“When you let something go, your hands are open to receive what’s next.” –Unknown

Think about books.

The excitement and glue comes from opening the cover, turning to the next page, the next chapter, the conclusion, and on to the next book.

If we were to read the same plot line, with the same old characters, events and dialogue taking place in every chapter, we’d soon lose interest.

But in many aspects of our lives — career, relationship, health, finances, dreams — we become steady-as-she-goes satisfied-cum-stale with the same ol’ same ol’.

Sometimes we fall asleep reading a book, only to continue with more energy after our short nap…or just close the book and go to bed.

But if it’s exciting enough, we stay riveted!

What new twists, characters or dialogue can you add with authorial creativity to your next chapter today?

I’m making The Back Forty Re-NEW-ALL Program below FREE for those who have been affected by any recent storm, firestorm or personal tragedy. It’s all about taking a pro-active stance, in the face of devastation, to point ourselves toward our next and best life to come. Please forward this to those it can support, and have them simply reply email me with their situation.

Got what’s next?

“You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” –C.S. Lewis

The post November 1, 2017 – TGIW JOLT Note appeared first on CareerGuy.com.

“Much of the stress that people feel doesn’t come from having too much to do. It comes from not finishing what they’ve started.” –David Allen

Perhaps nothing more keeps our potential intact, as opposed to expressed, than all the projects started but never completed.

It’s way safe (and even admirable) to start. It’s way harder to finish.

Finishing means people will evaluate how it came out.

Finishing means we could now actually do something with what we created.

Finishing means we have an opportunity to improve upon it, or take the initiative into an even next-level project, above and beyond it.

Finishing is in no way safe or easy. Yet, the question is whether we want our Self expressed or simply full of potential.

Someone whose end-of-life headstone says “Died With Potential Intact” didn’t make much difference for the poor souls around them.

What can you finish (vs take to your grave) this week?

I’m making The Back Forty Re-NEW-ALL Program below FREE for those who have been affected by any recent storm, firestorm or personal tragedy. It’s all about taking a pro-active stance, in the face of devastation, to point ourselves toward our next and best life to come. Please forward this to those it can support, and have them simply reply email me with their situation.

Got finish?

“Stopping at third adds no more to the score than striking out. It doesn’t matter how well you start if you fail to finish.” –Billy Sunday

The post October 25, 2017 – TGIW JOLT Note appeared first on CareerGuy.com.

“Continuous effort – not strength or intelligence – is the key to unlocking our potential.” –Winston Churchill

It takes nobody special and no message or mission of any caliber to quit.

Anyone can quit. And any message or mission can continue to blend into the morassive blur.

The mere willingness — even as slow as it can go — to persist with even one forward action in the plan/project/program/purpose is what sets apart the visionaries from the dreamers.

It’s a stand we take to not be deterred, any way, any how.

If you haven’t yet, see the movie “Founder” about Ray Kroc and the building of McDonalds. Though you may have some issues with how it came about, or what has resulted in the end, the story is one of inspiration and possibility when we take each, successive step vs stop.

What one, simple step can you put forth in your plan/project/program/purpose today?

I’m making The Back Forty Re-NEW-ALL Program below FREE for those who have been affected by any recent storm, firestorm or personal tragedy. It’s all about taking a pro-active stance, in the face of devastation, to point ourselves toward our next and best life to come. Please forward this to those it can support, and have them simply reply email me with their situation.

Got persist-stance?

“Persistence guarantees that results are inevitable.” –Paramahansa Yogananda

The post October 18, 2017 – TGIW JOLT Note appeared first on CareerGuy.com.

“This too shall pass.” –Unknown

Though the short phrase above cannot be traced specifically to one source (e.g., Sufi fable, Jewish folklore, King Soloman), it has permeated wisdom literature throughout history and across cultures.

From poets to politicians, these words have been offered to support people in feeling less sad when they are, and, alternatively, less giddy when they are.

Of course, they don’t do much in the moment of highest devastation, and grieving is a necessary process.

They simply remind us that life will and does continue unimpeded by any momentary local infraction of our peace. So, the challenging coworker, the unexpected loss, the forced new direction…all can and will ultimately be forgotten.

Take action to right the wrongs, sure. Grab those bootstraps and lift ourselves up, you bet. Lend a helping hand, absolutely.

Somehow, after the necessary tears, remembering we still have a future to build upon the ashes portends better times.

Weirdly enough, research into wildfires shows that the extreme heat causes enormous amounts of seeds to fall, covering the forest floor. In time, a new forest grows upon the nutritous ash. Fire is a natural part of forest regeneration, and forest trees need to be exposed to fire every 50-100 years to invigorate new growth.

Making light of no particular tragedy, yet perhaps a metaphor for life?

I’m making The Back Forty Re-NEW-ALL Program below FREE for those who have been affected by any recent storm, firestorm or personal tragedy. It’s all about taking a pro-active stance, in the face of devastation, to point ourselves toward our next and best life to come. Please forward this to those it can support, and have them simply reply email me with their situation.

Got new growth?

“All in good time, my pretty. All in good time.” –Wicked Witch of the West

The post October 11, 2017 – TGIW JOLT Note appeared first on CareerGuy.com.

“The most important question you can ever ask is if the world is a friendly place.” –Albert Einstein

That seemingly simple question posed by Einstein determines everything.

When the unexpected layoff happens, when our life is irreversibly shifted by the actions of another, or when unforeseen tragedy occurs, it’s real easy to answer “No!”

Yet, this is the only real choice time we have…because when things are just clicking along, we’re generally not even present to the question. Life is just life.

“Choice time”, therefore, is the wake up call to really and consciously choose.

What’s it gonna be? Neither choice is ultimately “true”, yet our active choosing makes it our truth…which nobody can take away from us, no matter what.

There is an old story about three baseball umpires in the locker room, discussing their respective skill at calling strikes and balls over the plate.

The younger, less experienced umpire says “I call them the way I see them.”

The slightly more experienced umpire says “I call them the way they are.”

The eldest, more veteran umpire says “They ain’t nothin’ until I call them.”

How are you going to call it?

I’m making The Back Forty Re-NEW-ALL Program below FREE for those who have been affected by any recent storm or personal tragedy. It’s all about taking a pro-active stance, in the face of devastation, to point ourselves toward our next and best life to come. Please forward this to those it can support, and have them simply reply email me with their situation.

Got calling it?

“The sun will rise and set regardless. What we choose to do with the light while it’s here is up to us.” –Alexandra Elle

The post October 4, 2017 – TGIW JOLT Note appeared first on CareerGuy.com.

“Patience is the calm acceptance that things can happen in a different order than the one you have in mind.” –David G. Allen

All along the path of having the good idea, tapping into the visionary inspiration, or even getting the fully-fleshed-out plan in place, we face what continues even as we move forward: patience for the process to unfold.

Petulant children “want it now”…and, often, so do we.

A Course in Miracles says “Only infinite patience produces immediate results.”

As ironic as it seems, as we most come closest to the fulfillment of those grand initiatives–in our work, our family, our projects, our dreams–we are best served by an Instant Messenger: “Patience!”

American writer Ursula Le Guin says “It is good to have an end to journey toward, but it is the journey that matters in the end.”

When training for marathons years ago, I was impressed by a bit of wisdom that runners operate by: run through the finish line tape, not to it.

Where today can you remember that the joy is in the whole process, not only the end result?

I’m making The Back Forty Re-NEW-ALL Program below FREE for those who have been affected by any recent storm, or even any particular personal tragedy. It’s all about taking a pro-active stance, in the face of devastation, to point ourselves toward our next and best life to come. Please forward this to those it can support, and have them simply reply email me with their situation.

Got IM patience?

“Without patience, we will learn less in life. We will see less. We will feel less. We will hear less. Ironically, rush and more usually mean less.” –Mother Theresa

The post September 27, 2017 – TGIW JOLT Note appeared first on CareerGuy.com.

“If you seek peace, be still. If you seek wisdom, be silent. If you seek love, be yourself.” –Bruce Lee

Is it possible that we can simply say “Peace, be still” and the literal and figurative storms of life will calm?

Will the challenging office personalities then clean up their act? Will the divorce proceedings then take on a more conciliatory tone? Will the rubble of devastation not need to be picked up?

Maybe we haven’t developed ourselves to that point of powerful speaking yet.

However, even as me move forward with necessary steps to be taken, nurturing stillness within even as we move our feet can’t hurt…us or anyone else.

What tough stuff can you keep walking through in a private game of stillness?

I’m making The Back Forty Re-NEW-ALL Program below FREE for those who have been affected by any recent force majeure, or even any particular personal tragedy. It’s all about taking a pro-active stance, in the face of devastation, to point ourselves toward our next and best life to come. Please forward this to those it can support, and have them simply reply email me with their situation.

Got still, move feet?

“As the Quakers say, ‘When you pray, move your feet.’” –Eric Butterworth

The post September 20, 2017 – TGIW JOLT Note appeared first on CareerGuy.com.

“A true community is not just about being geographically close to someone or part of the same social web network. It’s about feeling connected and responsible for what happens. Humanity is our ultimate community, and everyone plays a crucial role.” –Yehuda Berg

We hurt when we see others hurt.

Sometimes we can feel helpless to make a difference, albeit the money or time we can spare and share. But to soothe the suffering…that’s seemingly out of our hands.

But if we’re all connected, can the way I treat someone in the office today affect people rebuilding homes on the other side of the world?

Can the extra care I give to listen to a customer, friend, loved one, stranger or homeless person tonight have a person feel heard in the midst of their own problem miles, social classes, generations, races or philosophies distant?

Rarely is there all-conclusive scientific proof. But does anyone have a better game to play?

What interactions and unseen gestures can you put forth for the good of the whole today?

I’m making The Back Forty Re-NEW-ALL Program below FREE for those who have been affected by Harvey and Irma, or any particular personal tragedy. It’s all about taking a pro-active stance, in the face of devastation, to point ourselves toward our next and best life to come. Please forward this to those it can support, and have them simply reply email me with their situation.

Got long-distance relationships?

“Every act of love and kindness raises the vibration of the entire universe.” –Unknown

The post September 13, 2017 – TGIW JOLT Note appeared first on CareerGuy.com.

“Every test in our life makes us bitter or better, every problem comes to break us or make us. The choice is ours whether we become VICTIM or VICTOR.” –Unknown

They just keep coming don’t they?

The storms — physical or metaphorical — to keep making us stronger.

And that’s all so much Pollyanna conjecture if you’re not down in the muck having to deal with havoc, right?

Yet, we’ve all known the feeling of being in the trenches in life, in one form or another. When you’re mired in it personally, it’s hard to take the long view of how “lucky” you are.

One very vital service we can all provide one another is to be the ones reminding those on the current-chaos side of town that there is and will always be another choice.

It’s not a predetermined net loss, no matter how strong the evidence may be.

Choosing to find the gold in the midst of the gunk is an actual decision one can make.

And it makes all the difference in the life that follows.

I’m making The Back Forty Re-NEW-ALL Program below FREE for those who have been affected by Harvey and oncoming Irma. It’s all about taking a pro-active stance, in the face of devastation, to point ourselves toward our next and best life to come. Please forward this to those it can support, and have them simply reply email me.

Got a multiple choice test?

“Excuse the mess, but we live here.” –Roseanne Barr

The post September 6, 2017 – TGIW JOLT Note appeared first on CareerGuy.com.

“Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it.” –Song of Solomon

The physical devastation of flooding, like what is going on simultaneously in Texas/Louisiana and on the other side of the world in Mumbai, is heartbreaking.

There’s no quick fix, logical or spiritual bypass to alleviate the human tragedy. No pithy words of wisdom to soothe the pain.

The metaphorical gist of flooding is, of course, a cleaning out and starting over.

That metaphor doesn’t do much right now for the victims of torrential rains, and yet we can all relate to those unplanned, starting-over points that life brings…from which we somehow arise.

I’m keeping it short and sweet today, and encouraging all of us — regardless of the floods of life experience we’ve been through or are currently in — to send mindful energy the way of those who need it most: to know that there is something on the other side when the water recedes.

I’m making The Back Forty Re-NEW-ALL Program below FREE for those who have been affected by this physical devastation. It’s all about taking a pro-active stance, in the face of devastation, to point ourselves toward our next and best life to come. Please forward this to those it can support, and have them simply reply email me.

And do consider supporting the relief efforts and renewal cause through finding appropriate organizations to support. This NYT article can help point you in the right direction. (https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/28/us/donate-harvey-charities-scams.html)

There’s nothing like a big, cold bucket of water in the face to wake us up.

What can you, personally and proactively, clean out and transform before your own wake-up call? And how can you actively renew yourself for your greater yet to come?

Got a flood of change?

“Under floods that are deepest, which Neptune obey, over rocks that are steepest, love will find out the way.” –Percy’s Reliques

The post August 30, 2017 – TGIW JOLT Note appeared first on CareerGuy.com.