photo credit: certified su
First: The winners leaving the best comments on “Magic Monday” are Cheryl, Annie, Stacey and Jannie. Each will receive a paperback copy of my book, “Flying By The Seat Of My Soul.” Be sure to stop by this Monday for more magic and another opportunity to win!
What and who motivates you to go out on a limb? Going out on a limb to me means taking a calculated risk. It’s daring to go where few have gone before.
Identify what you need in your relationships, business and other areas of life that require you to get out of your comfort zone and take risks. In order to motivate yourself define “what your fruit” or reward will be. Then make an action plan and begin.
The following will help you get inspired:
People Will Notice. If it’s your business you will stand out from the crowd. If it’s a relationship it could change the dynamics. If you’re fearful or doubtful figure out the benefits and focus on them. Go after what you want like your success depends on it. Because it does!
I’ve always told my daughters if they have their eye on a certain job they have to believe it’s got their name on it and do what it takes to get it. And mostly that includes going out on a limb to differentiate themselves from others.
As one of 10 children I did what it took to get any morsel of love, attention and affection I could.
Growing up I was loud, spoke my mind and out on a limb most of the time. (Of course as an adult I had to learn how to reign in my “big energy” and use it effectively!)
When I was 13 my dad offered my sisters and I $5 to be the first one to swim across the pond. Now this was a pond with a snapper turtle, fish, water snakes and lots of algae growing underneath the water. We never had swimming lessons and always swam in the shallower sandy part where you could see and mostly touch bottom. It was here we taught ourselves to “dog paddle” on hot clammy afternoons on the farm.
The day my dad made that offer I went for it like my life depended on it. I not only wanted the five dollars, I wanted my dad to notice my bravery, I wanted to shine. I succeeded at both
No One Is Coming To Rescue You. Empower yourself and take the steps needed to move yourself forward. One of my daughter’s was born without a right hand. As her mother I knew I would have to require she do the same tasks her sisters did. She used to cry and say she couldn’t do dishes with only one hand. I always reminded her she was capable, it would just take her a little longer. Because I was tough on Kristy, today she is very successful.
You’ll Get Your Juices Running. Once we take action and see improvements we inspire ourselves to do more. We become more creative, capable and enthusiastic. New ideas and originality abound.
I used to work as a professional speaker. Professional speaking is 90% marketing and 10% speaking. Each time I succeeded at getting a company to hire me I would inspire myself to reach for more. I wasn’t satisfied with a workshop, I wanted to be the keynote speaker. When I was a keynote speaker I wanted a standing ovation. Not only because my ego loved it but because it would make me more memorable and I’d receive referrals. Which meant less marketing and more speaking!
What happens when your “juices are flowing?”
You’ll Quiet Your Inner Critic. Each one of our successes is like a bank deposit. We become rich in self-confidence, self-acceptance, faith, courage and wisdom. If we fail to go out on a limb we’ll never know what could have been.
We are have gifts to offer our world. If we don’t use them we aren’t doing our part to make the world a better place to be. Quiet your inner critic by being the best you can be.
The More Fruit You Have The More You Have To Offer Others. If I didn’t get my master’s degree in counseling psychology (the fruit) I wouldn’t have been able to help so many people with their personal growth. When my former counseling clients would say, “Thank you so much. You changed my life” I would say “No, you changed your life, I was only the conduit.”
When Nike says, “Just Do It” what they are also saying is “Go Out On A Limb!”
What risk have you been avoiding?
Where does your best fruit lie?
What is your plan?
Hi there Tess – I think the key is to follow our inner guidance – which at times may well take us out on a limb! Then we need to take a deep breath and go out there, or we end up feeling worthless.
Robin’s last blog post..Finding Our True Selves