Inspiration In True Form

Inspiring someone can be difficult if you over think it. Today it dawned on me how easily one can be inspired just by their character, their behavior and especially their actions.

At the end of my grocery run, as luck would have it I chose the lane with the lady who couldn't write a check. I stood there for maybe ten minutes while the clerks figured out what this lady was doing wrong that caused the system to 'crash.'. When it was my turn the clerk apologized three times. The first I was still loading my items on the conveyor. I gave her a quick smirk. The second, I stood near the bagger staring at the screen, waiting to see how much I owed. I nodded my head. The third was when I went to swipe my card: "it's okay. Not a problem. Thanks."

And I thought to myself-how often does that clerk get a positive response? how many people would have answered her the way I did? Not saying I'm a saint (far from it) I just really didn't care but my response must've sent a signal of my true character.

So today as we remember Dr King and watch the president get sworn into office- remember what it means to be inspired. It is not how much money we make or how many RTs we get. But the quality of our behaviors that lead to a cascade of positive actions on a daily basis.

"That Was Easy"

There is an incredibly annoying Staples "Easy Button" in our shared supervisor's cube.

Day in and day out people have a quick chatter with you and press the button for fun. Usually it's to express sarcasm.

Well today was a day I should've pressed it.

While managing multiple manufacturing issues, the flu epidemic is hitting at its best (or worst for mankind I should say.)

Just as the day was about to end, what I like to call "quietly" a team member nearly collapsed from her flu symptoms in my office.

Trying to make out the words she was saying with her hacking away, I immediately told her "take care of your health first." She felt bad since she was off all last week- She'd have to use even more vacation... You get the picture.

But when she walked away, I immediately was able to assess the impact this would play on meeting my daily goals.

By understanding the elements of your organization or team's system, you're able to quickly and effectively make decisions.

I was standing at the 30,000 ft viewpoint of our organization and thus able to proactively make critical decisions to avoid barriers or issues in the morning.

Rather than reacting to the issues at 5:30AM tomorrow morning, all my ducks are in row. I walked out of the building just before 6pm this evening, thinking to myself -

"Well that, was indeed -Easy."

My 2013 Mission

I am on a mission. To be a better leader. To be a better mentor. To be a better student. But most importantly: to be a better daughter, sister, and friend.

Reflecting over 2012 was difficult. Each year I say it's going to be a great year. But each year I fail to set quantitative goals in making it and measuring it to be a great year.

So now I'm changing.

Step one: My Vision- positivity with courage.

I have seen the world with a perspective that the glass is half empty. But I finally understand why people say why it's half full-- this is what you have left, so make the best of it. And that half of water that I have left my glass is my life. Okay- I'm exaggerating, to some degree. I hope I live beyond 52 but let's say I don't. What will I have to say about myself at the end?

Step two: Goal setting based on my values.

Shockingly enough I have been focusing on the wrong things. As my career is everything being in my mid-20s, it really won't keep you warm at night or give you a shoulder to cry on.

Step three: re-building my relationships with those around me.

And that's how this all fits in with my opening sentence. If I can become a better leader- all the others will fall magically into place.

But what is a better leader?

1) practicing patience: understanding how events fit into the space time continuum (geek moment)

2) practicing active listening: knowing that there is someone smarter out there than you. And also refraining from having an opinion the matter

3) maintaining trust: .... Being true to myself for starters. Being real to others soon after.

My goals may not be SMART- but I'll work on that.

For one- finish my thesis no later than 15FEB13. (so why am I blogging?)

For two- schedule more me time; freely- i.e trip to FL around 15FEB13

I may be rambling, but someone will read this and be my cheerleader. That's all it takes. Knowing that what I'm doing is sticking to my values and surrounding myself around those to help me carry them

So I'm not here to share words of wisdom but rather open the doors for you to enlighten them.

I was asked "do you tweet for business or pleasure?" Well, I must say I do enjoy developing as a leader.

So help me grow and succeed and let's make this world a better place. That way, the next time our neighbors in another galaxy look up at the moon in their sky-- they can say hey: that Star is Earth.