What Are You Waiting For?

Time to read: A nice short one. 43 seconds.

My clients have said things recently like:

• "I'll retire next year when…."
• "I'll look for a new job when…."
• "I'll go visit that old friend when…."
• "I'll move to my dream city when…."

When is when? This thinking operates on a fallacy that there is more money, time, and motivation in the future than there is in the present. This fallacy keeps you waiting, but for what?

The future is built upon who you are and what you do with this minute, this hour and this day.

So instead of looking to a false future that you think holds all your dreams and desires, ask yourself what you can do now to bring your current reality closer to your dreams and desires. If you want more fun and freedom in the future, what can you do this minute to have more fun? If your future self is carefree and calm, how do you become carefree and calm today?

This is a simple concept with wide-reaching impact. If you have a minute, I'd love to hear you what you think. Hit reply to share your thoughts.

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Be well.

Happy Spring Break!

Time to read: 15 seconds so you can get back to your frilly drink

Two years ago this week, we were all scrambling to cancel our spring break travel plans, worrying about what was going to happen to our jobs, watching restaurants close (some of them forever), and wondering what the heck was going on. Three weeks became three years, and here we are.

This week, people are traveling for spring break again. Restaurants are open! Some folks are back at the office and if they're not, we're really good at online work. Things aren't perfect. Lots of people have suffered and continue to suffer. Who knows what Covid has in store for us now.

And…let's CELEBRATE what's good. Toes in sand. College trips. Meals you don't have to cook for yourself. And my favorite - hanging out regularly with friends again! I could go on and on about the power of celebrating, and you have fun to have. Get back to it!

If you're traveling for spring break, have a wonderful time!

If you are one of the many people who forward these blog articles to your friends and colleagues, please make sure they know they can sign up for my newsletter here.

Be well.

3 Ways to Open Your Vision

Estimated read time: 2 minutes.

Outside existing structures in Casper, WY

My family and I are on the proverbial American road trip out West – Mt. Rushmore, ranches, vast open spaces of deer, wind and sage brush.

Believe it or not, even out here, I'm thinking of you.

Two things this family likes when traveling are good meals and lots of homemade treats. Thanks to Yelp and Trip Advisor, we have sampled every cupcake, kolache, and ice-cream flavor in the west.

The 4th of July (independence day in the USA) found us in Casper, WY and none of our Yelped options were open. We called place after place, and all were closed (insert frowny face).

We took matters into our own old-fashioned hands by driving into downtown Casper to seek our culinary fortune. We stumbled into Ming House Chinese restaurant which did not appear in any of our internet searches. Inside, we were greeted by the sweetest old man on the planet who spent two hours personally cooking our food while we played Uno. It was a magical evening.

This experience got me thinking about vision and the way the structures around you (and me) conspire to limit the possibilities you think you have.

Internet searches have you believe that the options listed are the only or the best choices. Structures at the office lead you to believe that solutions must fit into a limited range of possibilities. Perceived circumstances in your life and career can keep you in a holding pattern of sameness.

So what do you do about it?

1. Be aware. Start to notice when your possibilities are being determined for you by the limitations of technology, someone else's perspective, or perceived constraints.
2. Open your vision. Look for the options that are outside those structures. You might need to develop new ways of seeing what's possible to even start to see expanded possibilities.
3. Head off the beaten path. Metaphorically drive into downtown to find the restaurants that aren't on Yelp. Try the thing that no one is seeing. Test new options and see what happens.

And you know that I love to hear from you so when you find that expanded possibility, I'd love to hear about it.

Warmly,

Christina

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