Make the commitment to take it S-L-O-W, but make the decision to DO it!
Starting to take actions to move toward what you want in life often requires moving outside of your comfort zones. This is hard. It feels awkward and can be unnerving. I always advise people to take it S-L-O-W.
In my book Seeing Red Cars I give the example of a client I was coaching who was shy and quiet and typically sat through meetings without saying a word. She wanted that to change. I advised her to start by contributing at least one useful idea in every meeting. She had never spoken up before! This was a stretch, but she agreed to give it a try. I told her people may react with surprise the first time she speaks up, but once she does it the first time she’ll realize it wasn’t so bad and it will give her confidence going into the next meeting. That’s exactly what happened!
I also share the story about the miraculous turnaround of a client who discovered her true passion and prevailed:
I was working with an advanced biomedical company on a 12-week program to help employees focus on the outcomes they were looking for. Carla was an assembly-line worker and was curious about the concepts, and, frankly, they were a little unnerving to her. She cautiously began thinking to herself about her true passions, strengths, and values.
When we were close to the end of the 12-week program, I noticed Carla wanted to speak to me after class. She hung back and waited to have a chance to talk. She finally approached me after everyone had left the room and told me her story. She found the Seeing Red Cars concept (focusing on what you want) intriguing, but it really scared her in the beginning. That was because she realized through the process that she really loves finance and numbers and she wanted to move into the accounting department. She gradually started talking about the idea with her colleagues and manager, and they encouraged her and gave her the confidence to focus on her true interests and values. She finally worked up the courage to apply for the accounting program at a local college.
I had the opportunity to follow up with Carla over the years. She completed her accounting education and moved into the accounting department. Eventually, she moved into a leadership role in accounting before she moved to another organization when she married—you see, she had also identified the type of person she wanted to spend her life with during the original 12-week course and ultimately met that person and moved to another city, where she continued her journey as an accountant.
The reason Carla stuck with her plan and kept pursuing her desires is that she took it one step at a time and slowly built on each small success. It worked for her and it can work for you, too. Start Seeing Red Cars!
If you want to drive yourself, your team and your organization to a positive future, I am excited to offer the process and toolkit that can get you there. Check out the resources at seeingredcarsbook.com.
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What is the first action you can take toward what you want?
What can you do to break out of your comfort zones and DO it?
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Seeing Red Cars the book is available from popular retailers through our book website, seeingredcarsbook.com.
____________ Laura Goodrich Innovator l Author l Expert Speaker Radio l TV l Program Host Internationally Recognized Expert in Workplace Dynamics and Change Email: laura@onimpactproductions.com Website: www.onimpactproductions.com Business: 952-856-6071 Mobile: 952-240-1516 SKYPE: laura.goodrich OOVOO: Laura Goodrich Author: Seeing Red Cars: Driving Yourself, Your Team and Your Organization to a Positive Future is available at Amazon http://amzn.to/aj0IUm or Barnes and Noble http://bit.ly/c5F1j7 Seeing Red Cars — Mindset to Win — Forbes Magazine http://blogs.forbes.com/mindmakeover/2011/02/03/seeing-red-cars-mindset-to-win/ Program Host and Author: Seeing Red Cars Film: www.seeingredcars.com Book: www.seeingredcarsbook.com FB: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Seeing-Red-Cars-with-Laura-Goodrich/179858525374208?v=wall App: Seeing Red Cars “I Want Statement” iPhone/ iPad http://bit.ly/afWHOx Seeing Red Cars Products: http://bit.ly/cB29Tq Program Host and Author: Shifting Years: Leverage the Power of Generations Film: www.shiftingyears.com FB Shifting Years: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Shifting-Years-Leverage-The-Power-of-Generations/129830580411162 Radio Host: FutureWork http://www.blogtalkradio.com/laura-goodrich TV Host and Producer: Life to the Max http://www.lifetothemax.tv/about.html Laura Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Laura-Goodrich/164266833612423?v=wall Twitter: http://twitter.com/lauragoodrich Blog: http://lgoodrich.posterous.com/ LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/lauragoodrich Seeing Red Cars FB: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Seeing-Red-Cars-with-Laura-Goodrich/179858525374208?v=wall Seeing Red Cars Book: Amazon ( http://amzn.to/aj0IUm ) or Barnes and Noble ( http://bit.ly/c5F1j7 .) Shifting Years FB: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Shifting-Years-Leverage-The-Power-of-Generations/129830580411162?v=wall Slideshare: http://www.slideshare.net/LauraGoodrich Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/35914444@N07/
