Wednesday, December 16, 2015

Small Matters

My street cred awareness has been one of my biggest aha moments of this year.  I realized a few months ago, how I was fighting for credibility in areas where I had none (mindfulness, yoga) and this was not only with cold call prospects but among my closest friends and family.  I was constantly running into a lot of positive affirmation but not much follow through, although I would hear of follow through by them in other paradigms under the same intention.  Then it dawned on me, I had no credibility. 
For months I wrestled with this, trying to understand my reaction to it.  And then i realized thats what much of my life was about...chasing, or following paths in search for credibility. Everything needed a name.  Was at a dinner party and someone asked me what I do, and I realized how important it was for me to have an answer for that question.  Finally I said  - why do I need to be a specific thing.  Why should I spend much of time being busy doing this stuff that gives me credibility, when there is so much opportunity to partner with people around me on a day to day basis, helping them get from 0-10 as much as helping them get from -10-0.  Life always seem to be measured in what I might get paid for, or what i thought others saw as my label.  It was right around then when my Mom needed to goto NJ, and she was scheduled to take an Amtrak. And i thought to myself what am I thinking!!?? I put my plans for that day to the side and drove her up, and then came back.  Yes, I will need to do something to pay the bills, but my mantra has changed to partnering with people I know or meet along the way, doing whatever I can do. My choice these days is as Goethe said "Not the maker of plans and promises, but rather the one who offers faithful service in small matters.  This is the person who is most likely to achieve what is good and lasting"