Christine Casey ~ Change Begins with Choice

In my post from last week I wrote about the power of networking and sharing of information with one another, and now I want to build on that concept a little more…

The individuals that I choose to network with all have very diverse backgrounds, interests, and goals — and this is a great thing because from time to time, as I may need feedback or assistance, I’m able to contact specific people about things knowledgeable to them. As an example, I’ve recently reached another crossroad in my business, and if you’ve ever been there yourself, you know how frustrating it can be ~ not knowing exactly which road to take and perhaps even feeling so overwhelmed, that you find yourself procrastinating ~ with nothing getting accomplished for a week…or longer! Ouch.

When I finally realized what was going on, that I needed a little assistance to get me back on track, I got in touch with two people I network with — successful individuals who I greatly trust and value their insights — and who aren’t afraid of hurting my feelings by telling me “like it is”, good or bad.  From talking with them, I was able to gain some much needed clarity and refocus on what was really important. And, I came away feeling refreshed, energized, and excited about taking my business ~and perhaps even my life ~ in a different direction.

And, at least for me, none of this would have been possible without me first having made the decision months ago to “get out of my comfort zone” and work to build genuine relationships with others — and of course, network.

How about you? Have you ever sought out assistance from someone in your network?

P.S. If you have found my post to be of value to you, and feel it would also be to others, then please do me one favor and share it with your friends on Twitter, Facebook, etc.

Information and knowledge are meant to be shared with others, and by sharing what we know, helping others to succeed & achieve their goals, everyone wins!

Did you know that sharing ideas with one another leads to shared knowledge? Learning from another who has traveled the path you are currently on is always a huge plus for your advancement. Networking has many benefits, not the least of which are the great people you will come to build relationships with.

Giving with no expectation of return comes from a proactive, abundance mentality.  When you give with no expectation of return, you are acknowledging the abundance of the universe.  You are demonstrating faith that the good you do will benefit others close to you and the world at large – and that good things will come back to you.

Still, there are those that remain hesitant about sharing information or resources and about working with others. You must overcome that fear of losing out on the glory and the profit and learn to work with others.

Some questions you might ask yourself:

• Why are you really doing what you’re doing?
• Is it about you and your own advancement, or is it about creating a result that benefits others?
• Which are you more committed to?
• What does your behavior say?

If your ego or need for status is getting in the way of creating the best result for others, be aware that this leaves you standing still, just waiting to be passed by someone who is fully committed just to getting the result. Rather than trying to defend yourself against this, it’s much more rewarding to stop undermining your growth with status seeking and take on a more giving attitude.

I’d like to leave you with a great quote…“Share your knowledge and experience. Don’t hoard information away like a miser.”

Have you ever felt overwhelmed with your “To-Do” list, and consequently did nothing?  We all have.

So, how can you get past this obstacle, and accomplish your tasks?  I have found that an approach to tackling any new project-and certainly a major life change-can be found in this Chinese proverb, which is “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step”.

You can always find time to do one thing.  And, then another, and yet another.  By focusing on one step at a time, what you’ll find is that you create a bit of momentum that progressively brings  you closer to a goal — with each step, your life is slowly being transformed.

Personally, I have discovered that by writing down tasks (also known as “things to do”) every day, with my most important at the top, I keep focused and find that I accomplish much more than I would have otherwise.  Most people initially resist this suggestion, yet there’s an important reason to doing this: When you write down each step, you remove the guesswork and know your next step, so it’s more difficult to procrastinate.  And, you’ll consistently be reminded of what you need to do, and you’ll stay focused when life happens and something distracts you.

Believe me, if you will do this each day, you will keep moving and create momentum — and will be amazed at what you are able to get done each and every day…what a feeling!!!