The Secret to Balance

From the Szenabling file:

Do you remember learning to ride a bike? Better yet, have you ever taught someone how to ride? It’s one of those concepts that seems really simple in hind-sight, but at the time can seem impossible to grasp and even traumatic. The key, of course, is to master one’s own sense of balance without any aid of external devices or props including body weight calculations, g-force analysis, a carpenter’s level or a parent running along side. Balance, in a physical sense, is built into our human computer and when properly activated can keep us from simply tipping over, to actually conquering huge obstacles that may require precision and incredible steadiness – True balance, is a gift, and as such, is intuitive and requires very little, if any, analysis.

Balance is also an important concept in other aspects of our lives and means having the right mix of elements to keep us well rounded, sane and at ease. Without a good sense of balance we can become stressed, irritable and often counterproductive. Balance in a psychological sense, is the art of maintaining perspective amidst vacillating amounts of turmoil, as well as joy. Maintaining a good life balance is every bit as complex as getting on a bike for the first time, but unfortunately it is not nearly as intuitive.

Given the nature of the world today and knowing how difficult it may be for some of us to stay in balance, I’ve assembled a few balancing acts for your consideration:

1. Don’t believe that being in the middle means that you’re necessarily balanced. Don’t confuse balance with being stuck in neutral. Like riding a bike, we need to keep our momentum and move forward – righting the ship doesn’t insure you’ll reach a safe harbor.
2. Balancing is based on bandwidth too. Sometimes we have to lean to the right or to the left if we’re to successfully negotiate a turn of events. If we’re not careful, the middle ground can sometimes collapse below us. Be ready to lean into the turn when it comes.
3. Overcorrecting can be dangerous. Pain isn’t always fixed with equal amounts of pleasure or visa versa. Getting back on track doesn’t always mean returning to the same spot you became derailed; often just recognizing where you were can turn lost into found.
4. You’ll know it when you feel it. True balance begins in the heart and it’s the subtle but undeniable feeling that it’s going to be okay. We all have a personal “sweet spot” when it comes to how we live our lives. It’s the internal guide to personal happiness and joy – a barometer and compass we each possess that brings whatever life sends us into an alignment worth celebrating.

Achieving balance is the only cure for when you are on edge, lost or bewildered by events you can’t control. Balance is the inner voice reminding you that you’re going to be okay. It is the by-product of you believing in you and the secret gift only you can open.

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Today’s Szenippet: Inspiration is that moment when you realize that you don’t need permission to create what your own heart has always known you could do.

From the Books of Szen©2012

Any Minute

Almost everything that is truly unexpected and life changing happens in a moment. It’s a point in time when there seems to be no answer to your problem, no way out of the distress and no chance to avoid the situation. It’s a moment we all have experienced – the end of the line. Yet for some reason, something changes and shifts. A chance meeting, an unpredictable outcome, a call from a friend – can turn a disaster into victory. Just when you thought there was no way there was some way.

Why and how do these mini-miracles happen? Why is it that when we least expect it or maybe even deserve it, there seems to be a divine intervention, almost like the hand of God reached in and changed the outcome.

A very close friend of mine some years ago joined and also invested in a new company. She was an adamant analyst and did her due diligence well. She checked the company stats, competitive landscape and the references of the owners. She joined the firm for stock and a little salary and a chance at millions. She left a safe, albeit humdrum, position in a Fortune 500 company for a chance at greatness. She got her chance and then some.

The plan for the new firm was to introduce its flagship product just prior to the Christmas selling season. It was a high-tech gadget that would monitor your email as well as your vital signs, and keep copious records in a journal like way that could be downloaded into your PC or MAC. It was the 21st century personal secretary in an easy to use, hand held – change the world, kind of device. The product was being distributed through major retailers literally around the world and all of the research indicated it would sell out fast.

About one month prior to the product shipping a problem developed. One of the memory circuits was failing and caused erroneous data to be transmitted. It was akin to the old game of telephone where one would whisper a message and pass it on to the next person and of course at the end the final message it had little resemblance to the original. The launce was in jeopardy and while the distributors were asked to wait, the precious shelf space where this product would be displayed for the Christmas crowd was in danger of being lost. This would mean a disaster for the company and its shareholders. The ad campaign was on hold and precious media advantages were being lost. My friend was in a state of distress. Her ticket to a new life was being challenged by a simple, inexpensive memory chip; the only chance the company had was to replace the chips with new ones and still make the shipping deadline.

I know you probably think that a new replacement chip was found and the devices were all updated and the company made the deadline and the product was a huge success. Sorry, no. The company missed the deadline, the product never got to market and the dream of high earnings and early retirement were never realized. My friend was devastated. It was over.

I tell you this story because even though it did not turn out as expected, the experience provided additional outcomes. My friend was hired by a firm that needed her expertise in launching new products. The investors sold the shell of the company to a foreign manufacturer. The patents that made the product work were sold to a consortium for a lot of cash. My friend made a lot of money, found a new cause to join and the product although never brought to market has created a wave of enthusiasm for the science and potential.

For whatever you may be hoping for now. For whatever dream you may hold, remember that it doesn’t always go according to plan and that any minute, things can change. Maybe not your way, but God’s way and possibly the best way you could ever imagine. So don’t give up on your dream and it won’t give up on you.

Check Your Baggage

It’s not always easy to start the New Year on a positive note. Sometimes the problems from the past make the transition to a new season of opportunity and change very difficult. Often we carry the burden of having to fix one thing before we can begin another. That is we can’t leave the job we hate until we find one that we would like or we can’t buy the new car until someone buys the old one. We can’t get the promotion until we get some more education or training and we can’t make a bonus until we recoup the losses from before.

There is a great deal of linear thinking at this time of year – something typically has to be finished before we can get on to the next pursuit. We seek closure before we can plan anything new because we often assume that we need to lay the track first before we can begin a new journey. Well, that’s only true if you plan on getting there by train. What if you plan on leap-frogging to the next incarnation of your one true self? It begins with a declaration: I am the greatest _________ (fill in the blank). Don’t worry that you haven’t done it or haven’t the time or money or training or anything to get there. The only thing you have to worry about now is that when you state that I am the greatest whatever is to believe that you really are. Without that you’re dead before you start.

So now that you’ve filled in the blank, let’s construct the path to your achieving the greatness within. Firstly, congratulations, because you have already begun by simply identifying your goal. I know it seems too simple but many of us are not clear on what we want. Once you fixate on the new you, things will shift to accommodate your new beginning. On the subject of beginnings I must turn to a master writer, John O’Donohue:

When the heart is ready for a fresh beginning, unforeseen things can emerge. And in a sense, this is exactly what a beginning does. It is an opening for surprises. Surrounding the intention and the act of beginning, there are always exciting possibilities… Beginnings are new horizons that want to be seen; they are not regressions or repetitions. Somehow they win clearance and become fiercely free of the grip of the past. What is the new horizon in you that wants to be seen?

John O’Donohue, Bless the Space Between Us

To appreciate and underscore the power of a new beginning, one must be ready to leave the old behind. It is extremely difficult to be positive about finances or jobs or relationships if you are holding onto past conditioning or somehow trying to rationalize that the past can be fixed. It can’t be fixed. It can’t change. Only you can change. Only you can know what it is that calls to your heart. Only you can visualize your destiny and only you can know its importance.

With that said, the burden is on you to decide on whether you spend your time worrying about what if’s or could have been. It’s up to you to check the baggage now and it is a very personal and often profound moment in our lives – that moment when we admit that whatever happened before will not hold us back from what will happen next or even now. You cannot become a success you can only be one. You cannot be the greatest whatever; you are already that which you seek. It’s in you now and it has been planted there for sometime – waiting for you to awaken the power of your own personal magic to create the joy you deserve and are destined for.

Have a great trip. You ARE the GREATEST!
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Today’s Szenippet: I never met a year that wasn’t open to new possibilities.

From the Book of Szen© All Rights Reserved

Gift Exchange

The 7^th grade teacher Mrs. Bothersome was dutifully cutting up the class roster into equal indistinguishable pieces. She put all of the names of the students into a cloth sack and invited each child to walk up to the front of the class and select a name for the holiday gift exchange – something affordable, and an item they may like and, of course fun. No peeking and no telling the person that you selected them; it was supposed to be anonymous.

Duncan, shy and dubbed a loner by his classmates, reached into the bag and pulled out the little slip of paper. He held it tightly in his hand as he walked back to his desk. He opened it slowly and crouched over his cupped hands so no one else could see and peered in to read the name Monica – the new transfer student that nobody liked. He let out an audible sigh, crumpled up the paper, stuffed it into his pocket and slouched back into his desk chair. This was not a good choice he thought. He wondered why he couldn’t have been luckier and picked somebody that he knew. There is no fun in shopping for someone you don’t know anything about he thought; what’s the point?

The scoop on Monica, pronounced Moan-eek-ah, was she had moved from some foreign country in either Latin or South America and had joined the class after the Thanksgiving holiday. It was reported that her parents were arrested or died or something and that she and her little brother had to move here and was living with an uncle. A couple of people thought that maybe she was retarded because she never talked at all outside of class. And when she did talk, her English was so poor, the kids laughed out loud at her. This hurt her because the truth was that she was alone without her friends or parents and Christmas was coming.

Well, whatever her story, Duncan started to pay attention. It’s funny what you can find out about a person just through observation. As Duncan started considering gift options he began to observe and study Monica. He found himself watching her every day and noticed that she was always alone. None of the other girls or students talked with her or sat with her at lunch. Duncan would stare at her when she wasn’t looking. He saw how people avoided her and even ignored her. He watched her try to start conversations and see people just turn and walk away. In class she was shy and frustrated because she could not always find the right words. Students would snicker when she would make a mistake. In a very short time she had become completely ostracized.

She was retreating too. She stopped trying to make friends and ate alone and left school in a flash every day. This was not un-noticed by Duncan who had fought his extreme shyness his whole life and resigned himself to the role of a loner. He could tell Monica didn’t want to be alone which caused him to become strangely drawn to her. He began to wonder how he would feel if he were in her shoes and he even felt like he should approach her, but he never could get up the courage.

At the last period of the day before the Christmas break, the teacher took all of the gifts and piled them in the middle of the room. This way no one would know who placed what package and thus the secrecy of the giver would remain intact. As students started unwrapping their presents one could see a wide range of gifts from simple trinkets or books to bizarre and funny gag gifts. Monica grasped the card with her name on it. She opened it and read “I want to be your friend.” It was unsigned and she quickly moved her eyes around the room to try and discern the giver’s identity. Nobody returned the eye contact. She closed the card and thought how cruel a gift this was. She began a stifled cry and sat down in her seat.

Duncan worked his way through the noise and wrapping paper and came up behind Monica. He tapped her on the shoulder. She turned and looked up and heard him say “it was me, I want to be your friend, is that okay?” She nodded yes and they exchanged the biggest smiles you ever saw.

When we give what we seek we draw situations and people to us that bring us what we need. Kindness, compassion, appreciation and friendship are powerful gifts and work great not only as last minute stocking stuffers but as living breathing conduits attracting the happiness God has in store for all of us. Merry Christmas.

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Today’s Szenippet: The gift you always wanted has forever been inside you waiting for you to open it.

Asleep at the Squeal

A SZEN SHORT:

For the previous five or so Halloweens, he would buy four or five large bags of candy to give out to the trick or treaters, and each year he was left with most all of his stash of sweets and unable to give it away. In fact, not one child ever appeared – no door bells ringing, children laughing, or tricks were to be found. It was as if his house was a dead zone when it came to Halloween.

This bothered the old man because he knew there were children in the neighborhood. He heard them all the time, laughing and crying and he would watch them ride their bikes and wagons up and down the street during the day, and sometimes night, almost every single day of the year. And it wasn’t as if the children were not out and about on this sweet-filled holiday, they were; he saw them roving like gypsies from one house to the next and the “trick or treat” anthem that he could hear from the neighbors’ stoops lingered in the air with a sweetness that only children’s voices can create.

He had created a sort of observation post and while sitting in his comfy chair it made him sad to wait and watch out the window to see the children pass him by. “Stop here” he would quietly mutter to himself as he witnessed bands of kids in grotesque and wonderfully cute costumes parade in front of his house, but never would stop for their treats. They would move past, eventually out of ear shot and he would sit back down in a slouch in front of the window wondering why they would not come. What had he done to deserve to be shunned by the young ones as well as their parents? As he pondered this question, he dozed off into a silent sleep and began to dream.

As he sat still and motionless with chin firmly on chest, a slight snoring-like murmur slipping from his lips, he was visible to all of the goblins and fairy princesses and other scary creatures that roamed the streets in front of his house. His stoic and frozen-like image caught the eyes of the young ones who thought that he may be dead. As the children had been doing for the last five years, they started to congregate in front of his window, and each would take a turn peering into the low light of his home and wonder if he were still alive. The braver children would come right up to the glass and stare, then tap the window and retreat; afraid yet wanting to be scared. After some time, his motionless body attracted every trick or treater in the neighborhood. Some of the parents stood back and watched as the children took turns to challenge the lifeless form behind the glass with a yelp or tap on the window. Some thought they saw him move and others thought he was just a stuffed mannequin or something.

After some time, the crowd in front of the old man’s house grew larger and those that observed debated on whether he was real or alive or dead or just asleep. The gathering, now in the hundreds, decided that they would try to awaken him with one choreographed loud “trick or treat” chant. At the count of three they let lose with the loudest “trick or treat” you can imagine – nothing. He didn’t move, so the crowd decided that he wasn’t real. And as they collectively peered into the window one last time, he awoke with a jolt. The entire crowd jumped in surprise and in a panic turned away and scattered into the darkness.

As the old man got his focus, rubbed his eyes and put on his glasses, he stood up and squinted out into the street. There was nothing but darkness and silence; another uneventful Halloween. He turned out the light and closed the blinds, still wondering where the children had gone.
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Today’s Szenippet: You never know who’s watching you and how what they see, changes their life.

From the Books of Szen©

Updated September 2011

THE UPSIDE OF DOWNTIMES

A Leader’s Guide for Turning Turmoil into Trust

By Gary Szenderski

Every organization, both public and private, is affected by today’s global economic turmoil. Leaders are faced with difficult and complicated scenarios where problems cannot be fixed easily, yet something has to be done “now.” Based on our experience working with brands and companies in transition, we’ve noted some common situational problems and identified five conversion principles – easy to remember marketing axioms – which leaders and owners can apply today to create positive momentum and change for their organizations.

Conversion Principle # 1 – No news is bad news.

The problem: Our business is down due to external forces beyond our control. Because no two recessions are alike, neither are their recovery periods, so it is very difficult to predict a way out. Market conditions can be impacted by credit restraints, monetary fluctuations or simple consumer fear and though problems really may not be our fault, they may create an opportunity to take ownership of the situation. You can do this by owning the facts: what, where, how, when, why, why not, how come, who made this happen etc.?

Learn what you can, and try to give it some perspective that you, your staff and partners can apply moving forward. As a leader, silence won’t make it better or make it go away whereas the facts can be your ally. Keeping communications fluid with staff and stockholders is critical and when you can share solid data and insights you also position yourself as an expert and resource in the category.

Conversion Principle # 2 – Downtime becomes think time.

The problem: This slowdown is creating vacuums of “dead time” where we just seem to be going through the motions. This is a chance to recruit your entire organization and enlist them in helping to solve problems or, even better, to create new concepts and opportunities. You never know where your next winning business concept will come from and if you have people in the company that care – or simply want to keep their jobs – this is the time to ask.

Involving your team can provide them with a sense of control and hope. Setting aside time for brainstorming and open forums with management allows you to hear and better understand what your team needs from its leader. You will be mining the downtime, not simply filling it. It’s a win-win.

Conversion Principle #3 – Attacking creates space.

The problem: The company is feeling wedged in by circumstances and fear among our channel partners and in the general marketplace. It’s a good bet that if you’re feeling the economic pinch, your competition is probably trapped too; you have them where you want them. Maintaining or even increasing market presence during a recession has been proven to improve a brand’s position once the recovery takes hold and is fueled by pent-up demand. By differentiating your brand from competitors you create space in your target’s mind for you to reside permanently. It is therefore essential to preserve the strongest possible connections to your existing customers while beginning new connections to your competitors’ customers. They snooze, they lose.

Market share during downtimes will not remain consistent. As buying habits and purchasing trends evolve and shift, openings for gain will emerge for leaders on the offensive.

Conversion Principle # 4 – Good news will be used.

The problem: Customers and consumers are on hold, afraid to spend, waiting for something good to happen. In downtimes there are three types of customers: Those that will wait for better times to buy, those that will buy because they can’t wait, and those that need a nudge to buy.

Leaders that can share some good news – modify their pricing, add value, a bonus, a deal, rebate, a free whatever – have a chance to push reluctant buyers back into the market. This is especially true in the business-to-business segment where, like you, your customers want to emerge ahead of their competitors. Waiting too long to get re-started can be disastrous because once the spending begins again for everyone you could find yourself lost in the crowd.

By recognizing that some customers are reluctant but still want to win, you can position your firm as an asset and resource. Leaders that can provide support or special incentives not only reinforce the relationship with their customer, they join them on the road to success.

Conversion Principle #5 – Taking the lead creates trust.

The problem: Our team feels weary, fearful and tentative. The reality of economic downturn and recession is that people lose their jobs. Prudent leaders facing business realities have to do the math. So what about those that remain?

Leaders that apply the first four principles demonstrate that they are not just reacting to market conditions but creating opportunities to not only survive, but to prosper. These leaders recognize that leading is not telling someone what to do, but listening to what they think about what they do. Effective leaders open their minds to the possibilities and build trust by providing encouragement and empathy for their staff and organization.

In any successful endeavor there has to be a leader that not only calls the play, but lets everyone know exactly what their role will be. In today’s world, many decisions are analyzed and scrutinized by a public and workforce that want integrity, honesty and respect from the boss. Today’s leaders can’t be successful in the marketplace if they are not successful as human beings.

The Reluctant Recovery:

One of the most difficult aspects of this recovery has been putting people to work. It’s very likely that Congress will pass some version of a new “jobs” bill soon. The impact it will have is not clear, but some money will be invested some where and as a leader you want to be ready to take advantage. Turning things around is never as easy as it sounds. Leaders have to start with good reliable information, enlist support from their team and be candid about business realities. They need to stay engaged with their customers and exploit competitors that are stuck in neutral. Right now people are desperate for some good news and leaders they can trust. They are looking for an “upside” to their lives and they need it now.

I hope this article has been helpful and I’ve referenced many sources if you’d like to know more. Timing is everything, but only works for those prepared to act.

Sources:
Harvard Business Review – How to Market in a Downturn (April 2009)
Harvard Business Review – The Essential Advantage (2011)
Wall Street Journal – The Value of Advertising
Brand channel.com – The “What’s Next?” process
ADWEEK.com – Tough Times or Not (March 2009)
SZEN Marketing – Culture as a Fuel Source (online whitepaper)
Book of Szen – Ongoing Insights on Managing Change
Influencer – Patterson, Grenny, Maxfield, McMillan, Switzler (2008 McGraw Hill)
Contributors – Jane Gibb, Sherrie Good and Jerry Walters

Gary Szenderski is a Senior Partner at SZEN Marketing, home of Visionization© – a marketing methodology designed to assist owners and top management in adapting and refining corporate visions to maximize marketing efforts and potential. There are many variables to consider as every organization has a unique character or personality that must be assessed. SZEN Marketing leverages its decades of marketing experience with companies and brands in transition to provide the tools to translate corporate goals into realities, to capitalize on your company’s unique point of difference and vision and align it with the opportunity, and to take it to the next level. To learn more, contact Gary Szenderski for a free consultation. © 2011 Szen Marketing, All Rights Reserved. garys@szen.us

Learn to Fly

Every once in a while we break away or sometimes are forced away and find ourselves in an entirely new and a way different world and space than we ever imagined. It could be a new job gain or loss, trip or transfer, or just simply moving on to our next chapter. And in that new space we quickly discover that there are no preconceived labels or roles to live up to. Nobody knows us there thus there are no restrictions on how we tell the story of our life or write the next verse and story line. There is no limit to the possibilities or the opportunities to create a new persona and image based on whatever we choose to define us.

The first day on a new job or new anything sets the tone for how your life unfolds. That’s because so much of what defines us is based on how people see us. We are essentially a reflection of those around us and those around us are a reflection of who we are. The beauty of a new palette and situation is that we can choose to feature only those characteristics that we feel not only best define us, but best showcase our individual greatness. We literally have the option and opportunity to reinvent, redefine and reintroduce the self we’ve come to know and love to a new and entirely open minded audience. In virgin territory we can escape from the labels and bias of our past relationships and start over.

This process of uncorking a new you is not about projecting an invalid persona or lying about who you are, it is about taking advantage to realign yourself for the next great adventure of your life without the burden of expectations and judgments from past labels and pigeonholes. If you find yourself in a new environment or an environment that has significantly changed since you last visited, you have the advantage of new receptivity and openness that lets you recalibrate your personal perspective and introduce your individual dreams to the flow of creation; it’s another chance to be the you you always wanted to be.

For those that are embarking on a new venture, be it job, relationship, geography or attitude, there are myriad ways to bridge the journey from what was to what will be. Creating a new archetype and pattern for your life within a “new” scenario is much easier than trying to grow out of a predictable and staid reality. If you are not moving to something new, the old will hold you back. We have all been in situations when you know that the place that you’re in is not fulfilling and keeping you down. No matter how often you may announce new thinking and goals and mindsets it falls on the deaf ears of those around you that only see you in a box; the fact that you see yourself with wings goes unnoticed – they think you can’t fly and sometimes you believe that they’re right.

Well, it’s time to start flapping those wings a little harder. I’m telling you that you can fly – flying is another way of saying you can rise above it all – and soar as high as you want. You can take off from here and propel yourself to any fertile destination you choose. And even if you’re forced into a destination that’s not of your choosing, the trip will still be worth it because once you learn to fly you will come to know that it’s not so important that you ever land at all. The freedom of flight and awareness and wonder of life from the perspective of new heights will serve to keep you elevated internally, mentally and spiritually. Taking flight is your ticket, not just out of the box and past, but out of sight of everything or anyone that has ever clipped your wings.

The new view for the new you is beyond the earth and the limitations of judgment and gravity. The new you can levitate and create the perfect next chapter and story of your life because learning to fly is learning to appreciate what really holds you up and what currents to take to make it a trip that never ends; a journey that lets you glide, lifted by the faith you almost forgot you had but got you to liftoff.
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Today’s Szenippet: (pronounced znippet): The difference between making an impression and making an impact is that the former feeds the ego and the later fills the soul.

Gary Szenderski
From the Book of Szen

Shift Happens

Like death and taxes one of the things you can always count on in life is that things will change. They will change sometimes seemingly all by themselves or very often things will change with a nudge here or there. Change can be positive or negative or painless or painful. Change can send a note that says she is coming or can unexpectedly arrive at your front door. Change is on call 24/7 and doesn’t mind working overtime. Change can be hard to warm up to but once you get to know her, she can be a true friend. On the other hand, if you ignore her, she’ll turn on you in a heartbeat. She’s just that way; you can never really tell what will happen next.

The key to living with change is to recognize that deep down inside change carries with her the opportunity to shift. And shifting is the fuel and the means you need to let change into your life at just the precise moment when you can enjoy it most. Shifting is, in essence, adapting and modifying your inside software to the new external forces entering your life. Shifting is like learning to speak the language of whatever environment you find yourself in at the time. Shifting keeps you conscious and aware of what is actually happening so you can not only deal with it, you can enjoy it. If we don’t shift when change comes she will still arrive, but instead of the guest bedroom, she’ll take over the whole house.

A shift is related to change, carrying some of the same DNA, and yet it is totally different. A well-timed and conscious controlled shift is akin to the happy and generous uncle of the family, whereas some of the family tree is indeed shiftless or even shifty. When change happens it’s related to some type of shift. They each need each other to survive and play off of the other’s actions. There are lots of examples of how shifting can be beneficial and sometimes critical. In physics, a shift in frequency can cause incredible effects. In phonetics, a shift in vowel pronunciation can alter an entire language system. In music, a shift in the position of the conductor’s hand or the fingers on a keyboard can have a dramatic impact on the music. A defensive shift on the football team can mean the difference between victory and defeat. Shifting is our friend. Shifting lets us recognize the landscape and allows us to downshift, if needed, to make our engines work at peak performance. The power to shift lets you maneuver through life’s changes in ways that keep you in control of the effects of change. The power to shift our thinking and perspective when change occurs can save us in desperate situations and conversely, that same power to shift our thinking and perspective can also create exactly the change we desire.

The three keys to being in the driver’s seat when change comes to visit are:

1. Take your own car. Recognize that you can set the speed and direction of your life and create miracles for yourself and those around you. Taking the wheel gives you an advantage in manifesting only the changes that you want – your greatest dreams.

2. Watch the road. Don’t ignore signs of change. Pay attention to what’s going on in your world. Don’t ever assume it will stay status quo. By paying attention you may see change about to cross your path before she sees you. This could be the advantage you need to avoid a crash.

3. Don’t follow the map. Being rigid on any journey can cause setbacks. Sometimes the careful path you selected is under construction or re-routed through tough terrain. Another direction may be in order and even if it’s not on the map and you’re unsure of where it goes, it can often provide the best possible, unexpected, and most direct road to happiness.

In the end, change will happen anyway, but shifting is an option and so how we deal with change is every bit as important as the change itself. Things will happen and you will make things happen and within this give and take and flux, there can be joy and love and bliss. And in the event that you encounter a change that was unexpected or the deliverance of a dream come true, you in all of your awesomeness, have an unlimited reservoir for creating another better version of whatever you choose. Shift on!
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Today’s Szenippet: Don’t settle for makeshift when you can make shift.
Gary Szenderski
From the Book of Szen

The Book of Szen is published weekly or thereabouts and permission to reprint or share is granted. For back issues please email me directly at garys@ergoworldwide.com © Gary Szenderski 2008 All Rights Reserved. Gary is an author, branding specialist and part-time instructor at UCI. He specializes in helping people and organizations navigate change. Gary resides in Southern California.

Wait Problem

I really enjoy exploring the aspects of time, the fleeting subject that it is. How it takes time to do anything, yet anything you actually do happens in the one moment you do it. Time is certainly precious, as we all know, and no matter what you earn or achieve, time is limited and thus should be spent wisely. Which brings me to this point in time and today’s subject: waiting – time’s number one enemy.

There are three types of waiting.

1. Waiting for something, anything, to happen and not caring what it is.
2. Waiting for something you really want to happen and can’t stand waiting for it.
3. Waiting for permission to stop waiting.

Waiting for something new to change your perspective or life is pretty common I think. We sometimes get in a rut and even though we may realize it is a rut of our own design, we stay patiently hoping for something, a sign, an event, a moment that will energize us to start caring again. Maybe we silently pray for a reason to change our situation. Maybe our situation has lost its luster and has become rote and predictable; it’s still okay but somehow not enough and definitely not painful enough to instigate a change on our own. Thus we wait for the universe to deliver a “happening” to inspire us to act.

The universe of course will oblige, but without a clear vision of what you want or need it will send whatever it thinks will shake you off your mark. People are often amazed at what is delivered to them and unfortunately don’t always like it. It could come in the form of an illness, or job loss or an accidental encounter. On the positive side, it could be winning the lottery or finding true love. But whatever form it takes, it succeeds in its purpose to move you from the “wait” list to the “do” list. Once moved, you never move back.

What if you are focused on something that you really want but it is taking its own sweet time to manifest? It could be a promotion, a business opportunity, a degree, loan, funding, inheritance or a stubborn client, mate or child. You know deep inside that once “it” arrives, the waiting will be over and life can begin. The goal is so noble and significant that your undying need of the expected outcome has you stuck in a state of abeyance, which is akin to the baseball player waiting for the perfect pitch. There is no such thing; forget the home run; just try to get on base. As Will Rogers said; “even if you’re on the right track, you’ll still get run over if you just sit there.”

The real problem with waiting is that the goal, whatever it may be, is only in your mind. It’s something you imagined, dreamed of or concocted to give you hope and a sense of purpose. It’s your inner vision of the real you, the you that can create whatever it is you want. The you that’s waiting to get on with your life. It’s not something to assume will come to you. It’s something that is you. It’s something that can’t wait to be born. It’s something that needs to get out to start living its own life now, today, this moment.

So, why are you still waiting? You have permission to stop waiting this moment. You can do that by moving your thinking into acting. The shear process of movement and action will help you download your dream into the reality it is destined to be. Take the first step to your goal and then the second and then third etc. and know that by staying intent on your dream and believing in yourself you’ll overcome all of the obstacles, those who doubt you, and your own fear. You will literally own time and not be a victim of it. You will be in the state of “being” not waiting, and in that miraculous moment you will proclaim that “yes, I have arrived.” You will have transcended from a “think I can” to a “yes I am” reality – the secret mantra for all those whose time has come, including you.

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Today’s Szenippet: (pronounced znippet): “Timing is everything” only works for those prepared to act.
Gary Szenderski
From the Book of Szen

Get Rich Slow

Years ago I worked with a colleague that was only a year out of college but bound and determined to make it big. He was driven to acquire the symbols of success and was relentless in his pursuit of being noticed and admired. His entire decision making process was about the image he projected and the corresponding reflection of that image from all those he came into contact with. He exhibited a sense of confidence, success and arrival well before he had attained it. He subscribed to the age-old adage that image is destiny. He literally began to live and look like the person he wanted to be.

Over time he had learned his job well and even though he had a ways to go, he had stretched his income into the creation of a façade of wealth with new suits and cars; actually it was only one car but it made a statement. His life was a statement. His job was a means to an end and as you might guess, it wasn’t too long before he was not only living beyond his means, but the very identity he sought to own. He was lost in his own creation. He owned the symbols of wealth but not the essence of wealth.

Once, after a job review, he received a raise that he felt was too low. He felt justified in challenging his boss and became upset when the boss simply told him that what he got was based on what he deserved. This upset him quite a bit and for the next few months he began to look for another job. The fact that he still wasn’t totally qualified to do the job he had didn’t bother him. He wanted more and money was the way to get it.

I would talk to him about slowing his path to riches program down a bit and about giving some time to creating relationships instead of income streams. I reminded him of what I had learned about success and wealth, which is that the essence of wealth is not about what you own but who you are. I related some experiences that I had in living in the yin and yang of opulence. And that what I discovered about the process of coming down from a contrived perspective of success based on acquisition alone – hitting bottom hurts like hell and if you’re alone, it lingers longer.
We live in an abundant world and it’s just as true that in our quest for “more” we sometimes forget that we’re only one person and we may not need everything we want because we already have more than we truly need. Still, our universe is pretty amazing and elegant in that it is programmed to listen to our desires and provide everything we want. It also provides stuff we didn’t want, as well as hope for things we still want, and the means to get over things we wanted but then changed our minds about. The bottom line is that like my young friend and colleague, we can aspire to greatness and all of us have the opportunity to get there. But greatness is not the same as your bank balance or title or the suits or car you drive.

Greatness is the twin brother of gratefulness. Greatness is the point when you have nothing but could have everything. It’s the point when, without a single possession you can reach out to give whatever you can. It’s the place in your heart when you feel wealthy beyond belief because of the love you have sown. It’s the place that we all eventually will end up at anyway. It’s the only place that really matters because it’s the only place that lets love thrive without judgment on others or opinions based on possessions alone. Greatness is home and the door should be left open.

Yes, symbols and wealth are nice too, but they are only a by-product of the love that you have inside which corresponds to the love that you’re willing to share – a love that was given to you and needs to be passed on to others. It’s a simple equation and formula for making the world a better and richer place than we could ever conceive or create on our own.

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Today’s Szenippet: Greatness is a state of mind. You can never become great because you already are great.

Gary Szenderski
From the Book of Szen