God Helps Those Who Help Themselves

This is not a religious post.


This simple statement is something my mother said to me frequently when I was growing up.  She wasn't implying I should take a "five finger discount" but more that if you want something you need to take the initiative to get it.  No one is going to do it for you.  It never occurred to me how much this one statement is buried within my core and has influenced my life.


It's as true now as it was then.  Remember it.

What is Luck?

Luck is where preparation meets opportunity.

There are a number of people who have used a variation of this phrase...so I'll just say that it isn't mine, but I believe it wholeheartedly.

Years ago, I was talking with an executive from a multi-billion dollar company and I asked him how he got where he is today.  "I'm just lucky." he said.  I was never quite comfortable with that statement.  Obviously, he wasn't sitting on the couch, watching TV, eating Cheetos when the phone rang and the caller said, "Hey you lucky guy.  Wanna be an executive?"  He had to work...and work...and work.  And finally, when the opportunity arose his work paid off.

Keep this in mind.  You may not control the opportunities, but you have full control over your preparation. Thus you have more control over how lucky you are then you may realize.

My Beliefs

I don't believe in never or impossible.  Only time, effort, and innovation.

Be Brief, Be Bright, Be Gone

Since mantras have been my theme I guess I should share my third and last.  I cannot take credit for this one either.  There was a gentleman whom I did not work with that passed this on through my organization and I have adopted it (though only others can tell you about the quality of my execution).

If ever in doubt of how to communicate, let this be your guide.

Do Nothing, Say Nothing, Be Nothing

This is a revision of an Elbert Hubbard quote, "To avoid criticism do nothing, say nothing, be nothing."  I've dropped the first three words to create a personal mantra.

Why have I adopted this?  Have you ever been bothered by something you didn't say?  Sure, I get upset about things I have said, but the ones that I haven't seem to linger in my guilt repository much longer.  Because of this, though, I am often the only one willing to publicly voice my thoughts and concerns - even if I am not the only one thinking them.  Yes, this has put me in difficult personal situations at times, but I would not change it.  Through this, I have influenced my life and I hold pride in that.

I put out there to everyone....Do Nothing, Say Nothing, Be Nothing.  Apply it intelligently and kindly (as required), but apply it.

Who Are You?

I suffer from constant anxiety. (Oh my gosh, Michelle. That's so horrible.  How do you live?)  Yeah, yeah. But I've developed my own way of dealing with it.  And it works well...for me.

Someone once said, "Anxiety is suffering failure before it occurs." It sounds simple, but it changed my life.  It has become my mantra.  (Actually, this is a modification of Seth Godin's perspective on anxiety http://bit.ly/dpMOIR)

Here is my three step process to regaining sanity:

1) Remind yourself of what anxiety truly is (see above)
2) Identify what you are concerned about failing
3) Remind yourself of who you are

The third step is interesting.  If you're feeling down - which no one ever does, I'm sure - it could be tricky.   So I refer specifically to StrengthsFinder (http://bit.ly/h3es6x).  This book has done a great job of making clear to me where I excel.  It helps me to be logical about how circumstances may cause me anxiety, but also that I'm valuable.  I will also do a little reading about my Myers-Briggs type (http://bit.ly/uiArt).

Yes - I'm obsessed with personality / personal development tests.  I'll post more specific information on my strengths and MBTI on the About Me page.

BTW - now that I've typed this thought up I'm feeling a bit dorky.  Merb.