Walk Into the Future

Category: Mentoring

  • Making a difference–the first 100 days!

    Making a difference–the first 100 days!

    (Image by Free Photos from Pixabay)

    “If you are walking down the right path and you are willing to keep walking, eventually you will make progress”.

    (Barack Obama)

    Love starting Walk into the Future blog articles with quotes to introduce the topic for each week.  The quotes are selected to get me into the right frame of mind to generate content my followers will enjoy.  I try not to overdue my Barack Obama quotes but he provides inspiration on multiple levels and I can always find something generated by #44 to help me find the words to make a positive impact with my writing.

    I am an avid reader and discovered author Robert Hargrave’s book, Your First 100 Days in a New Executive Job:  Powerful First Steps on the Path to Greatness prior to taking my role in Fort Pierce.  Decided to leverage my first 100 days in my new role to find ways to make a positive difference in our daily operations.  The COVID-19 pandemic and the impact it has on normal operations was a huge challenge to me.  I accepted my position at Indian River State College in March 2020 with hopes the pandemic would be mitigated during the summer and we would get back to what use to be normal workday activities.  The COVID-19 numbers exploded over the summer and most of the country remained in a work from home mode out of necessity.

    I did not let COVID-19 limit my focus on making a difference daily.  Referred to President Obama’s quote daily and looked for ways to chip away towards the progress I sought.  How do you eat an elephant?  One bite at a time.  How do you make workplace progress?  One project at a time.

    My first 100-day point at Indian River State College was 7/28/2020.  The Career and Transfer Services (CTS) team was not briefed on my 100-day plan but were key players to ensure we got the results I wanted us to gain.  I take a lot of pride in being able to organize and execute action plans and set about getting a lot of things completed in the first 100 days.

    Vision

    One of my first tasks was to create and then share a vision for the CTS team.  This process allowed me to educate the team on how we would work together to help generate wins for our operation.  Robert Hargrove advises to seek out as many wins as possible in the first 100 days—it builds positive energy.

    I went on a listening tour (virtual, phone, in-person) to speak with staff, colleagues, students, and faculty to understand the best way to partner with each of them.  I learned a lot during these conversations (good and bad) and discovered who I needed to mend fences with.  It was not important when the fences broke but it was my responsibility to get things moving in a positive direction.

    The team conducted a Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) analysis to identify what we did well, our weak areas, improvement opportunities and organizational threats.  This was an eye-opening experience for the team because they had never analyzed the operation at this level.  I needed a full view of our operation to make the first 100 days productive.

    We created action plans to mitigate weaknesses and threats (wins) because we could not grow without addressing these two areas.  This process led to improved training, better communication, and improved team interactions.  The SWOT analysis is a living document and will extend beyond the first 100 days but is a positive step.

    We leveraged multiple teambuilding activities during the first 100 days to ensure our continued growth.  We leveraged the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), created team values statements, enhanced professional development training, and got on The Energy Bus.  Each initiative built on the previous one to help us all grow as team members.

    This teambuilding process allowed us to create additional wins:

    • Produced a Career Ready Infographic
    • Created and produced a Resume Guide
    • Created and produced a Resume Rubric
    • Created and produced a Mock Interview Rubric
    • Created CTS branded PowerPoint template
    • Developed a CTS workshop library
    • Developed employer specific marketing

    These are a few examples of our wins in the first 100 days—excited to add a few more wins as the team continues to grow together.

    We continue to walk on the right path and progress is evident daily!

    How do you measure your progress?  What steps do you leverage to continue to move forward?

    “Little things make a big difference”.

    (Picturequotes.com)

  • Vote 2020!

    Vote 2020!

    (Image by Venita Oberholster from Pixabay)

    There is still time to register to vote!  Do not miss your opportunity to have your voice heard in the local, state, and national election process.

    Registration deadline is October 5, 2020!

    Thank you!

    Have you registered to vote yet? 

    https://registertovoteflorida.gov/eligibilityreactive

    https://www.usa.gov/register-to-vote

  • Walking with a positive work environment

    Walking with a positive work environment

    (Image by Alexas_Fotos from Pixabay) 

    “Positive work environments outperform negative work environments”.

    (Daniel Goleman)

    Positive people make positive things happen is one of my favorite sayings to inspire people in my world.  I created this as a mantra when I enter a work environment to help my team understand the mindset, we need to get positive results.

    I was introduced to Positive Psychology during my course work and it remains with me daily.  One premise of Positive Psychology is people want to lead meaningful and fulfilling lives.  This could be on a personal or professional level.  I like leveraging Positive Psychology within the work environment to show direct reports how our mindset influences work outcomes.

    I mentioned in an earlier post, my daily response to how I am doing is to say fantastic.  This is not a way to hide my true thoughts or feelings but a way to energize myself.  I found by saying I am doing fantastic provides a new level of energy for myself and it can inspire others around me to join in on the fun.  The word fantastic is not used very often in daily life so it makes people take notice and encourages them to get on The Energy Bus.

    Now imagine if you had a leader who was always negative and never had anything nice to say.  How would this person impact the work environment?  I am sure this negative mindset would translate to everyone in the work environment and would not be a pleasant place to work. 

    Leaders must be cognizant how their energy (positive or negative) impacts the work environment.  This knowledge will go a long way to build a positive work environment culture to ensure positive things get done daily.  Sounds simple, huh?

    It takes a while for this positive process to take hold within a new work environment.  The speed of this process can be enhanced when everyone is ready to engage.  One negative teammate can slow or aggravate the process, but this can be mitigated by the rest of the team pulling in the same direction.  A new initiative for me is to follow Rule #6 from The Energy Bus—I have a sign posted that reads No Energy Vampires Allowed in my office in a prominent location.  I will point to the sign when the tone of a conversation starts to become negative.  I welcome different views and opinions but look to negate negative tone, language, or interactions.  It takes time to eliminate the negative, but the goal is to move forward in a positive manner.  I struggle sometimes because I want everything to head in a positive direction but also know things take time. 

    A positive work environment is a place where everyone can thrive, grow, and provide input.  We spend a large amount of our lives in the work environment and I strive to create a space where we can work hard, laugh, and enjoy the process.  Leaders who understand work does not have to be stressful create a space where productivity can be displayed daily.  I have worked in places where people dreaded coming to work and I made a vow to never duplicate these types of environments when I reached the big seat.  Well, I have been in the big seat for a while now and smile whenever one of my tree branches reach out and say they want to work with me again.

    I am sure not everyone feels this way, but I have enough of these folks to form my own wolf pack.  😊 Still learning and growing but will continue to promote positive work environments because they are productive and fun.  Imagine that, fun in the workplace!  Guess Google, Microsoft and Apple understand what people want in the work environment.  I do not have ping pong tables, yet, but play a lot of reggae in my office.  Irie!

    What do you see as the benefits of a positive work environment?  How do you contribute to ensure your work environment remains positive?

     “Positive anything is better than negative nothing”.

    (Elbert Hubbard)

  • The Energy Bus—team building program!

    The Energy Bus—team building program!

    (Image by Marek Studzinski from Pixabay)

    “Thoughts are magnetic. What you think you attract”.

    (John Gordon)

    Dictionary.com defines teambuilding as the action or process of causing a group of people to work together effectively as a team, especially by means of activities and events designed to increase motivation and promote cooperation.

    I have always been a fan of conducting teambuilding activities throughout the years to keep teams focused and pulling in the same direction.  I have been fortunate to create teambuilding platforms at UCF and FSU to enhance our team dynamics and set us up to accomplish our work goals.  Teambuilding is a critical component to organizational success and is necessary to remind each team member how interconnected we are daily.

    I have leveraged the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) at every stop I have made since I left the Air Force.  I find the MBTI an excellent way to understand team members’ communication style and allows us to adjust to how individuals prefer to communicate internally and externally.

    My MBTI is ISTJ (Introverted/Sensing/Thinking/Judging) and is displayed on my desk to remind my team of my preferred communication style. Each team member gets a desk placard highlighting their MBTI to help them communicate with others and serves as a reminder we all have different preferences and work styles.  One is not better than the other, simply different.

    I was introduced to Clifton Strengths while at UCF.  I was charged with building a teambuilding program for Career Center staff and Clifton Strengths provided us with a platform to build on the strengths of everyone on the team.  We reached out and hired a certified consultant to come in and work with us to learn how to maximize team strengths so we could grow the organization.  This was an eye-opening teambuilding experience for the group and has remained an integral tool for me when working to build my respective team dynamics.

    Ice breaker activities are another great way to bring teams together and enhance socialization.  The ice breakers used do not have to be elaborate but should have an element of fun while the team learns more about each other.  The platform should enhance communication and help the team find ways to discover new things about teammates.

    My latest teambuilding adventure was introduced to me by one of my new team members.  She found out I am a huge reader and shared a leadership book from her library with me.  I had never heard of the book but was intrigued by the concept after she explained the premise of the book.  The full title, The Energy Bus:  10 Rules to Fuel your Life, Work and Team is an international best seller and the author, Jon Gordon is sought by organizations to share his Energy Bus knowledge and help people continue to grow.  I watched several of his talks on YouTube to get a better understanding of his concept to determine if this was something I could utilize.  He has a ton of stuff on YouTube so recommend taking some time to explore his work to see how it can help you and your team move forward.

    https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=jon+gordon++

    The book is an extremely easy read and reminds me of the classic, Who Moved My Cheese but in an actual work environment.  I was impressed with how his concepts could be applied to my current work situation as I had to find new and inventive ways to conduct teambuilding while maintaining physical distancing due to COVID-19.  Never imagined 6 months ago I would be able to implement teambuilding activities with team members in 8 different locations via virtual platforms.  I chose the Energy Bus because the 10 rules identified are easy to follow and fit where I wanted to take the team.  We must get creative with our work products now and needed them to understand we must pull in the same direction.

    Leveraging the https://www.theenergybus.com/ site, I was able to send each team member a bus ticket to invite them onto my bus.  It felt funny generating the ticket, but it seemed to excite people when they received the invitation.  Most of the team reached out to ask if they needed to present their ticket at our scheduled teambuilding session.  It was not required but a lot of them had their ticket ready just in case.  😊

    10 Rules for the Ride of Your Life

    1. You are the driver of the Bus
    2. Desire, vision, and focus move your bus in the right direction
    3. Fuel your ride with positive energy
    4. Invite people on your bus and share your vision for the road ahead
    5. Do not waste energy on those who do not get on your bus
    6. Post a sign that says “No Energy Vampires Allowed” on your bus
    7. Enthusiasm attracts more passengers and energizes them during the ride
    8. Love your passengers
    9. Drive with purpose
    10. Have fun and enjoy the ride

    We were able to go through the 10 Rules and discuss the impact each had on our new team adventures.  I gave the team my view of the 10 Rules and how I planned to leverage each of them.  We went around the virtual room and had each team member provide their feedback on each rule and how they would incorporate the rule daily.  I was pleasantly surprised when one of my teammates asked if she could give a full rundown for ALL the rules.  She did a fantastic job summarizing each rule and how it would be incorporated in her daily interactions.  This set the tone for the rest of the teambuilding session and let me know we are heading in the right direction.

    I am always looking for ways to get the team to the next level.  Will continue to research teambuilding activities but highly recommend The Energy Bus if you are looking for ways to bring a team together.

    What teambuilding activities does your organization use?  How has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted your team’s ability to gel?

     “Your positive energy and vision must be greater than anyone’s and everyone’s negativity.  Your certainty must be greater than everyone’s doubt”.

    (John Gordon)

  • Walking with a face mask

    Walking with a face mask

    “Wear a mask, it saves lives”!

    (Calvin Williams)

    Decided to tackle the concept of people not wearing face masks or coverings during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Hoped the concept of Americans doing the right thing to help minimize the pandemic would eventually kick in but it appears to be hopeless.

    I searched for a clever quote I could use to start this post but did not find what I was looking for.  Thought about it for a bit and then just created my own quote to signify my thoughts on this subject.  Wear a mask, it saves lives!!!

    It is beyond weird to hear and see Americans on TV exclaim how it is their right to not comply with a health initiative during a PANDEMIC.  They seem to think wearing a mask to protect themselves and others is an infringement on their freedom.  I do not get this mindset and honestly think the world is doomed with adults saying these things out loud.  Even worse, these folks are not joking when they state it is their right to not wear a face mask. Not wearing a mask to protect themselves and people around them is the right they are demanding!  What a great country!

    Fairly sure most of the people saying these things have NEVER served in the armed forces to fight for the rights they want to hide behind—just venting, thanks!

    We are seeing a trend where younger people are diagnosed with COVID-19 at a faster pace than some experts expected.  This appears to be because people in the 20 – 35-year-old range do not have a fear of the virus.  They are more likely to continue to hang out in large groups without physical distancing and of course, no masks.  I will not disparage everyone in this group because I know my tree branches are following proper protocols.  My point for this group is they are getting each other sick and then bringing the virus home to parents, grandparents, and roommates.

    This cycle ensures the virus continues to spread and endangers more lives.  Wearing a mask may not save everyone from contracting the virus but it can help slow the spread.  I watch Dr. Fauci on TV almost beg people to follow the CDC guidelines because he knows this thing is getting out of control fast.  Hopefully, we will come to our senses as a nation and get back to basics to eliminate the spread of COVID-19.  Oh yeah, masks can help with this! A simple two-week period of masks and physical distancing may save thousands of lives.  Never imagined this pandemic would be worse in September than it was in April when I was terrified to move to Fort Pierce.  It is almost like the virus is just a normal part of life now—sad!

    I am doing my part to keep the face mask industry growing.  I visit ETSY.com on a regular basis looking for new face mask styles to add to my growing collection.  Never thought of face masks as an accessory but I keep finding new and fun ways to express myself with face coverings.  This process feels like dressing up to me and I have joked about having a bandito look when I have my face masks on.  Maybe we should tell the people who get upset when asked to wear a face mask to visit ETSY.com and find a mask to express their frustration WHILE wearing a mask.  I am sure they can find a way to express themselves and still comply by wearing a mask.  Guess I do not understand why wearing a mask is such a hassle for these people.  Masks are light weight, easy to wear and can be worn to accessorize your daily outfits.  😊

    Help me spread the word—masks can save lives and get us back closer to normal!

    https://www.etsy.com/search?q=face%20mask&ref=auto-1

    “If you do not like wearing a face mask, you are really not going to like a ventilator”.

    (Anonymous work colleague)

    Track Florida’s daily numbers here:  https://fdoh.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/8d0de33f260d444c852a615dc7837c86

  • Rock the 2020 vote

    Rock the 2020 vote

    (Image by amberzen from Pixabay) 

    “Bad officials are elected by citizens who do not vote”

    (George Jean Nathan)

    November 3, 2020 is coming! 

    There is no stopping the calendar from flipping to this monumental date in our nation’s history.  11/3/2020 will be here sooner than you imagine. Not trying to scare you but this is a date you must be ready for.  I will not tell you who and how to vote but vote you must. 

    With as much turmoil we have lived through in 2020, voting should seem like a regular activity.  Not downplaying the risks involved with going to a polling location during a pandemic but voting must become a priority for all Americans.  There is still time to request a mail in ballot if needed but make sure you plan to get out and vote.

    58.1% of the voting-eligible population voted in 2016.  You can see some citizens took the night off in November 2016 and simply did not vote.

    Not here to condemn anyone but I never imagined the results from the 2016 presidential election would go the way they did.  Shocked would be an understatement of how I felt the next morning when I woke up and discovered a reality PERSON (not star) was the new president.  The disappointment I felt was numbing on that fateful day.

    Now the pain I feel is a nation crumbling without credible leadership to help us get out of the pandemic, improve race relations, or become a world leader again.  Maybe the new slogan should be:  Make America a World Leader Again!  That would be a fantastic start to getting this country back on a path where we are not being laughed at by other countries.

    I digress a bit—forgive me! 

    There are 54 days left before the national election.  There is still time for you to register to vote and while you are at it, please get your family and friends to register too.  This would be an outstanding time to start a voting drive in your city or town.  This can be done while maintaining physical distancing.  We need people to get out and vote during this election cycle.  Will not say who you should vote for but vote you must.  Too many people have been beaten, threaten, bullied, and killed for the right to vote.  This is our time to exercise our rights and vote for candidates to represent us all. 

    No more wishing for change in America, we must demand it.  Voting provides an opportunity for your voice to be heard—do not be silenced this November.  I do not want to be surprised again this cycle—thanks! 😊

    Have you registered to vote yet?  Who can you help with the registration process?  What are you waiting on?  Let’s rock the 2020 vote!

    https://registertovoteflorida.gov/eligibilityreactive

    https://www.usa.gov/register-to-vote

    About National Voter Registration Day
    (Get out and vote! Help your friends and family register–there’s still time!)

    “The vote is precious. It is the most powerful non-violet tool we have in a democratic society, and we must use it”.

                                                                        (John Lewis)

    https://guides.libraries.psu.edu/post-election-2016/voter-turnout

  • Black Wall Street

    hostility-sculpture-in-tulsa-3910356_1920

    Hostility Sculpture in Tulsa, Oklahoma

    (Image by Mike Goad from Pixabay)

    “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere”.

    (Dr. Martin Luther King)

    My first introduction to Black Wall Street came when I served as a panelist for a Florida State University (FSU) Black Student Union (BSU) program.  The students invited me to enhance their professional development program, but I got a history lesson I did not expect or know I needed.

    I love working with college students because they bring a passion for subjects they are interested in and that passion keeps them curious and intent on growing daily. My role on the panel was to help BSU students understand how to present themselves when networking for future career opportunities.  We got that process going and had a good question and answer session with lots of input from the students in attendance.

    One of the students present asked the moderator why the activities for the week was labeled Black Wall Street?  The response is where my education on the subject began.

    The BSU leaders saw Black History Month as the perfect time to educate its members and guests on important periods, i.e., The Harlem Renaissance, Black Wall Street, Black Excellence and Black Power.  I was familiar with each of the periods identified for the month except Black Wall Street.  I assumed this was BSU’s way to show members how to build financial freedom and eventually make their way to Wall Street (NYC).  I was wrong and totally missed the boat on the meaning of Black Wall Street.

    The BSU leadership wanted to show members how financial freedom could be gained by following the blueprint laid out by the founders of the true Black Wall Street in Greenwood, Oklahoma (Tulsa).  I had never heard of Black Wall Street, Greenwood, Oklahoma or the massacre that happened there in the early 1920’s.  My students were more than happy to fill me in on another history lesson I never received during my formal education programs—this seems to be a common theme with American history.

    The concept a black town in Oklahoma was self-sufficient in the 1920’s seemed unreal at first but decided to learn more after talking with students.  I consider myself a lifelong learner and this was another educational journey I needed to fully see the great things that happened on Black Wall Street prior to the massacre.

    O.W. Gurley was a prominent figure who relocated to the Greenwood district and purchased land which then could only be sold to people of color.  This was Gurley’s vision to establish a place for the black population.  Most of his businesses were frequented by black migrants fleeing the oppression of the Mississippi delta.  Gurley worked with others to pool their financial resources and support the thriving businesses being developed in Greenwood.  The residents of Black Wall Street were doctors, lawyers, and entrepreneurs. The success of the black residents of Greenwood played a role in the 1921 massacre because of the jealousy of their white neighbors in nearby Tulsa.

    My Black Wall Street education increased my knowledge of this important period of Black History and led me to dig deeper on the actual massacre.  The news program, 60 Minutes did a report on Black Wall Street and the massacre a few years ago.  This led to additional investigations and a team has been formed to find and excavate hidden graves to bring closure for descendants of the massacre victims.  This painful piece of American history continues to garner interest and my hope is we never experience something like this again.

    Learn more about what happened in Greenwood here:

    https://www.forbes.com/sites/antoinegara/2020/06/18/the-bezos-of-black-wall-street-tulsa-race-riots-1921/#65183f08f321

    60 Minutes program on Greenwood, Oklahoma:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yA8t8PW-OkA

    “History has shown us that courage can be contagious, and hope can take on a life of its own”.

    (Michelle Obama)

     

  • Hire character, train skill

    Hire Character

    (Image by Ziglar.com)

    “Good character improves every aspect of a person’s life”.

    (John C. Maxwell)

    Inspirations for Walk into the Future articles come to me from multiple sources.  I generate most of the topics based on things I am doing or interested in.  I continually ask my friends and tree branches to send me suggestions then work to develop their input into an article for others to learn from.

    This post is unique because it has taken years to get to a place where I can develop this topic.  My extra inspiration came from one of my closet friends when she texted me a picture that said Hire character, train skill.  Believe it or not but I have been saying and using these words over the years when I need to hire someone to join my team.  Just never developed it out to highlight the importance of this concept.

    The hiring processing is an ongoing concept for me.  I learned a long time ago to anticipate future openings and have adequate bench players (basketball term) available.  My first action is to create a professional development program to enhance current team members’ knowledge, so they are promotion ready.  A lot of organizations state they hire from within, but this is impossible if you are not actively training your staff.  My goal has always been to prepare staff to take over for me if I am not there.  This has led to staff being attractive to other organizations and I am thrilled to serve as a professional reference for my folks if they need it.  Happy to report 5 out of 11 members from my Florida State University Employer Relations team held Director or Associate Director titles for the 2019 – 2020 academic year.  Immensely proud of my crew and the great things they are getting done.  They are all high character people and wanted to learn daily.  They were also quick to apply their new knowledge within the work environment.

    My second action is to build relationships with people in my industry through networking and conference attendance.  This allows me to identify people who will fit within my team structure if I have an opening.  I offer direct mentorship to these folks to help them grow their careers at their current locations.  I make a point to let a select few know I would like them to work on my team if an opening exists.  Please note, some of these people may not be looking or interested in the current location but it helps to put out feelers before there is a need to hire someone. Again, character is a major part of this outreach effort.

    My third action is to never eliminate someone simply because their background and experiences may not line up perfectly with the job description.  Nothing I have done professionally is rocket science and someone with the right character can be trained for the work I perform.  The character of the hire should enhance the overall performance of the team and bring some unique talents to make us better.  It helps to bring in someone who has diverse thoughts, background, and experiences so we can learn from them as well.  Maintaining a solid organizational training program provides the foundation needed to bring someone in with less on paper experience and gets them up to speed on the operational pace needed for success.  I would rather invest the time to train someone with the character needed for success than bring in someone with paper skills, no integrity, teamwork, or ability to make the team better.  I have seen these folks destroy the team dynamic and it takes a long time to recover. Energy vampires!

    I cannot say I have gotten this process right 100% of the time but I have more successful character hires than not.  I continue to learn and evolve my hiring practices but hire for character, train for skill remains the foundation for me.

    Look at the current national leadership model to understand the importance of character in the work environment!  The lack of character can destroy organizations from within.

    What is your hiring philosophy?  How has it evolved over the years?  Thanks!

    “Character is like a tree and reputation like a shadow.  The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing”.

    (Abraham Lincoln)

  • Walking into the Future with no backup plan

    Make Things Happen

    (Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay)

    “There’s no reason to have a plan B because it distracts from plan A”.

    (Will Smith)

    I routinely listen to the Fox Sports 1 (FS1) daily show, The Herd with Colin Cowherd to get caught up on sports commentary and for a few laughs.  Dude can be hilarious with some of his takes on sporting events, teams, and individual players.  Some people do not like him because he has a dry sense of humor, but he does a good job researching topics before introducing them on his show.

    He recently started discussing the concept of successful people not having a plan B which routinely led them to success.  He leverages examples of athletes, business people, and sports personalities who took a risk on themselves without having an escape clause (plan B).  He asks in his high pitch voice:  you think Bill Gates had a plan B?  What about Steve Jobs?  You think I (Colin Cowherd) had a plan B before I picked up and moved from New York to Los Angeles?  No, no and no!

    His point being is creating a plan B allows for less than max efforts towards plan A.  Never thought of this process in a similar way but believe my Walk into the Future mirrors his words in several ways.

    One of my overarching goals on this walk was to never compromise my principles when it comes to work.  There were times I could have gone to a plan B and took another role that did not fit where I wanted to be, but I created the Walk into the Future mindset for a reason.  Some people could not understand why I would not rush back into the traditional world of work but had to stick to the plan–find things so I could make a difference in life daily.

    I kept my focus on areas where I knew I could thrive, make a difference, and enjoy the process daily.  Discovered additional talents I had because of the focus on plan A only.  Research, writing blog articles, mentoring, and conducting speaking engagements served as my professional development incubator over the past two years.

    While some people thought I was hanging out I was working on my craft to find additional ways to make a difference.  No limitations were present because I was free to create what Walk into the Future meant to me.  I look back at my first blog articles and can see the progression I have made over the past two years.  My research and writing process have improved and continue to get better daily

    I put unlimited time, effort and thoughts into this plan and refused to get distracted.  I understand everyone cannot just walk away from their professional lives but being an Air Force retiree provides me with income to continue to do things like being a running tourist.

    Please note I am not comparing myself to Bill Gates, Steve Jobs or Colin Cowherd—they all have a lot more money than me, but the no plan B mindset is similar.

    Saw an opportunity in Fort Pierce, Florida and decided to go all in—no plan B.  The excitement and potential for the new role was vetted without an emotional approach and launched me forward.  Never looked back or sideways once committed to this new chapter.  My plan A continues to work for me!

    Moving forward and Walking into the Future! 😊

    What is your plan A?  How do you ensure your focus remains on plan A?

    “There is no plan B for passion”.

    (Chris Gardner)

     Great article from Jeff Haden:  https://www.inc.com/jeff-haden/why-remarkably-successful-people-dont-make-backup-plans.html

  • Irie vibes–control the controllable

    Control

    (Image by Free-Photos from Pixabay)

    “You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them”.

    (Maya Angelou)

    Control the controllable is one of my favorite sayings.  Do not remember where I heard it first, but it has been a way of thinking for many years.  Try to leverage this saying when things appear difficult and I need to remind myself to trust the process.

    I shared the saying in a LinkedIn post back in April and was pleasantly surprised with the number of views (900+), reactions (20+) and comments the post garnered.  The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way we view normal and it can be easy to get overwhelmed with everything happening around us.

    Dictionary.com defines control as the power to influence or direct people’s behavior or the course of events.

    Control the controllable can serve as a positive mantra to help tackle difficult times and situations.

    Take care of yourself

    Taking care of yourself can be done in many ways.  For some this may mean ensuring you make time to exercise.  For others this can be done by eating a healthier diet.  This combination is a critical aspect of controlling how you function daily.  A key component some of us may have forgotten until now is the mental and emotional elements in your life.  COVID-19 has made us view life differently and reveals the importance of mental health.  The ability to seek and find clarity should be at the forefront of taking care of yourself.

    Take care of others

    Who are YOUR tree branches?  Make sure you reach out to them to help them navigate this new way of life.  Most people will tell you they are doing okay but keep checking on them.  They will appreciate the effort and it helps you keep your tree growing.  You can also reach out to people who are not tree branches; make someone’s day and become a mentor to help move them forward and provide some guidance.

    Continue to practice physical distancing

    The government and news agencies penned the term social distancing.  Believe this connotation has been a problem from day 1.  Most people had never heard of this term prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and it may have confused some.  I like the term physical distancing because it says right in the title to stay away from others.  We have got enamored with social media and everything that comes with it—think a lot of people could not understand what was really being asked of them when told to practice social distancing.  Regardless how you address the term, physical distancing is something we have some level of control.

    Create personal outlets

    Look for personal and creative outlets to leverage the things you can control.  The Walk into the Future blog has become a major way for me to express a creative side I really did not know existed.  I get excited researching topics and then challenging myself to create an article someone else may want to read.  Have no idea if anyone is really reading this stuff but I keep plugging away because it is something I control.

    Running and weightlifting are other outlets I utilized to control the controllable for myself.  Journaling outside of my work on the Walk into the Future blog has a calming effect for me.  Most times when writing in my journal I can generate work and life ideas to implement later.  Handwriting content in the journal also makes me slow done a bit and really think through what I want to write down.  Always recommend journaling to anyone who will listen to me because it is an excellent outlet to express thoughts—try it! 😊

    Reggae and the beach are other outlets I have available to me daily.

    Open your eyes and your mind to see your outlets!

    “The control center of your life is your attitude”.

    (Anonymous)

    Live, love and laugh

    Life can be a compilation of good and bad. Let’s focus on the good and leverage the positive energy this mindset brings.  Live daily, love often and laugh always!  (I just made that up). 😊

    What daily things are within your control?  How do you maintain this control? Thanks!

    “The moment you give up, is the moment you let someone else win.”

    (Kobe Bryant)