Show Up For Your Future

Show up! The first requirement in order to make progress in life, is to show up. In order to go up the corporate ladder, the earnings ladder or the personal development ladder, you have to show up. You may not be the best athlete on the field or the best trumpet player in the band, but unless you show up and perform to the very best of your ability, you will never move up in the lineup.

Be “in the right place at the right time” only works when you show up. Everyone talks about the “lucky breaks.” Lana Turner was discovered sitting on a counter stool in a soda fountain. Celine Dion was discovered singing in a tent in the rain. A famous field goal kicker was discovered playing sand lot football with his buddies.

First they had to “get up,” and take action by “showing up.” Life will not come searching for you. Take the responsibility for your own future. Show up! Take an active part in your life. Either you show up and take responsibility for your life or by default you are giving control of your life to someone else.

You do not have to do anything. You do not have to get out of bed in the morning, pay taxes or prepare a sandwich for yourself. Some people never do. News Flash! If you do not take any action, you have no right to complain about your lack of results.

The first manual to be completed in Toastmasters is the Competent Communications manual. There are 10 speeches emphasizing 10 different elements to be accomplished in order to earn your cc designation. Unless you show up at the regular meetings, you will not be scheduled to speak up. It is only fair that the members who show up and participate receive the coveted speaking roles. Yes, a rotation exists; however, with 34 members in the club and 3 speaking slots per meeting, preference goes to those who show up on a consistent basis. Show up in order to speak up.

Voting is a privilege extended to Americans. The economy in America is turbulent and unpleasant for most Americans right now. Unfortunately, the forecast does not hold any jubilant indications. Whether you like the President or not, we live in the greatest nation on the earth. We have the right to cast our vote each four years to help select our Presidential leadership. If you don’t show up and vote, you have no right to complain. We have more freedom of choice in the United States than any other country. Either show up and speak up, or shut up.

At the beginning of the economic decline in 2008, DuPont responded aggressively to the economic meltdown. Chief executive Chad Holliday met with the company’s top leaders and economists to form a crisis plan. Within ten days they had sixty thousand employees meeting with their managers. Everyone was asked to identify three action steps they could immediately implement to conserve cash and reduce costs. Who said major companies could not move quickly? DuPont acted quickly and produced positive results. They initiated an extremely important move; they included their employees is solution-oriented thinking. They asked their employees to show up and take part in saving their own jobs.

Amazon employed a similar technique by calling all of their managers together with the statement, “There is a big recession coming. Let’s miss it.” Amazon took positive steps to increase market share and improve the bottom line. While most other companies were whining about a terrible Christmas revenue in 2008, Amazon wore a smile a mile wide. Amazon showed up and took positive action.

Where are you in your life right now? Are you sitting on the sidelines? Are you showing up and taking an active part in creating the life you desire and deserve? For specific action steps to improve your life, contact me at www.Elaine4Success.com.