Making Your Mirror Talk

“Look at your limitations and decide how you’re going to blow them away!”

-Don Whitehead

Making Your Mirror Talk

Eight of us were sitting around a long, rectangular conference room table with one single purpose.  We were there to help a friend work on a funding presentation.  He started his business in 2008, with some other talented people, and they were finding amazing success.  They were on track to produce more than one and a half million dollars in sales this year.  With a little more investment capital and the right partners they could really kick things in gear and grow their company into something really special.

All the people who were sitting around the table were also special.  They were donating their time, talent and experience to make a difference.

 If nothing else happened, they were making a difference to me.  I sat listening to their individual observations and advice with amazed captivation.  But, one comment really hit me between the eyes.

“Look at your limitations and decide how you’re going to blow them away!” Don said as we were outlining the challenges we could all see as we talked.

His words had an almost hypnotic effect on me and my mind started to drift away to another time and place.  I could see an old worn journal in front of me.  It was contained in a glass museum case.  I remembered it as clearly as if I was standing in there once again.

I had stopped in to look at a special showing of George Washington’s memorabilia in a small museum in Manhattan.  They were having an extraordinary exhibit related to President Washington.  And, out of all that was there to amaze, the one thing that caught my eye and notice was this small, hand written book; his book of “Rules of Civility.”

Whenever Mr. Washington would learn an important trait of character he would make a note of it in his book and would then work systematically to incorporate it into his own behavior and disposition.  He did so systematically and thoughtfully.  George Washington’s life is a demonstratively vivid example of the kind of great success that can be accomplished by careful adherence to Don’s wonderful advice.

So, when I got home I went to my personal library and pulled a well worn book from my bookcase.  I thumbed through the pages and reviewed President Washington’s Rules of Civility once again.  I had become lax in reviewing my own life and made a commitment to once again look at my own limitations and then decide how I am going to blow them away.

Who do you think you could become if you were to follow Mr. Washington’s example and Don’s advice?

Remembering Pure Joy

Bre Instefjord receiving metals after competing in a gymnastics meet

Remembering Pure Joy

My friend Bre practices her Gymnastics hard several days each week.  There are some days in which she struggles, but she does it because she loves it.  I know she loves it because she works through her struggles and stays with it until she conquers each new challenging skill as she grows.

She isn’t the first girl I’ve seen go through this process.  I had two daughters of my own who loved competing as gymnasts.  They would work until their hands became raw on some days.  But they kept at it until those same hands became thick with calluses.

I remember watching one day when one of my girls “ripped” her hand while working her bar routine.  Her callused skin had split wide open and her eyes were filled with tears.  When the other girls saw what had happened they all rushed over and gave her hugs and pats saying, “Congratulations! You got your first rip, way to go!”  When next I was able to see my daughter’s face, the tears were gone and she was beaming with pride.  I know the pain was still there, but her satisfaction as having accomplished something that few people in the world had done soothed her pain as if she were wrapped in a blanket while sipping chicken noodle soup. 

Accomplishment achieved as a result of hard work, coupled with sincere admiration from loved ones is perhaps the greatest joy a person can experience in life.  But, as life presses in upon us from time to time it is also a principle we begin to let drift into a descended brain fog.  It’s so easy to get discouraged and disheartened.

I was falling prey to just such feelings the other day when Bre’s Grandmother asked me over to see video of the awards ceremony from the 25^th Annual Cryatal Cup Gymnastics Competition.  I watched Bre stand and have five metals draped around her neck!  But what I really saw was a face that shown bright as the sun, fueled by a bursting chest of excitement!  She was the definition of pure joy.

My little internal voice said, “Remember that feeling?  You should. That’s accomplishment achieved as a result of hard work!”

I was humbled at the sight and internal message.  It made me want to be a hard worker again.  It made me want to show sincere admiration for the others around me who had received their first rip as a result of their hard work that day.

 If that’s you, congratulations on getting your first rip.  Keep up the good work.  Your awards ceremony is coming up soon!