Make Decisions NOT Choices with Keisha Rivers-Shorty
Make Decisions NOT Choices
When was the last time you made a DECISION?
I know what you’re saying—“Keisha, I make decisions all the
time.”
No, I mean real decisions. What most of us do in
our daily lives is make choices. Choices consist of
selecting from options that are presented before us—this or that or the
other. When you make a choice, you’re ultimately not responsible
for the outcomes because it really wasn’t your decision.
You just had to choose from the options that were presented before you.
There wasn’t much thought given to what happens after you make
the choice. Usually you make the choice and then move on from
there. At the next crossroads, you make another choice, and so on.
How many times do you hear people say “But I didn’t have a
choice” when encountered with a difficult situation? (You
usually hear this when they did something that caused someone else a
great deal of pain or inconvenience.)
Choices are external. The control is not yours.
The outcomes from choices are predetermined based on the options
that are presented. You are simply choosing which of the outcomes you
prefer to deal with—or not deal with—as the case may be.
When people make choices, they seldom accept responsibility for
any of the outcomes that come with them for the simple fact that they
weren’t involved in making the decision that led up to the choice.
Even when you say the words “I choose”,
you don’t feel in control. You feel as if there’s still
some doubt—as if the other option still might be better.
Think about it. When a waiter asks you what you’re having,
and you say “I think I’ll choose the fish.” Do you sound
certain about that? Is that your final answer?
Or when you tell someone that you’ve “chosen to start your
own business” or “chosen to go back to school” or
even that you’ve “chosen to take the day off”, do you find that
they question you?
The problem isn’t that you’re not respected. The
problem is in your choice of words and actions.
You’re making choices when you should be
making decisions.
Now, decisions, on the other hand, are by their very nature
concrete. They bring with them a feeling of being in control; of finality
of someone who knows what they want and will not be questioned or
second-guessed.
Making decisions implies that you have weighed
all of the possible outcomes; examined the situation from all angles;
understand all of the variables involved and that you come to the best
conclusion possible and determined that this is the course of
action that you will take as a result.
Making decisions implies taking responsibility
for the outcomes.
Making decisions implies that you are in
control.
Making decisions implies that you are not to
be questioned, because there is no doubt and nothing left to be explored.
Making decisions is proactive way of controlling
your life, while making choices is reaction to circumstances.
Now, repeat the same scenario from before, this time make some
decisions instead of choices.
When a waiter asks you what you’re having, and you say “I
have decided to have the fish.” How do you feel as a
result? What do you believe the impression is this time as opposed to
before?
Or when you tell someone that you’ve “decided to start
your own business” or “decided to go back to school” or
even that you’ve “decided to take the day off”, do you find that
they question you now?
It’s the same, yet incredibly different.
The first step to becoming Released and Ready is to make a
decision—not a choice. You must make a decision to be different.
You have to decide to find those things that fuel your passion; align with your
purpose and build your legacy. You have to decide that you are committed
to be what you need to become in order release all that you are and are meant
to be.
The first step to being Released and Ready is to make a decision.
Are you ready?
Decide.
Keisha A. Rivers Shorty is a strategist, consultant, speaker and
author. She wears two hats-as the founder and Executive Director of The
KARS Institute for Learning & Collaboration, a nonprofit organization whose
mission is to provide training, resources and support to nonprofits, community
organizations, churches, schools and small businesses--and also the founder and
managing consultant of The KARS Group, LTD, which specializes in providing
personal and professional strategic development services to small businesses,
organizations and individuals. Ms. Rivers Shorty is a grant writer,
adjunct instructor, former foundation executive director, educator and
administrator. She is a motivational and inspirational speaker and
published author. She is currently launching her women's tour
"Released & Ready!" in summer 2013 which helps women to fuel
their passion, align with their purpose and build their legacy. Find out
more about Keisha at www.releasedandready.com or www.karsgroup.com or
find her on facebook.
Who's Fooling Who with Trinisa Pitts
Where are you trying NOT to go? As you sit there wondering why
things are going the way they are in your life? Sometimes we are
our own worst enemy and we are the only ones holding our selves back from the
opportunity of a life time. You know what you are capable of so who are
you fooling? Why are you just sitting there? Make a move and do it now!
It is time for you to stop procrastinating and start motivating
your mind. You know that you have a destination in mind so why not start
your journey? However you have to do it go for it. Make up your
mind that you are going to get it done and do it. Who are you trying to
fool? Yourself? Because God knows all things that you are capable
of doing He made you. It says it in 1 John 4:4 You are of God, little
children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he
who is in the world. So again I ask you who are you fooling?
I cannot stress it enough that you must get up, keep moving, and
motivate your mind in order for you to succeed. Don’t let anyone tell you
that you can’t make it. Tell them that you can and you will, and start
the process rolling. All you have to do is contemplate your plan. Plant
your seed in good soil and let the rest work for itself. If you want a
good harvest you must know how to give and be ready to receive but be
organized, be patient and be ready for that once in a lifetime phone call,
email, or United States postal mail. If you believe in yourself, than
there is nothing that you cannot do.
If you just make one step towards your own personal goal, you will
feel a sense of accomplishment. That will give you the urge to keep
going. You must me consistent, you must be dedicated, and you must be
focused and your mind must be regulated to the level that you are trying to
reach. Find your passion; find what gives you a sense of feeling
whole. Make your plan a priority in your life. If you want to
succeed you must be ready to stop sitting around and move about because you are
only kidding yourself if you don’t. You are going to look back one day
and say I should’ve, could’ve, would’ve. It is never too late but
what I will say is that the time is Now! Put your mind, body and soul in
motion. Who are you fooling? You know you want to do it!
The one word that keeps us from going for our dreams is “FEAR” but
that is why you must have “FAITH” Faith fights fear. We must look fear
right in the face and tell it to step aside. We are going to move on and
there is no stopping us. So again I ask you who is fooling who? You
are fooling yourself, so get out of your own way and do that thing that is
within you.
Trinisa M.Pitts, Author -Writer - Poet - Motivational Speaker,
She is an Independent Columnist and a native of Syracuse, NY. Most importantly
she is A Woman of GOD. She started her childhood dream of becoming a
writer in 2011, with her first contribution in Chronicles of a Walk with Christ.
Her words of encouragement to her readers: Never give up on your dreams. Always
reach for your goals. Push forward and past your adversaries. In everything you
do, do it to the best of your ability and don't let anyone tell you that you
are not worthy. Contact her at www.trinisampitts.com or
ptrinisamichelle@aol.com.
Entrepreneurship is Certainly Not as Easy as Pie with Julie Holloway
Entrepreneurship is certainly not as easy as pie. In fact, it can be more complex than a Rubik’s Cube! There
will be days when you soar above the clouds and days when you feel as if life
is caving in quicker than you can imagine.
TODAY WAS WACKY WEDNESDAY!
I must admit, today I caved in fast and furious. Every which
way I turned the cave got deeper and deeper! The morning was filled with client
emergencies, fires that could not be put out, products that did not arrive as
promised, and kids that needed mom when they were supposed to be
self-sufficient by now (ages 6 and 11). Oh, yes, a rush job got cancelled at
the last minute, we missed our radio show because of 1,001 emergencies and to
top that off with a cherry… we lost one of our largest clients due to unforeseen
circumstances. Not even Superwoman could save my day! Above
all, I had quite a few instances where I let fear set in. I
share all of this because I want to encourage and inspire others to NEVER GIVE
UP! Even when you think you are super-duper-entrepreneur, life and
business situations can change within the blink of an eye. I also believe that
many entrepreneurs feel that they are “alone” in all of the challenges that
they face. You are not alone.
TRUST YOUR VISION
With all of the trials, tribulations, adversity, let-downs and
issues that rose with today’s sun, I had to step back and remind myself that… I am an E-N-T-R-E-P-R-E-N-E-U-R. Duhhh, we were made
for days like this, remember? Strong, courageous, flexible, resilient, brave,
faithful, fearless and full of VISION. What the heck was I thinking?
We all have days like this. Heck, we will have months like
this. What we must remember is that we were built for this. Embrace change,
tackle those issues, remain triumphant, remind yourself that you are here
because you once had a VISION. In summary, slow down, take a breath and
remember to “Trust Your Vision.”
So… after that morning, I came up
with a few ideas to divert my attention, regain my composure and re-invigorate
myself. I think they are pretty simple, and they got the job done. Just thought
I’d share in case you find yourself in a similar situation…
- Grab
a coffee (or your favorite drink) – you know, the one
that makes you smile
- Go
outside. Get some Vitamin D – it does wonders for the
body, mind and spirit.
- Call
your coach (or your mom) (or both!) – if you don’t have a
coach, I suggest you find one. We all need one. My mom was at work
- Pick
up a pen + your journal – draw and doodle for
a while (it lets out tension), write about your ‘vision’ for your business
and remind yourself WHY you chose this path to begin with!
- Exercise
or take a walk – I took a walk and meditated a bit.
This helped me regain my composure and resurface after all the craziness!
Of course, everyone will bounce back in their own due time,
but sometimes you need to allow yourself a little pick me up time. Allow
yourself a bit of sunshine in on a gloomy and tough day. Allow yourself a bit
of creative freedom by grabbing that pen and paper. Allow yourself to vent to a
friend or business coach that you know has your best interest at hand. Allow
yourself to STEP AWAY FROM THE COMPUTER and take an “entrepreneur’s time-out” ~
and finally, allow yourself to “trust your vision” and you’ll be on the road to
a better day tomorrow! My ultimate words of wisdom for this scenario: do
not keep all of this “hoopla” inside or you will burst!
P.S. Keep your dream alive!
P.S.S. I guess I’ll go do my homework now! #graduation2014
Julie M. Holloway of JMH Cre8ive Solutions and Author of The
Entrepreneur Within You (book) is a native of Chicago, IL where she currently
resides with her husband Darnell and two children, Jasmine and D.J.
Holloway is a gifted graphic and web designer, artist and marketing
professional. Holloway’s signature quote is “half the battle of being an
entrepreneur is loving the battle of being an entrepreneur.” Contact her
at info@JMHCre8ive.com or visit online at www.JMHCre8ive.com and www.TheEntrepreneurWithin.org
Be Prepared For All Opportunities with Tieshena Davis
A critical part of being a decision maker is knowing how and when
to approach an opportunity when it originates. This is also a part of the
concept that I created called “opportunity intelligence™”. Keep in mind that an opportunity is simply a possibility
to advance or grow, hence all activities in your business are opportunities.
For example, if you decide to launch a new program or product; there are growth
possibilities in this idea. The way you approach this possibility is based on
your sense of clarity, method and expected outcomes.
The next step is to execute your idea to make this possibility a
monetized reality. Are you prepared? Being prepared requires you to know what
you want, how you want it done and what you expect as the final result. If you
are seeking a professional to help you develop your program or product, show up
ready. Scheduling consultations and completing forms are a total waste of time
if you’re not prepared. To ensure that you are prepared to seize all
opportunities, develop your “ready kit” to include:
· Clarity
Write down your vision and its purpose. Why are considering
creating or accepting a new opportunity? Why do you want to do this? How will
it benefit your personal mission as well as business goals? Knowing this will
help you categorize and prioritize which opportunities you should leverage.
· Positioning
Next write down how you will reach your audience (workshops, group
meetings, client portal, etc). What systems will need to be in place to execute
your opportunity? Identifying this from the beginning will help you get very
clear on your intentions, further helping to craft or accept a new growth
possibility.
· Expectancy
Identify your expected outcome. This can be a specific revenue
goal, number of units sold, registered attendees, etc. Always know what you
seek to accomplish with each opportunity. Again, having clarity is pivotal
because you can’t set expectations without knowing what you want.
Tools for Success
SpiderScribe.net is a great mind-mapping tool for brainstorming
and collecting your notes, documents and pictures.
Tieshena is the Founder & President of Siva Resolutions
Management Group™, a business consultancy firm and
Purposely Created Publishing, an independent boutique publishing company. With
over 15+ years of experience working with Fortune 500 companies such as
Marriott International, ARAMARK, Sodexho, Morrison Management Specialist and
local non-profit organizations, Tieshena will apply her management expertise
and highly-effective strategies for you to leverage opportunities and
resources. She has a proven track record of helping business owners to improve
their bottom line as she merges leadership, strategic planning and efficiency
techniques to help others become successful. Visit online at www.SivaResolutions.com
/ www.TieshenaInspires.com.
Five Keys to Unlock Your Next Career Move with Delmar Johnson
While unemployment has been high over the past few years and
competition has grown more challenging, you have the tools to strategically
gain an edge over other job seekers. There are five key areas to focus on
to put you right in the position to edge out the rest:
Key #1: Your Resume: Have you worked on a job or been in a
certain title for years only to confine yourself to that job title; that’s
where restructuring your resume comes into play. You can identify your
current transferable skills and experience you already possess and redesign
your resume to target a new career job or industry. Start connecting your
skills, talents and experience to career options, not “job titles” you are
interested in. If you need help, ASK for it.
Key #2: Your Network: Making contacts and building productive
relationships can be great leads for you in your job search. When you
find yourself downsized or experiencing a job lost or you’re in a position that
you are unfulfilled, reach out to your contacts and let them know you are back
in the job market. Schedule informal meet-ups to keep your pulse on
the industry and to find out if there are any opportunities out there they
are aware of at their own employer or other companies. Start attending
networking events and connecting to people; find out how you can help them and
that keeps you at the top of mind, as opportunities begin to surface.
Key #3: Your Talent: More than ever before, it’s important
to re-evaluate your talents, skills and know-how and determine if any
additional training is necessary to be equipped for a new career. Your
training can come through college courses, certification programs, internships,
even through volunteering in a position you want to test run. There are
many personal assessments available that can help you narrow down what your
skills are, and the characteristics of your personality, resulting in a match
with career jobs that are best suited for you. Check out www.strengthfinders.com as a source to get you started with assessing
what you have to offer.
Key #4: Your Profile: Your professional image is key to
career opportunities and upward mobility especially, if you are currently in an
upper level role and want to be recognized by senior management within the
company. No one is going to see or know about you when you’re sitting
behind your desk. So your first step is to get up from your desk and
become more visible. Be open to learn from a global perspective (the
job marketplace is global; make sure you have a profile setup on www.linkedin.com);
communicate more with senior level colleagues; take a look back at your career
development plan and zone in on those things identified as weaknesses and begin
taking strategic steps to turn them around to be noticeable accomplishments.
Key #5: Your Flexibility: A lack of flexibility
can cost you the very opportunity you seek. You may need to relocate, or
take a lower level job, or take on new responsibilities, but be mindful if
you’re staying in a job or position just for the title or recognition.
Staying power on a job in these economic times can weigh very heavily on your
ability to adapt to change. When you are at a point where you have to make a
decision to change, consider will the change fulfill you and the affects it
will have on your family.
With over 10 years of experience working with big corporations,
small business owners and new entrepreneurs, human resource guru and visionary
Delmar Johnson founded HR Brain for Hire as a trusted and resourceful solution
for first time employers in need of affordable, efficient, and top notch
recruitment, training and HR services. Contact her at
info@delmarjohnson.com and visit online at www.delmarjohnson.com, www.twitter.com/hrbrainforhire and www.facebook.com/delmarjohnsonenterprise
