What motivates, inspires and continually challenges us to be on top of our game?
What supports our continued growth and development?
What fosters our creativity and imagination?

Learning

This past weekend, I volunteered at the Maui Writer’s Conference in Wailea, Maui.
Every year writers come together with agents, editors and publishers to create an environment filled with excitement and creativity. Authors pitching their ideas to various agencies or receiving professional feedback, while agents and publishers listen for their next bestseller!

However, it’s not the dealing and pitching that makes the Maui Writer’s Conference so alive, it’s the energetic synergy from sharing of ideas and the inspired development of one’s craft. During the workshops you can see minds expand and feel the creative process flow through the participants as each idea triggers a different idea in someone else and that shared idea in turn inspires another.

Learning is an important element of growth and attaining the next level of success.
It’s about reaching out of your comfort zone, putting aside what you already know and entering an unknown world where you challenge yourself to think differently or newly. That difference gives you a pioneering edge for your business or opens up a new sense of confidence in you personally.
It is in the challenge that we learn the most.

As you learn, you discover more about yourself.

No matter what your interests or profession, I encourage you to keep learning - keep growing - keep developing your mind and honing your skills. Through the learning process you will achieve great success. Enjoy the journey!

“I am not afraid of storms for I am learning how to sail my ship.” Louise May Alcott

Discovery Tip: Always Be Learning

In the next month or two, find different ways to learn - keep your mind in action!

(1) Read a book (look at the NYTimes Bestseller List)
(2) Attend a workshop or seminar
(3) Take a class (check out an online class or an e-course)
(4) Go to a professional conference
(5) Search the web (simply ask a question at www.ask.com)
(6) Read your local newspaper, cover to cover
(7) Watch a doumentary (March of the Penguins or What the Bleep Do We Know?)
(8) Listen to an inspirational speaker (live or recorded)
(9) Watch a stand up comic
(10) Try something new!

Technorati Tags: Innovation, Personal Development, Business Development, Education and Learning, Change, Balance, Challenge, Law of Attraction

The extraordinary jacaranda, a wonderfully purple blooming tree, reminds me that thinking differently is important because there is so much more outside of our scope.

When we get out of our comfort zone and think “outside the box,” that is when change and growth start to happen. In order to improve or change our lives, we have to not only think about what we want, but we have to think about how the life we want is DIFFERENT from what our life is like now, . . . . and then fill in that difference!

Being in a rut
Feeling stuck or trapped
Wanting a change
Getting to the next level
Feeling bored
Wanting a challenge
Whatever you want to call it, they all come from that place we call a “comfort zone.”
Oftentimes we get settled in our ways - not only in terms of what we do, but also in our BELIEFS.

If you believe you will stay in a rut - that is where you will stay.
If you believe you can change your life and live how you truly want to - you’ve started to look for that difference - you’re looking for that purple tree!

Please be aware that I’m not saying everyone has to change.
Staying in your comfort zone is okay if it works for you.
However, if it is NOT working for you and you identify with some of the phrases above, it’s time to Take Action! - think outside the box - think differently.

Discovery Tip: Think Differently

• Think of where you are right now and where you feel stuck, bored or trapped.
• What is it exactly? (i.e. no independence, not enough time with family, negativity, etc.)
• Ask yourself honestly, how are you perpetuating this thinking (what you are or are NOT doing)
  It’s helpful here to get an objective point of view from a coach.
• Now, what would take you out of this “comfort zone,” what do you need to do?

Example: You feel stuck at your job.
You feel stuck because the job is boring and you don’t feel like you’re really fullfilling a purpose.
You stay at the job because it is stable job and you know what you’re doing in it.

Think outside your comfort zone:

Know that you can break out of this by simply realizing that there are job opportunities
out there for you. It can be as simple as looking in the classifieds to talking to head hunters.

OR on a deeper level:

Take notice of how you think about your job - is it surrounded by negativity? The attitude
you bring to your job is very powerful - don’t underestimate it.
Changing your attitude just might lift that boredom and feeling of being “stuck.”

“Many stand guard over their ideas because they want to protect their thought systems
as they are, and learning means change.” A Course In Miracle

Technorati Tags: Vision, Strategy, Results, Innovation, Motivation, Challenge, Change, Action