Think about it. Do you do your best work on the first day of doing something? Or do you taper off and just hope to slide by? We want to think we always do our best but let me be real for a second, despite our best efforts, it does not happen like that. I am guilty of this too. I am gung-ho to do something, and for the first day (and I will even throw in the first week), I give whatever it is my all. After that, I maintain my commitment, but if I let myself slack off, I lose momentum like a sinking ship. While I still thoroughly enjoy my lazy, couch potato days, I am trying to adopt a new mindset this year by living and breathing by a planner and making the days count. Our best impressions happen on the first day, and there is a renewed energy when a new adventure is about to begin. With every new day, there should be excitement for experiencing a day we have never met before and go forth with an open mind in the hope of learning and doing great things. Life is short, and while we think there are only so many chances to get fresh starts, Drew Dudley challenges this thinking. He proposed that we have an opportunity to have 365 chances every year to start on a clean slate, and if something does not go as planned today, tomorrow can begin anew. There have been days when I wish I could close my eyes and wish for a redo. Well, after hearing Drew speak and reading his book, I realize what I thought was impossible is actually possible. It may be somewhat unconventional, but I know I can benefit from changing my thought process and look at each new day as a chance to recreate opportunities and make the best impact I can. Living each day as day one begins now. Stay Curious, Kayla ©Inquisitive Perspectives 2019
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A challenge comes between us and what the world tells us what to be in life. We have to beat it to the punch and say it to the world instead. As a child, we are told we can be anything we want to be, but as soon as that threshold of entering who the world has shown us what to become, we lose sight of who we had hoped to become in our innocence. The world treats us like property in determining our future as a what and strips us of a personalized identity. It is easy to fall into the trap of believing that the path we have fallen into is meant to be, but if for a second you are wondering if there is a better version of yourself waiting to emerge, it is time you start telling yourself and the world who you are and hope to be. When I heard Drew Dudley speak, he asked the audience to think about three character traits we would want someone else to recognize in us as if there was a thirty-day outsider-looking-in challenge. How would I want a stranger to evaluate my character? What should a knee-jerk reaction look like upon a random person somehow following me around for a month? Aside from this idea being a little creepy of a potential stalker, but the point here is what are we doing in our ordinary everyday lives to tell our story without words and only through actions? Well, the short of it is that the way to figure it out is by defining yourself before someone else does. Genuine. Diligent. Inquisitive. The adjectives I chose for myself can be applied to describe all aspects of my life, and I would hope these character traits are evident to others. I have always thought having a strong character was enough to figure out who I was, but until specific terms are associated with who I want to be and the person I hope others see in me, inaccurate terms could be what the world sees. It is my commitment to be genuine with my thoughts and feelings, relationships, and myself. It is my commitment to have robust diligence to my responsibilities, work, and passion projects. It is my commitment always to be inquisitive and never to stop learning. Before someone else does it for you, figure out and own the values that define you. Stay Curious, Kayla ©Inquisitive Perspectives 2019 Do you ever read a book and the words feel like they are a neon sign telling you to pay attention, and then think “wow, that was profound?” Well, that was me as I flipped through the pages of This Is Day One. I do not read for pleasure as much as I would like to, but when I do carve out some extra time, I want a book that packs a punch. I was captivated by the personal stories that seemed so applicable to the moments I am finding myself in during this chapter of life. Having a packed schedule is a blessing and a curse. It is go, go, go and get as much done as you possibly can in a day, and do this cycle on repeat for as long as you live. I know I get stuck in the motions of doing what has to be done, but it can sometimes feel like being trapped by the demands everyone else is placing on top of the laundry list of things we think we need to do too. It is a constant renumbering game of priorities and hoping you made the right ranks. I know for me, self- care and having some down time rarely take a top spot on any of the lists I have, and that is where the disconnect comes into play. If at any point it comes down to choosing between getting down to business or having fun, we are conditioned to believe we must stay disciplined to make every waking second count. We want to stay in our lane, so to speak, and avoid any unplanned interactions as much as possible. If you are anything like me, you want to live a scheduled and no-surprise life. This is where I need to continue to improve on my spontaneity. As Drew described this eye-opening perspective on life, I wish I could have felt like that was an easy fix or, better yet, I was already that person, but that is not the case. A young girl full of spunk was actually bouncing off the walls while Drew was reading while traveling. Without spoiling anything, I will say a conversation took place, and the little girl said, “I’m always free if I want to be.” Again, wow! No matter what the world tells you and the norms we think we are expected to follow, there is always room to let yourself soar and be free to explore, meet new people, and not do what someone else says you should be doing. When the confines of my scheduling and deadlines are beginning to feel like they have me in a chokehold, I am going to be more mindful and remind myself that if I want to be, my spirit is free. Stay Curious, Kayla ©Inquisitive Perspectives 2019 The question, “are you a leader?” was posed to me. Deep down, I thought the answer was yes, but according to society’s idea of leadership, I was not so sure anymore. We are programmed to believe that a leader is a public figure making a name for him and his brand. For some, they may be okay living in the mind trap thinking this world can only accommodate a certain number of leaders, and they just are not big enough to fill those shoes. But for me, I am not willing to sit idle and let time and opportunities pass me by in this life. I did a quick Google search of the definition of a leader. I read through a few, and to be frank, they stunk. The ideas various dictionaries suggested were limiting and small-minded. It took scrolling through a small business blog to find a definition I could get behind and support. “Leadership is the art of motivating a group of people to act towards achieving a common goal.” This a good starting place, but ultimately, I think defining leadership for ourselves is what must be done. The impact we make matters far more than the size of the contribution we give. Having power does not make a person a leader; how a person chooses to implement power determines the ability to call them a leader. If you do something just for the sake of holding a title or getting special recognition, you are not a leader. I am willing to propose that leadership can be derived from humbleness and extraordinary outcomes can be first planted by ordinary people who just so happen to have inner-leader waiting to blossom. The characterization of a leader can be challenging, but for me, I see a leader who is willing to do and guide efforts that what will lead to making a difference for the better. For me, I found my first position in leadership during high school. There was a lot I did not know, but I knew enough to at least start and be able to say I tried. Being in high school influenced the types of activities we were able to do and the outcomes of those actions. This was my first glimpse of understanding that big is not always better, and that thoughtfulness and comradery would leave a lasting impression over the fanfare others were able to do. You see, it is not about enforcing a power trip. Showing meticulous care as a leader allows for a bond to form, and when the job was too big for one person, a leader can recognize the strengths of team members and distribute the load. My first year as a leader, I thought because we were not doing things big, we were not doing enough. I learned that building trust, commitment, and doing our best was more important than the funds we raised or the fanfare. My age had nothing to do with the type of leader I was able to be; being willing to do a job and helping others reach their best potential had everything to do with being a leader. As the years went on, my leadership style transformed. I learned from mistakes yet grew into new positions. With maturity, our contributions matured with us, but the take away from my years in that leadership position is that it started small, and it did not matter because those efforts were accomplished with meaningful leadership. A leader is a leader no matter the size. Stay Curious, Kayla ©Inquisitive Perspectives 2019 |
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