To Dream the Impossible Dream……

There are so many entrepreneurs who are living in the ‘ok’ zone. Many have accepted ‘status quo’ and are just existing, day after day, doing the same things and expecting different results.

We are about to flip the calendar and begin a new year – isn’t it time you gave your thinking one big flip also? Nothing great ever happens on the ‘just ok’ level – no energy, no enthusiasm, no great results.

“If you are not getting as much from life as you want to, then examine the state of your enthusiasm!.” – Norman Vincent Peale

You want to dream the impossible dream. The best way to do this is to examine your mental state – where are you these days? I want to share some steps you can take to go from ‘just ok’ to WOW!

1. Know your purpose in life. There is so much information available these days to help you identify your purpose and your passion . Do not wait another day if, in fact, you are at a loss in this regard.

2. Identify what excites you. I know, for a fact, there are many entrepreneurs who have not been excited about the work they are doing for a very long time. It’s time, then, to make a change. Figure out what excites you, tell your face and then get on with it.

3. Raise the bar. Living in the ‘just ok’ zone is not acceptable these days. Our lives, just like the thermostats in our homes, has the potential to go to new heights. Step up and step out and dare yourself to excel on a regular basis.

4. Commit yourself to a daily level of excellence in the work you are doing. Many of us have gotten lazy. I’ve been there – and when I am ‘there’, my business reflects it. Not good enough! Excellence is a habit – make it a daily one.

5. Don’t blend in – stand out. I am often asked by my clients what they can do to stand out. Start with some simple things. Anyone who knows me, knows that I own no less than 9 red suit jackets. Standing almost 5 ft. 2 in. is a challenge at many of the networking events I attend. One thing I have noticed is that, typically, the room is a sea of suits in black and navy blue. I stand out – because of the red suit jackets that I wear. People take notice and they know who I am. What about you?

6. Practice bouncing back. Many entrepreneurs experience set-backs and frustrations. Well, in the words of my favorite mentor, Les Brown: “When life knocks you down – and it will – people will disappoint you, they will lie to you, they will let you down. Be sure to fall on your back because when you can look up, you can get up!” It’s not how hard you fall, but how well you bounce.

7. Raise your own expectations. When is the last time you challenged yourself about what is possible for your life and for your business? With the new year approaching, this is an ideal time to give this a shot. You don’t get what you want in life, you get what you expect.

8. Look for the positive. One goal that I set many years ago was to find a way to share happy news. It seemed to me that the media was always covering the doom and gloom and I wanted to change that. Now, I host a monthly radio show called “The Happy Hour with Pat” – how great is that?! That’s a big WOW, as far as I’m concerned. Look for the positive and look for ways where you can effect change.

There are so many entrepreneurs just living in an ‘ok’ zone. Perhaps you just don’t know what you don’t know about going from the ‘ok’ to the WOW – well, now you do. It’s up to you to take charge, to shift your thinking and to raise your enthusiasm for your purpose in life.

CONCLUSION

Remember your first WOW’s. Most of them are the simple things in life that have left a lasting impression. It can be like that in business also – remember getting your first ideal client? Remember getting your hands on the first copy of your new product? Remember seeing your name in print for the first time in a newspaper article? These are all WOW moments – bring them to life on a daily basis and watch the difference it can make in your business going forward.

“It takes guts to leave the ruts!” – Dr. R. Schuller

What is the first step you will take today to shift your thinking?

YOUR ASSIGNMENT

Think back to a ‘WOW’ moment in your business. Write it down and capture the emotions that go along with that memory.What is one thing you can do, this week, to ‘stand out’ when it comes to the way you are doing business? Do it!