Microwave Popcorn

It is common to display more effort when you have an emotional attachment to what you are trying to accomplish?  What does it take for something to tug at your heart strings?  What buttons need to be pushed?  Certain causes may inspire your participation.  Some people are animal lovers.  Others feel strongly about serving their community.  Your heart does speak.  You have to know how and when to listen to it. 

You can compare your heart to a bag of microwave popcorn.  If the timing is not right, the kernels will not pop correctly.  There is usually a setting on the microwave for popcorn.  However, because bag sizes and oven wattage vary, it is best to observe the process and listen for the popping to stop.  Likewise, monitor your heart to prevent balance and perspective issues.

Have you ever smelled burned popcorn?  You are probably making a face now as you think about that unpleasant odor.   It is not a good idea to walk away from the microwave once you put the bag in and press the "Start" or "Popcorn" button.  Similarly, when you begin a new project, it may consume a lot of your time and energy.  This might be necessary to get things up and running.  However, there is the risk of burn out if you continue with tunnel vision toward one thing and neglect other things.

If you take the bag out of the microwave too soon, then there are a lot of kernels that may not pop.  When you take a half-hearted approach to what you are doing, there is a comparable effect.  You may only scratch the surface of your capacity for service and excellence if you are distracted.  It is tempting to try to increase efficiency and save time by working on multiple things simultaneously.  Be careful with that approach.  You don't want to miss the signs that alert you to move on to the next step.  Attention to detail is necessary in order to know when to shift your focus. 

The bag will pop perfectly when you determine the brand (strategy) and time setting (schedule) that work best for you.  Leave a comment and share a popcorn experience.  Did you stay with something too long, quit before it was complete, or finish right on time?