Terri's Tuesday Tip of the Week - March 29th

You know a dream is like a river, ever changin' as it flows. And a dreamer's just a vessel that must follow where it goes. - Unknown quotes

It is the end of the first quarter and it is time to review our dreams and goals.  How are you progressing in 2016? 

As I took time to review my dreams and goals, I was able to mark off the completion of the Senatorial District 14 Convention.  Reviewing my reading and running goals, I am on target to surpass my goals in those areas again this year.  During the last couple of weeks, I have been working on my action steps to accomplish other goals and at the right time they will be accomplished!

When I saw that I had accomplished certain goals, I took time to enjoy the “accomplishment”.  Often times, I check it off and move on.  This time, I enjoyed the accomplishment and moved the completed items to my “ACCOMPLISHED” wall!

However, I found one dream that I am not in control of and I had set my sights on one thing, but recently discovered I may have had the “wrong” dream.  When I discovered this, what did I do?  I could have thought this whole “dreams and goals” thing was a myth, but I did not.  I remembered: 

• George Washington lost two-thirds of the battles he fought, but won the most important battle he fought…the Revolutionary War.  

• Babe Ruth hit 713 home runs, but also struck out 1,330 times.  

These successful men had grit, determination and kept pushing forward.  I decided to do the same and simply redefined my dream.  I took time to ponder, think and pray about this dream.  I realized that I had been working toward something which was good, but there may be something even better that I had not yet discovered or realized until recently.  I redefined my dream! 

Stephen Colbert provided a great explanation about how our dreams and goals can change during his 2011 Northwest University’s Commencement Address:

Thankfully, dreams can change.  If we’d all stuck with our first dream, the world would be overrun with cowboys and princesses.  So whatever your dream is right now, if you don’t achieve it, you haven’t failed, and you’re not some loser. 

Challenge: Review your dreams and goals.  How are you doing?  Should you change your perspective on something to move toward something better for you?  Is there something you need to change to help you accomplish a goal by the end of 2016?  

NEVER GIVE UP!

Sometimes things that happen in life are not part of your plan. But when that happens, don't give up on your dreams! Just find another way to reach them. - Rashida Rowe

Terri's Tuesday Tip of the Week - March 22nd

Sometimes it's the journey that teaches you a lot about your destination. - Drake

Over the weekend, I chaired the Senatorial District 14 Convention in Travis County.  This amazing opportunity started over two and half years ago when I took on the responsibility of running the 2014 Senatorial District 14 Convention.  At that time, I said to chair the 2016 Convention, I wanted to chair the 2014 Convention to learn the process and develop my leadership skills.  Little did I know how important and what a MAJOR responsibility the 2016 Convention would be with the unique political situation our country currently is dealing with.  

As I have been organizing the Convention over the last six months, I have had challenges, implemented new ideas, respectfully stood strong in my decisions when people disagreed with me, and confronted individuals when they were insubordinate and did not respect my authority. 

Recently, I was reading a devotional and was reminded that we are all on this Earth for a specific purpose and we should not compare ourselves to others.  I have talked about this before in the blog, but I believe it is something that I want to reinforce today as I was reminded about it.  I often get frustrated that I am not married with kids.  However, I told my mom a couple times over the last three months that I was grateful that I was not because it would have been very difficult to have my full time job including traveling to DC in the middle of February plus organizing and chairing the Convention and then fly back to DC the Sunday after the Convention for work again if I had a family.  I am fulfilling the purpose and mission that I have for such a time as this. 

Saturday morning as I was driving to the Convention, I was talking with my mom and we were discussing how calm I was even though there had been issues Friday night with one of my committees and that I was content and happy with this time in my life.  In contrast, two years ago I hyper-ventilated on the way to the Convention due to fear, nerves, etc. Saturday night, she was still at her Convention in Tarrant County (Arlington, Texas area) and texted me asking, “Did you have fun?”  My response was simply, “YES!”  

Over the last two and a half years, I have grown, developed, matured, learned and prepared for my purpose on Saturday March 19^th, which was to chair the Convention, and BEYOND.  Never think that what you are going through is not important and will never help you accomplish your dreams.  I know that if I had not gone through some of the trials and tribulations of the last two years that I would not have been the strong leader I needed to be to accomplish the task I took on. 

Challenge: ENJOY THE JOURNEY! 

Focus on the journey, not the destination. Joy is found not in finishing an activity but in doing it. Greg Anderson

Terri's Tuesday Tip of the Week - March 15th

A dream is your creative vision for your life in the future. You must break out of your current comfort zone and become comfortable with the unfamiliar and the unknown. Denis Waitley

Move out of your comfort zone. You can only grow if you are willing to feel awkward and uncomfortable when you try something new. - Brian Tracy

Have you ever had a situation where you feel like you need to do something different, but you are being told “We’ve Always Done It That Way”?  This has become an often written about topic in the business sector.  Through the first quarter of 2016, I have had the opportunity many times to hear the phrase “We’ve Always Done It That Way” in many different areas of my life from people I work with and also in my own mind.  When I heard the phrase, I had to contemplate the situation and then decide how to proceed.  

Over the weekend, I read an email newsletter and learned about what I am calling “The Teddy Bear Complex”.  As we proceed in our daily lives, we have those times when it is easy to keep doing things the “Way We’ve Always Done It” because we feel safe and there is no stress or controversy.  It is like we are hugging our teddy bear as we did when we were scared toddlers.

As individuals that our pursuing our individual purpose in life, we have to let go of our “teddy bear” and step out of our comfort zone to try something new.  I am not saying we have to do something new every time we have an issue.  This is where we have to question the situation to determine if there is a better way that is more beneficial for the company we are working for and in our own lives. 

CHALLENGE: Do you have the Teddy Bear Complex?  If so, what changes are you going to make?

Life begins at the end of your comfort zone. Neale Donald Walsch

Suggested Reading

http://npengage.com/nonprofit-management/four-tips-end-weve-always-done-that-way/