2Weeks2aBreakthrough

Excellent Post About Learning a New Language

Check out this post by brain expert Robyn McMaster called Challenge Your Brain to Learn Spanish. The post was inspired by a twitter conversation Robyn and I had a few days ago (you can see that here). If one of your goals is to learn a new language, the post will be really helpful.

I am following Robyn's advice to improve me chances of retaining what I learn and speeding up my ability to comfortably use the language. I have started and stopped Spanish lessons many times. But this will be the time, I know it!

Generating Breathroughs - It's your time.

The big news about Susan Boyle - the middle-aged lady from the UK who sang on "Who's Got Talent," and is now a sensation - is a great example of the power of the butterfly effect.

One thing
one action
one conversation
then another
then a decision
then another action

and then - POW - something big happens.

But it only happens when all those little things occur. Are you focused and in action? Are you talking about your goals? Are you sharing your ideas with others? Are you being brave?

I just posted the link to the You Tube video/PPT I did back in 2007 to the music of Breakthrough over on Management Craft (Breakthrough is the song that my brother wrote inspired by my book, Two Weeks to a Breakthrough. Head on over and check out the video if you need a quick 6 minute dose of inspiration.

Then flap, flap, flap.

Van Gogh and Career Killers

Patrick over at Helping You to Succeed opens his post called, 7 Career Killers, with this great quote from Van Gogh:

"Your profession is not what brings home your paycheck. Your profession is what you were put on earth to do with such passion and such intensity that it becomes spiritual in calling." - Vincent Van Gogh

This is the first post that I have read quotes both Vincent Van Gogh and Peter Drucker - interesting combination. Check out the whole post and the 7 Career Killers.

Oh, Overwhelm - Redux

Wow, this has been a busy week! And there have been times when I caught myself feeling a bit overwhelmed. I know better. I know that overwhelm is a state of mind that we can select and unselect and I know that overwhelm is a choice.

And when I remind myself of this, I choose to stop feeling overwhelmed. I feel blessed to be busy and active and absolutely in control of my time and success. As an intrapreneur - in charge of building a piece of my firm's business - I need to be at my best. I cannot be at my best when I am feeling overwhelmed or out of control.

Shake it off. Dismiss it. Scram.

To commemorate my on and off again (now OFF) relationship with overwhelm this week, I thought I would share a business poem I wrote on Management Craft in 2004 called, Oh, Overwhelm. I hope you enjoy it. And in case you are wondering, yes, I know I am no Robert Frost. :-)

Oh Overwhelm

Try as I might, I did not get it done
I'm annoyed by others all smiles and fun.
Tired, frazzled, unable to think
Do I need a lobotomy or just a stiff drink?
Oh well, oh overwhelm.

Am I dense, am I slow, am I poor?
Why is this work I loved such a bore?
I hope for a cyclone to take it all away
The stacks, the people, the bosses, the fray.
Oh well, oh overwhelm.

The problems number too many
Sane employees, are there any?
I want to be good, want to do well
I’ve ended up in manager’s hell.
Oh well, oh overwhelm.

Now wait one moment
Musn't allow this self-inflicted torment.
It’s just a day and just a job
Not something deserving my sob.
Oh well, oh overwhelm.

I’ll shake it off, reject the funk
Sit in peace, chant like a monk.
These thoughts of failure I’ll abandon
So bring it on, bring it on!
Oh well, oh overwhelm.