Terri's Tuesday Tip of the Week - June 26th

Review your goals twice every day in order to be focused on achieving them. - Les Brown

I can't change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination. - Jimmy Dean

We must let go of the life we have planned, so as to accept the one that is waiting for us. - Joseph Campbell

We are halfway through 2018…WOW!  This is a great time to review goals, analyze progress, determine what changes need to be made and decide what needs to be said “no” to.  Mid-year reviews are an important activity because we are constantly changing, and our goals will often times need to change.  

Over the last couple of weeks, Terri’s Tuesday Tip of the Week has discussed various aspects of what occurs during a mid-year review.  Gigi Butler’s plan changed when her dream of being a country western singer ended and her dream became opening her own bakery.  Zersenay Tadese changed his normal routine of not drinking water while running to drinking water and slashed 4 minutes off his marathon time.  And then my personal story of simply saying “NO”.  

Here are steps to follow to conduct a mid-year review:

v  Read through your goals.

v  Analysis benchmarking data to determine progress.

v  Examine first half of 2018 to determine which goals still “fit” into your life and determine which goals you no longer need to continue working towards. 

v  Determine what “small” changes you need to make to help accomplish your remaining 2018 goals.

v  Discuss with accountability partner for feedback, suggestions, etc. 

CHALLENGE: Conduct your mid-year review.

https://muriellemarie.com/goals-that-matter/mid-year-goals-review-2016-part-1-2/

Terri's Tuesday Tip of the Week - June 19th

Sometimes "No" is the kindest word. - Vironika Tugaleva

“NO” is a complete sentence. It does not require an explanation to follow. You can truly answer someone’s request with a simple No. - Sharon E. Rainey, The Best Part of My Day Healing Journal

When you say no to the wrong people, it opens up the space for the right people to come in. - Joe Calloway, Magnetic: The Art of Attracting Business

Learn to say “no” to the good and the advantageous, in order to receive the best. - Sunday Adelaja

You can get a thousand no's from people, and only one "yes" from God. - Tyler Perry

NO…not always a fun word to hear, but a word that often needs to be said.  NO is a word that will often help people accomplish their dreams. 

As I have been working towards my goals, many people have made suggestions of books to read, podcasts to listen to, television shows to watch, etc.  At times, I have been overwhelmed by all of the recommendations.  Recently, I was considering a book a family member suggested to me.  Since reading is one of my favorite things to do, I rarely decline a suggestion.  However, I had a few other books I also needed to read.  Considering this book, I reviewed a few important things about what I planned for my life in 2018.  My word for the year is “history” and I determined earlier this year that I wanted to focus a majority of my learning on history.  Since the suggested book did not have anything to do with history, I told myself “NO”. 

Throughout this year, I have learned that if I lose my focus and do not stay the course of focusing on some aspect of “history” I feel I get off track for accomplishing my goals.  From these experiences, I decided that I wanted to focus on my goals and rarely stray from them.

As a side-note, I am not suggesting that an individual cannot do something in a year that is not working towards accomplishing their goals.  We all need to have fun and life does not always go as planned.  In those times, we need to be flexible.  However, to accomplish goals, I believe it is very important to stay focused and often that means saying “NO”.

CHALLENGE:  Next week will be the mid-year mark.  This is a great time to finish up any goals that have mid-year deadlines and complete any goals that are almost completed to help boost your confidence. 

Terri's Tuesday Tip of the Week - June 12th

The ultimate way to change something is to change what is behind that something. Change what is behind something and something will change! - Ernest Agyemang Yeboah

Only I can change my life. No one can do it for me. - Carol Burnett

I can't change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination. - Jimmy Dean

Kenya’s Dennis Kimetto set the world record in the marathon by running a time of 2:02:57 at the 2014 Berlin Marathon.   In 2017, Nike created a project for runners to break the 2-hour mark for running a marathon.  They selected three runners, which were Lelisa Desisa, Eliud Kipchoge and Zersenay Tadese.  To help these gentlemen break the 2-hour marathon barrier, Nike studied the runner’s strides, nutrition needs and even created new running shoes for them to wear.  

Zersenay Tadese is considered one of the best marathon runners of all times and holds the half-marathon record at 58:23 according to Sports Illustrated in May 2017.  He trains in Eritrea and his stride is beautiful, smooth and effortless.  Brett Kirby of Nike’s Sport Research Lab said about Tadese, “This guy is a stud.”

As Nike was assisting Tadese in slimming minutes off his marathon time, they asked many questions including how much water he drank while running.  In his two previous marathons, he said he did not drink any water during the race making his body greatly dehydrated.  Nike scientist encouraged him to drink more during training runs and they would make sure he was adequately hydrated during the actual event.  Tadese finished the marathon in 2:06:51, which was almost 4 minutes faster his personal best marathon of 2:10:41.

Nike credits many things for helping Tadese in slimming almost 4 minutes of his marathon time.  However, drinking more water during his marathon is considered one of the biggest factors.

CHALLENGE:  As you are reviewing your 2018 goals, think about what minor changes you can make to help accomplish your goals.

Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zersenay_Tadese

https://news.nike.com/news/how-to-watch-the-breaking2-documentary

www.si.com/edge/2017/05/06/eliud-kipchoge-two-hour-marathon-nike-breaking2-results

http://running.competitor.com/2017/05/news/breaking-2-nike-missed-goal_164272

https://www.runnersworld.com/training/a20846898/what-nikes-breaking2-team-learned-in-africa/

https://theaterchurch.com/media/reboot/back-to-basics

Terri's Tuesday Tip of the Week - June 5th

I dream my painting and I paint my dream. ― Vincent van Gogh

Dreams are the touchstones of our characters. ― Henry David Thoreau

Live the Life of Your Dreams: Be brave enough to live the life of your dreams according to your vision and purpose instead of the expectations and opinions of others. ― Roy T. Bennett, The Light in the Heart

Have you ever heard of Gigi’s Cupcakes?  Until recently, I had not; however, I think this story is inspiring and well worth the read.    

Gina “Gigi” Butler started her first company, Gigi’s Cleaning Company, at 15 because she did not want to work for anyone else.  Her real dream was to become a country singer/songwriter so she sold her cleaning business and followed her dream to Nashville, Tennessee.  After finding a few cleaning clients, she would clean during the day and at night wait tables and sing.  During this time, she worked at popular tourist night spots such as Tootsie’s and The Stage on Broadway.

At 30, she decided that she had spent enough late nights waiting tables and singing.  She decided that she would retire from the music industry.  Part of her felt like she was a failure because she had not accomplished her dream, but she knew that God healed all wounds.  After expanding her cleaning business and hiring new employees, she was content with life. 

One afternoon while cleaning, her brother, Steve, called her from New York.  He told her that he had just stood in line for 2 hours for a cupcake and he personally believed that the cupcakes she made with her mom were better than the one he was eating.  He encouraged her to start her own bakery in Nashville.  She took a “leap of faith” and decided to start the bakery. 

After many setbacks including financing issues and people not believing in her dream, she found a banker that helped her. On the day she opened the bakery, she had $33 in her checking account. Gigi’s Cupcakes now has more than 100 locations in 23 states.

Gigi’s advice for anyone interested in her story:

If I can convey just one idea to someone reading my story, it would be to believe in yourself, walk with integrity, work hard and trust in God. And maybe your life won’t turn out exactly how you were expecting or hoping it to be; but maybe, just maybe, it will be so much better than you could have ever imagined!

With God, all things are possible!

CHALLENGE:  Be encouraged to keeping pushing towards your dreams!

As we are approaching midyear, it is a great time to start preparing to conduct your midyear goal review.  If you are not tracking benchmark data for your 2018 goals, start gathering data to determine progress.

To Read the Full Story about Gigi’s Cupcakes:

https://gigibutler.com/about/

https://gigiscupcakesusa.com/about/gigis-story/

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

Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal. – Henry Ford

One benefit of summer was that each day we had more light to read by. – Jeanette Walls

I was made for summer days. – Unknown

I love how summer just wraps it’s arms around you like a warm blanket. ― Kellie Elmore

Summertime will soon be upon us and it is a great time to start thinking about how we plan to continue progressing towards our goals even with the craziness and uncertainty in our lives seen in summer.  Now is a great time to create your summer daily routine.  Benjamin Franklin said:

If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail!

Previously, I have talked about how scheduled I am and how I have everything as a task on my to-do list.  For me, this is the only way I accomplish my daily tasks and there are still days I do not complete everything on my daily plan.  To prepare myself, I created my daily summer to-do list, which includes many of the same tasks that I normally do, but I also revised it because I desire to have more time to spend with friends.  When I revised my list, I contemplated the 3 M’s.

3 M’s for Creating a Summer Routine:

1.       Make it manageable.

2.       Make it reasonable.

3.       Make it fun.

Remember, this plan is all yours so create something that will be best for you. 

CHALLENGE:  Create your summer daily routine.

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

 Freedom and security are precious gifts that we, as Americans, should never take for granted. We must do all we can to extend our hand in times of need to those who willingly sacrifice each day to provide that freedom and security. While we can never do enough to show gratitude to our nation's defenders, we can always do a little more. - Gary Sinise

There is nothing nobler than risking your life for your country. - Nick Lampson

America without her soldiers would be like God without His angels. – Claudia Pemberton

As Americans, we are blessed to live in a wonderful country where we have the freedom of speech, press, religion and right to peaceably assemble as is stated in the 1^st Amendment of the Constitution.  Those rights are protected by the men and women of the United States Military.  If our country was not protected, we would not be able to pursue our dreams and goals.    

As we are approaching Memorial Day next week and since May is Military Appreciation Month, this is a great time to honor those men and women who protect our country and those who have lost their lives defending our country. 

The nation which forgets its defenders will be itself forgotten. - Calvin Coolidge

CHALLENGE:  Take time to thank the men and women who serve this great country AND their families because they serve also. 

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

You are what you do, not what you say you'll do. - C.G. Jung

Without struggles, success would be meaningless. - Peprah Boasiako

Sayings remain meaningless until they are embodied in habits. - Khalil Gibran

Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony. - Mahatma Gandhi

The last lesson I have learned over the last 4 years writing Terri’s Tuesday Tip of the Week is that I have to do what I write. 

Recently, I was frustrated with what was going on in my life and had a negative mindset.  As I was evaluating why I was upset, I realized that I was not doing what I have written about in Terri’s Tuesday Tip of the Week so many time…having a positive mindset!  After getting over my frustration, I took time to think and mentally recalibrate my thoughts to implement a positive mindset for myself. 

In a different situation, I have always been a reader and have set many goals about reading books.  Through writing this blog, I learned that I am an auditory learner and I changed my goals for 2018 to include more auditory learning to include listening to books and podcasts.

You must know in your heart before anyone else does what is going to be good and then follow through. - Bill Budge

CHALLENGE:  Do what you say and be an example for others!

Terri's Tuesday Tip of the Week - May 8th

The great aim of education is not knowledge but action. - Herbert Spencer

Do you want to know who you are? Don't ask. Act! Action will delineate and define you. - Thomas Jefferson

What we plant in the soil of contemplation, we shall reap in the harvest of action. - Meister Eckhart

Do you like to know the “steps” of how to accomplish a task?  I do!  I like to create actions plans that include the “steps” I will accomplish to complete a task.  In some of my action plans, I have broken down my goals into smaller goals by setting daily or weekly goals to know what actions I need to take regularly to make progress.  After writing Terri’s Tuesday Tip of the Week for a couple years, I realized I was not challenging or motivating readers to actions.    

Success comes from taking the initiative and following up... persisting... eloquently expressing the depth of your love. What simple action could you take today to produce a new momentum toward success in your life? - Tony Robbins

Tony Robbins’ quote above is so true.  In mid-2016, I added the “Challenge” at the end of each blog post to encourage readers to think about what they read and then take ACTION!

In essence, if we want to direct our lives, we must take control of our consistent actions. It's not what we do once in a while that shapes our lives, but what we do consistently. - Tony Robbins

CHALLENGE:   What action will you take today towards accomplishing your 2018 goals?

Terri's Tuesday Tip of the Week - May 1st

Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young. - Henry Ford  

Knowledge is power. Information is liberating. Education is the premise of progress, in every society, in every family. - Kofi Annan

Develop a passion for learning. If you do, you will never cease to grow. - Anthony J. D'Angelo

By improving yourself, the world is made better. Be not afraid of growing too slowly.  Be afraid only of standing still. – Benjamin Franklin

When I started writing Terri’s Tuesday Tip of the Week, my intent was to provide tidbits of encouragement each week.  Little did I know how I would be challenged each week to come up with new and exciting stories and ideas.  And once one is published, I start the whole process again for the next week.     

Since I love to learn, I have used this to my advantage.  As I read books and blogs and listen to podcasts to improve myself, I search for new and exciting stories and ideas that I can pass on to readers to encourage them to press toward their dreams!

Before you are a leader, success is all about growing yourself. When you become a leader, success is all about growing others. – Jack Welch

CHALLENGE:  Be a continual learner and pass the knowledge on!

Terri Tuesday Tip of the Week - April 24th

Never despise small beginnings, and don't belittle your own accomplishments. Remember them and use them as inspiration as you go on to the next thing. When you venture outside your comfort zone, wherever the starting point may be, it's kind of a big deal. – Chris Guillebeau

Thus out of small beginnings greater things have been produced by His hand that made all things of nothing, and gives being to all things that are; and, as one small candle may light a thousand, so the light here kindled hath shone unto many... -  William Bradford, Bradford: Of Plymouth Plantation

The best preparation for tomorrow is doing your best today. H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

Today is the publication of the 200^th Terri’s Tuesday Tip of the Week, which amazes me!  As I was thinking about how this all started, I went back to July 2013.  At that time, I was attending a church in Austin, Texas and wanted to create a group for female business professionals to discuss topics that would affect their lives.  Our first meeting was a small group of ladies in October 2013.  As the months passed, I continued to hear that ladies wanted to attend, but they were busy business professionals and could not make the meetings.  I analyzed the situation and started thinking about this thing called a “blog”.  I decided I could provide weekly “tidbits” of information to help encourage people in progressing towards their dreams and that is how Terri’s Tuesday Tip of the Week was birthed.  Through this blog, a dream of one day writing a book has been birthed in me. 

From small beginnings come great things. – Proverb

Over the next couple weeks, blog posts will discuss different things I have learned over the last four years. 

CHALLENGE: Think back to a small beginning that catapulted you towards something you never dreamed of.  Be encouraged by what you have accomplished since that small beginning and continue to push towards your dreams!