“I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free.”
Many of you have read my emails about designing your desired life, which is part of my Empowerment Mentoring series. First you write a vision of what you would like your perfect life to look like. Then you act “as if” you already have achieved it. Okay, most of the time. I have a bit of struggle with acting like I have tripled my income. Do I spend like that now? Hahahaha, Not!…but I can think like I’m there:)
I’m writing this because I have moved from my CEO position to my new life as business owner of Jan McDonald, LLC, Leadership Coach, Trainer and Motivational Speaker. I am reinventing myself and making a career change. As a member of the John Maxwell Team, it can be quite frustrating for me to see what others have achieved when I’m not there…yet. (That dang comparison thing.)
I decided that I needed to define a couple of things for me. I hope this will help you, as well.
First, I needed to decide what success looked like for me. I had to describe for me what was important and not let others or their accomplishments define me. I had to envision what personal success would look like for me in my primary love relationships, my physical health, my professional development and in my spiritual life and not just financially. I did that and I wrote it down and I read it daily. It’s my roadmap to the future for which I long.
Second, I know that growth is a process. I didn’t get to be who I am now overnight, so I won’t become the person who achieves my dreams quickly either. I might as well enjoy the journey to becoming the person who achieves my success, because I’m taking that trip anyway. Period. I can travel with an adventurous spirit or begrudge my circumstances. It’s way more fun for me…and those around me…to consider life an adventure!
Next, it’s vital that I travel with character, integrity and good reputation, because these are the aspects of a person that last. If I want to make an impact in the lives of others, I need to model these characteristics. Remember the Law of Magnetism says, “You don’t get who you want, you get who you are.”
Lastly, I have mentors that have my best interests at heart. I need to stop turning to others for constant reinforcement. Most people can’t see all of who I am or what is in my heart. For those “blind spots” that I don’t know I have, my mentors are happy to help me see those and change them.
It’s my story and I get to write it. I include the characters that I desire and the plot line. I see my character in the future and I’m carving and traveling until I become her. OMGoodness–I get excited just thinking about my unlimited potential!!!!
Is it always going to go exactly the way I have written it? Wouldn’t that be nice, but I doubt it. If I view the journey as an adventure and a learning experience, my wrong turns won’t be fatal. I’m going to get there, one step at a time.
What story are you writing? Are you making progress to the live the life you really desire? It’s never to late for a do over, or a reinvention . You can trust me on this.
Okay, enough about me. What would you like me to write about? What leadership or personal growth topics would you like to read about? Please let me know your needs so I can serve you!
Excitedly typed,
Jan
Jan McDonald
John Maxwell Team
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