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Think You Have Problems?
We sat riveted: the room was eerily silent. For a conference luncheon packed with 1,300 Professional Speakers, that is a miracle.
Nando Parrado survivor of the well-known Andes plane crash in 1972, and author of Miracle in the Andes paused and scanned the room. He gave us a wry smile, shook his head, and said again, "I don't know." The usual gaggle of complaints one hears from road warriors weren't heard after that speech. We who travel extensively have our favorites: "The airline was rude!" "My plane sat on the tarmac for ONE HOUR!" "It took me 2 days to get my bags!" "The hotel downgraded me to a first floor room!" If any of those complaints occurred to anyone, they weren't voiced. All we heard in our heads was Nando saying: "I don't have problems. I have issues." It has been a week since the National Speakers Association convention. It was undeniably, from start to finish, one of the best investments of time and money I've made in many years. As I filter through my stacks of notes, ideas, and to-do lists, and while I work to implement a new business plan, Nando's voice still echoes. "I don't have problems. I have issues." The "economy" - an entity that has taken on a persona all it's own - just doesn't seem like all that big a deal any more. As soon as I realized that, it became less of a problem. I did the best thing any of us can do - I got to work.I've been checking in with clients going back 20 years to celebrate my 20th anniversary as a full time speaker. Because I'm happy when I call them, they are happy to hear from me. And isn't that what we all need and want right now? We need to be talking with each other, lifting each other up, finding solutions. Together - we will. Whatever is facing you, whatever struggles you have right now, you can choose to move forward and do something - TODAY. Maybe you need to try a different path. Maybe it's time to go back to old clients and old connections. Maybe you toss out the old business plan and start a new one. If you are on the unemployment line - what skills and talents do you have that you can use for a new adventure. What skills were you not using in your old job that you would like to use now? Is it time to offer your services as an independent contractor? Could you work a couple of Temp jobs to try out or learn new skills? Could you collaborate with someone who might help you? Keep asking the questions. The answers are there. We don't have problems, we just have issues... Hang in there!
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"What if I took away all your chairs, tables, food and water? Then what if I locked all the doors and covered them with steel? Then I turned down the temperature to 35 degrees below zero and left you here for 72 days? Would you survive? What would you do? I don't know."
Quote This!Outside Online Magazine Interviewed Nando Parrado. Here are two compelling quotes from his conversation with them: Outside: It sounds like you discovered a lot about yourself. Outside: It must be strange to look back 34 years later. Any words of wisdom? |
Announcements!
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Cool LinksSocial Media: the term we use for all the ways that people are creating communities online. If you are someone who loves quick communications and a huge pool of resources - Twitter is for you! Facebook and LinkedIn are great ways to get your pictures online and keep up with business colleagues, family, and friends. But WAIT! There's one more! Ping is the way you update all of them at the same time! So if you have some followers on your Blog, some on Facebook, some on Twitter, and some on LinkedIn - all you do is go to Ping and write ONE update, and voila, all your social media is updated. How cool is that? |
Fan Mail from Friends!Beth, here's a link to my blog post about you. I thought you did a sensational job facilitating our Board Retreat for the Arizona Book Publishers Association. Thanks again! Author "Press Releases Are Not a PR Strategy" |
The Word From Xena!
I just want to wish Beth a Happy 140th Anniversary (in dog years!) for her company. She has had a lot of adventures and met a lot of very cool people. She always tells me about them when she returns home. After reading her note to you I understand why she's been so quiet all week. I think that Nando person's story really hit home. It's like how I feel when I see stories on Animal Planet about people being mean to dogs. Then it's easy to remember how lucky I am (even if I have to scratch my dish to remind her that I have a hummingbird tummy and I need little bits of food every couple of hours.) I think you two leggeds should share this one with as many of your friends as you can. The only way to stop being depressed about "economy" is to be reminded that you still have it pretty good. And no one is starving. And I like Nando Parrado's quote - "the most important thing is affection." YES. Now, go hug someone. Sending you hugs, Xena PS - No "Lion Cut" yet... but it was 110 yesterday. So I'm thinking Beth has a good idea. Stay posted! Write to me when you get a chance! |
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