There were two things I most wanted to see in my life: Denali and the solar eclipse of 2017. Though I didn't see them, there was grace in the not-seeing.

Arriving as "pilgrims" at Denali National Park in Alaska, my two companions and I set out eagerly on a tundra tour to see moose and caribou and grizzly bears and were supposed to top it all off by seeing Denali, formerly Mount McKinley. At over 20,300 feet, it is the tallest mountain in North America. Its mountains have always been a spiritual experience for me, and I was so excited that I kept annoying the bus driver with questions: "Can we see it yet?" "What direction will it be?" "How close will it be?"

We had been warned that Denali makes its own weather and is visible less than 10 percent of the time, so when we pulled up to the overlook and the driver said, "There's Denali," waving in the general direction of a huge cloud, I was disappointed but not surprised.

I was not ready to give the driver any peace yet.

"Where is it exactly?" "Show me, point to it." I wanted to feel it.

And we did. Behind the cloud, we could feel the immensity, the presence of the mountain. Huge. Powerful. There. It was the way God is present to us sometimes an immense, transcendent presence. But one of the graces of that day was to help me realize in a deep, visceral way what it means to know, through the Incarnation, a God who is also immanent.

Though that day we had to settle for transcendence, Denali was not finished with us yet. The next day, an obliging Alaska Airlines pilot flew us right by the peak. Flying at 22,000 feet, on a crystal-clear day, it felt like we could brush the snow from the top. How immanent is that?

I had always thought it was a pure tragedy that the founder of my religious community, St. Angela Merici, became blind just when she was setting off on a long-awaited pilgrimage to the Holy Land. She had to experience the holy places without seeing them and only regained her sight on her return to Italy. I never really believed the account of biographers who claimed that she experienced the holy places in a deeper way than she would have if she had seen them.

But after Denali, I understood, and even now, when I think of that day, I feel immense presence behind a cloud.

Moving ahead to Aug. 21, 2017. Kansas City, where I live, was right in the path of the total eclipse of the sun. What luck! I went to a nearby retreat house run by the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth, Kansas, for a weekend retreat on the universe of Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, and we were invited to stay Monday to top off our retreat with a celestial spectacular. My heart is beating faster right now, just thinking about how eagerly we awaited it!

The sisters were prepared: a picnic, solar glasses for everyone and an excited crowd of about 200 people. And as it turns out clouds and rain. Only a brief glimpse of the early eclipse, but we did experience the complete darkness at midday, heard the night songs of birds and insects, saw the 360-degree "sunset" all around, and saw the "dawn" break high above us in the middle of the sky. And I watched the actual eclipse on a smartphone, broadcast from a town to the east of us.

Here's a little irony for you. If I had gone to work (only 33 miles away) instead of taking a third day of retreat, I would have seen the eclipse. Is there a lesson for us there?

Did you notice a certain theme of clouds in my stories? The Cloud of Unknowing suggests that the seeking soulshould surrender mind and ego to the realm of "unknowing," at which point one may begin to glimpse the nature of God.

Perhaps we have to be content with the darkness of mystery. Perhaps darkness is its own blessing.

[Ursuline Sr. Michele Morek isGlobal Sisters Report's liaison to sisters in North America. Her email address ismmorek@ncronline.org.]

Visit link:
The grace of not seeing - Global Sisters Report (blog)

When most people think of the world's greatest public speakers, hard-charging extroverts like Tony Robbins may come to mind. It's unlikely they equate public speaking with introverts.

The newest Speakers Hall of Fame inductee Connie Dieken breaks that mold.

A born introvert, Dieken is uncomfortable being the center of attention. "No question, I'd rather listen than talk," she says.

And that's exactly why she excels on the world's biggest stages, explains the former president of the National Speakers Association, Laura Stack, "Connie is a giver, not a taker. She connects with audiences on a deep level," says Stack. "Instead of focusing on herself and overpowering people, she's exceptionally prepared and empathetic."

"I've never experienced anyone as thorough as Connie," says veteran speakers bureau agent Renee Strom, who recently collaborated with Dieken on a client's leadership team keynote. "Her questions were deep and expansive. She's brilliant, humble, articulate, and wise."

The Speakers Hall of Fame honors a select few public speakers who've reached the top echelon of platform excellence. Past recipients include Ronald Reagan, Zig Ziglar, and Norman Vincent Peale. There are only 182 living members.

Awarded annually by the National Speakers Association, the Hall of Fame designation is a lifetime award for speaking excellence and professionalism. This year's winners, including Dieken, were announced at Walt Disney World at the National Speakers Association's annual conference.

This is Dieken's second Hall of Fame induction. She was previously inducted into the Radio/TV Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 2000 following a 20-year career as a television journalist and anchorwoman for NBC and ABC stations. She earned five Emmy Awards and two Telly Awards for her excellence in reporting. What made Dieken an outstanding broadcast journalist also makes her a standout keynote speaker. "I'm a researcher at heart," she says, "I'm hard-wired to connect the dots between the root cause and the big picture."

Dieken is the founder of Influence 360, a validated psychometric assessment that uses hard science to identify how people influence others. An ongoing research study, Influence 360 has helped more than 20,000 leaders become more influential. Dieken also created The Influence Lab and Present to Win training programs which are taught in corporate universities worldwide.

An entrepreneur, Dieken is the president of The Dieken Group-an executive coaching and consulting firm that advises CEOs and other senior leaders in the spotlight on how to maximize their influence and presence. She was recently named one of the world's Top Ten executive coaches by the Global Gurus organization. Her clients are leaders at some the world's best-known brands including Apple, HP, Nestl, and The Cleveland Clinic.

"You'd be surprised how many chief executives are natural-born introverts," says Dieken. "I help them influence with integrity in all directions. Whether it's communicating with their boards of directors, analysts, peers, associates, customers, the general public or through the media, leadership influence is a crucial business skill-now more than ever."

Dieken is a top-selling business author. Both of her books, "Talk Less, Say More" and "Become the Real Deal," hit #1 on the Amazon bestseller list. The audio version of "Talk Less, Say More" was also #1 on Audible and iTunes.

A renowned keynote speaker, she's delivered speeches on five continents to major conference audiences in the thousands and is a guest lecturer at business schools such as Case Western University, Clemson University, Indiana University, and The Ohio State University.

Authenticity and gratitude are key to Dieken's dual Hall of Fame careers. An Indiana University graduate who grew up in a small rural town, she credits her Midwest values with her success. "I wouldn't be in this position without the many lessons I learned from my family, teachers, mentors, peers, and clients."

And that is how an introvert approaches life on the big stage: with curiosity, empathy, and most of all, with humility.

Original post:
Connie Dieken Inducted into Speakers Hall of Fame - Broadway World

What does it mean to make it to the top, and how do you know if you have made it? These are questions that are common. We have been programmed to think the top is what we see as success, which is associated with all the things money can buy. The truth is, when you have made it to the top, it has nothing to do with all of those things. A person can have it all and still not be at the top.

My mentor, Zig Ziglar, always said there were many things in life you could have, but the most satisfying was the attitude of gratitude. In addition to this, there are many other ways to know you are at the top. Lets take a look at them.

1. You clearly understand failure is only an event, and it has nothing to do with who you are. It does not make you a failure. Each day is a new day to begin again and make the most of the experience you gained from yesterday.

2. Your past is now a strength you use to get the most out of today and plan for the future.

3. Your desires for right now do not control your actions that will change the path that reaches to your destiny.

4. You can live without anger or bitterness and embrace faith, hope and love.

5. You can, from the depths of your heart, forgive all the wrongs you have experienced, whether you did them to yourself or someone else did.

6. You can stand up for yourself and what you know is good, right and just without being vengeful, angry or condemning.

7. When you can truly love everyone regardless of the wrong they have done or perhaps are still doing. Note that this does not mean you have to accept what they do or have done, only that you love the person for who they are and where they are. Love the sinner not the sin.

8. You can accept yourself for who you are and embrace the faults, as well as the attributes, you have. We all have faults and attributes.

9. Find the gift you have been given, and use it to help mankind.

10. Give back what has been given to you, creating a legacy that can be carried through the decades.

As you review the points above, you will notice being at the top has nothing to do with any material thing that may be associated with success. The success you achieve in your life starts with you and who you are. There is no one like you. You are unique, and you have been given a unique gift that is all your own.

It doesnt matter who you are, where you have been, or what you have been through, you can have everything in life you want. See you at the top!

Janna Valencia is a certified Ziglar Legacy Trainer, speaker and coach. She is author of the book, Road to Healing. If you would like learn more, visit her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/JannaValencia.TeachingSuccess

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You are at the top when - Palestine Herald Press

Its easy to feel helpless in the wake of such tragedy... but there are ways to help.

With Hurricane Harvey and vast flooding dominating the news, its easy to feel helpless in the wake of such personal tragedy. In this technology-driven world, were witnessing breaking news; reading, seeing and hearing first-hand how these disasters personally impact individuals and communities. Who can forget the faces of the heroes, carrying children through the flooded streets or rescuing the elderly and those trapped in flooded homes and apartments? Those interviewed after losing their loved ones, homes, schools and places of employment break our hearts.

Weve witnessed acts of courage, heroism and extensions of human kindness, but with such disaster, its hard to know what to say and do. Here are some ideas and thoughts on how to lend support following a natural disaster:

1. Empathy goes a long way in responding to such a catastrophe and Zig Ziglar said it best: You never know when a moment and a few sincere words can have an impact on a life. When you interact with survivors, volunteers, or anyone impacted by the disaster, acknowledge the loss and share your sadness. People feel comforted knowing you care.

2. Offer safe shelter. If you have room and know someone who has lost their home and has no place to go, sharing your space is a blessing. As reported on national news, a family whose home was intact invited strangers from a shelter to share their home. There are heartwarming stories of neighbors taking in neighbors and friends finding refuge with other friends.For more informationon how you can open your home to those in need or how to help someone find emergency accommodations.

3. Towels and clean clothing are in demand (but confirm before sending) as well as baby diapers and wipes. So many survivors left their homes with nothing but the clothing on their backs. There will be a long-term need for comfortable clothing and sundry items. Watch the news programs and the media to see what else will be needed in the coming days.The Houston Chroniclehas an extensive and vetted list of Texas and national organizations that will provide necessities and could use all types of donations.The New York Timeshas a vetted list as well.

4. Communicate your availability. There is a tremendous need for volunteers within these hard-hit communities. The Coastal Bend Disaster Recovery Group has avolunteer registration by skills.National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disastershas an extensive list with links to their national members who need volunteers and donations.

5. One of the most expedient ways to help is by making a donation, but be wary of scams. The FTC has published Advice forHelping Hurricane Harvey Victimswhere youll find suggestions on Wise Giving After the Storm. If you are looking to help someone through recovery there is a section For Picking up the Pieces. Its safe to choose well-known national disaster relief organizations or use those recommended and listed on the websites of national news organizations or your local newspaper.

6. What can you do on a more personal level? If you are interacting with survivors, listen; allow them to cry or talk. Sharing their story, often over and over again, is a way for them to begin to make sense of what has happened as well as working through the healing process. If a survivor asks you for specific help, do your best to fulfill their wishes.

7. Dont forget the children; theyll need extra help in dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey.Tragic Times, Healing Wordswas originally prepared by Sesame Street Research for 9/11, but it offers relevant suggestions and guidelines for parents and caregivers on how to help children after a crisis.

Robbie Miller Kaplan is an author who writes from a unique perspective as a mother who has lost two children. She has writtenHow to Say It When You Don't Know What to Say, a guide to help readers communicate effectively when those they care about experience loss, now available as e-books for "Illness & Death," "Suicide," "Miscarriage," "Death of a Child," "Death of a Stillborn or Newborn Baby," "Pet Loss," "Caregiver Responsibilities," "Divorce"and "Job Loss." All titles are inAmazon's Kindle Store

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How to Help During a Natural Disaster - Legacy.com (blog)

Consider the postage stamp. The postage stamp knows it has only one job to do and it does it well. It does not try to accomplish any other goal except for the one that was assigned to it. It has laser focus. It will not sleep until it finishes its one job. What about you?

It has been said that in life, you get what you focus on. This rule applies to every endeavor in your life whether its starting a business, getting a raise, or wanting to get married, where your attention goes, energy flows. What you focus on expands.

Because ultimately, your focus drives everything you do. It drives your thoughts, which leads to your feelings and emotions which determine how you will live your life.

If you focus on negative things, you are unwittingly inviting negativity into your life. You will find that when you focus on the negative things in your life, more negative things will occur so you can focus on them. Thats how it works. You get in life what you focus on. If you focus on pain, more painful things will happen so you can continue to focus on it.

But, thank goodness, the opposite is also true. If you focus on the positive things in life, you will find more positive things happening to you.

So below are three practical things you can do to focus on what you really want out of life and how to get what you want in the next 100 days.

One of my favorite motivational speakers was the late Zig Ziglar. When it came to the topic of goals, he flat out sold you on the concept. He asked are you a meaningful specific or a wandering generality? In other words, do you have a definite, specific clear plan of action for your life and career or are you just along for the ride, wandering through life?

The next thing Zig advised was to ink your goal with pen and paper. A goal that is not written is just a dream one you will never attain.

Did you know that the act of writing actually sharpens your thinking and stimulates your creativity? When you write, you can only focus on one thing at a time. This forces you to spend that time on your goal. Remember, whatever you focus on you feel and what you feel you act on. Below are three creative ways to get your life back on track and finally attain what you really want out of life.

1. I want you to go to the store and buy three boards. Two of the boards will be large and the other medium-sized. Place one board in your office, one in your home and the medium-sized one in your car the three places where you spend the most time. On these boards, I want you to cut out pictures that represent the three most important goals you want to accomplish this year.

Every morning when you wake up, you will see a visual picture of the goals you wish to accomplish. When you drive to work, you will see the same three pictures and when you get to work you will see the same three pictures again. All this reinforcement will help your mind find ways to make what you want become a reality.

New York Times Best-Selling Author Brendon Burchard says, Major challenges, major frustrations and major problems in our lives, demand multiple areas of attack. Its like when you go to war, you send in the planes, the ground troops and people from the flank and the front. You go at it from all sides trying to win.

So if you have a major challenge, problem or struggle in your life, or some goal you desperately want to reach, you need to attack from all sides.

2. Use your phone to alert you of goals at least 3 times a day. A lot of people under utilize this great feature on their iPhones. Right now, I want you to your Clock then hit Alarm then add your alarm time. Then under Label write out your goal the same one you have a picture of on your board. Press Save. Repeat this step three times for each of your goals. So from now on, every day at that time, youll be reminded to accomplish your goals. This is how you attack from all sides. You have the vision board, you have the alarm and now lets move on to tip number three. This will keep you focused on what you want to accomplish.

3. The purpose of any goal I believe is to create freedom in some area of your life. Who of us wouldnt love to pursue everything we want with no restraints. But sadly, most of us are constrained by our jobs, our finances or both. Entrepreneur on Fire host John Lee Dumas has come up with a way to accomplish everything you want in the next 100 days with his Freedom Journal. The journal will guide you over the next 100 days to set a plan of action, to focus, to review, accomplish, identify and execute your goals. This is a built-in accountability partner. Most entrepreneurs dont succeed because they are not accountable to anyone. This journal is your accountability buddy. So stop procrastinating and start living the life you were meant to live.

And there you have it. If you want to go deeper with me on this subject, sign up for my Free Academy training. You can find an invitation on page two of my book, How a Postage Stamp Saved My Life.

Visit link:
How to Stay Focused...The Postage Stamp Method - HuffPost

CHRISTINA PERSICO

Last updated16:50, September 5 2017

SIMON O'CONNOR/STUFF

Olivia Madgwick is delighted with her new trike and very grateful for all the support to help her buy it.

After completely losing her independence nearly three years ago, Olivia Madgwick is loving getting out on her own again on her new pink trike.

The 24-year-old went from living on her own since the age of sixteen to relying on others for her basic needs,after the discovery of a brain stem tumour.

But thanks to the generosity of about 90 people who contributed to her Givealittlepage to raise money for a specially adapted trike, she has got some of her independence back.

SIMON O'CONNOR/STUFF

Olivia Madgwick has her new trike that has given her a bit more freedom and independence to get out and about.

"I love it. I've got it back;I just haven't got it fully back yet."

READ MORE:*Brain cancer sufferer wants to inspire others to not give up hope*Bubbly 22-year-old woman discovers brain cancer after a fall*Cancer survivors to take on Round the Mountain Cycle Challenge

The pedal trike, from Trikes New Zealand in Levin, cost $6472.98 andwill help with her physical rehabilitation.It has also been specially modified with a motor.

SIMON O'CONNOR/STUFF

Olivia Madgwick is enjoying having her freedom back with her new pedal trike.

She has now had it for two weeks.

"It's not a cheap thing. It's more than a car.

"You can make it go up to 30 km/hr on the battery, and the battery can last to Opunake.

"It's an early birthday present to myself because my birthday was on Saturday."

She falls outside the age bracket for most trike funding options, so she wanted to thank all those who had contributed.

The trike has hand brakes and mirrors and also lights and flags to make her visible, as the rider sits quite close to the ground.

"I'm just getting used to pedalling on the cycle lane around cars. I'm sitting low."

It is also comfortable for her bad back, she said.

Madgwick underwent 31 radiation treatments and 4 chemotherapiesafter a concussion in late 2015 uncoveredshe was only days away from dying of medulloblastoma, a rare type of brain cancer which left her with a large tumour on her brain stem.

But she has been in remission since Marchand wants to encourage others as a children's author and motivational speaker. She has the letters P, M, and Atattooed on her wrist, reminding her to have a positive mental attitude.

She was the first person in New Zealand to have the brain stem cells removed from her body, cleansed and put back in. She still struggles with speaking and can only walk a few metres unaided, but is loving her new freedom.

She is also hoping to start going tosome kickboxing and zumba classes.

"I can get there myself. I mean it might take a bit of time but that's okay."

She's not planning on going on the open road, though.

"I do want to go and visit my grandad in Jean Sandel."

-Stuff

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Independence regained for cancer sufferer with new trike - Stuff.co.nz

To assist businesses with employee retention, the Litchfield Area Chamber of Commerce is offering a Wellness Series for administration, managers, front-line staff and wellness teams.

The sessions are designed for an employee or a team of employees to glean information that can be brought back to benefit all employees of an organization.

All classes are on Tuesdays from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. at Custom Products training room, 1715 Sibley Ave. S., Litchfield.

Michael Kiefer, a psychologist, author and motivational speaker, will lead each of the sessions:

For chamber members, the cost is $79 per person for per session, or $395 per person for the five-part series, with a group discount available. For nonmembers, the cost is $90 per person per session or $450 for the series.

By Juliana Thill, Crow River Business editor

See the rest here:
'Creating Great Places to Work' series focuses on wellness - Crow River Media

Shear awfulnessThe opening paragraph of Alan Shearers column in the best-selling newspaper in England

THERE is one way the England players can silence the boo boys that follow them and that is by playing a darn site better than on Friday night.

And yes, as of 11am on Monday, it is the same on the websight.

You Cescy thingMediawatch gave Football365s award-winning writer Daniel Storey ten guesses as to the identity of the best player in the Premier League so far this season as decided by The Suns Chief Football Reporter Neil Ashton and he foolishly reeled off a list of Manchester United and Liverpool players with the odd left-field choice of Aaron Mooy and Harry Maguire.

Having been given another ten guesses and instructions that it was a big club player but crucially from neither Manchester United nor Liverpool, he still did not come up with the correct answer.

How could he have possibly known that being sent off against Burnley, being suspended for the win over Tottenham and playing quite well against Everton would make Cesc Fabregas the best player in the Premier League so far this season?

But maybe Ashton was particularly impressed with Fabregas in the Community Shield? No, he called him anonymous.

And maybe Ashton believed that Chelsea had been unlucky against Burnley? Well no, he and this is Mediawatchs choice of the best hyperbole in the Premier League so far this season wrote that there is something sinister going on at Stamford Bridge.

So he has basically anointed Fabregas the nascent seasons best player because he was impressive against Everton (and because he wanted to make a point about Fabregas not even getting in Spains squad).

Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Paul Pogba, Romelu Lukaku, Nemanja Matic, Emre Can and Roberto Firmino all want a word.

We three kingsTalking of Romelu Lukaku, he is according toMailOnline one quarter of an awesome attacking force which they feel compelled to compare to all the other awesome attacking forces of past Manchester United teams.

After three whole Premier League games against West Ham, Swansea and Leicester City, Adam Shergold has given this 2017/18 strikeforce a danger rating of 9/10.

Which makes them loads better than the 7.5-rated double title-winning strikeforce of 1992-94 which featured Eric Cantona and Mark Hughes, miles better than the 2002-04 vintage that featured a 44-goal season from Ruud van Nistelrooy (they were only 7/10 dangerous), marginally better than the Robin van Persie/Wayne Rooney/Javier Hernandez trio of 2012/13 (8/10 dangerous) and already equal to the 2007-09 strikeforce featuring Ronaldo (68 goals across two seasons), Wayne Rooney (32) and Carlos Tevez (34).

After three games. He definitely hasnt got carried away.

As Shergold writes

While Ibrahimovic wont have a chance to replicate his stunning form of last season until December at the earliest, the other three have made flying startsRashford and Martial offer lightning pace, skill and a decent chance conversion rate, while Ibrahimovic really needs no introduction.

Marcus Rashford has scored one goal from nine shots.

Sale awayThe Daily Mails Charles Sale is a man with an agenda. An unstintingly negative agenda.

This is him on former sports psychiatrist Steve Peters no longer working with England, and it is his lead item on Monday under the heading of Are England mad to ditch mind coach?

England footballers have given up travelling with a dedicated sports psychiatrist at the very time when they look as if they could do with extra support for their mental attitude.

There are plenty of unappetising games, such as Fridays dire match in Malta, when it proves difficult to inspire maximum performance from the players just where a trusted psychiatrist could prove useful.

As Sale points out later in the same piece: Peters has disappeared from the set-up since the Hodgson regime ended in abject failure at Euro 2016.

So it turns out that England footballers actually have given up travelling with a dedicated sports psychiatrist at the very time when they they proved that extra support for their mental attitude was not working.

And here is Sale on Ryan Giggs snubbing Malta:

Ryan Giggs is well known in Malta due to the time he has spent on the island, starting from his early days at Manchester United.

He also invested in a hotel group there with Gary Neville.

Nevertheless Giggs, along with ITV colleagues Paul Ince, Ian Wright and Glenn Hoddle, chose to return home from Malta as soon as possible after the game on Friday even if it meant a 5.30am exit from their hotel on Saturday.

It took about 93 seconds for Mediawatch to find out that Giggs had come home early to attend the2017 FAW McDonalds Community Awards. But why would Sale do any research when he can remain ignorantly pompous?

Summing up SouthgateI was having some interaction with Julen Lopetegui at a game where he was saying how lucky I was to have Harry playing.

Two words: Middle and management.

You know its international week whenThe Daily Mirrors back-page headline is NOW YOURE GURNER BELIEVE US because they have some pictures of England players pulling faces.

F***s sake.

Kane and unableMediawatch is enjoying the big talk about Harry Kane being world class after his two goals against Malta, with The Suns Charlie Wyett among those writing that with ten goals in 20 games, Kane has compared his scoring record to that of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi in the early stages of their international career.

Tiny point: Ronaldo and Messi had in the early stages of their international career scored semi-final goals to reach the finals of a European Championship and a Copa America. Meanwhile, Harry Kane played four games at Euro 2016, scored no goals and looked generally pretty pony.

Lets hold those horses, eh.

Recommended reading of the dayAlex Stewart on changing football in MalawiJeremy Alexander on Exeter and Newport CountyMichael Cox on the most intriguing transfers

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Mediawatch: The Premier League's best player so far - Football365.com

As your company grows, you will face a number of exciting, unforeseen challenges that might never have crossed your mind earlier. These challenges will test the mettle of your organization and its mission to provide greater value to a broader range of markets. How you handle these challenges is what defines how robust of a new offering you have and how meaningful it is to the additional markets you might be serving. A solid strategy of mapping out your precise goals and objectives is undoubtedly essential. However, the approach for your company's growth should first start first from cultivating the right attitude within your employees, and within yourself.

CORRECT ATTITUDE

Navigating your company's growth starts with yourself and your own mindset. "An open mind solves all problems" , "Be always curious" - Jonathan Furman, Founder and CEO of Furman Transformation reminds us. There isn't one correct strategy for growing our business as each terrain and each hurdle varies by context. A game-plan in-advance is good, but it simply is a template. The number of unanticipated problems simply can't all be mapped out in advance. As the complexity of our world expands into uncharted territory, it's increasingly important to develop a strong mental attitude to face the challenges that come to our business as we grow. Such a mindset involves honing a clear, open, broad perspective that seeks out new possibilities without prejudice. From such a mindset, clear options for growing your company will naturally fall into place.

SHORING UP YOUR CAPACITY

Keeping in mind there are multiple choices one can make, depending on your personal goals and depending on what options arise in your mind. Some might be exciting. Some might be laborious. Some might even induce fear. However, we should always be in tune with our capacity for taking on next steps. For instance, you might find the opportunity to disrupt an entire market paradigm with your brilliant product. But along with it would come a tumultuous roller-coaster ride filled with chaos. It might be thrilling, but it also might be more intense than what you desire.

Or, on the other hand, you might decide you would prefer to quietly provide an upgrade to a stable market with a few new benefits and increased quality. This offering might not be groundbreaking and your growth might be linear rather than exponential.

However, you might prefer a more conservative approach such as this as it affords you greater clarity of mind, and sharper clarity of analysis, to chart your course.

SCALING YOUR PRODUCTIVITY

While growing, we often neglect to realize that we ourselves are growing along with our business. A business just doesn't come up all by itself. It requires the people working in it to come up along the way. As we grow, we might find that the productivity and effectiveness with which we carried when we had fewer demands hasn't kept up. Developing consistent habits and tools, as well as continuing to invest in building more and more solid workflow processes, always deserve a place in our planning to ensure that we never lose sight of our ability to scale ourselves along with our company.

CAPTURING THE PULSE OF THE MARKET

Once you have set your mindset, determined your capacity, and establish a path to scale your personal productivity, you need to connect with markets as they exist. At the end of the day, a business has to connect with the pulse of the customer. 42% percent of startups fail simply because they've failed to anticipate what the target audience is actually looking for.

SUMMARY

As you establish yourself, your business will inevitably grow in revenue, offerings, and markets, impacting the lives of more and more people along the way. There are many possibilities which will arise, many of which will seem to contradict one another. However, one central piece remains -- cultivating your company's growth starts with cultivating yourself first.

See the rest here:
Finding The Right Approach To Your Companies Growth - Southeast Missourian (blog)

A White Collar Boxing night in County Antrim has raised more than 800 for charity.

The big fight night saw men and women from across the borough don the gloves and take to the ring in aid of PIPS Larne.

The event was organised by Carrickfergus Boxing Academy and took place in the towns Amphitheatre.

The Deputy Mayor of Mid and East Antrim praised the organisers following the successful event.

Councillor Cheryl Johnston said: A huge congratulations to the organisers on what was a fantastic night for such an important cause. The total raised was 853.66.

My focus as Deputy Mayor is to promote physical and mental wellbeing for all citizens of Mid and East Antrim, build community resilience and reduce the stigma associated with mental illness.

The money raised thanks to the generosity of those involved in the White Collar Boxing event will be used to support the crucial services offered by PIPS Larne.

PIPS Larne is a totally voluntary group working within the community of Larne and the East Antrim area.

Its aim is to increase the communitys awareness around suicide and self-harm with a view to reducing the stigma of suicide and encouraging people to seek help.

PIPS works to promote positive mental health and wellbeing and improve the attitude towards mental health issues in our community.

If you are interested in donating to PIPS Larne, please visit: http://www.justgiving.com/pips-larne/

Read the rest here:
White Collar Boxing night in Co Antrim helps raise more than 800 for charity - Belfast Live