Green Grass

Are you familiar with the saying "the grass is always greener on the other side"?  It refers to observing a different environment or someone else's situation and thinking it is better than yours.  The key thing to remember is that the grass on the other side may have started out just like your grass.  Work had to be done to get it to the beautiful color that you see now.  Don't think that others had an easy path to any success that you may admire.  There were sacrifices made and steps followed over a period of time.  There is no such thing as an overnight success.  Just because you didn't see the work doesn't mean it didn't happen.  Green grass requires planting, watering, fertilization, weeding, and mowing.  While these are lawn care terms, they can be applied to other areas. 

1. Plant - Your ideas and opinions are seeds.  What you sow will grow.  Seeds of doubt produce weeds of worry.  Seeds of confidence produce blades of belief.  Seeds of can't produce weeds of won't. Seeds of attention produce lawns without limits.
2. Water - A sprinkler system distributes water throughout the grass.  The water provides moisture so that the grass won't dry out and die. Similarly, your creativity needs to be watered on a regular basis.  Use it or lose it.  What you create may not be useful, make sense, or look good.  That's okay, sometimes the process is more important than the product.  Practice is not only necessary for medicine, law, athletics, and many other skills.  It is the only way to strengthen your creative abilities.
3. Fertilize - Your experience, environment, and curiosity serve as fertilizers for your progress. Failure is a powerful fertilizer.  When you are knocked down, you get up with an understanding of how to avoid that fall in the future.  Where you are impacts your development path .  When you interact with others that are focused and expect to grow, you benefit from the association.  Always ask questions.  It's the best way to get answers.  Never assume that you know everything about anything. 
4. Weed - Distractions are all around you.  It is key to recognize them so that they don't hinder your progress.  Just as weeds may be green like grass, your distractions may appear to be beneficial to you at first glance.  It is helpful to periodically review what you are doing and the reasons for it.  This will help you identify the weeds and eliminate them. 
5. Mow - Trim your list of "musts" to a reasonable number. It's called prioritization.  Everything is not critical.  Some things don't have to be done right now.  Learn how to divide your "haves".  There is a difference between a must have and a nice to have.  Continuous mowing (evaluation, prioritization, flexibility) is necessary so that you don't have an overgrown lawn, or overwhelmed you.  

Leave a comment and share your thoughts on this week's post.

DNA Test

DNA is the term used to describe your genetic foundation.  It is often used to verify family relationships or as evidence in trials.  Think about how the same concept can be used as the basis for your success.  Success means different things to different people.  Only you can define what your finish line looks like.  However, there are some common traits (DNA) that can help you create a plan to reach it.  Take a DNA test to determine if you have the right combination to be the best you.  These are 3 tests to consider.

• Decision, Networking, Accountability - Make decisions with consideration, confidence, and commitment.  Know that there will be consequences, good and bad.  Build an effective network of support to help you recognize the risks and benefits of your decisions.  Rarely will you be the first person to ever encounter a situation.  Someone has usually been there before you.  Your network should function like a library.  They are a resource for you.  They will also hold you accountable for your action and reactions, your means and ends, and your outlook and outcome. While the beginning and end are important to your network, they are also interested in the middle.  Decisions facilitate networking.  Networking establishes accountability.  Accountability influences decisions. 

• Development, Negotiation, Attitude - Develop your skills to meet your vision.  You are equipped to handle where you are right now.  You will need new tools to be effective at your next level.  Continuous learning leads to continuous progress.  Be an active participant in what happens to you.  You get what you request.  Negotiate the terms, circumstances, and expectations that are most beneficial for you.  Others will be more willing to compromise with you when you approach them respectfully and honestly.  Your attitude speaks louder than any words that you say.  When people hear your name, you want them to anticipate collaboration not dread combativeness.    

• Drive, Navigation, Awareness - Your inner drive is the trigger for your intensity, focus, and consistency.  If you don't have the ambition to pursue what you want despite obstacles and challenges, then it won't happen.  What you have on the inside determines what happens on the outside.  You always have options when things go differently than planned.  How you navigate your way through trouble and disappointment will make an impression on others.  Be aware of the message that you are sending.  Know that there are connections and relationships that are not obvious to you.  Read, listen, and comprehend between the lines. 

 Leave a comment and share which DNA test you will take this week.