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.

Poor Me

“Poor Me” whines the person who wants others to do everything for them. You recognize the type, right? They are the ones who invite you for coffee and step aside after they order until you pay. I really do not mind paying. My concern lies more in their mindset of lack and entitlement.

An attitude of entitlement permeated United States for years and contributed to the election of many government officials. People who expect others to do for them without any effort or contribution on their part exemplify an attitude of entitlement. We meet these unfortunate souls in many areas of our life. They are the ones who send our “oh woe is me” letters to solicit donations for their personal benefit when they could simply get off their chair and exert a little effort.

There are individuals who genuinely deserve charitable giving. A family who experiences a tragic loss, accident or illness and needs temporary assistance deserves our help. I have given very generously over and over to employees, friends and relatives who needed a temporary loan or boost to get over a tough spot. I give very generously at church and in my community for the less fortunate. I give with a cheerful heart because I am so grateful for the blessings I have received.

An ancient spiritual law decrees that the Egyptians, Babylonians, Hebrews, and Chinese believed that when they gave with a cheerful and grateful heart that wealth returned to them in absolute abundance. In fact, they believed the number 10 was magic. Some say that became the origin of tithing – giving ten percent of crops, livestock and money. The ancients believed giving was the means to receive in abundance.

History has demonstrated the existence of givers and receivers. The receivers, the entitlement society, expect to be taken care of and provided for without any effort on their part. This entitlement belief has created four and five generation welfare families. This “give me a hand out” mentality has created a poverty and lack mindset generation after generation.

Right here in the midst of affluence there is a healthy young lady with a masters degree in business who expects others to send her money so that she does not have to find a job to earn for herself. That is a perfect example of an entitlement mentality. Personal opinion is that she needs to get off of her chair and go to work rather than relying on being cute and lazy.

Seriously examine your personal beliefs. Are you taking responsibility for your life and your results? We live in the greatest nation in the history of the world. We have more opportunities to learn and earn than any other nation. We have more freedom of decision on every aspect of our lives than in any other nation.

Stop encouraging and enabling the “poor me” crowd who is perfectly capable of contributing to society. This will allow us to contribute to those who truly need and deserve our financial and emotional support. Eliminating the entitlement attitude will assist America in getting back on their financial feet.

I am so proud to be associated with a group of positive, forward thinking, growth oriented entrepreneurs who contribute to society rather than detract from it. People who take responsibility for their decisions, actions and results are the examples of the leaders who created this great country of ours.

Are you a giver or a taker? It is a choice.