Okay hear me out. Miley Cyrus song “The Climb”–I said hear me out! “Ain’t about what’s waiting on the other side. It’s the climb (yeah).” Yeah. It is. This week, I’m going beyond the slogans and the encouraging memes to explore what the struggle really entails. In the end, Miley sang the truth. Don’t work so hard attempting to get “there” that you miss the enjoyment of your process, their camaraderie, and our growth.
Twitter is with me as always. A selection of tweets reminded me that We Can’t Stop. They weren’t all channeling their inner Miley, but their wisdom hit me like a Wrecking Ball!
1. Solutions not Slogans
I’m all in for a good meme or a catchy quote from anyone really. But, I am not lulled to sleep by rhymes, wit, or whimsy. You should not become drowsy either. Sustainable, equitable, solution-focused change is always bigger than the slogan created to market it. It is more difficult than the training manual constructed to guide its implementation. It takes longer than the original timetable scheduled for its production. It will involve revision, compromise, and a feedback loop. Anything less is an exercise in control, and I don’t mean temperance. Anything less is a marketing ploy for cheap goods, and I don’t mean low cost. Get used to the long-term value, clarity of purpose, ethical consistency, and progress. Get used to solutions.
Our major obligation is not to mistake slogans for solutions. ~Edward R. Murrow
— Evelyn Ivy, CPA, MBA (@MyBusinessKPI) December 4, 2016
2. Starting With You
Anything worthwhile starts with you. It’s a sentiment that has become a slogan. Do you. Be you. The choice is yours. Be the change. They are all versions of one single point. You can make it happen, whatever it is. Starting with you is often starting with flawed logic, incomplete competence, and a history of failure. Good. Make sure you schedule the time to unit test, read, and meditate on lessons. The solution will begin with you. If it’s worthwhile, the pattern of development and implementation will follow the pattern of your own evolution.
"If you start to think the problem is 'out there,' stop yourself. That thought is the problem." Stephen Covey
— Shaleza Aise (@shalezaaise) December 4, 2016
3. Willing to Learn
Learn from your mistakes. It’s become a mantra to explain failure and setbacks. Take it to another level by realizing that learning is not the point. Willingness is the point. Willingness is what gets you into the posture of learning. Without willingness, you are attempting to integrate square knowledge into a round hole. Without the posture that includes awareness of wrong, tracking of your logic and mechanism, and identification of resources supporting new knowledge, you will not learn. Each of these requires willingness. Willingness to admit your mistakes. Willingness to review your process. Willingness to allow other voices into your process. Be willing. Then, learn.
Mistakes are a great educator when one is honest enough to admit them and willing to learn from them. -Unknown
— Abundance Mindset (@AbundanceMind11) December 4, 2016
4. Exercising Power
Power. The power of life and death is in the tongue. But, it’s source–the power source–is in your thoughts. Perhaps the most profound lesson is to comprehend the ability you have to create worlds both outside reality and inside your physical space through the power of your mind. Practiced, this power can influence others. Perfected, this power can change destinies. Research has been conducted. Papers have been written. But, what is most telling are the results of real people. You know if you have met one with perfected power. You can’t wait to engage with them again.
We each hold the power of influence for calm or chaos…I just keep smiling & sharing good vibes…#spiritchat
— Deborah Thomas (@DTNEtiquette) December 4, 2016
5. Climbing
Get to solutions. It is not the destination, but the climb. It’s not the great heights. Those are balanced by the lows. It’s not the grand achievements. Those are balanced by the work you invested. It’s not the vacation or reward. Those are balanced by the cycle of effort and outcome. In all these, what matters is the balance. Balance your needs, wants, desires, deadlines, pressures, pride, reasons, and why nots. Balance your loves, losses, wake-ups, sleep-ins, overnights, and 5-days. Balance is paying attention and being present. Balance is never too high or too low. Balance is taking account of the anchors you need for the climb so that you never tumble too far backward.
To reach great heights, you're gonna have to climb! 😉 #motivation #weightloss #smallbiz #ThinkBIGSundayWithMarsha pic.twitter.com/TFjJsYM69o
— 🐱Natalie Palombi 🎄 (@NataliePalombi) December 4, 2016
