Navigation Power: Steer Toward Success

“I have discovered in life that there are ways of getting almost anywhere you want to go, if you really want to go.”

~ Langston Hughes, Poet and Activist

Thoughts For Moving Forward

• Be determined to move strong, in spite of uncertainty and storms (whatever they look like for you: slow economy, job market, relationship challenges).
• Rudder at the right signs. Stay anchored in your values, visions, and interests. (Revisit your lists.)
• Open all lanes for learning. Detours and potholes are there for a reason. (If you fall in or go the wrong way, so what? Find a way out or around.)

• Explore the right realms, your major motivators. What’s the gas in your engine? (passion, giving back, your expertise, challenge, taking care of your family)

• Acknowledge fellow travelers. We don’t journey alone (Get support from friends, mentors, and networks.)

• Plot a route to success that’s realistic. Be confident in who you are and pace your journey to your style. Do you!

• Rejuvenate. Stop and rest. Take a break, vacation, or staycation (Have a special way to fuel you.)

• Boldly remain a believer in your own success. See it to the right, left, front, and rear as you check your mirrors. (Engage!)

• Claim victory at critical times. Segment your successes for each leg of your journey (Small wins are good).

Charting Your Life Journey: An Odyssey of Lessons

 Even his griefs are a joy long after to one that remembers all that he wrought and endured.
Homer, The Odyssey

 

When I was in undergraduate school I took a course in Greek Literature. It was not my favorite subject, but I did find myself fascinated with some of the writings—in particular The Odyssey by Homer. The term “odyssey” continued to show up in my life through other readings or programs. And as I’ve gotten older, I found that this word appropriately describes acts of my life’s journey.

            The Random House Dictionary defines an odyssey as "any long series of wanderings, especially when filled with notable experiences, hardships, etc."  For those who may not be familiar with Homer’s piece, it chronicles the journey, setbacks and protection of its warrior main character, Odysseus.

 As in the expression ‘art imitates life,’ many others may be able to identify with the lessons of this epic tale. If not The Odyssey, there’s Alice in Wonderland, The Wizard of Oz, The Lion King or many other foundational life stories on traveling roads, falling down, facing who we are and getting back home, while reflecting on the interactions with the people we’ve met along the way. Writings on faith, spirituality and religion enlighten us to some of the same messages.

In thinking about our own encounters or events, we realize that in sometimes mysterious yet circuitous ways, these messages serve to shape and mold us much like the characters of these works. Understanding the past is most times a key element in making sense of the present. As we celebrate and prosper, suffer and learn or rise and fall through these ordeals, we come into what is the beauty along with the complexity of our earthly existence. Usually that takes time. 

 

 

This world we travel presents paths with faults, barrenness and cracks while also offering its bounty of growing seasons, plants and flowers. The seasons will change and so will the conditions. We trek across this land encountering people and places, sometimes stopping and restarting. Moving through phases of our odyssey at given points we may ask: Where am I?  We look at where we’ve traveled and ask: What’s behind me?  Is this the best way ahead? What’s before me?  Side trips will take us into new territory, providing new ground and spaces to explore. We’ll cross and burn bridges. Our thoughts may also focus on places to avoid. We may even ask which stops are necessary.

I encourage each of us to explore our own odyssey and the lessons that lie within, even from our various forms of grief. The yield for our future can be tremendous!

 

 

 

 

Celebrate Life: Vast and Deep

 

Life is in the clouds: great life, broad life, deep life, elevated life.

Hawaiian Proverb

           

            There’s a song I love by the jazz vocalist Dianne Reeve, entitled, “Better Days”.  The words that resonate with me are, “…you can’t get to no better days until you make it through the night.” Dark and frightening deepness of the dusk have brought forth bright and shining opportunities. Keep looking up even when you’re down!

            How do we maintain this joy on the journey— regardless of trials and tests?

            Three things come to mind: Find ways to proclaim good news. Do mark the milestones in life. Write them down. 

            So make your list of joys as vast and wide as you choose.  Then shout it out!

 

Here’s my list of Journey’s Joys:

·         My mother and family loved and love me

·         Getting to know and learn from my grandparents          

·         My graduations from high school and college

·         All of my birthdays

·         Getting my commission as an Army officer

·         The births of my nephew and 2 nieces

·         Getting my first paid training/consulting contract

·         Seeing my mother retire from her job at the factory

·         Paying off my first car and getting the title

·         My Mom’s 70^th birthday party we gave her in 2007

·         Paying for my Master’s Degree with my Mastercard – then settling that debt

·         Ten years as a cancer survivor

·         Buying my first home in Phoenix

 

            Remember LG (Life is Good). ISO – in spite of.

Excerpted from my motivational autobiography, Navigating Life’s Roadways: Stories of Insight from My Odyssey and Inspiration for Your Journey in print and Kindle eBook http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008FQDPYE

 

Be Tenacious! Ride the Trail of Life's Winds

Tough Times Never last, But Tough People Do!

Title of a book by Revered Robert H. Schuller

On a bike ride on top of a volcano in Maui, 2001

"Hold on!"

            As wild bicycle riders, my play gang during my youth and I would yell these words to each other as we circled the house—jumping ditches or mudholes, cruising over  rocks, knocking over playmates—or anything else in our way—peddling our ‘no speeds’ as hard as we could.  We were usually doubled up on the bike— one doing the leg work while standing— the other one perched on the seat, holding the other's waist, head, arms, or whatever provided the firmest grip. Occasionally, a third person would hop on, riding the handlebar or a rear wheel seat. Fierce and focused for big fun, we rode that limited but challenging route around the house on the bicycle, since we were not allowed to venture out into the road. Occasionally one of us would try to show off and take both hands off of the handlebars…and then everyone fell down. 

            I continued to enjoy biking and at one time lived close to an extensive and intermittently demanding trail in Alexandria VA. The trail’s proximity to the Potomac River brought beauty and peace to the ride for me. However, on windy days this location was particularly challenging. Headwinds coming off the river prevailed, slowing my ride and causing me to hold on tighter when I reached dangerous curves and downhills. I was concerned about falling because in spots the trail was further surrounded by miry marsh and rocky deep ditches. My helmet offered some protection and I shifted gears as necessary to negotiate the path. Those were not times or places for any tricks like riding with my hands off the handle bars. Paying attention to these moments, the call for me was to still ‘hold on’.

            The trails of life can yield weighty winds and stumbling stones, but being steadfast can help us to ride them out. ‘That which doesn’t kill us can make us stronger.’ Let’s maximize our motions. With our protections of faith, creativity and a firm foundation of focus— we can do it. 

            Another one of my favorite gospel songs tells me, ‘Just like a tree that's planted by the water, I shall not be moved.’

            Our talents provide a framework of protection for us to peddle hard on the journey.

Excerpted from my motivational autobiography, Navigating Life’s Roadways: Stories of Insight from My Odyssey and Inspiration for Your Journey in print and Kindle eBook http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008FQDPYE

2014 Mid-Year Review – How Are You Leaning?

‘Be Inspired and Lean Into Your 2014” is the slogan that came to my mind as the New Year approached. Like many I had several items on my resolutions list, goals of the personal and professional kind, determined to keep me in this motivational state. More business, lose weight, be kind to everyone…, some standard “I’ll do betters and a few different ones sprang up.

So here we are at July 1 and half of this year has quickly gone by. And for me it’s time to assess and ask myself a few questions—to do a mid-year review. Yet another list to respond to: Is there anything I can check off as accomplished? How am I doing overall with those  goals?  Do I really want the answer to these becomes another issue to ponder. Well it was a snowy winter so I didn’t exercise a lot and comfort food eating became the convenient option. Then when I’m truthful with myself, I own up to what did go right, even with a struggle. A few new clients with business travel, different speaking engagements, and author talk/blitz at local libraries.

Revisiting our actions can be difficult, but often necessary. So I’m posting a few inquiries for thought in obtaining inspiring and leaning status.

What inspires you?

How do you lean in to your purpose?

Who are you when your best self is evident?

For many of us, a basic sense of feeling in control of our lives, showing up authentic, taking care of our physical, mental and spiritual being with a healthy sense of self-esteem would be filtered into the answers to those questions.

So why aren’t we always there? What gets in the way or things that become hold backs?

Certainly life’s disappointments, our habits, motivations and perspectives can flow out in each of those areas to send us spiraling downward.

I realized that it’s easy to be caught in a few of those hold back attitudes from achieving my best “inspired lean into”. Letdowns and cookie monsters reigned.

What’s my now?

“You can always begin again” is one of those spiritual sayings that resonates most clearly.

I’m taking a few steps to move forward.  The weight issue was one of my biggest personal challenges, I got way off course. But I’ve been out for walks and workouts over the last month. Momentum is always good! Then while out on a walk one morning, more clarity came in the way of this statement.

Sometimes we all need a little PUSH. Purpose, Understanding, Support, Healing.

But nothing beats the ultimate PUSH. Pray Until Something Happens!

And “your latter can be greater.”

Stay inspired! Keep leaning into this energy!

 

Navigate Strong! Finding Your Life's Road of Reality

March on. Do not tarry. To go forward is to move toward perfection. March on, and fear not the thorns, or the sharp stones on life’s path.

Kahil Gibran

 

            “Life is difficult.” In Dr. M. Scott Peck’s well known book, The Road Less Traveled, this is the first sentence. Startling at first glance, but when we think about these words, it’s very true.  Dr. Peck goes on to say that once we accept this fact, life becomes less difficult because this fact no longer matters.

            Keep going ISO (In Spite of).

            We then focus on the many roads ahead, knowing as we proceed on our odyssey that some truths will become evident. One such truth is that we ourselves sometimes get in our own way and create difficulty. Other times we show out brilliantly, handling our business. Hard stuff happens and none of us are immune. Wonderful times roll around and we all get to celebrate.

            Most of life actualizes somewhere in the middle and that is where we learn—traveling on what appears to be a ‘long and winding’ road.

             I’ve (literally) broken down on the road yet found inspiration in the words of a gospel song that relates, “Nobody told me the road would be easy; I don't believe he brought me this far to leave me.”  These words help me to recognize and use my IPS (Internal Positioning System) more.

            What I’ve come to terms with on this journey we call life is that I have experienced a lot and will experience much more. This range of events has presented many emotions for me, reflective of things I’ve missed and things I’ve cherished. I’m sometimes lonely for a mate, yet proud of what God has allowed me to accomplish. I lament relationships that fell into dysfunction, yet relish those that remain in alignment. I revel in joy over family rites of passage and sometimes sink in sorrow over those who’ve transitioned to be with the Lord. I’ve learned that you can’t always count on those closest to you, but strangers of immense kindness will pass along your way.

            At either end of this spectrum, coping is what we do. We learn how to wipe out and negotiate and handle what’s thrown our way—it’s the Navigator’s mission. Facing the fact that no one roadway will put us exactly where we would like to be, we internalize this tough lesson. With no guarantees for happiness, we reach for it where we can find it. Oftentimes we’ve heard others say (or have thought to ourselves), "If I get this or that then I'll be happy." Trying to keep up with others in current lifestyle trends usually leads to temporary satisfaction, but an ultimate return to dissatisfaction. The important thing is to keep our focus and be optimistic even in the most challenging of times. Where we are is where we are. 

 

            Understand that the roads of life are best paved with managed expectations.

 

Excerpted from my motivational autobiography, Navigating Life’s Roadways: Stories of Insight from My Odyssey and Inspiration for Your Journey in print and Kindle eBook http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008FQDPYE

 

 

Break Away! Lightening Our Life Baggage

Wherefore seeing we are compassed about with so
great a cloud of witnesses,let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us,
and let us run with patience the race set before us.

                                                                Hebrews 12:1

 

            I love to travel—a goal of mine being to explore as many of the world’s seven continents as possible. When wanderlust strikes, I look at the globe my mother gave me for Christmas years ago, asking myself, where to next? Once I decide, as any road warrior knows, careful packing and preparation for the trip are critical to match the right wardrobe to the trip’s intent. However, packing is still an area in which I need work. It takes me days to get my clothes and other items together—even for short trips. Seems like the older I get, putting the essential things in my luggage is more challenging— that list having expanded due to my need for more of a variety of items to attend to the signs of aging’s gifts.

              My ‘living large’ episode of packing came when I went on a three-month jaunt to Europe back in late 1986. The purpose of this journey was ‘to find myself,’ after leaving the army and two corporate jobs. Maybe some clarity would come to my life as I traversed the “old country” minus some of the daily pressures of work for a while.

            Organizing my packing list for the trip was a nightmare— as I tortured myself by continually thinking, what if I don’t take this and can’t find it in a foreign country, or the price may be three times what I would pay for it at home.  Trying to minimize the space-taker bulky pieces was also a challenge. Since the time of my excursion bordered the seasons of late fall entering winter, this meant I needed coats and sweaters—but how many or how heavy was reasonable?    

           My luggage of choice was an old Army duffle bag—good for cramming in numerous articles of clothing in its flexible fabric’s design. Then I decided another suitcase was needed for my overflow. Now the question, how would I carry these big pieces? I forgot that I would be lugging these bags through European airports, train stations, hotels and the houses of gracious friends and relatives. This was before the onslaught of rolling luggage options so you really got a workout grabbing and heaving your bags. Weight restrictions for checked bags and height-design limitations for carry-on pieces weren’t in place then either so it really was a ‘bring it all’ mindset.   Fortunately, my youngest brother was stationed in Italy and my sister along with others I knew were stationed throughout Germany. They all allowed me to leave luggage at their houses to lighten my cargo. Or as I shopped and added to my belongings, there were other things I decided to leave behind. Carrying too much baggage would’ve been cumbersome and diminished the joy of my trip. 

            And so it is on our journeys in life.

I’ve picked up trunks of good and bad experiences at various stops on my odyssey. Satchels of safety and love have kept my spirit in check at times but sent me spiraling into the emotional danger zone too.  Cases of career skills have provided opportunities for me to use passion and practicality in my work yet leave me on a low financial plain occasionally. I’ve carried on pieces of other folks’ issues when I should’ve left them behind.  In moving forward I think about the song “Ease on Down the Road” from the production of The Wiz which advises, “Don’t you carry nothing that might be a load.”

            How do we ‘shed the stuff’ that holds us back; that robs us of a lighter sense of peace? 

            Do we just keep piling it on, thinking every day is winter and we need the heavy things?

            Is there a (safe) place to leave it? What’s the cost if we don’t let go and trust?

            First we release to make space. Unpacking and leaving those experiences behind that only drag us down can unencumber our journey. Then we repack for better days. As the slogan for the New Year goes: ‘Out with the old and in with the new.’ This situates us for the next blessings in store. God and a host of angels are watching and cheering us on to get those blessings. We don’t have to lift our baggage alone. Faith gives us a place to unload. It’s located everywhere.

            Clear the load and travel lightly on in the races ahead. Identifying porters to help us can give us an extra boost when we need one. Run on!
 

Excerpted from my motivational autobiography, Navigating Life’s Roadways: Stories of Insight from My Odyssey and Inspiration for Your Journey in print and Kindle eBook http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008FQDPYE

 

Slow Down! 8 Ways to Build a Bridge for Life Balance | Great Black Speakers

Slow Down! 8 Ways to Build a Bridge for Life Balance | Great Black Speakers

Your Breakthrough! Courageous Against The Block

Don't judge a book by its cover.

American proverb

           

            It really did happen. 

            On November 4, 2008 and November 6, 2012 Barack Hussein Obama was elected to be the 44^th and 45th President of the United States of America. Challenging the historical model of who should be a Commander-In-Chief, then Senator Obama rallied voters from all ends of the demographic spectrum. Using social media and accompanying technology, his campaign reached out and touched people in profound and purposeful ways.

            In observing President Obama’s approach I was reminded of William Shatner’s voice at the beginning of the popular Star Trek shows.  As Captain Kirk, Shatner states the mission for the crew of the Enterprise: “To boldly go where no man has gone before.” President Obama dared the political ship with his election— navigating it in warp drive. He stretched the bounds of his beginning.

            President Obama put together and sealed this successful box of ambition.

            Sometimes other people will use every tool at their disposal to stuff us in a box— not quite sure what to make of us if we don’t fit the mold of the moment. Periodically we voluntarily seal the box – thinking there’s no way out. Judgments on our GPS: Goals, Positions and Skills, can often misdirect us. We may bypass a potential destination that holds an opportunity, driving by and thinking, “That wasn’t my stop.”  Or “It doesn’t fit what I thought it should look like.”

            I’ve encountered workshop participants who find it difficult to get promoted or enter new career fields. Pigeonholing based on someone else’s assumptions regarding their abilities is often a factor. I encourage them to adapt a “Yes I can!” rally to action. To be their own box-cutter when someone tries to seal the deal on your future.

            Then I give them more alphabet soup to consider.

            Write your own SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) on how to get out of that box. You can come through for you—so determine when.  On our journeys we travel different times of the 24 hour cycle—each with its prompts and purposes.  In the dawn we can see a new day unfold the goal of starting. During the day we busy ourselves with tasks of the action plan. At twilight what’s done has met the reason of the day. Darkness provides its own special covering and sometimes we’re forced to voyage at night – to stay on our campaign trail.

            What time is best? Where am I situated? What do I want to ship?

            Using our IPS (Internal Positioning System) will point the way.

           

            UPS (Uninformed People Stoppers) may try to ship us to the wrong address.  I say bust out of the package and engage!  Recover. Put your personal date stamp on. Reship to a new place. Then use the marketing concept of USP—and ground your Unique Selling Position. Square it off!

 

Excerpted from my motviational autobiography, Navigating Life’s Roadways: Stories of Insight from My Odyssey and Inspiration for Your Journey http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008FQDPYE (print and Kindle eBook) narratives of dealing with life’s setbacks and successes

 

Farewell to 2012: Expedition Endings and Beginnings

Hope does not kill; I shall live and get what I want one day.

Zulu proverb

 

On a vacation to the island of Maui back in 2002, I went on a sunrise biking tour of Haleakala, the world’s largest dormant volcano. This expedition was exciting from the outset. At 2 a.m. the tour company’s van picked me up from my hotel, and then whisked me to their office to be fitted for my bike and other gear. From there we headed to the 10,000 foot summit of Haleakala and once we arrived, sat in the van and waited—trying to keep warm. The temperature at the summit stays at 40 degrees. That’s why bikers get outfitted with gloves and other pieces at the tour operator’s office— to ward off the mountainous cold on top of the volcano. They also advised me to dress in layers.

So what was I waiting for at o-dark-30? To view the sunrise peaking brilliantly over the neighboring eastern island of Hawaii out across the expansive Pacific—this sight one of the highlights of this early morning tour.  And it was beautiful and spiritual to see.

After the ooh and ahh’s of the sun’s arrival, the tour group prepared to bring us down the craterous volcano on the bikes. With safety briefings and equipment checks done—it’s time to maneuver the switchbacks on my bike until we reach sea-level. Swerving and curving on the bike, I paced myself behind the safety instructor as we pummeled downward while enjoying Maui’s vistas along the way.  We made a few rest stops to include a lunch break— then some four hours later, we arrived at a Pacific beach. Shedding the cold weather gear and layers that were needed for the dawn’s heights, we now settled into the 80-plus degrees. Ready to dive in the ocean, I reflected on this safe adventure and basked in the Hawaiian culture.

I had always wanted to travel to Hawaii on vacation and now I’d done it. My time there was wonderful as I explored the beauty of this 50^th state.  But I also looked forward to my return to the mainland. I don’t think I could live in Hawaii. Yet I hope to go back again.

At the end of any journey we stop and assess.

After spending money on a vacation we ponder did I have a good time? When a career or job is over we reflect on, what skills did I pick up from this opportunity? We come back from a shopping trip and summate did I get what I want? When time with family or friends is over we ask was my visit a good one?

Then we take refuge before launching out again, ISO (In Search Of) or (In Spite Of) because life dictates that we don’t stop but keep going—we try to…

This is what I’ve done in Navigating Life’s Roadways.

The phrases embedded in my journeys’ assessments are…

·         Then I got back on course

·         My energy sent me this way

·         A return to my sanity got me doing this

·         I went back to what I know

·         The Lord is guiding me

·         Redo, morph, return, ponder and reinvent

 

These are also words for continued focus that show up on my roads and in my spaces.

 

Navigate, Synchronize, Rudder, Beat the Bushes, Negotiate, Stay the Course, Walk the Path, Stand Firmly on Your Ground

 Recognize your IPS (Internal Positioning System) and engage your GPS (Goals, Positions, Situations)

 

Enjoy the beauty and blight that make up life’s ever evolving trails. Hang with the emotions of your journey’s high-grounds and low-grounds. Push when necessary, pause to reflect and pray for strength. Keep hope near and embrace love.

This piece is excerpted from my book, Navigating Life's Roadways; Stories of Insight from My Odyssey and Inspiration for Your Journey  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008D6RJ0M