30 Day Writing Challenge

#15 Wholly Strange and New by Bridget Pilloud

When good is near you, when you have life in yourself, it is not by any known or accustomed way; you shall not discern the foot-prints of any other; you shall not see the face of man; you shall not hear any name;—— the way, the thought, the good, shall be wholly strange and new. - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Can you remember a moment in your life when you had life in yourself and it was wholly strange and new? Can you remember the moment when you stopped walking a path of someone else, and started cutting your own?

Write about that moment. And if you haven’t experienced it yet, let the miracle play out in your mind’s eye and write about that moment in your future.

(Author:

Bridget Pilloud)

In the normal course of childhood I got involved with the Cub Scouts. My mother was involved in helping with the leadership. I worked through and completed all the ranks with her prodding.

Later I moved up to Boy Scouts and was fortunate to be involved in Troop 70, the Jamboree Troop. Troop 70 is perhaps the most outstanding troop in the United States having helped 430 boys obtain the rank of Eagle Scout over the last 80 years. My scoutmaster was Lon Sailers who served as scoutmaster for 38 years. During the Lon's tenure he guided 238 scouts to receive their Eagle Scout award.

My mother kept me focused on completing all of the ranks. Yes, she pushed, cajoled, and reminded me until I completed all 21 merit badges. I received my Eagle Scout award September 1, 1956. I went on to receive several more merit badges and my God and Country award.

This experience set me up to be a life time learner and taught me the power of perseverance which has served me well all my life. On May 1, 1957 my brother, David, received his Eagle Scout award. My mother now had received two small silver Eagle pins representing her two Eagle Scout sons. She had these made into earrings and she proudly wore them frequently. When she died, we buried her wearing her Eagle pins. Through her perseverance we learned that through perseverance we could accomplish much!

30 Day Writing Challenge

#14 One Thing by Colin Wright

Do your work, and I shall know you. Do your work, and you shall reinforce yourself. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Take a moment, step back from your concerns, and focus on one thing: You have one life to achieve everything you’ve ever wanted. Sounds simple, but when you really focus on it, let it seep into your consciousness, you realize you only have about 100 years to get every single thing you’ve ever wanted to do. No second chances. This is your only shot.

Suddenly, this means you should have started yesterday. No more waiting for permission or resources to start. Today is the day you make the rest of your life happen. Write down one thing you’ve always wanted to do and how you will achieve that goal. Don’t be afraid to be very specific in how you’ll achieve it: once you start achieving, your goals will get bigger and your capability to meet them will grow.

(Author: Colin Wright)

Several years ago we began a team that focused on providing insurance risk management and bonding to the construction industry. My desire would be to continue that process and take what we've done to the next level.

Mike Vance defines leadership as "the ability to establish and manage a creative climate where people are self-motivated to the completion of long-term constructive goals compatible with personal values in an environment of mutual respect". Earlier this year as we reflected on the changes at the construction team needed to make, I thought about Mike's comment and saw that I had not lived up his definition. I purposed to get my team members engaged more in the development process.

We saw the need for a change in our approach to the construction industry. Initially, this centered around our presentations. We needed new, fresh or approaches. We brought in Tim Pollard to teach us the skills of designing and delivering great presentations. He did a day and a half workshop with all our team members.

We decided on five new presentations. Armed with the new knowledge from Tim, other team members began working on four new presentations. One of the team members has presented his new presentation to the team and it is excellent. Three other presentations are actively being developed now. We are now beginning to develop prospect lists on the new areas that we are approaching and will implement business development activities and each of these new areas.

The world is changing and we've got to go with the new ways of contacting and communicating. This new approach will utilize Linked In, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. We are beginning a weekly blog which will be named TRENDS. The team members will share responsibility to consistently write our weekly blog posts. The standard is information of high-value each week.

Today's blog post brings me a great deal satisfaction in that I can see I am beginning to lead in the way Mike Vance has defined leadership.

30 Day Writing Challenge

#13 Alternative Paths by Jonathan Fields

When good is near you, when you have life in yourself, it is not by any known or accustomed way; you shall not discern the foot-prints of any other; you shall not see the face of man; you shall not hear any name; the way, the thought, the good, shall be wholly strange and new. - Ralph Waldo Emerson

The world buzzes about goals and visions. Focus. Create a vivid picture of exactly where you want to go. Dream big, then don’t let anything or anyone stop you. The problem, as Daniel Gilbert wrote in Stumbling Upon Happiness, is that we’re horrible at forecasting how we’ll really feel 10 or 20 years from now – once we’ve gotten what we dreamed of. Often, we get there only to say, “That’s not what I thought it would be,” and ask, “What now?”

Ambition is good. Blind ambition is not. It blocks out not only distraction, but the many opportunities that might take you off course but that may also lead you in a new direction. Consistent daily action is only a virtue when bundled with a willingness to remain open to the unknown. In this exercise, look at your current quest and ask, “What alternative opportunities, interpretations and paths am I not seeing?” They’re always there, but you’ve got to choose to see them.

(Author: Jonathan Fields)


I like the practicality of this one. While the continual pursuit of valuable goals leads to a richness of life, if we are too myopic and focused we may miss the things that pop up on the trip. Things totally unexpected, unforeseeable, and unimaginable suddenly magically appear.

Dan Sullivan calls these Strategic Byproducts of the goal cultivation process. Frequently these have more value or usefulness than the original goal or project. Therefore it is critically important to look for or even expect a Strategic Byproduct to show up. Having this expectation makes sure we don't miss it when it arrives.

30 Day Writing Challenge

#12 Surprise by Ashley Ambirge



I will not hide my tastes or aversions. I will so trust that what is deep is holy, if we follow the truth, it will bring us out safe at last. – Ralph Waldo Emerson



Think of a time when you didn’t think you were capable of doing something, but then surprised yourself. How will you surprise yourself this week?



(Author: Ashley Ambirge)


In my life there have been many times I did things that I wasn't confident I could do. Most of the time I was surprised by how well it went. Occasionally it did not, but the experience always was a learning one. Dan Sullivan calls these experiences The Greatest Teacher In The World. We frequently learn more from our failures than our successes.

I became involved in Peacemaker Ministries through being in a leadership position in a church that blew up. Peacemaker taught me to approach conflict by confronting it directly with love, following biblical principles, with the expectation of finding resolution. Most of the time people in conflict are satisfied by telling their stories, acknowledging their part, and giving and receiving amends. I'm surprised that I can deal with conflict now by facing it.

Facing my fears leads to freedom for me. My surprise this week is been getting bogged down in this writing project, deciding I was going to complete it, and how much easier the writing has been as I just started it each day!

30 Day Writing Challenge

#11 Fear by Lachlan Cotter

These are the voices which we hear in solitude, but they grow faint and inaudible as we enter into the world. Society everywhere is in conspiracy against the manhood of every one of its members. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Is fear holding you back from living your fullest life and being truly self expressed? Put yourself in the shoes of the you who’s already lived your dream and write out the answers to the following:

Is the insecurity you’re defending worth the dream you’ll never realize? or the love you’ll never venture? or the joy you’ll never feel?

Will the blunder matter in 10 years? Or 10 weeks? Or 10 days? Or 10 minutes?

Can you be happy being anything less than who you really are?

Now Do. The Thing. You Fear.

(Author: Lachlan Cotter)

OKAY

30 Day Writing Challenge

#10 Divine Idea by Fabian Kruse

Imitation is Suicide. Insist on yourself; never imitate. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Write down in which areas of your life you have to overcome these suicidal tendencies of imitation, and how you can transform them into a newborn you – one that doesn’t hide its uniqueness, but thrives on it. There is a “divine idea which each of us represents” – which is yours?

(Author: Fabian Kruse)


Brennan Manning in his short book The Rabbi's Heartbeat writes about overcoming The Impostor, that false self that we put on as a mask when we go out in the world. I have made great progress in not putting The Mask on but it is still a struggle especially when I want impress, gain favor, or "fix" someone close to me. The progress is that most of the time I have an awareness of what I'm about to do and I can make a choice.

Mike Vance said that creativity is the creation of something new or the rearranging of something old and a new way. Is the rearrangement of something old in a new way imitation? - maybe so, maybe not. Since most of my creativity is the rearranging of something old in a new way, I would say not.

30 Day Writing Challenge

#9 Your Personal Message by Eric Handler

To believe your own thought, to believe that what is true for you in your private heart is true for all men, that is genius. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

What is burning deep inside of you? If you could spread your personal message RIGHT NOW to 1 million people, what would you say?

(Author: Eric Handler)


I am passionate about each person's ability to dream and achieve. Many times that just needs to be awakened within them. I love mentoring others and part of the privilege of doing that with another is you frequently get to see significant changes as the "light comes on".

I'm finding this exercise very challenging because it is making me think about what I will do with what I have left in my life. So my challenge to you is to take steps to be continually challenged, to evaluate your life and where you want to be, find a mentor, hire a coach, do this 30 day challenge, join a group of like-minded friends, get accountable, set one year goals in all areas of your life and evaluate them monthly. Just do it . . . now!