Experts

In addition to being a member of InnerWorks, LLC, I am also a hair designer. In my field, I have opportunities to work outside the salon with companies on their product development. I can remember the day when I was told, “You’re the expert!” I started laughing. And then I heard the reply, “Really, Julie, you’re the expert!”

That got me thinking. In my mind, an expert was someone like Albert Einstein, Thomas Edison, the Wright Brothers or Warren Buffett. An expert was someone bigger than life. Well, maybe they were just someone bigger than me. How could I be an expert?

I decided to look up the definition of expert and this is what I found: “Someone who is very skilled at something or knows a lot about a particular subject.” Well, that’s doesn’t sound bigger than life. As a matter of fact, that sounds very achievable.

Be an expert today. Learn something new and start to polish your skills. But don’t forget: Your credibility as an expert means nothing if it’s not built on a solid foundation of honesty and integrity.

The Challenge

Let’s get ready to R-U-M-B-L-E! Are you up for the fight? If you’re willing to follow the rules, we can go ahead and get started. No hitting below the belt, no cheap shots, never hit a man when he’s down.

Take your corners!

Oh, wait a minute. I forgot to tell you. This fight is one that’s taking place within ourselves. It’s the self-defeating battle that we’re not even conscious of most of the time. It’s the negative self-talk that we beat ourselves over the head with. What bullies we are! We never follow the rules. We have no problem dropping a pile-driver on ourselves after just being laid out by a body slam.

Did you know that our greatest assets are also our weakest links?

Well, that changes the fight, doesn’t it? Now we can put ourselves on a fair playing ground. Let’s see how we can start to build our line of self-defense.

For example: Obsessed vs. passionate. Instead of beating myself up by thinking that I’m obsessive, I realize and accept that I’m very passionate about what I do. Or here’s another one: Hyper vs. energetic. Rather than feeling embarrassed, I acknowledge that I’m an energetic and enthusiastic person. Where do you need to challenge yourself?

All bets are on you! This is one upset I’ll be rooting for!

Sight Check

Let’s take a moment to check our sight. No, this isn’t a do-it-yourself eye exam! I’m talking about our other sights–insight, foresight and hindsight. They’re just as important as our vision, but sometimes it’s easy to loose sight of them!

We’ll start with insight. Simply put, our insight is our understanding, the way we observe and take in information that at one time might not have been clear to us. This allows us to have a new understanding of a particular situation or person.

Next up is foresight. Foresight is responsible for looking ahead, planning our future. Foresight helps us to be one step ahead of the game.

And last, but now least, is hindsight. Good ‘ol hindsight. I admit, hindsight needs no formal introduction with me. From time to time, I have been there! Have you ever had thoughts like this: “In hindsight, I should’ve spent more time with my family,” or “In hindsight, I shouldn‘t have bought that big house.” Or maybe you know hindsight by its alias “if.” “If only I hadn’t worked so late every night” or “If only my mortgage payment was smaller.” Hindsight is kind of funny because it keeps the past in the present!

It makes sense that we spend time with all three of our sights. But we don’t want to get trapped in any one of them for too long. My insight and intuition show that I trust myself to do the right thing and make the best decisions that I can. I have foresight–the ability to plan for my future, taking action when needed. Being prepared can help cushion some of the hits that come along.

And then there’s hindsight. Thank goodness for hindsight! If it weren’t available to us, we’d go through life with our blinders on. I think it’s the most powerful of our sights. Hindsight is a gift. We’re given the ability to reflect back on ourselves while moving forward with the opportunity for a new chance.

How will you spend your chance?

The Winning Formula

I have a formula that I would like to share it with you. It’s really a very simple equation. If you’re thinking, “Oh no, I’m not good at math,” you can relax. This has nothing to do with numbers. It’s a formula that’s guaranteed to work–if you do your part!

Relationships = Resources = Results

Let’s start at the end of the equation, because sometimes it’s easier to start with what we know. I know I would like to have better results in my life, but I need help with that. I need resources. I need to surround myself with people who are interested in helping me because I have taken the time to develop a relationship with them. And I help them, too.

So whether it’s on a personal or business level, the relationships we develop are the foundation for our success. I know I love being surrounded by great people! How about you?

Test Run

Do you ever end your day by analyzing what you did that day? Do you focus on the things that didn’t go the way you had planned? How easy it is to judge ourselves and keep our focus on the negatives, even when we had so many successes throughout our day.

What I notice is that the more I’m stepping outside my comfort zone and the more I’m accepting new opportunities and challenges, it’s pretty certain that I’m going to make mistakes. If I’m only doing the things that I‘m comfortable with–the ones with the guaranteed outcomes–am I really going to achieve what I am fully capable of?

The truth is, each day is just a test run, a practice for tomorrow. Each day, I have everything I need to be my best and do my best. If I can put my judgments aside, today will actually provide me with all the opportunities to approach tomorrow even more prepared! Be willing to embrace the good as well as the bad. Learn from both.

I wonder what opportunities will show up today?

If and It

Say “if and it” five times as fast as you can. Ready, set, go!

It’s kind of hard to say, it sounds silly, and it’s a little bit confusing! But how easily these two simple words wiggle their way out and wreak havoc. They make such a mess of things.

If I could’ve gone to college…. If there were more hours in a day…. If I just had more money…. If I could only have some of what she has…. I wish I could get it. It’s not fair! When I get it I’ll be happy.

Why not do a follow-up to these statements? Don’t defend them. Ask the follow-up questions.

“If I could have gone to college….” I can’t change the past, but what could I do differently right now? I could take an evening class. I could sign up for an online computer course. I could buy a book with the specialized information I am looking for. I can educate myself in many ways.

“If there were more hours in a day….” I can’t change the hours in a day, but I can use my time more wisely. What are the most important things I need to do today? What could I do less of so that I can start doing more of what I want?

Start filling in the blanks to your “ifs” and “its” and create the future you’ve been wishing for!

Be Your Best

“You don’t have to be the best, you just have to be your best.”

What? Are you kidding? Are you telling me, after all these years, that I only need to be my best? It sounds so simple, so obvious. Have I really never heard this before?

What have I been trying to prove all this time? And who have I been trying to prove it to? If I take a look deep inside-way down in there-I think I can find the answer. It’s me. I’ve been trying to prove it to myself. I didn’t think I was good enough. I didn’t believe that anyone would want what I had to offer. I thought it was you who I was trying to prove it to, but it’s been me all along.

“You don’t have to be the best, you just have to be your best.” What freedom that simple statement offers! Be your best! Be proud of yourself and what you have to offer. Learn from what you do today, so that you can offer something even better tomorrow. Oh, and most importantly: Don’t forget to have fun doing it!

Won’t it feel great to end your day knowing that you did your best?!