The First Seven Days

It's been a week since the big day---New Years Day--the day to make all those resolutions that you are likely to break. Well, my only resolution this year was to clear a path through the past and break into the future. No definition or criteria for the goal, just try to shake off the old habits and re-energize with possiblities for the future.

I have to say that in the last seven days I've been amazed at how making little changes can have a big impact. One is merely changing locations. I used to have a habit of planting myself in the living room with my morning coffee and laptop and staying there through the morning news, the Early Show and even (sometimes) the local talk show at 10:30 a.m. There I was, still in my bathrobe with half the morning gone. I still enjoy a cup of coffee while going through emails and texting my daughter at the start of our days, but I now get dressed, and move my work area to the kitchen table. Instead of the TV, I've found several music stations on cable that I enjoy, and without the distraction of the TV, I find the music frees both my focus and creativity. It's also amazing to find that just those few extra hours in the morning has done wonders for my productivity. This may not sound like a revelation to those of you who have it all together, but to my sisters-in-bathrobes, it is monumental.

Another thing I decided to do was to go back to Weight Watchers. You can always count on WW to have a new plan each year, and being a Lifer, I can get the books for the price of $13 and a hop on the scale. I stayed for the meeting, bought their digital scale and the points calculator. I find that if I make an investment, I am more likely to follow through for a longer period of time. Well, that scale is the greatest thing to hit the kitchen and my sense of reality. I have used scales before, but the manual kind that I could play with. Not so when the numbers are staring you in the face. What I learned was part of the reason I haven't been able to lose weight is that I have been eating twice the amount of food than I thought I was! I can't believe that the little blot of ice cream in the pyrex cup was a half cup! I have been eating at least three times that much for a serving. Let's not even talk about potato chips! The great thing about WW is that no food is verboten; you just have to watch portion sizes. Well, this past week has been an education in reality--and so far I have lost three pounds, still eating potato chips and ice cream (now in the proper proportions) every day.

The other thing I did was to buy a simple planner. I went to Staples and passed up the fancy Day Runner with all its pockets and extra sections, leather covers, etc. I found a monthly/weekly planner with a black cover for about $13.00 and spent a few hours putting my life in order. All my appointments, notes, phone numbers, etc., are in there. No searching around in my Blackberry and emails (two accounts) to find that message that has the date for that board meeting next week. I love the physical act of writing things down and then crossing them off after they are completed. Retro chic that works

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Now none of the things that I did last week were earth shaking or revolutionary, but they have made an impact on my last seven days. Today and tomorrow I am taking a class at SCAD on how to set up a crafts business, another foot forward into the future. I am reviving my crafts acumen from the past and melding it with my daughter's creativity and fashion design talents to launch a children's fashion/accessory business online.

What a difference a week can make.

New Year, New Me?

Here it is, New Years Day, and many people are in a depressive funk thinking about all the things they didn't accomplish in 2010 and making a long list of things that they resolve to do (and know they probably won't) in 2011. I just went over the Georgia Speaker's Association website, and just reading the success stories of those who did actually join and participate over the past year made me feel like a slacker.

I used to belong to GSA, and I could have written one of the success sidebars about 10 years ago. What happened? Why did I stop participating? How did I get distracted? I am still a professional member of the National Speakers Association, but havent' attended any of the conventions or other workshops they offer.

A couple of life choices at the height of my career success changed the course of my professional career, as did the effects of the stock market crash in '99, and further broken by the terrorist attacks of 9/11 and the chaos that followed. The weekend after the towers fell, I was on a plane to a training week for a client, and was struck by the empty airports and vacant faces I encountered on planes, hotels and in my sessions. Was that an omen of things to come? Divorced and in a faltering relationship, I felt a slow panic of instability as a sole proprietor watching my training schedule thin and the projects downsized or cancelled. A job offer in an area I knew little about but with a paycheck and benefits was the lifeline I grabbed, leaving the work I loved behind. Allowing an unknown fear take over, I traded my passion for creativity and motivation for the Corporate life. I learned a lot, made a lot of mistakes, and made my new profession work for the next seven years, but always regretted the road that I had taken and the knowledge that the I didn't believe in myself enough to tough it out.

Now, here it is a new year, and I am again reminded of the Marlon Brando's line from the movie On The Waterfront--"I could have been somebody...I could have been a contender." Looking back, I have no one to be disappointed in but myself--for not believing strongly enough in myself and taking the easy, sure way out. Holding on to what is safe and secure can keep us from falling, but it will never get us to the other side of what life has waiting for us.

I said I wouldn't make any New Years Resolutions this year, but I have changed my mind. This year, I am going to let go of the handlebars--the monkey bars--the safe path. One of my favorite consultant/writers is Alan Weiss. In his book, Thrive, he said we aren't put here to tread water...we are supposed to make waves. Instead of trying to go back to the person I once was, I am determined to walk forward to discover the person I have always been destined to be NOW! All paths have led up to this moment. Rediscover my passion. A lot have changed in the last 10 years, myself included. The world of work has changed dramatically. The drawers full of old speeches and training programs may not fit the new economy and they certainly don't fit me. Ten more years of life experiences have taught me a lot.

Security is fine, but it is limiting. If you spend all your time trying to maintain--your possessions, your home, your bank account, your present standard of living--that's all you will have. Letting go of the past and walking into the future with no requirements or predetermined expectations can be scary, but liberating. Being open to opportunities and paying attention to what life is offering is much more creative and inspiring than a bunch of resolutions that are supposed to guide me to success by the end of the year.

Letting go of your past, who you were, what you accomplished--especially if you have lost a job, failed at a business, saw a marriage or relationship end--is difficult, but staying there emotionally is a real killer. Letting go changes direction and focus. GSA, you are getting a new member this year who is ready to learn, grow, experience and enjoy every moment, whatever it brings.