Are you living as if someone will wave a magic wand and transform your life? It never worked for me! Fact is, there’s no fairy godmother!

This blog post contains my personal LinkedIn weekday entries for November 1 through November 5, 2021.

You’ve been cut!

Sometimes, you’re simply not ready. you may be in over your head. The skill set is good, but others are better.

A grandchild of ours was cut from a travel athletic team. Why? Because the coaches were moving the team up to a higher level of competition. They didn’t think he was ready to move.

Our grandchild has other options. Moreover, with the encouragement of his parents, he weathered this and moved on by trying out for other teams.

Today’s Insight:  I should be prepared for setbacks. That doesn’t mean I don’t compete. But, it does mean I must learn to persist by finding other ways to move forward.

My world view can be filtered by how I choose to live going forward rather than by past difficulties that are outside my control. proverbsforprofessionals.net

Ecclesiastes 9.11 teaches that despite my best efforts and inherent skills, some aspects of competition are simply uncontrollable. It says “…time and chance happen to everyone.”

Recovering from a setback!

How do you respond after a setback?

Recently one of my grandsons was cut from a travel baseball team. You tryout; there’s no open acceptance.

He decided not to give up. Instead he:
1). Tried out for three other teams
2). Was offered a slot on all three
3). Was one of 38 who was offered one of the 5 available slots on his first-choice team!

His persistence and resilience have put him in a much better place after the setback.

Today’s Insight: Career setbacks or other life challenges are inevitable. Our mindset plays a significant role is recovery and growth.

Blaming, hand-wringing, and playing the victim leave me right where I am! Additionally, I don’t get to pick life events, but I do get to choose how I respond to those life events. proverbsforprofessionals.net

Proverbs 24.16 observes that my integrity sustains me through repeated setbacks. Conversely, a lack of integrity leads to serious problems.

There’s no fairy godmother!

Are you living as if someone will wave a magic wand and transform your life?

It never worked for me!

You’re waiting like this if you:

1). Aren’t taking responsibility for life outcomes.
2). Ignore warning signs such as relationship stress.
3). Shun self-reflection and building self-awareness.
4). Believe working harder is the only solution.

What did work for me? Becoming intentionally and deeply involved in personal discovery and professional growth.

Today’s Insight: Investing in your own growth – personal, professional, and spiritual – really pays off!

NOTE TO MY YOUNGER SELF: Early on, become self-aware. Use that self-awareness as a guide for personal growth. While growing, nurture a sense of self-worth. proverbsforprofessionals.net

From Proverbs 21.5 we learn that someone who is focused produces abundance. So, combine intentionality with decisiveness to yield momentum.

Who influences me?

Influencers directly impact WHO I am right now and WHO I’m becoming.

Plus, the influencer’s content impacts WHAT I do when I choose to follow their advice.

Thus, I must choose influencers carefully.

WHO I am and WHAT I do impact my growth – WHERE I wind up and WHEN I get there!

Today’s Question: What criteria do you use when deciding who influences you?

I believe that clarity about my self-worth, and the values I choose to live by, help determine what I allow into my life as influences. proverbsforprofessionals.net

Proverbs 23.1-8 drives home the point that I become what I focus on. So, choose influencers and life values very carefully!

No trade-ins allowed!

Me, to my father-in-law of 20+ years: Your daughter is wearing out. I want to trade her in.

Father-in-law: You’ve had her longer than I did, so you’re stuck with her!

Ok, joking aside (at least I was joking!), what factors contribute to long-term success in a relationship?

Here’s a starter list of relationship success factors:

1). Deep commitment from both partners
2). Giving some slack; give-and-take
3). Being grateful for the contribution of the other

Today’s Question: Beyond commitment, flexibility, and gratitude what would you add to the list?

Lasting friendships require commitment from both parties. proverbsforprofessionals.net

Proverbs 17.17 says a friend loves at all times. And, Proverbs 18.24 teaches that we have friends by being friendly. Additionally, Proverbs 27.9 says close friends speak deeply, to our very soul, so be faithful (verse 10).

Proverbs 18.22 observes that finding a wife is good. NOTE: I haven’t found a parallel verse in Proverbs that says finding a husband is good!!