Originally uploaded by Wiros

Yesterday I read the analogy suggested I follow and observe in the coming weeks. Strange how messages are brought to us through various channels that are all saying the same thing. I paid attention and now write the reminder.

“Go where the puck is going, not where the puck has been.”

A quote for success given by Wayne Gretzky when asked how he was able to be such a prolific scorer. Wondering how this applies to the pragmatic world in which I occupy, I wanted to know which arena I am skating in.

‘Do I apply this to my personal life?’

‘Do I apply this to my personal project?’

‘Do I apply this at my work?’

As I write this, it occurs to me that I can see this applying to all three areas. I don’t know about you, but as I write this, I also feel a sense of tension that reeks of dread. That other part of me that doesn’t want to take the hit. Am I tough enough to go up against another bruiser on the boards? Am I willing to take the hit?

Sigh. Okay, one step at a time. See the obvious, put aside the fear, keep the skates sharp. Head up, moving forward, stick at the ready, you will be ready when opportunity strikes. The game isn’t over until the last buzzer, so persevere for that next shot to appear.

Okay, back in the game it is clear the strategy requires a change. Go where the puck is going. I contemplate this and see opportunity opening up in many areas of my life. The past and what I might feel about the present are not limitations or a full definition of what this life amounts. Change is life, therefore change is living. Time to change direction. My attitude adjusts to welcome more opportunity. I will grow.

What do you want more of?

It’s something we all do. We’ve put so many systems and structues in place to manage our lives from cradle to grave. Sometimes, they impede our progress and we shave a few inches here or there to get where need to go.

I was asked if it was okay to use a service in a way to further a mandate even if they weren’t meeting the criteria. This related to a specific program meant to help people in need, which guided my answer.

If another Living Being is compromised or hurt in any way by our actions, then it is the wrong choice. This is integrity.

Small guys, hard work
Originally uploaded by Javier Kohen

A challenging year of growth started with the witnessing of a software tool that showed great potential for my own business. Given the nature of my history and talents, I was able to offer my services which in turn led to full time employment.

Over the course of the year, I encountered incredible situations that challenged me. There were many moments of doubt about the choice I made. Regardless, pivotal conversations revealed time and again that an underlying belief in the concept, the potential, and the people, continued to strengthen my resolve during each challenge.

Another individual warned upon leaving of the battles I would face, and the perspective they shared was one of supporting a false potential. I understood the perspective, particularly given my own struggles of belief during that time. Even so, something about the statement felt false. Today, the falseness revealed with clarity that I was right to stick with it through thick and thin.

Regardless of the outcome yet to be seen, the results to date are a direct result of the effort put in to achieving goals. Even the ambiguous goals are a beacon in the distance when charting new territory. New territory is sometimes with technology, new processes, and such externals. It’s important to recognize how much of this new territory is internal. If I’m pushing myself forward and up in life, greeting challenges and expending effort to overcome, to push through, to grow, then I will experience much new territory.

The falseness, you see, of the statement about supporting false potential reveals one’s own inner value and belief. Of what? Of themself? Regardless of the externals, and the potential that lies there, whether people, opportunities, processes, or products, the end result is always a direct outcome of the effort sustained by belief, choice, and hard work. I guess in the end it depends upon how much you’re willing to carry, and for how long.

The world has the habit of making room for the man whose actions show that he knows where he is going. – Napoleon Hill.

I enjoy the Napoleon Hill expressions myself and regularly get a daily dose. This one stirred more in me than expected, as often does a lot of phrases of advice that are well meant and often incomplete.

While I cannot at all disagree with this expression, the nuance within the phrase suggests what I’m about to say has merit. To merely say the world makes a habit of making room for the man who knows where he is going, also leaves room for when the world does not. Habits are imperfect, both good and bad.

However, there is always room when a man knows who he is, and more importantly, holds him in good stead regardless of outcomes. Every person who makes a choice endures or enjoys the effect their choice caused. At the same time, choice is merely being accountable to own that decision, so when other variables, or our own error, results in failure, we are able to be empowered through it rather than victim of it.

There is always room in the world for a man who knows who he is.

Ralph Waldo Emerson once observed, “Our chief want in life is somebody who will make us do what we can.”

I remember when I was parenting young children how rules, discipline, and boundaries created a stronger sense of security for both of the boys. For a time, trying to be ultra-modern and free, we offered much more leeway and freedom. We found during that period that the boys seemed to shrivel, become uncertain, and ironically crankier.  Something I’d heard previously brought us back to our senses, giving the boys a much stronger foundation that saw them flourish.

Boundaries, rules, and discipline are necessary elements of societal life, and is encountered in every adult encounter inter-personally, organizationally, and culture to culture. We don’t have it right, but if history is any judge, we are in many ways getting better. Before naming all the things that are wrong, keep it in perspective; our getting better also means we’ve discovered, invented, and implemented new tools and resources, ideas and politics, and a slew of choices that see many mistakes being made. Considering the societal norms of today versus 250 years ago, we have made progress.

With each generation we are challenged to operate in a societal culture of norms that need growth and change, amongst the tide of resistance to change. We know change to be inevitable, yet another facet of life and changes sees people resisting change as they seek to find a sense of peace and stability – maybe just to have a rest. Others, are just plain obstinate. Me too, at times.

And here it is, our biggest want, observed by Emerson, is to have someone willing to make us do what we can. We are capable of so much, and yet often find ourselves doing so little with our talent, passion, and dreams. Someone willing to make you do what you can also must be willing to assert rules, boundaries, and yes, discipline. You know what? In some ways it does feel uncomfortable, but I’ve also recognized the suck-it-up factor, acknowledgement, encouragement, belief, and empowerment that fuels my next moves.

Step-by-step, it gets better. Step-by-step, I improve. Step-by-step, I sometimes fall. Showing up each day, getting back into the fray, and communicate with those who matter with the stakes in your life. Choose, open, and grow with each challenge and opportunity to discover more of your potential. Step-by-step, my someone will still tell me when I’ve appreciated their feedback and made an invitation for more. Thank-you, I feel that force of ability to achieve my personal potential. What about you?
Have you got your someone?