Inspire
Monday, March 24, 2008, by Leigh Anne
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“The things that make you feel, think, laugh”
One of the ways I have found to help keep myself focused during the day, focused on the things that are important and that I am working on, is through words of inspiration.
I start the day in my bathroom - there on my bathroom counter is a small ceramic stone with the word “focus” imprinted on it. You may remember from an earlier post my need to stay “focused” while putting on my makeup or I end up out in public with only half of it on!
Hanging in my office, on the wall, is the following word of inspiration, reinforcing my desire to be a more calm mother and wife.
Also on a shelf in my office is a brick with my favorite word - one that reminds me to try and be an inspiration as well as seek inspiration in all I do.
Next, is the laundry room (a room the whole family hopefully visits on a daily basis) where I have hung a board with the following counsel provided by the late, dear prophet of our church, President Gordon B. Hinckley
On the wall of my daughter’s room are the following words of inspiration, words I hope she will remember and internalize as she reads them daily. I want her to know that whatever she wishes and dreams can be hers if she just moves forward and does the work!
In our kitchen nook, above our table, are some words of inspiration I hope become a mantra for my children…
Do you have any favorite words of inspiration? Are there words or sayings that inspire you and keep you focused on the things that are important to you? Please leave a comment below and let me know what they are. (remember if you are reading this in an email update or a RSS feeder you will need to click through to the blog in order to leave a comment - thanks! I’d love to hear from you.)
Popularity: 15% [?]
Categories: Inspire, Motivation
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Sunday, March 16, 2008, by Leigh Anne
“The things that make you feel, think, laugh”
Today is Part Three of our Finding Focus series.
The last few weeks I have shared ideas on how to find focus in your life and homebased business when you only have a few minutes with the Fifteen Minute Focus or how to get focused when you have a whole day with the concept of the Catch Up Day.
But what about the in between? You have more than a few minutes but not quite a whole day. Try the Power Hour!
The Power Hour is a technique I learned years ago from Sue Rusch, a former top leader with Pampered Chef.
The Power Hour is a catch up technique you can use, like the Fifteen Minute Focus when you are feeling overwhelmed and constantly behind. This technique has helped me to gather that splattered energy and refocus my attention - to focus on what really matters.
Here is how it works - you beg, borrow or steal one hour during the day to devote entirely and totally to your business or some other project you are trying to accomplish.
If you have young children at home, hire a sitter, trade with a neighbor, negotiate with your husband or stay up an hour later or get up an hour earlier than everyone else (this is what I find works best for me).
During this Power Hour you work as hard as you can on that one thing that has been eating at you - those customer care calls you can’t seem to get done (don’t do this one late at night or early in the morning :), the closet that needs organizing, or that exercise routine that keeps getting neglected - whatever it is that has been nagging at you.
A Power Hour is dedicated to one task or a couple of smaller ones. If you are using this concept to help you get more focused with your business be sure to stay focused on business building activities!
We need to realize we can not do everything - at least not all at the same time. You need a clear sense of the activities that are worthy of your time and those that will contribute little to your goals and mission.
Confucius said, “The man who chases 2 rabbits catches neither.”
Having the self-discipline to focus on our best activities - ones that create results that are desired can be challenging.
Focusing on the worthy is the golden key to time management, finding focus, balance and life fulfillment.
Here are tips that helped me during my Power Hour:
- Just like with the Fifteen Minute Focus - use a timer.
- Decide on what your reward will be at the end of your Power Hour - maybe a cup of tea, a movie with your husband or a hot bath before bed or maybe even some chocolate!
- Do not answer the phone during your Power Hour.
- Shut the door to the room where you are working if possible and remember what I tell my children - don’t bother me unless there is blood or you’re not breathing!
In the book “Don’t Worry, Make Money“ Richard Carlson recommends “experimenting with the one-hour solution.” Spending one hour each and every day, doing what is the critical inch of your business. The critical inch being the key parts of our business (not simply busy work), income producing activities.
Just this week, I used the technique to help me get caught up on an Internet course I had enrolled in. I had gotten very behind (15 weeks behind to tell the truth!). I set aside a Power Hour each day and set a goal to accomplish two lessons a day and now I am almost caught up!
So what is the one thing that has been nagging at you, causing you to feel splattered and unfocused? Find time for one Power Hour this week and work on that project. Give it a try and let me know by leaving a comment below how it works for you!
Happy Power Hour!
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Categories: Home Based Business, Inspire, Motivation, Time Management
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Sunday, March 9, 2008, by Leigh Anne
“The things that make you feel, think, laugh”
Last week I introduced you to my new blog post category - “Nest” with a fun idea of planting your own Easter grass.
Today I introduce my second new category - “Inspire”. On Monday’s I will be sharing ideas and tips that have inspired me and that hopefully will inspire you. The majority of them will have something to do with balancing a job/business or just life with a family but you never know what may inspire me during the week!
Before I share this week’s idea I want to explain why I chose the above picture to represent my “Inspire” posts.
One of my favorite things to do is to sit in my kitchen or my office and watch the hummingbirds out in my garden. They are amazing little birds.
Did you know that not only can they fly vertical and horizontal but they are also the only bird who can fly backwards. They are able to hover midair as their wings flap 15-80 times a second! They amaze me.
So I chose a picture of a hummingbird in the garden - it inspires me and I hope that my “Inspire” posts will inspire you!
You may remember that last week I shared with you a disorder I suffer from - A.A.A.A.D.D. -
Age Activated Attention Deficit Disorder.
Today I will share a strategy I use when I am really having a hard time focusing.
A Catch Up Day is a great idea when you are really feeling overwhelmed with all those unfinished projects and having a hard time staying focused long enough to complete any of them. But sometimes a Catch Up Day is just not in the picture, so here is another strategy you can use to help you focus on a project that needs to get done!
The 15 Minute Focus
When you don’t have a whole day to devote to those unfinished projects use the 15 Minute Focus. I found that I can accomplish just about anything in 15 minute increments.
I have cleaned and organized my garage, weeded the garden, gotten caught up on my scrapbooks, sewn a quilt and organized every room in my house by using this technique!
I have learned that you can suffer through anything for 15 minutes (and longer if a new baby is the result of your efforts!)
So what job have you been putting off and dreading? Is it cleaning the garage, getting those photos into an album or something else?
The trick that really makes this technique work though is that you only do it for 15 minutes. I use a kitchen timer to make sure I don’t work for more than 15 minutes. It is important that you don’t think “Hey I’m on a roll, I’ll just keep going.”
The problem with that is that next time you need a 15 minute focus you will say to yourself, “I can’t do this because I don’t have 30 -45 minutes.” Only work for 15 minutes at a time - NO MORE!
You’ll be amazed at how much you can accomplish in 15 minutes of FOCUSED time. Allow no distractions, no phone calls, etc. Set a timer!
Tell your family that they are not allowed to talk to you - lock yourself in the room if you have too. I tell my kids “Unless there is blood or you are not breathing - LEAVE ME ALONE!
(Those of you with younger children will want to make sure another responsible adult is supervising the children!)
So give it a try and let me know how it goes. Let me know what you are able to accomplish during your 15 Minute Focus.
Popularity: 41% [?]
Categories: Goals, Home Based Business, Inspire, Motivation, Organizational Tips, Time Management
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Monday, February 25, 2008, by Leigh Anne
Last week I made a new blogging friend, Rhonda, over at Because Mom Said So. I love the name of her blog because it reminded me of all those MOMMY-isms I use, my mother used and if you are a mother - you probably use too!
You know what I mean - those statements you make to your kids when they are driving you crazy or you just don’t know what else to say.
If you were to ask my children what MOMMY-ism I am most famous for I have no doubts that all four of them would answer - “Life is not fair”. If any of my children dare to even whisper the words “That’s not fair!” (can you hear the whine) in my presence they know my answer before it’s even out of my mouth…
“Life is not fair!”
They have told me that they are going to engrave those words onto my tombstone!
I first heard those words - Life is not fair- not from my mother, but from my high school chemistry teacher Mr. Winston -back in the good old days, at Mary D. Bradford High School in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
My friend Hannah Kotz and I always sat in the front row of chemistry class. Often in answer to our response of “That’s not fair!”, although I have no idea what “wasn’t fair” about chemistry class, cute “old” Mr. Winston (he was probably in his mid-40’s!!) would say - ”When you were born - did a great big sign come down from heaven saying LIFE IS FAIR - no - LIFE IS NOT FAIR!”
It has been my favorite answer to the statement “It’s not fair” ever since!
Maybe some of these MOMMY-isms sound familiar to you…
Am I talking to a wall?
ANSWER ME!
Are you deaf?
Don’t make me come in there!
Go ask your dad.
Go play outside. It’s a beautiful day.
How many times do I have to tell you? I can’t believe you did that.
Why on earth would you do that?
I don’t care who started it…stop it now!
I just want the best for you.
If you’re too sick to go to school, you’re too sick to play outside.
I don’t know is not an answer
I’m not running a taxi service (one of my other favorites!)
Were you born in a barn?
Say you’re sorry and act like you mean it!
Some day you’ll thank me for this.
Someday when you have kids, you’ll understand
What part of no don’t you understand?
Do you have a favorite MOMMY-ism you say or maybe one your mother used. Let us hear it - just leave a comment in the box below!
Popularity: 21% [?]
Categories: Inspire, Motherhood
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Monday, February 18, 2008, by Leigh Anne
This past week I was doing a little “cleaning out” of my files and came across a handout dated 1998. It was from a presentation done by a fellow “side line” in my direct sales company, Linda Hill. The presentation was entitled “Help! I’m in a Rut? How do I Get Out?”
Usually about this time of year, the newness and enthusiasm for the “fresh start” of a new year has worn off. We may even find ourself “Stuck in a Rut”. Using Linda’s “ruts” I want to share some of my ideas and tips with you for getting out of those “ruts”.
First - what is a rut? The dictionary defines it as a 1) worn track or 2) a fixed routine. On the “road of life” there are ruts everywhere. It is easy, especially if we’re not paying attention, to find ourselves in a DEEP rut. Sometimes it is easier just staying there, following it where it may lead us but we may find that it leads us somewhere we don’t want to go! So we need to learn to recognize those ruts, how to avoid them and most importantly, how to GET OUT of them!
Some Types of Ruts….
Style Rut
Do you find yourself wearing the same clothes day after day (jeans and a t-shirt), holding onto clothes you haven’t worn in years and will probably never wear again or is everything in your closet black?
Last year I decided to hire a stylist to come in and help me “update” my look. As we went through my closet (yes, a scary thing!) she pointed out that I had FORTY black tops hanging in my closet. I was in a “black rut.” We managed to remove 10 garbage bags of clothes from my closet - leaving me those things that I really like, look good in, that fit me and that I wear! It was a very “freeing” experience.
If hiring a stylist isn’t in your budget, ask a friend whose style you admire to come in and help you. Take them shopping with you - break out of your style rut whether it is a “jeans and t-shirt” rut or like me, a “black rut”.
Personal/Spiritual Rut
As women, our natural tendency is to always put others first. If you we don’t take time to “fill our own cup” we can find that cup dry, You need to decide how you can keep your cup “full”. It may mean 30 minutes of “alone time” or meditation each day. Working out at the gym on a regular basis, taking time to read a good book, or enjoying a cup of tea with a friend.
The first of this year I joined a women’s scripture study group at my church which meets every Wednesday morning. I marked off every Wednesday morning for the rest of the year on my calendar. Wednesday mornings have become “sacred” time for me.
Family Rut
When your children are small it may seem that they are always underfoot and family time is “all the time”. But as your children get older and involved in the millions of different activities, finding quality time together can be harder and harder. When my children were smaller we always had “family night” each week. One night dedicated to being together, learning together, playing together and enjoying a special treat together. Now that the boys are gone and the two girls are involved in so many activities and an unending supply of homework it has become harder and more irregular. We need to get back into the “rut” of regular family time.
In fact last night we had a family “meeting” and recommitted to having more regular family time. It may only be 30 minutes one night a week but it gives us an opportunity to connect and be together.
Clutter Rut
Clutter is a procrastinated decision. I have already shared with you that my “revised” clutter goal for this year is to declutter one area of my house a month. Take it in bite size pieces - don’t try to tackle all your clutter at one time. As I am going through the different areas of my house I do it with the mindset of “If I were moving tomorrow, what would I want to take with me?”. That has really helped me as I make decisions on what to keep and what to toss.
Perfectionism Rut
On my office wall I have a saying that reads “Remember you don’t have to be perfect, just get it going!” Getting stuck in a perfectionism rut, thinking we can’t do something unless we can do it perfectly, will bring you to a complete standstill. One thing I have learned is there is never the “perfect” time. You just have to jump in and do it! Take risks and realize you aren’t perfect and no one expects you to be perfect! Perfectionism is an excuse to stop before you start whether you are waiting for the perfect time to have a baby or work your business. Done is better than perfect!
Attitude Rut
My children have learned that if they have time to complain they have too much time on their hands. They learned at an early age that if they told me “I’m bored” there was a job to do. I have even been known to assign chores to neighbor children who dared to say “I’m bored” in my presence!
My youngest daughter has the habit of always telling me what she doesn’t want. I have to constantly remind her - “Don’t tell me what you don’t want - tell me what you do want.” It’s a matter of changing your way of thinking - don’t focus on the negative, focus on the positive.
My friend and former upline always says “Make it a Great Day” - not “Have a Great Day” because it really is up to us. We can choose to make each day a great day - it is not by chance or happenstance. We make our days great!
Business Rut
No matter how long we have been in business we all find ourselves in a rut. It may be in part due to that “Perfectionism Rut” - we’re waiting for the perfect time to work our business - when the children are older, when you’re more familiar with the companies products, when the grass turns purple (just kidding). Believe me I have heard all kinds of excuses over the last 17 years for not working the business - and some of them have even come from my own mouth!
If you find yourself with no events on the books, stuck in a rut -”get a life“. Join an exercise class (wear a t-shirt with your companies logo on it to class), a mom’s club, or volunteer somewhere. Put yourself in places where you will meet new people on a regular basis. Use the marketing tools your company has provided. Make a goal to handout at least one business card a day (don’t forget to “exchange” information) Intentionally LOOK for opportunities and ASK for classes!
Get on the phone and call your existing customer base - when is the last time you did that? If they are not interested in hosting an event, ask them for a referral - just keep ASKING!
Common Underlying Theme….
Maybe you have noticed that the common theme to each “rut” solution is ACTION on your part. There are people and resources to help but you have to decide you want to change and ASK for solutions and then put them into ACTION. An ancient Chinese proverb says..
“When you hear something, you will forget it.
When you see something, you will remember it.
But not until you DO something, will you understand it.”
A quick review
1. Identify what “ruts” you may be experiencing
2. Resolve to do something about it
3. Record where you are and where you want to be (set a goal)
4. Find a “mentor” (like my stylist or a friend) that has strengths you want to emulate and ask for help.
5. Once you get the information and advice you need, USE it and take an active part of making the necessary changes.
Have you found yourself in a rut? I’d love for you to share it with us by leaving a comment below - maybe I or one of your fellow blog readers will have a suggestion for you!
Let the changes begin!
Popularity: 34% [?]
Categories: Home Based Business, Inspire
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Monday, December 17, 2007, by Leigh Anne
I will be the first to admit it - I am a recipe addict. I love collecting and trying new recipes. The only problem with this is that you end of with piles of recipes! Keeping control over those piles can be a bit of a challenge as well as trying to relocate that great recipe you tried and want to make again! If you are a regular reader of my blog you have hopefully been adding to your collection of recipes.
One of my blog readers, Rachel, asked me how I keep track of all my recipes and organize them, so today I am going to show you how. On my shelf full of cookbooks there is one special cookbook - it is called “The Best of the Best Family Recipes.” My maiden name is “Best”. I use to kid people when I was young that my middle name was “the” - Leigh Anne the Best - I think a few even believed me! Well, a couple of years ago, my daughter, Cali, took on the project of gathering and putting into one place all the “Best” family favorite recipes. This was no small task but with the help of Grandma Best (and about 50 hours later) she created a wonderful cookbook. The beginning of each section of the cookbook highlights one of the “Best” women - with one of their famous recipes, a current picture, a childhood picture, as well as a paragraph about them. I love this cookbook because I only have one place to look for all those family favorites! I must admit this cookbook has become quite a popular and coveted cookbook among my family and friends!
But during the last couple of years I have collected a few more family favorites - these are printed on 8 1/2 x 11 paper, slipped in a page protectors ( I am a very messy cook) and added to the appropriate categories in the 3 ring binder which houses the cookbook.
I also have quite a pile of “To Try” recipes - ones I have ripped out of magazines (yes, I am one of those people who tears recipes out of magazines in the doctor’s office - shame on me!!), newspapers, received from friends, off the internet etc. As you can imagine my pile is quite large. These ‘To Try” recipes go into manila folders which I have labeled with the same categories that are in our cookbook - they are Appetizers, Beverages, Breads, Breakfast, Cakes, Candy, Cookies, Desserts (things other than pies and cakes), Main Dishes, Pie, Salad, Side Dishes (vegetables, rice, potates), and Soup. I try new recipes frequently - a couple of times a week - and after they receive approval from the family they are added to “the” cookbook. There are just as many that don’t make it as do.
Perioidically I do a clean out of the manila folders - throwing out those that have been there for a while, that looked good at the time but no longer do.
You may be wondering about all the recipes in my shelf full of cookbooks. Well, if one of them becomes a “family favorite”, it will be copied onto 8 1/2 x 11 paper and added to the cookbook too.
So happy cooking and recipe organizing! If there is something else in your life you haven’t quite figured out how to organize - let me know and I’ll share how I organize it and/or share tips from others! Just click on comments below and let me know where you need help.
Popularity: 21% [?]
Categories: Inspire, Recipes
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Friday, October 5, 2007, by Leigh Anne
Each Friday, I would like to share with you one of my “Recommended Reads” - something I have been reading recently that I think is worth sharing. I am a pretty avid reader - about a book a week. I try to keep a balance to my reading mixing self-improvement, fiction and non-fiction. I love reading for pleasure (my latest pleasure reads have been the fun Young Adult series - Twilight, New Moon and Eclipse) but I know the importance of reading in my chosen field (homebased business, sales, recruiting, leadership, time management etc.). You may have read the studies that show that reading 1 hour a day in your chosen field (which is about a book a week - except for us speed readers) will make you an expert in your field in 3 years, a national authority in 5 years and an international authority in 7 years. Truly all leaders are readers!
Several weeks ago I received a phone call from the mother of one of my daughter Tessa’s friends. She was calling to thank me for something Tessa had done. It was the first week of school and her daughter, along with my daughter Tessa, were just starting high school - freshman, in a very large high school - 2,600 students. Her daughter had had a rough couple of “first days” of school, feeling overwhelmed, lost and coming home in tears. Tessa knew that Katie was having a hard time so she decided to leave Katie a surprise in her locker. She put a plate of cookies together (I had just made some homemade cookies) and wrote her a note - letting her know she was thinking of her and hoped that she was having a better day. Tessa had the combination to Katie’s locker so left it inside her locker. Well, Tessa’s act of service made the difference in Katie’s day and Katie’s mother’s day! Tessa was a Fred! So what is a Fred?
A book I recently read and recommend is ”The Fred Factor” by Mark Sanborn. To quote the inside cover of the book, “In his powerful new book, The Fred Factor, motivational speaker Mark Sanborn recounts the true story of Fred, the mail carrier who passionately loves his job and genuinely cares about the the people he serves…Where others might see delivering mail as monotonous drudgery, Fred sees an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of those he serves.”
We have all experienced great customer service and terrible customer service -Fred is a true example of what great customer service is. But the book didn’t just get me thinking about times when I had experienced great customer service but made me stop and think - what kind of customer service do I give?- to my customers, my downline team members, my family and my friends? Like Tessa and Fred, do I make a difference in the lives of those I come in contact with daily?
Each of us has the opportunity every day to make a difference, in fact we all make a difference - the question is “What kind of difference is each of us making?” Mark Sanborn outlines 3 difference-making strategies.
1. Identify when you’ll make a difference- we have dozens of opportunities each day to make a difference in the lives of those around us. Be conscious of wanting to make a difference and look for opportunities to make a difference. Sometimes it may be a planned “difference” or it may be a spontaneous “difference” - either way we are making a difference.
2. Target the people to whom you’ll make a difference - Fred the mailman chose to make a difference to the people he delivered mail to each day. Tessa chose her friend Katie. The most important people in our lives deserve our best attention and service - our customers, our team members, our family, our friends. I know when I am rushed, stressed and under pressure it is usually those closest to me that get my worst “customer service”.
3. Be the Difference- it’s the little things that really matter. So often we are so busy and stressed that we don’t take the time or make the effort to make a difference in someones life. Adding a little goodie into a customer’s order, putting a note in a child’s lunch, leaving a “I’m thankful for you because” voice mail for a friend, or cookies and a note in their locker can really “Be the difference” in someones day.
One of the most important things we have as homebased business women, the thing that really sets us apart from our “retail competition”, is the difference we can make in our customers lives. Whether it is leaving an extra little something with their product order, sending a note to remember a birthday or other special event in their life, or remembering some seemingly unimportant little details we have the ability to make a difference - we are the difference. As mothers we are also the difference - in the lives of our children, our husbands and our family members.
So pick up a copy of “The Fred Factor” or go online and request it from your local library. It is quick read at 112 pages. Let me know what you think and if you’d like to share a way someone made a difference in your day or how you were able to “Be the Difference” I’d love to hear - just click on comments below.
Popularity: 21% [?]
Categories: Home Based Business, Inspire, Recommended Reads
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Monday, September 17, 2007, by Leigh Anne
Earlier this week I was rereading one of my favorite books, “The Success Principles” by Jack Canfield. The book is written in short, stand alone chapters. I have read the entire book before but like to pick it up and just open it up and see where it opens. This week the book opened to a chapter entitled “Commit to constant and never ending improvement” There was a quote by Oliver Cromwell “He who stops being better stops being good”. Jack Canfield writes that “if you make a commitment to learning something new every day, getting just a little bit better every day then eventually – over time – you will reach your goals.” Well, I decided that I was going to focus on learning something new every day this week and I decided to keep a list of what I learned.
Here’s my list.
Monday: The sweet, 80 something year old, mother of a good friend was in town. I had heard my friend talk about the wonderful scones her mother made so I asked if I could come over and see how she made them. The scones were delicious and similar to ones I had made before but I learned some fun tips that I didn’t know. First tip: Always put away each ingredient after you use it – that way if you get interrupted you won’t have to wonder if you put it in yet or not! (I have done this so many times!) Second tip: Always spoon your flour into the measuring cup – don’t scoop. When you scoop you can end up with an extra 2 Tbps. of flour! Lesson Learned: Everyone has something to teach you (especially 80 year old women) even when you think you know how to do something already. If you’d like the recipe for these yummy scones and see what they look like you can visit my family blog at www.thewilkesweek.blogspot.com – scroll down to the bottom of the latest entry to get the recipe.
Tuesday: I had my monthly team leader call. I learned a great tip from one of the leaders on how she is promoting one of our new products with her customers and so did everyone else on the call. Lesson Learned: Take advantage of every opportunity you have to network – learn from you team members, uplines, downlines, sidelines.
Wednesday: Over the years I have worked with a business coach – several different ones. I decided that there were some goals/projects I wanted to accomplish that I was having a hard time getting done on my own. I always felt it was somewhat silly to pay someone to check up on me but I kept feeling prompted to work with a coach again. So I gave them a call and in that first call with the coach they provided me with the solution to something I had been trying to figure out on my own but hadn’t been able to do. Lesson Learned: Even though many times I know what I need to do and I even know how to do it, it is only when I am responsible to someone else, I am being held accountable and I am paying money that I do it!! A different perspective and approach to a situation is helpful too!
Thursday: During a call with a downline I was asked a question I couldn’t answer. After 17 years you would think I would know just about everything about my company – wouldn’t you? – NOT. I told her I didn’t know the answer but that I’d find out. As soon as we hung up I did some investigating and found out the answer – now she and I both know. Lesson Learned: No matter how long you have done something or how much you think you know there is always something you DON’T know.
Friday: I had been wanting to take ballroom dance lessons for the last year or so. In fact several years ago Jim and I took a class through the Community Center which was not a great experience but I felt enough time had passed that he would be willing to try it again. Well, Friday night we went to our first Salsa class. I was a little nervous about it – afraid we would make total fools out of ourselves since our dancing abilities are rather limited! But guess what – we had a great time and there were other people there as bad as we were and maybe even a little worse!! Lesson Learned: Never be afraid to learn something new because you think everyone knows more than you and you’ll look like a fool! There will always be someone who knows less than you do! (and is a worse dancer!)
Saturday: We had some friends call and invite us to go see the Vaux’s swifts – these are little black birds. Each year these birds gather at Chapman Elementary School in NW Portland during the month of September on their way to Central America for the winter. Each evening at sunset they funnel into the chimney of the school – it is quite a sight. So we joined 100’s of other people on the lawn of the school to watch thousands of birds descend into the chimney of the school. Now I have lived in Portland for 26 years and I had NEVER heard about this – and I consider myself pretty informed on “what’s happening” around town! Lesson Learned: Again – there is always something you don’t know about!
Sunday: After spending quite a bit of time typing up this article I left the computer to go take care of something else. When I came back to the computer the article was GONE! Of course – no one at my house had done anything – it just magically disappeared on it’s own. Lesson Learned: Always BACKUP your work!!
I hope by now you can see that the point of all of this is that everyone has something to teach us, we should take advantage of learning from others, that being accountable to someone else can help us get things done (especially if we are paying money) never be afraid to learn something new and there is always something you don’t know!
Popularity: 14% [?]
Categories: Inspire
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