Category: Life

business, Life

When We Let our Fire Burn Out

msvincespeaks

Has anyone ever felt stagnation in their business or complacency with growth in themselves?  Did you feel like something or someone is holding you back, but you can’t pinpoint the exact reason?  Are you part of an organization that can’t increase their members or customer base?

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A dangerous part of groupthink happens when participants say “if ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” When you are on your own and had a taste of success, you are overconfident. Leaders and entrepreneurs have a perilous thought that people will be trampling in to buy their products or use their services. People think that the good times will keep going and fill up the slow times. Business owners don’t understand why they did not get any new customers. Organizations and churches do not grow. I’ve been in restaurants that had long lines of people when they first opened.  The same restaurants now have a handful of customers.

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I’ve been there. I’m in it and slowly crawling out of this abyss.  I should have hustled during the good times and followed up with potential customers.  I depended on a few eggs when I should have cracked the whole dozen.  No matter how many motivational videos I look at, I need to assess quickly, plan and implement.  Challenge appears. Pivot.  Overconfidence. Reassess the plan. Stagnant growth. Create.  Being proactive is necessary. There is no down time when you are an entrepreneur.

Imagine if we had that mantra with every aspect of our life or our world?  No downtime in creating peace. No down time when we need to rid the ocean of the plastic islands forming. No downtime when we are advocating for our children’s education and safety. No downtime when we stoke our fires with our partner in life. Do not let your fire burn out.  I promise to keep mine burning.

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business, Life

Dream Solid

msvincespeaks

When you dream, I hope you dream solid. When you dream solid, your dreams are before you; your goals are there waiting for you on the other side of valleys and mountains. When you dream, I hope it’s what you want, what you are willing to work for, and what you are living every moment of every day. I hope you see the steps you take, the failures that will happen, and the satisfaction that a dream brings to a person when they have worked at their dream 99% of their lives.

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When I dream of speaking and share stories of wonder, loss, and hope, I would see a sea of people and their reaction to each nuance of an anecdote. I also dream hearing their laughter as the group participates in the crazy activities I present. In the dream, I see people’s heart change a little as they reflect on their life. I dream that the words coming from my mouth has helped people approach others with a bit of kindness. I dream that people put a forward action into their world beyond their limiting beliefs.

For people who don’t know your dreams yet or have a dream and need a dream strategist, I am here for you.

To attend Seize Your Dream workshop through Zoom or in person, please go to: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/seize-your-dreams-tickets-43733620436

 

Life

Listening in Kindness

msvincespeaks

Many waters cannot quench charity, neither can the floods drown it: if a man should give all the substance of his house for love, he shall despise it as nothing. Song of Songs 8:7

At the end of being with a person or a group of people, I review in my mind what I have said and how the person reacted and thought about the exchange. I consider an email two to three times before I send it. Admittedly, I have shot off emails, texts, messages without review. The responses felt like backlashes and were surprising. I thought I was a victim. It was my fault. I do these reviews in business and never thought to carry that practice with my family and friends. I now do that too.

I have learned how to evaluate what I have said quickly. I am an extrovert, and that is not always helpful when you are connecting with another person.  Many times ego takes over. I know that I tend to have word vomit and I speak too much. I was not thoughtful of the other person. I forgot to listen with my entire heart and body. Listening is more than just two ears and one mouth. Listening is the most difficult skill to achieve. I am always impressed with people who gauge a person and can empathize with their pain or enjoy their company. My wonderful introverted friends do this so well, and I am learning from them.

My review of a conversational exchange: Did I fully listen? Was I fully engaged? Did I remember to ask if that person needed help? Please learn from my mistakes. I have to keep reminding myself listen, listen, listen. I also have to remember to be kind, be kind, be kind.

 

 

 

business, Life

Culture and Leadership

msvincespeaks

Does culture affect leadership? Are leadership styles so different in other countries or particular cultures? Does your organization operate as a hierarchy or is it horizontal?

In 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, Maxwell shares the seven factors of leadership:
Character, Relationships, Knowledge, Intuition, Experience, Past Success, and Ability

In training, it was shared that in another country they are learning that leaders have different factors to be successful. I think that successful leaders have these factors no matter the organization they lead and culture they are from.

There are also different types of leadership styles, and the kind of leadership style can be due to the cultural environment. Many countries have their businesses run within family ties. Many times the business is inherited by the children. The children grow to become the leader of the organization and obtain the above factors through time.

I am drawn to collaborative leadership and servant leadership.  These styles of leadership commit to the group and form a consensus.  Is this effective in different scenarios like making a critical decision?

Which of the seven factors do you have as a successful leader? Do you think that culture affects your leadership style?

 

 

Life

Holidays Colliding

msvincespeaks

Today is Mardi Gras, Fat Tuesday. Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day and Ash Wednesday. Friday is Chinese New Year. Monday is President’s Day.

It’s holiday overload for an American from Hawaii, in love with my husband, and Catholic.

I’ve been to New Orleans once. It’s a beautiful city, and beautiful people and the city has a dark side too. When I was there, it was after Hurricane Katrina, and many homes were still being rebuilt. Life still went on, and every night there is a party on Bourbon Street.

I’m figuring out what to get my husband for Valentine’s and strategizing a game plan to get my 13-year-old son to mass on a Wednesday. I am thankful I work from home and have my own business. If I were still working in an office, I would have had to get malasadas today, chocolate tomorrow and red envelopes for Friday.

Hopefully, we run into a Chinese lion dance this weekend because I can’t strategize how to drag a 13-year-old to an event with a Chinese lion dance.

My 13-year-old gave me insight. His project this week is to create a poster and write about Barack Obama. At first, I thought, that’s a lot to give a kid and expect a project to be done in a week. Then my next thought was to see President Obama through his eyes. The next thought was to see President Trump through his eyes. He is growing up in a time of extreme change and extreme opinions. I thought the world must be colliding in front of his eyes.

Colliding holidays are minor compared to what he is experiencing.

Next blog: Culture and Leadership