 Whether you have one goal or several, if you are not precise about your aim, you will miss. Working on a skill occasionally will not make you an expert. Regular, frequent practice should result in improvement. If not, you may need to set a new target.
The virtues of goal setting are being touted by many leaders in the professional arena. Determining if a goal is realistic is really not an indicator of potential success. The dedication and investment allotted to see the dream realized will anchor the target in place. It may be time to set a new target, replace it, or even enlarge it. As a writer, I have learned that consistent commitment to blogging, social media, and a dedicated writing schedule produces multiple books and expands my audience. If we only aim to succeed occasionally, we are merely playing a game of chance.
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 I often ask leaders, what is your radius? By this, I am inquiring about the extent of his or her reach through the power of influence. At this point in your life, how far does your impact spread? Is it confined to one building, city, geographic region or nation?
Some may try to expand through marketing, websites, media coverage and press releases. Self-serving motives rarely endure for extended periods of time. The magnitude gained by expanding from one location to many is the opportunity to enhance an even greater number of lives. If you have a niche that you are serving well, that's great! What if there's more? Don't settle for limiting yourself to the familiar. When you are able to tap into the universal benefit of activating others to achieve greatness and offer them positive progress, your radius will grow exponentially. Study new subjects. Visit new places. Find out what you can do to assist a movement, cause, product, invention or organization. Stretching yourself in new ways will allow others to advance as well.  Custom-made garments are designed to fit the wearer perfectly. When attire is purchased off the rack, there is a general size range that allows the clothing to fit, though many times, imperfectly. Although alterations can be made, the color, cut and material have already been predetermined.
Many of us are disappointed when garments designed for someone else don't quite work out for us. Our own unique talents, gifts and abilities should not be compared to the specifications outlined for another. There may be two singers with different ranges, styles, and tones that are both great artists. It's completely fine to embrace the training of a profession without becoming the status quo. Why fit in when you can customize your own designs? Constantly trying to measure up to unrealistic expectations will infuse us with a sense of failure. Performing below our own potential would be a great waste of human treasure. Set a new standard. Raise the bar. Multiply your talents to a level of excellence that shines through preparation, planning, and persistence. If you don't "fit," you could very well be a custom project developed for an extraordinary purpose!  We know how devastating it can be to lose the progress we've made. It's easier to begin a race than to finish it. Somewhere along the journey, pain, fatigue, and pressure collide and we may consider giving up.
Some may abruptly stop in the middle of the road while others move forward, undaunted. Coasting downhill takes the least amount of effort. When the uphill battle intensifies, we must maintain forward motion in order to reach the finish line. Things are not always fairy-tale wonderful. We get off track, miss deadlines, and sometimes disappoint ourselves more than we affect the next person. Loss of momentum can cause us to abandon a project that had great potential. Avoid the pitfalls that aim to stall you and press on. Though not impossible, it is more difficult to gain a win from behind. Stay out in front and keep up the pace!  I am fiercely loyal. Not just to relationships, but to brands, companies, and even cars! If it works, I usually see no need for change.
When things go sour, I have no problem moving on. As long as it works, I am on board with it and see no need to make a radical turn. Once things go very wrong, I am gone! I even rent my vehicles from the same location time after time. If I get great customer service, I will keep coming back. If not, I will avoid it like a plague. Today was one of those days. Our rental car company decided to try to blame us for previous damage that was pointed out before our trip. The admittedly new employee "forgot" to record it and denied any knowledge of it. I told them that I was a faithful customer at that location for years and expected them to be honest in their dealings. They let me know that they were still filing a damage report. I realized that I have to be willing to explore new options and not assume that the loyalty given is what will be received in return. I am fully insured and refuse to let conflict steal my joy. I simply cancelled my future rental, alerted the insurance company, and made a different reservation with a new rental company. I then discovered that the rates for the new company are much cheaper! Moving on does not have to be so difficult. How we handle it makes all the difference. Instead of searching for savings, I relished the comfort of the familiar. Today, I realized the fault of being faithful without re-visiting my options. Cheers to greater savings and new solutions!  If you are in the business of selling floppy disks right now, you probably have very few customers. When we restrict ourselves from exploring new opportunities, we may be left trying to revive a business that has long flatlined.
Some people have narrowed their scope to one specific thing. Most people in business understand the need to diversify so that progress can be made in case the "basket with the eggs" gets lost. There are many who have become serial entrepreneurs because they understand the concept of implementing great systems beyond simply having a great product. Harness the power of your mind to conquer new terrain and gain increase in many areas. Why be defined by a limited perspective? Use your current business model to improve your future prospects. Stay open to innovation by engaging with people who think beyond popular trends and hot topics. Forward thinking will allow your business to survive and adapt in spite of changes, failures, and expanding technologies. Resist the urge to immediately reject new ideas and emerging concepts. Remaining open will keep you in business even if you have to change the menu.  Some people are not necessarily the best at what they aspire to be. Others are very talented, but seem to be oblivious to the value of it. Why is it that mediocrity makes it to the mainstream while brilliance seems to remain secluded?
A lot of this is related to the way a person thinks. Even in the Bible, there was a parable about a widow who kept making her request before the judge to the point where he was worn down. Eventually, the judge granted her petition because of her insistence (Luke 18:2-5). The best man does not always win! Although it seems natural to pursue the role for which we are most talented, there are countless cases of people who are "under-qualified" for the job but land the opportunity anyway. Don't allow laziness or doubt to remove your contribution from the equation. Multiply your talents, be strategic with them and allow the world to experience the benefits of Divine design. Stay the course!  Advancement can be risky. Those familiar with you on one level may become intimidated by you as you reach new heights. There are others that will be unwilling or unable to move forward with you and will be left behind. Not everyone celebrates achievement.
If we do not accept the fact that there are people who will not support us, we will have difficulty adapting to success. We must be careful not to get angry with those who do not understand why we feel the need to move forward. In an ever-changing world, if we are not progressive, we will become dependent on the innovation of others. Maintain a healthy attitude and realistic understanding of human nature. From the beginning, Cain killed his brother for doing something greater than his own accomplishment. Allowing ourselves to be devastated by relational losses will hinder us. When we understand that progress opens the door to expanded possibilities, we will embrace and benefit from the new connections that result.  Some people resist progress. Although every trend is not to be followed, there are certain shifts that take place that are too major to miss. Technology is moving about as fast as the speed of light. If we refuse to move with the tide, we will be left stranded on the shoreline.
Whatever industry or business you find yourself in, you must update your skills, knowledge and application in order to stay relevant. If you hit a wall or ceiling that prevents you from moving forward, it is up to you to exit the building and find something else to do. Moving when it is too late is about as good as not moving at all. Celebrities, preachers, politicians, leaders, and businesses will face the reality of being replaced or outdated if there is no evolution in the way that they think and manage themselves. Many inherit sudden success, only to realize down the road that they have been designated a one-hit wonder or one-trick pony. Want to avoid being featured on "Where Are They Now?" Understand the times and maximize your moment. When that window closes, seize your new opportunity by preparing now for what is coming next. How you refresh your world view will also impact how you are viewed. See yourself clearly before time runs out!  Influence is a two-way street. We have the ability to influence others just as we can be influenced. Celebrities, preachers, authors, parents, teachers, politicians and popular people tend to have greater levels of influence because of the amount of lives that they are able to reach.
Trying to expand your influence by forcing yourself on others will backfire. If you want to make a large impact, make a difference in someone's life. Reaching people can happen in person, via social media, through writing, by speaking, through the media or in passing. Some will be influenced just by watching us without our direct efforts. Leaders must provide information that benefits a larger population of people in order to build greater influence. I recently told my students, "Instead of trying to stand out, be outstanding!" Excellence will gain attention. Those of us who desire to make a greater impact will usually reap added benefits if we are a blessing instead of expecting one. Continue to enhance your gift and it will make room for you. How large that room is depends on how you submit to the development of what you have to contribute. |
Rekesha PittmanAuthor. Entrepreneur. Coach. Speaker. Archives
January 2015
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