You Miss 100% of the Shots You Never Take - Wayne Gretzky, Hockey Great

What stops you? From taking all the shots? Is it that little man on your shoulder called chip*.

You know the one I'm talking about. That little voice that says:
I can't do that!
It costs too much!
I don't know how to....
What will people think?
I don't have....

The voice that tells you more reasons why you can't. Than why you can.

The voice that "chips" away at your selfconfidence, self esteem, your dreams. Until no glint of hope is left.

One day you look yourself in the mirror and all the things you ever wanted to do or try --- never happened. This results in a life of regrets.

Stop, stopping yourself from what you most desire. Go after your dreams.

Even if you fail, or people laugh or think you're crazy. At least, you will be fulfilled. So....
Start that business
Write that book
Learn to golf
or whatever...

Live life. Take opportunites when they present themselves.

Have the courage to confront and to correct what needs to change. Then change it. Stop listening to chip. Stop resisting what you most want.

Post comments below:

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(C) Copyright 2009 Jacqueline A Birnbaum

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE, WEB SITE OR BLOG? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it:
Jackie Birnbaum is the author of “7 Biggest Mistakes Entrepreneurs Make”. Get secrets and FR’EE resources designed to help you leave behind the stress of corporate downsizing and increase job security. To get your FR’EE copy of the above report, go to http://www.nomorecorporatejob.com/

Personal blog: http://jackiebirnbaum.blogspot.com/
Business blog: http://nomorecorporatejob.wordpress.com/

*Dr. Joe Rubino, The Self Esteem Book, Works Publishing, Pg 11.

Family Tradition

Saturday, I spent the afternoon with the newest addition to our family. Her name is Cyanne Rhayn. She is only four months old. Isn't she adorable?

Mom and Dad were both working. So Grandma took over (that's me of course!). After a bottle and a nap, we began our family tradition. After every grandchild is born, I take a casting of their hand and foot. Usually around age 3-4 months.

Sunday, I spent the day carefully cleaning the casting. In a few days, I will put a clear coat on the surface. Then place both in a display case.

The display cases I purchase are those used to store collectible baseballs. It's just the perfect size for a hand and foot of a 3-4 month old baby. The case and molding/casting kits can be bought at a local craft store.

Cyanne's display case is the fourth. Eventually, I will need to find another location in my home to show them all off!

So far, I have tried two different brands of molding/casting products. One is Casting Keepsakes. Website: http://www.castingkeepsakes.com/. The other Precious Impressions. Website: http://www.darice.com/.

Casting Keepsakes provides a more complete kit. Including plastic containers to mix the molding/casting material in. They provide more material to work with. It allows one to place the hand/foot in a deeper amount of material for a better cast. Especially, with a child starts wriggling around.

Precious Impressions I was able to purchase locally at the craft store. No waiting for arrival of my order via UPS. They provide a smaller amount of material leaving a more shallow casting. I found that Cyanne's foot was touching the bottom of the container. I had to fix that during the cleaning process.

Both produce a quality end product.

3-4 months is a good age in which to do the castings. If you can actually do it sooner, that's better. The smaller they are the less movement they make.

Change Your Habits....Change Who You Are

Happy New Year! 2009 is finally here!

As with any ending, there is always a new beginning. Everyone has heard the old saying: As one door closes, another opens. This rings true with every new year.

Whether from a personal, professional or business perspective, when you determine where you are going, how you get there will be come obvious.

While planning for 2009, I reflected on all that happened in 2008. For me, 2008 brought many new challenges and new opportunities. It also brought forward new awareness. An awareness of what I was tolerating that did not serve me well in my life.

Some call this setting boundaries. For myself, I have committed to removing the B.S. in my life. When I remove those things that are sucking up my time in non productive ways, it actually makes room for other amazing things to come into my life. Sometimes we have to let go of the old to allow the new to come in.

Here are a list of things, people, thoughts, beliefs, etc. that will not be with me during 2009. WARNING: It is very specific and to the point. It is not intended to offend; only be truthful.

1. Vendors who don't meet their terms of our agreement. (I have fired two in 2008. We will see if their replacements are more professional to work with).
2. Clients who are seeking get rich quick schemes. They want everything and do nothing with the information they have. (I will not listen to the whining. They are gone!)
3. Companies who don't know the meaning of customer service. (I am no longer patronizing these places online or in person).
4. Negative Nellies. The people who see doom and gloom in everything have no place in my life. (I have distanced myself from several friends and family members because of this).
5. No show appointments. (This is a sign of disrespect. Every one's time is valuable; be considerate enough to reschedule. I have now implemented a no show policy to address this).
6. Fear. I am committed to being on a path of evolution by working thru my fears. At every level of growth I have achieved it required me to face worst things first. This is where I have achieved my greatest accomplishments.
7. Procrastination. This creeps in most when fear is present. I commit to recognizing my procrastination. I commit to being aware that fear is the driver. Then face it head on.
8. What others think and feel. I will no longer make decisions in my life or business based on this. It is not the best use of my time; nor is it the best way to run a business. I am now aware that these people are the Negative Nellies. My time is best spent with like minded people.
9. Control. Some things need planning in life and in business. And yet, not everything has to be planned. I am now aware that everything is unfolding as it is suppose to in my life. I commit to a greater awareness of things around me. Knowing that there are messages answering my questions, guiding me to achieve my greatness in this world.

Some people may find this list strange or maybe offensive. This is not about being rude. It's about me respecting myself and time; others respecting me by doing the same.

Leave me a comment. Let me know what you tolerated during 2008 and how 2009 will be different. This can include any aspect of your life.

I wish you a prosperous and happy New Year! I'll leave you with food for thought:

"We spend January 1 walking through our lives, room by room, drawing up a list of work to be done, cracks to be patched. Maybe this year, to balance the list, we ought to walk through the rooms of our lives... not looking for flaws, but for potential. " - Ellen Goodman

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(C) Copyright 2009 Jacqueline A Birnbaum

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE, WEB SITE OR BLOG? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it:Jackie Birnbaum is the author of “7 Biggest Mistakes Entrepreneurs Make”. Get secrets and FR’EE resources designed to help you leave behind the stress of corporate downsizing and increase job security. To get your FR’EE copy of the above report, go to http://www.nomorecorporatejob.com/

Personal blog: http://jackiebirnbaum.blogspot.com/
Business blog: http://nomorecorporatejob.wordpress.com/