants to look foolish? All of us would like to nail a challenge the first time. We all would like to appear perfect, flawless and successful.

The problem is that none of us know what will be successful from one moment to the next. What worked last year doesn’t this year. What doesn’t work now may be a viral success in the future.

We can create, but we can’t guarantee our creations will be a success. Hollywood is a great example. How many movies miss the mark? Yet nobody working on a movie wants it to be a bomb. How many movies were failures when they first came out, only to become cult classics?

Failure is an option if you want to create anything, try anything new or make a difference. Success doesn’t come from doing everything successfully. Success comes from showing up and doing the work consistently.