Thursday, September 19, 2013

What about me???

TV evangelist, Joyce Meyer, does a skit quite often where she walks across the stage, swinging her arms that are locked in the 90 degrees, imitating a robot and repeating over and over in her deep, raspy voice, "what about me? what about me?"

Those who are successful in this business: the artists, designers, paint distributers, the re-purposers, who are skyrocketing to the top of this industry, such as Dumpster Diva or Miss Mustard Seed, are definitely not walking around acting like a dang "what about me" robot.

Those who are really happy in this industry, do not criticize others in the field.  They are not comparing their work to others.  They are not expecting others to promote their business for them. They don't use others for their own personal gain unless it's a win-win.  In fact, they are not focused on their competition at all, although they are always of aware of who their competition is.  That's just smart business. They are focused on differation.  They speak up and are proactive.  They don't wait for someone to help them and they don't keep people around or in their circle who try to undermine their success.  They do the later with no apology needed.  No one has time for that!

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When they gain, they bring people up with them.  These folks establish their own personal brand. They keep focused on improving their techniques and are learning constantly. They surround their selves with "A" class people who lift them higher, and not petty people who fight small battles.

When things don't work out, they don't spread discord, take sides, start rumors, believe everything they hear or point fingers, but instead, they simply move on to other things that are a better fit for them.   They don't burn unnecessary bridges with the folks who tried to help along the way.  Without doubt, successful people in any industry are just not seen walking around with a chip on their shoulder saying "but what about me?"

If I'm wrong, please name one successful person whose a "what about me" robot in this industry.

Instead, it is evident in their behaviors that as they take a step forward, they reach down and pull someone up with them.

A successful person may fail 1,000 times, but never be a victim.

If you've found yourself being that robot, I encourage you to stop and instead find peace in your beautiful, talented self and start finding the beauty in what others are doing- even your biggest competition.

I challenge any one in the industry whose in a "slump" to reach out to someone whose just getting started or someone who you strive to be like and give back-  even if it's just simple encouragement.

After all, the talents and skills you have been given from God have never once been about you anyways.











Monday, September 2, 2013

Before you strike a deal.

Lately, out of no where, Bible verses have been randomly popping in my head.  Tonight, it's Matthew 7: 15-20.   Just pieces of that passage came to mind, such as the last verse: you'll recognize them by their fruit.  I immediately googled that part to find the "rest of the story."  So, I have had an ahh-haa moment and I have got to get this out.

Picture from : http://thewildernessroad.blogspot.com/2012/07/my-study-this-morning-matthew-715-20.html

 Matthew 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.   16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?   17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.   18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.   19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.   20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

Anyone can say with confidence and a smile on their face "no-drama-for-me" talk, or with great conviction say "God led me" or "I believe this is what God wants me to do," talk, which in my opinion, falls under "prophet" talk.  Quite frankly, this is music to any Christian's ears in the secular world.  I know it is mine.

As a Christian, it's easy to want to strike a deal and give your heart over to these kind of folks as they seem to be far and few between.  So why then do we sometimes find ourselves, after some time passes and the relationship is in full swing or the deal is struck, left with pain caused by the prickly thorns and thistles?  Our natural reflex is to want to say, "I never even saw that coming!" The Bible says differently.

So how do we prevent that from happening to us and/or our business?

I believe the tricky piece of all of this that causes even the best of us to be misled is that people can show little glimpses of one, two or ALL of these traits; however, for a tree to produce fruit, it takes time, which tells us that they must do "good, fruit bearing" actions over and over and over again. There has got to be concrete evidence!

Evidence is such things as : friends to account for, visits to the hospital for friends/family in need, charitable work, do they volunteer for the meaningless, gets-no-credit or whats-in-it-for-me tasks? Do they have a positive network with them already, thats not immediate family, in whatever field of business they are in or are they in it solo?

We must protect our selves and hearts by not giving people just the benefit of doubt, but look a bit deeper for demonstrated actions found through "judging a person's character by what they do for people who cannot help them," philosophy.

So, what I have learned tonight that I am sharing with you is this:  Before going into business with someone, marrying some one, or "making a deal" with someone, we must learn to make decisions AFTER taking a good look at PAST behavior and fruits they've beared.  If you can't find any, believe what you see and move on!  There will be plenty more fish in the sea.

Fruits to look for: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, and self-control.  Remember, a bad tree can't bear good fruits, and a good tree can't bear bad fruits.

After all, in word's of Dr. Phil, "the best predictor of future behavior is past behavior."