| "Turn your shoulders toward where you want to go," | | | | shoulders downhill, shift your weight on top of your skis, |
| our guide yelled just before the canoe turned | | | | plant your pole, and gracefully float around the moguls. |
| sideways to the wave, rolled upside down, spilling us | | | | In life, keep your momentum, know where you are |
| into the ice-cold North Saskatchewan River. | | | | going, keep your thoughts and actions on your desired |
| "Turn your shoulders downhill, toward where you want | | | | path, and use your natural strengths and talents to |
| to go," the ski instructor yelled just before I caught the | | | | guide you through any challenges. |
| edge of my ski on a huge mogul, and tumbled | | | | You may be thinking, "But I don't know how." |
| head-over-heel down the steep, snow-covered slope. | | | | One of the greatest lessons I have learned in life is to |
| "Turn your thoughts and actions toward where you | | | | ask for help and guidance, rather than fumbling along |
| want to go," my mentor suggested as I struggled with | | | | on my own. |
| how, or if, I was going to proceed with my business. | | | | I have also learned to be careful who I accept advice |
| Turn toward where you want to go. | | | | from. I carefully choose my guides, coaches, and |
| Ohhhh, those are powerful words. In fact, they | | | | mentors. They must be people that I know, like, and |
| describe a natural law of life. | | | | trust. Having a degree or accreditation does not |
| It doesn't make sense to turn away from the direction I | | | | necessarily mean they are right for me. |
| am going, and yet, that is exactly what I do at times. | | | | Here are three top tips to help you find effective |
| The block between my ears pulls me in another | | | | guides, coaches, and mentors. |
| direction. My beliefs, perceptions, and fears hold me | | | | 1. Look for people who are moving forward in a |
| back. | | | | direction that you would like to go. These may be |
| I know exactly when this is happening to me. It is when | | | | people in a similar or different business. They are |
| I have trouble getting out of bed in the morning, when I | | | | positive thinkers, movers 'n shakers, and go-getters. |
| am afraid to sit down and write another article or | | | | They are making positive things happen in their life. |
| chapter of a book, when I resist preparing and | | | | 2. Interview the person to discover if they have similar |
| practicing for a presentation, when I find busy-work | | | | morals and values as you. It is critical that any advice |
| rather than to plan and focus on where I want to go. | | | | you accept feels right for you. |
| Busy-work? Here's what I'm talking about:o read | | | | 3. When you are on an unknown path, find someone |
| junk-mailo long unproductive phone calls to friendso | | | | who has "been there, done that" already. They are |
| extended, and I mean r...e...a...l...l...y extended lunch | | | | creating success in areas where you need help. When |
| breakso wash the dogo re-arrange paperclips and | | | | you need help in marketing, technology, relationships, |
| penso search for and send those cute little chain | | | | outdoor pursuits, etc., look for people who excel in |
| e-mailso go shopping for nothing in particular. | | | | those areas. Their experience and advice can save |
| I feel so busy doing, doing, doing, but not accomplishing | | | | you thousands of dollars, many headaches, and |
| anything productive. I hang on to the security of the | | | | heartaches. |
| past, and focus on what has been. | | | | Also be willing to share your expertise with your |
| What happens? | | | | mentors. You have great knowledge too. A true |
| I stand still and watch the world zipping by me. I avoid | | | | win-win relationship can be built where both people |
| the things that need to be done to move forward | | | | come away from the experience feeling as if they |
| personally and professionally. I look at my weaknesses | | | | have received incredible value. Long-term friendships |
| and failures. I mentally beat myself up for not having | | | | may be a result. |
| the courage to move forward. I get grumpy with | | | | I challenge you to evaluate your life, eliminate the |
| myself, my family, and I may even start to blame | | | | busy-work, find a mentor, and create the momentum |
| others for the consequences of my choices. | | | | that will take you further than you thought possible. |
| Yuck, yuck, and triple yuck! | | | | It takes courage to face your fears and challenges, |
| Am I alone in this? | | | | courage to ask for help from your guides, coaches, |
| You tell me. Has the same thing happened for you? | | | | and mentors, and courage to do what needs to be |
| How can you rescue yourself? | | | | done to move forward. |
| Here is where the natural law comes into play. | | | | Will it be scary at times? |
| On the river, keep your momentum, face downstream, | | | | You bet. |
| turn your canoe directly into the waves, and use | | | | Will it be exciting? |
| powerful strokes to gracefully slide through the | | | | Pull your hat down tightly because it's going to be "one |
| white-water. | | | | *% of a ride!!" |
| On the ski hill, keep your momentum, turn your | | | | And as Zig Ziglar used to say, "I'll see you at the top. |