It Hurts When You Shoot Yourself In The Foot

I am in the middle of studying for a real estate exam. I am pursuing a real estate license to increase my level of all-around marketability. I gave myself a certain amount of time to complete this task - and I have exceeded it. Sound familiar? It is the same situation as when you give yourself a set amount of time to reach a destination - and it takes double or triple the estimate.

So, realizing that I will NOT get through 22 chapters in one night I have basically accepted a defeat of sorts (and made matters slower by drinking wine). I have re-worked my approach and set a new goal, but that means so many things will be negatively affected. This is a cycle that I see happen often that I would like to see disappear! These are detours that prevent me from moving forward. But who places these obstacles? Who forced me to tend to Verify-ED business during the class instead of paying attention?

As a balance to this setback, today I finally reduced the time it takes me to swim 1 lap. I am still very jealous of the woman who shared the lane with me and the man in the adjoining lane. Even though they were larger, they outswam me with ease. The woman seemed like she was just floating atop the water!

The key with goals: set your own, pay some (but not much) attention to the competitors around, and don't be last to the finish line! Tortoise and The Hare, baby!!

Now, back to studying....arghhh!!

Fake It 'Til You Make It

"Fake It 'Til You Make It" This is my new mantra, courtesy of Iya Karade, co-owner of Karade Gymnastics School. We often sit and muse about the life of an entrepreneur and the ways in which we get through hardships under which others would fail. I have to say that Iya and her husband are true inspirations. They continue to fight hard to keep their world-class gymnastics program flourishing, and I am proud to fight alongside them as a coach.

They recently moved to a new location. Great amount of space, but the building has some little issues that weren't apparent until it rained. That's right: the roof leaks. Well, after the horrible discovery (and they had just laid a beautiful floor for dance practice) they went into recovery mode: placing buckets on the floor and trying to patch the roof. They determined that repairing the roof would be costly and not truly enough for what really needed to be done. Rather than present a sloppy image of buckets and towels they came up with a unique solution: build a room around the leak. That's right - they used their more-than-adequate carpentry skills, two by fours, a nail gun and some Sheetrock to build an "office". So, when current and prospective parents come into the gym they don't see a mess, their eyes instead go to the spring floor full of gymnasts working on routines.

This innovative approach to solving problems is the skill that I continue to strive to achieve. I wonder that if I was in the same situation, what would I have done to resolve the problem? I worry that I would have left the buckets and when people arrived I would do a dance with flailing arms to try and distract. Much more work than investing the time and effort to "remove the image entirely".

My goal these days is to do less and invest energies where the return on investment is much more. So, I welcome when colleagues and friends point out: hey, Joelle, just build the room. Your dance is NOT working. I can still see the buckets!

OH! And did you notice? You now have the option to automatically receive updates when I post. Just click on the "Follow this blog" link in the right panel. So many people have said that they enjoy the postings, so now you can have them come straight to you. Thanks for your support!

Life's Milestones: Weddings and Births

This week started off with many "new beginnings". One of my best friends got married. She is one of my idols - the epitome of patience. She did things her way, never hurrying. She earned degrees from respected universities, holds a doctorate, bought her home, and lived life. She found the man with whom she wants to spend her life and married him. She always knew that life would give back what she put in. Even with others pushing and prodding her, she stood her ground and took her time. I think of her when I am impatient about growing this business. I am jumping from one thing to another trying to get a return on the investment of my time because I feel the urgency of "first to market" or "hitting while the iron is hot". I have to remind myself to be patient - put in the right work and the returns will come.

Right after the wedding I drove to DE to assist my cousin in delivering her first child. It is always a pleasure being able to help another woman give birth - and I so enjoy not being in the hot seat. My cousin is my hero. Her brow never broke a sweat and she delivered naturally - sans epidural. Welcome to the world Rebekah!

I have been thinking about these moments constantly. About how we all work hard for our achievements and how these two women have only hit a milestone, because in life there are no finite goals - just steps along the continuous paths.

We are working hard to make some major strides before 2008 finishes and it seems overwhelming at times. It would be great to hand off some of the worries and work, but I believe that we are poised to take our step soon. The key is to not scream (at least not too loudly - and not at the kids).