January 21, 2008

Stumbling Blocks

Into each life, a little rain must fall – will fall – has fallen. Last week I ended with “ready, set, … whoops.” That’s what happens. Happened to me last week when Sadie, my dog of almost 18 years suddenly died. And it threw me off track.

Something like that (hopefully milder) will happen. As if, you tell the universe what’s going to happen and the universe says, “oh, yeah?”

Paul Saffo, someone famous for forecasting future trends has certain rules for doing this. We intend that our goals be near-future trends. These are some of his rules (in response to, “oh, yeah?):

… Wild cards sensitize us to surprise [there will be wild cards]

… Change is never linear [It won’t be the way you think it will]

… Assume you are wrong.  And forecast often. [take the prairie dog approach—stick your head up and look again]

… Embrace uncertainty. [Yup]

Useful Quotes

Determination gives you the resolve to keep going in spite of the roadblocks that lay before you.
Dennis Waitley

There is no failure except in no longer trying. There is no defeat except from within, no really insurmountable barrier save our own inherent weakness of purpose.
Kin Hubbard

Always listen to the experts. They'll tell you what can't be done and why. Then do it.
Robert Heinlein

Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice; it is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved.
William Jennings Bryant

 It always can’t be done – until it is.
Michael Lipp

Creative Corner

Spin Around

It used to be fun to spin around
Spin around so fast,
That when, at last, you
Sort of stopped;
The world kept spinning in your head,
Drunk before drinking,
Your feet paid no attention
To your mind
None
At all
But you had to run, you said you would
You had to run to go home
Without your eye’s help,
Without your feet’s help
And the world spinning
In your head
Right; it’s fun, even
When the spinning spins your stomach
And your spinning spins your soul
But you said you’d run
And so
You run
On will, on stubbornness,
On your determination
You spin on
home

 I have four blogs:

Creating Today - A daily journal on creativity
Contributing Coaching - Creating New Futures
Blogging for the Reading - Making a Difference in how we Create
Michael's Articles - articles that don't fit anywhere else.

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