“Don’t bunt. Aim out of the ballpark.” David Ogilvy
Blog
JUST SAY ‘YES’ AND BEAT THE ODDS
by Now What?® Coaching Founder, Laura Berman Fortgang
Weather, global finance, national recovery: It’s such a time of negative, gloomy news that it’s easy to get dragged down. There is plenty of evidence that the gloom and doom is true and may be apt to set your expectations accordingly. But should you?
Absolutely not!
As naïve as it may sound, there is no better time to become determined that YOU will beat the odds! In recent weeks, I’ve had clients get great job offers, sell a home at a good price, get more work at a higher fee than previously and land a seemingly miraculous opportunity. In a time when those things are supposedly scarce, how did these people do it?
They said “YES.”
First of all, they said yes to themselves. They knew they were worth what they wanted and they behaved accordingly. They asked for what they wanted instead of underbidding in fear that tough times could not accommodate their true wants.
They made a YES list. They were specific about what they wanted, how much they wanted to be paid and the conditions that would surround getting the result. So, it wasn’t just selling the house; it was selling the house for more than was needed for the next place, to people they were happy to sell to.
Finally, they also entertained every offer or step with an open mind. They did not judge or become jaded. They were open to meeting anyone who showed up in their life as a possible vehicle for the next step in getting to their goal.
Whether it’s a job search, starting a new business, growing an existing one in a new direction or taking on some other thing that conventional wisdom balks at right now, be THE one that beats the odds. It really just a matter of saying YES.
Today’s Quote: Bring Your Dream Closer
“Commitment leads to action. Action brings your dream closer.” Marcia Wieder
Stunned But Thankful
“I was stunned – but thankful.” That’s how Carolyn Starks describes her reaction to losing her job. It sums up how a lot of people feel after being laid off if they are honest with themselves. Underneath the shock and alongside the fear, there is a part of you that knows it is time for something different. What can get in the way of initiating a change on your own is attachment to what we refer to in Now What?® as the “package”. As Carolyn puts it, “… I had been toying with the idea of leaving for two years, but kept thinking: you just don’t leave the Chicago Tribune.” It was once she embraced what was happening and asked “What now?” that a creative idea for a business dawned on her.
Today’s Quote: Live the life you have imagined
“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.” Henry David
What You Can Do With Your Brain and Enthusiasm
The birth of a second child. The hospitalization of an elderly parent. Being offered a severance package. Unfulfilling work and a pervasive feeling of boredom. What led up to the decision points for these women varies yet each of them ultimately chose life changing new jobs. In three cases, glimmers of their interests were present in childhood and in the other instance the inspiration came from noticing what she liked to watch on TV.
Read on to learn more about how the job changes these women chose impacted their lives. Patricia Kline, who went from marketing executive to baker, sums it up this way: “… you discover that your identity isn’t made up of material things — it’s about what you can do with your brain and enthusiasm”.