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  • July 6, 2022

Vision or Lie?

May 4, 2009 by Karen Swim

Written by Karen D. Swim

Ron entered the building right on time for his appointment with Neal. The office was modern with a coolly detached vibe. After giving his name to the receptionist, he was directed down a long hallway to a spacious hallway with a large oak desk. After exchanging pleasantries, Neal and Ron got down to business.

Neal, told Ron that their company had moved to the state and would be renovating 60 homes per month. Ron liked Neal and the process he laid out. An hour later, Ron walked out with the specs on the first job, which he would start in two days. The economy had been challenging and Ron was afraid he would have to lay off a few of his guys. This contract could not have come at a better time.

Over the next few weeks the jobs came in starts and stops, not the steady flow of work Neal promised. Ron could not keep his crew on hold for days at a time so he opted to take other jobs. He went in to pick up his check for the last job with every intention to speak to Neal. He ran into the Project Manager, Andy in the parking lot. Andy shared that he was leaving the company and opened up to Ron about the promises that were never kept. It was then that Ron learned that Neal had presented a vision of where he wanted to the company to go and not the reality of where the company was today.

Like many business writers, I am often invited to take on jobs for companies promising lots of steady work. Inevitably, the company wants to leverage that promise for a lower rate. 

“Good business leaders create a vision, articulate the vision, passionately own the vision, and relentlessly drive it to completion.” – Jack Welch

There is a great deal of focus these days on having a big vision. We are told to put our faith in action by changing our mindset and language. I completely agree that we must fix our minds on what we want and rid ourselves of self-limiting beliefs BUT we must be careful when we recruit others to our vision.

When hiring employees or contractors, it is important to present the reality and allow each person to make their own choice. To present the vision without the reality is a lie. Contractors plan their accounts receivable based on billable hours, just as employees plan their budgets based on income. It is unfair to ask someone to set aside billable time when you cannot deliver on your promise. 

“I think there is something, more important than believing: Action! The world is full of dreamers, there aren’t enough who will move ahead and begin to take concrete steps to actualize their vision.”– W. Clement Stone

Many will believe in your vision and will be willing to take the risk with you. However, do not be offended by those who are unwilling to take the risk. Respect the right of everyone to make his or her own choice.  

Have you ever unintentionally misrepresented your business? Were there repercussions? Have you ever signed on for a vision that did not match reality? How did it make you feel?

Filed Under: Business and Career, Inspiration for Business Tagged With: business, business decisions, business vision, entrepreneurs, freelancing, Leadership

Who Moved My Life?

April 27, 2009 by Karen Swim

Written by Karen D. Swim

“We have to be willing to get rid of the life we had planned so as to live the life that is waiting.”

I planned to be a wife and mom (after my original idea of Queen of the World fell through). I was going to be bake cookies, volunteer with the PTA and hang out at the park with the other moms. At age 39 I was widowed and childless – this was definitely not according to the plan!

Life very often does not go according to our plan. There have been many times when things have worked out better than I ever could have planned. Better than plan is a reason to rejoice, dancing on the table tops kind of rejoicing. We never question “better than planned” because we are too happy celebrating our good fortune.

Ah, but when we get “not even close to plan” results, we question the unfairness of it all. We are disappointed, frustrated and perhaps angry.

Disappointment can be fleeting or it can suck your soul dry leaving you bitter and empty. You can waste years mourning what you believe you should have had or you can embrace what you do have. It is a choice we get to make often because life frequently does not go according to plan.

How do you handle disappointment? Has a setback ever turned out to be a positive experience in your life? Do you buy me as a PTA mom? 🙂

Filed Under: Inspiration Tagged With: Inspiration, life chalenges

Magic in the Mundane

April 15, 2009 by Karen Swim

Written by Karen D. Swim

My 4 year old cousin pulled at my pant leg, commanding my attention. I turned toward him to tune in to the conversation that he had apparently been having with me.  He then pointed to a big Tonka truck and told me to say “Hi” to Tom. I saw a truck, rather large but otherwise nondescript. But Ryan saw a magical world where two toy trucks became Tom and Jerry (his favorite cartoon characters).  Ryan is still young enough to allow his imagination to create magic from the ordinary.

Today, many of us can use a little magic. It is, after all,  Tax Day in the U.S.  We can look at the forms and numbers and simply see the amount of zeroes needed on the check or we can see goals accomplished, clients serviced, tasks completed and milestones reached. The numbers can make us scowl or provide a goal for the year ahead.

The magic is ours to create, so what will you see? Bottom line numbers or a big awesome vision that sparkles with possibility?

How do you keep the magic in your own life?

Filed Under: Insights, Inspiration Tagged With: creative vision, imagination, Inspiration

Hop, Skip, Double and a Dip

April 14, 2009 by Karen Swim

Written by Karen D.  Swim

I watched the little girls draw the crooked squares in colored chalk on the sidewalk. I smiled remembering my own childhood games of hopscotch. Hop, hop, hop. The first round was always easy because you knew what to expect. Hop, hop, hop, land, hop, land hop. You knew just how long you needed to balance on one leg before landing on two feet again.

Life sometimes feels like a game of hopscotch. Sometimes you maneuver a tiny square on one leg and in other places both feet are firmly planted on the ground. Along the way you pick up your marker as you progress from square to square. Unlike hopscotch, the squares are not neatly drawn in brightly colored chalk. You may find yourself balancing longer than is reasonably comfortable on one leg praying to reach the spot when you can put down both feet and steady yourself. Hop, hop, hop, hop, hop, land, hop.

In hopscotch and life  the game grows in complexity as you add more people. No longer jumping from square to square, you also have to jump over the obstacles that others have placed in your path. Hop, jump, jump, hop, hop, land, jump, hop.

As I sat musing, the little girls giggled, ponytails bobbing up and down as they each took turns, hopping, landing, and picking up their marker. Hop, land, hop, bend,  jump, turn to do it again. I watched as the smaller little girl took her turn, eyes on the pattern, with determination in her eyes – hop, hop, hop, jump, hop, bend, stumble. Rather than become discouraged they collapsed into giggles, declared a winner and started a new game, hop, hop, hop, land, hop, land, hop.

I rose from the chair with a smile determined to go and start my own new game, no colored chalk required.

How’s your game these days? Are you jumping on one foot or two? Do you start a new game when you stumble or just go to the end of the line?

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Filed Under: Inspiration for Life Tagged With: Inspiration, lessons learned from hopscotch, life reflection, motivation

Planted in Adversity, Harvested in Hope

April 6, 2009 by Karen Swim

Anza-Borrego Desert
Image by Waqas Ahmed via Flickr

Written by Karen D. Swim

“What makes the desert beautiful is that somewhere it hides a well.” – Antoine de Saint-Exupery

The imagery of the desert is often used to symbolize adversity or those seasons in our life when we are  challenged from every angle. The dry, scrabbly land and unforgiving climate aptly describe how we feel when we toil for answers and receive no harvest in return.

In the desert, relationships change. Just like the sun, welcoming in fair weather but  becoming a fiery enemy in the desert region, searing your defenses with its white hot rays. You are forced to slow your pace, to measure your steps and adapt to the land like the prickly cacti that conserve their own water to survive.

“Adversity is like a strong wind. It tears away from us all but the things that cannot be torn, so that we see ourselves as we really are.” –Arthur Golden

Yet, both adversity and the desert, difficult and unkind on the surface can bring forth a beauty unequaled in “milder” climates. In the desert you tap into your source of inner strength as you still the confusion and tune into the silence that surrounds you. Like the cacti, you draw from your inner well to nourish and sustain you. You no longer drink arrogantly allowing the liquid of life to spill to the ground and evaporate but savour each precious as it revives and restores you.

In the inky night sky of the desert the stars are at their most brilliant. And in the darkness of challenge,  it is our faith that lights up the sky shining brighter than ever before.

I have never willingly planned a vacation in the land of adversity but I will admit to learning my greatest lessons while there. I have been scorched by the desert sun and momentarily been fooled by the mirage of false hope. I believed that I would perish in the wilderness and the vultures would feast upon my carcass. It was in the darkness of those moments that water poured from the rocky land nourishing me and giving me hope that I would find my way home.

When I finally made my way to the end of the desert path, I looked back to see the dry and rocky land covered in a field of sprawling wildflowers,strong, untamed and free.

It is said that adversity is the best teacher, do you agree?

This post is an entry in the What I Learned from Adversity group writing project. The writing project is open to everyone and if you’d like to contribute, the deadline is midnight April 12th.

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Filed Under: Insights, Inspiration Tagged With: adversity, life challenges, middle zone musings, Robert Hruzek, wilf project

The Warm Fire of Aloha

April 3, 2009 by Karen Swim

double lightning

As I write this I am listening to the rumble of thunder. It begins as a low rolling drumbeat then rises to a crescendo of clattering cymbals ending in a brilliant flash of light that casts a blue glow across the room.  The light fades and the drops fall softly in a steady rhythm. The flash of light is the perfect way to end this day.

The white hot flash from so many miles away yet shining so brightly in my living room is much like you and me. Our light bursts forth as we share our passions, ideas and knowledge with others.  Sometimes our encounters are like the lightning, brief but powerful casting a glow far and wide.

In what I consider a timeless hallmark, Robert Hruzek writes: “I stared out the windows, searching for something, anything, that would tell me there was a world out there. My eyes began to strain, searching for a reference point. Then – in the distance below, I saw the most beautiful sight.

A light. One single light.” (Excerpt from  “A Light in the Darkness”)

Last year, Joanna Young shared that post with me when I needed to hear that someone, anyone was listening.  The words have not lost their impact these many months later.

The links we share, the stories we tell, the posts we write and yes even our tweets may cast their glow upon those we may never hear or see.

Rosa Say shared these words in an email:

“Me ke aloha pumehana e lokomaika’i  (Translation per Rosa:  when a warm fire of aloha begins to burn, one seeking to feed the spirit, for another’s generosity of good heart has caused us to awaken, feel, and better absorb. “

The beautiful Hawaiian words are an encouragement to not only share your light but the light of others. When you are moved, inspired or tickled pink by another pass it on. Generously spread the light of those around you and you are certain to be warmed by the glow.

I hope today you are warmed by the fire of aloha.

I would love to hear your thoughts on the post, the weather or anything that’s on your mind. It’s Friday after all. 🙂

Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons 

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Filed Under: Inspiration Tagged With: community, relationships, sharing

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