Author: Let's Figure It Out Together

No one knew the battle she fought inside of her every day, but no matter how dark it got, she kept her smile and shined her light for anyone who needed it, even though she knew she was the one who needed it most.

I have to believe that the world is innately good. That people are well-meaning in what they do. That the masses, although often misguided and influenced by history’s darker side, have positive intentions. Otherwise, it all falls apart. With all of the heartache and misfortune in the world, I have to hold on to the sunshine. I have to hold on to the warmth in a strangers smile, because I can clearly see the turmoil in their eyes.

“The broken will always be able to love harder than most.” To know how it feels to have nothing, or to hit rock-bottom, or to loose something/someone who is truly irreplaceable… To come back from that… it changes the soul. It creates an appreciation for the simple things. Hold on to that. Love big and hard, even if you don’t get it in return. Care for people, even if they don’t care for you back. Giving isn’t about receiving, it’s about hope.

In the end, we only regret the chances we did not take, the relationships we were afraid to have, and the decisions we waited too long to make. – Lewis Carroll

I’m sure I will look back on these early posts and have several critiques on how I could have done things differently. As time passes, the purpose of this blog will likely change and ultimately evolve. I began this journey with a desire to reach inside and share my inner thoughts with the world.  To make a difference, no matter how small. To help someone by sharing what I’ve learned along the way. Outside of that, my path is unknown.

I have been a writer for ages; offering manuals, sales copy, technical brochures, and other (not so exciting) business documents.  Helping others communicate their vision. As I step out of my comfort zone, I intend to offer something new, something different. Me.

It’s scary. All the “what ifs” swirling around my already worrisome mind. Questioning my capacity to offer something useful to someone else. Wondering what, if anything, will come out of these efforts. Yet, here I am. Alone, afraid, and surprising optimistic!

There is someone in my life that I admire greatly, for many reasons. One of the things is his ability to execute his ideas. He just goes for it. He jumps in with both feet, without hesitation. Sometimes his ideas fail. But more often than not, they thrive and he figures it out as he goes. All the planning in the world will only get you so far, if you never act.

This is me, jumping in, without hesitation, and going for it!

“If you read spiritual stories carefully, you will always see there is a task within a task, a struggle alongside a struggle. It is not enough to kill the dragon, save the maiden, or even die on the cross – the real hero’s task is to keep love, to find humor, to maintain freedom, to discover joy, to expand vision in the process of killing the dragon.” Joseph Cambell

Starting, running and growing a small business is no different. There is always “a task within a task, a struggle alongside struggle,” a nervous breakdown around every corner as we put out fire after fire. What greater illustration of the “human experience” at work , then our ability to navigate the ups and downs of life when faced with the unknown. The long, sleepless nights as we work tirelessly to realize the path required to bring our goals and plans to fruition. The stress and the struggle that comes with making our dreams a reality. How do we find balance? How do we remain positive while “killing the dragon?” How do we embrace and enjoy the fruits of our labor amidst the chaos?  I watch strong ideas fail because the creator becomes overwhelmingly discouraged. We’ve all been there… we work hard on something, but it just doesn’t work out the way we planned and we give up. This post will not focus on some technical program or cool website, but rather on you. Finding your center, putting down roots and establishing a strong, sturdy foundation to grow from.

The elusive “they” always says, “before you can love someone else, you must first love yourself.” A similar principle is found in business. You must know your purpose, so you can pursue it. You must know your limits, so you can push them. You must find your center, so that you can maintain balance and hone your craft. I once worked with an amazing team who believed that growth and development was not about fixing something that was broken, but rather better understanding your strengths so that you can be your best self. I think this is a big part of finding your center and in putting down roots. Another important piece is finding your inner balance. To make sure that you are taking care of yourself; both mentally and physically. Eat healthy, exercise, get adequate sleep, set boundaries and enforce them, manage your time.

Know your dragon. Be your dragon. Own your dragon.

Few will have the greatness to bend history itself, but each of us can work to change a small portion of events. It is from numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped. – Robert F Kennedy

We have all heard the Confucius quote, “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” To me, this is the essence of an entrepreneur. I believe that there is truth to this concept. What the quote does not convey; is that if you are branching off on your own, you really work harder and longer than most people in the workplace. That if you are growing your own business from the ground up, you usually do a lot of the work yourself. That for everything that goes right, a hundred things go wrong and have to be re-evaluated, redone or scrapped all together. I think what the saying is referring to is that fire inside when you have a dream and pursue it. The fulfillment of making a career out of something you are ultimately passionate about! Maybe you aren’t curing cancer or developing technology that will provide clean water to third-world countries, but if you are providing a product or service that benefits someone else, I believe that you are making a difference. Whether that difference is on a large scale or simply bettering  the life of someone in your community… you are making a difference.

Let the planning begin. Write it all down. What are you passionate about? How do you turn that enthusiasm into a career? How will you make a difference and change history? Your strategy and focus are destine to change and evolve over time, let it. Change is a sign of growth! So here’s to growing!

Do the difficult things while they are easy and do the great things while they are small. A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step. – Lao Tzu

Welcome to my world! My goal is to create a space where we can all meet and discuss our ideas! A place where we can continually improve the mind, body and soul of our professional lives, while maintaining personal balance. A place where we can share cool programs that increase productivity, explore new technology and brain-storm techniques to better our individual journey. I want this to be a safe place for people to speak openly and honestly about our opinions, but to be respectful of differing ideas and beliefs. With that said, let’s take the first step in our journey together. Big or small, let’s build something spectacular!

Thank you for joining me!