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motivation

The Most Important Career Advice

What happens when rejection comes? If you go for an interview or try something new that you are not perfect at, how do you persist to the breakthrough and to success?

This Forbes article by Jack Kelly nails what most of us know but when negative feelings come, is so hard to put into practice. Push past the feelings and believe in yourself.

When these things happen, you need to have hope. You must rewire your brain to think positively.”

Jack Kelly

It comes back to faith and hope. That’s easier said than done, isn’t it? When the past and present evidence seems stacked against you, it’s tempting to believe this slump will always be this way.

Five years ago, I needed to hear this. A business venture failed, A move to another state didn’t pan out. Just when I thought I found my niche in one state, we had to head back to another because my wife had a job that paid more and was a better fit for her. It was a very trying time as I attempted to find my place after living in three states in three years.

We tend to believe that the past dictates the future. It does not. Sure the emotional baggage is strong. We tend to see past misfortune as evidence. And the evidence is indisputable, right?

Wrong! The past happened. Your future hasn’t. It is just as likely your future is positive and full of blessing as it is to be negative and barren. Have the hope that your future will be brighter. And have the faith to take positive steps to make that hope a reality.

I eventually found work in what I had hoped for all the time. Today, I am so glad I held on. If you’re going through a tough time. Keep your hope and faith alive!

It will get you through those times when disappointment comes. Short-term, you may have setbacks. But long-term, you will make it through this!

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motivation

The Successful Fail

Yes, successful people fail. Not many people want to acknowledge that, including this author. It’s uncomfortable. Successful people are willing to work at mastery, even if it is ever elusive. It’s not that the successful never fail, it’s that they know how to keep going when failures and setbacks take down other people.

I was reminded of this when I read the Inc.com article, Mastery: What it Takes to Be on Top by Tanya Prive. The article says success takes mastery. And to master something takes these three requirements:

  • It’s not about the destination, it’s about the process
  • Get comfortable with being uncomfortable
  • Be willing to fail forward

Do the Successful Fail?

Trying something and failing isn’t easy. In 2015, my wife and I took a risk that ended up hurting us emotionally and financially. I said then that I had no regrets, and that holds true today. That risk has made us stronger and caused us to depend on our faith and each other. We are better people for it.

What we have learned from the event is crucial to our next steps. Does the setback make us want to never try to make a move again, or do we learn from it and try something different the next time? In effect, do we learn from the experiment or just quit?

Across the world, scientists and medical professionals are developing a vaccine for COVID-19. There have been many failures, I’m sure. But I am thankful for the lab technicians that are discovering what doesn’t work and then experimenting to find what will work. It takes persistence and a willingness to fail in order to eventually be successful.

We wouldn’t want these professionals to give up before they find a cure. Nor should we give up if we have a calling or ambition that fires us up. If you haven’t reached mastery yet, if success has been elusive for you, keep learning from your past mistakes and failures. You never know what good it may do for you and others in the future.

scientist working in laboratory
Photo by Chokniti Khongchum on Pexels.com
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motivation

Relying on Technology or Persistence?

You have to wonder how animals would fare if they had similar technology to what humans have. There are some critters like raccoons, coyotes, and moles that are so persistent, they have learned to thrive in spite of human intervention.

They also thrive despite their lack of technology.

  • They have no smartphones to tell them where to go
  • They can’t text their friends or use workflow software to stay productive
  • They keep plugging away with what they possess
  • They can get quite creative in evading capture without group chats

I tend to rely on technology a lot. Email is the primary form of communication at work. It’s necessary when I communicate with people across the country. But we use it a lot internally, even though we may be within walking distance of visiting a coworker and clarifying a confusing conundrum.

At the end of a busy day, I’ve found it is persistence, creativity and a good attitude that keeps me going. I have learned to use technology when it is helpful and pull back when it is not. Relying too much on one type of tool can become a crutch, and even a hindrance if I am not careful.

Even so, I have always loved periscopes. Perhaps I should get one of those whenever I am searching for someone in a cubicle. Maybe I can find one with a HUD (Heads Up Display) and night vision! Wouldn’t that be cool? Now here I go, geeking out on technology again!

Has there been a time when you found technology wasn’t helping and you had to find another way? Let me know in the comments.

Cartoon of woman spying a periscope in her backyard.
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Sermon Notes Sketch notes

Difficult People: The Blamer | Sermon Sketch Notes

Sermon notes page 1, Difficult People Philippians 3
Copyright ©2017 Kevin Spear | Sermon Copyright Kyle Hayes

Sermon notes page 2 Difficult People Philippians 3
Copyright ©2017 Kevin Spear | Sermon Copyright Kyle Hayes

Yesterday’s sermon was courtesy of Kyle Hayes. My big takeaway was his discussion on Locus of Control. Naturally, if we believe things are out of our control we claim we are victims of circumstance.