Changing the Game

What happens when what you thought would work, doesn't? What happens when what you planned just simply isn't working? The questions are simple. The answer is the same for both, but it is really hard. You have to change. You can't just keep doing what you have been doing that clearly is not working and expect to get a different result. You have to change something.

Here is where it gets difficult. When do you change? How long do you go with something before you give it up? I am encouraging you to read or listen to Seth Godin's little book, The Dip, this week. He does a good job of helping you work through that dilemma. So, I am going to leave that to him. I am going to focus on the challenge of making change. Once you have determined you need to change things, what do you do? Here are some of my suggestions.

Get some new thoughts. Look for someone who can help you think differently. Remember, you are doing what you are doing because you are thinking what you are thinking. You have to change your thinking patterns in order to get into new performance patterns. Read something new. I have some great reading recommendations for you on my website at http://www.tappegroup.com/. You can read my book, The Power of Purposed Performance and you will find a significant reading list at the end.

Change your pace. Whatever you are doing now, do it differently going forward. Start earlier. Take short motivation breaks during the day. Single-task instead of multi-tasking. Stand up when you are on the telephone. Get a headset. Take a walk everyday for the sake of your health. Pick it up. Sit up straight. Stand tall. Get your head up.

Prepare more effectively. Practice before you perform. Prethink the questions you are going to ask. Ask them out loud to yourself. Ask them to a colleague or friend. Work out the rhythms and the tones.

Cut down on your daily lists. Make sure you get your day done everyday. Leave more margins in your day. Stop leaving things undone. Do what you say you are going to do even to yourself. It is a matter of integrity.

Make sure you are making people better around you. Serve others. Pay it forward. Staying into others and getting out of yourself will serve to keep you emotionally healthy. It is the best investment you could make in yourself.

So, when you realize things are not working. It is time to make a significant choice. Change something. You can do it. I can do it. We have the power. It is not natural. You may not feel like it. It will have to be done on purpose. You choose. 

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Making History

Most of the time we talk about studying history. When someone does something incredible, they are talked about as "making history". It happened with the election of the first African American President. It happened when the all time home run record was broken in professional baseball , even with the steroid asterisk noted. The first man in space then on the moon and I don't know what will be next in that race. You get the point. I just think we have "making history" all wrong.


I think history is something we make every day. In fact, we have just made it. Every choice we make every day of our lives represents the history that we are writing. Years ago, I made the choice to change a career path altogether. I left a business career that had every appearance of being successful. I moved into a life direction more oriented toward discovering what my life was really meant to be. I found myself coaching tennis for a small West Texas University with a NCAA II program with no scholarships and no real history of success as a tennis program. I coached in that program for 3 years. I played a very small part in what has become something really special. I celebrated that history with a room full of people who have been part of writing that history for the past 30 years. It was unbelievable. Memories. Stories. Victories. Defeats. Laughter. Tears.


Here is the point. You are making history every single day of your life. You are a history maker. You are writing a story, and it is a story that is not just about you. It is a story that includes you and a lot of other people that you have not met yet. Maybe one day you'll meet them just like I did. Or, maybe you won't get to in this life. But, remember this. You are making history. Just make the determination right now that you are going to make history today and tomorrow and the rest of your life on purpose! You are changing the world.

Coincidences?

This week I had a small traffic accident. Actually, a young woman backed into my car while we were waiting in line for a snow cone. There was no real harm done. The young woman who hit me was gracious and anxious to make things right. I appreciated her spirit and I was also grateful for the fact that everyone was well. It turned out she was new to our community and trying to get a new life started with her children.

So, what a coincidence? A young woman happens to run into a father of three daughters who is particularly sensitive to grandchildren. As a result of our encounter, no matter how frustrating, I have a new friend. We were actually able to bring our families together. Hopefully, we will be able to help her settle into this new life chapter.

I just don't believe in coincidences. Things like I experienced can just as easily be seen as purposed opportunity. I know I have missed a lot of opportunities in my life because I was not looking for them. Realizing that lack of intention or strategy does not create coincidence is a purposed philosophy.

Pay attention this week. Things will happen you will not expect. Look for opportunity instead of inconvenience. You might just find a new friend. It might just back into you. Do well, my friends.

Stay Awake!

Welcome to Tappe Talk, a Purposed Connection podcast by The Tappe Group. It has been sometime since I have said anything about our human tendency to sleepwalk. In my blog this week, I have written about the philosophical delusion of coincidence. It is so easy to declare things to be coincidental that carry real potential, if not, purpose. So, I want to challenge you this week to stay intentionally awake.

• Pray about it!
• Imagine it!
• Think about it!
• Affirm it!

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Freedom?

This week marks the beginning of the second half of the calendar year. It began for many of us with a day of worship and then many of us launched into the week with a holiday. It was "Independence Day", July 4th. It happens every year. This year, I want to give it new and more personal meaning. In fact, I want it to be contemporary to my life and to my year. I want to move into the second half of this year "free" from many things I allowed to influence me negatively in the first half. Maybe you will want to join me.

I want to be free of the discussion of what might be happening in this economy. I am sick of hearing all of the pundits giving their rendition of when things are going to change. They have missed it over and over again. It is as if we are supposed to stay in a holding pattern of some sort until they get it right. It is depressing and I am through with the discussion. I choose to embrace what I have as the context in which I have the freedom to create. Any discussion otherwise is a waste of time.

I want to be free of depressing and negative talk about how bad things are. It has really become an epidemic. Washington, health care, unemployment, education, yesterday, today and on and on it seems to go. It is time to declare freedom over pessimistic reflections. It is time to be thankful for what I have been given. Think about it. Do you agree?

I want to be free of the fear of not having it right. I am being constantly told I don't have the right "number" in place in order to enjoy retiring in my future. I am hearing constantly that the prospects for tomorrow are bleak. It seems there is no hope. I have awakened a few nights sweating over the threat of it all. I am through with it. My hope is built on something else entirely and it is not based on man made projections.

So, I am sure you have gotten the point. I want to live a revolutionary second half of 2011 built in hope and optimism. I want to claim the freedom I have been given to choose. I want to create energy and opportunity for myself and for others. I am free. We have even been given a holiday to prove it. What do you think? Do well, my friends!

Welcome to Tappe Talk a Purposed Connection podcast by the Tappe Group. This country has been built upon revolution. Actively changing things we see are not working for us is our heritage. I want to challenge you with a few things I believe that I believe need to be included even if I am the only revolutionary involved. This is your official invitation to join me.

1. I intend to think for myself.
2. I Intend to be focused upon what I can do.
3. I intend to help people choose.
4. I intend to eliminate ruts in my life.

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Impressions

Making an impression is not an option. You will make one. You are making one. Is it the impression you intend to make? Being certain of your answer to that question is the key to any success you might hope to achieve. You never have a second chance to make a first impression so the one you are making had best be with great intention.

Knowing the people in your world is critical to making the impression you need to make. Impressions are the product of the vision of another. What they see and hear is what matters. Make sure you are choosing a language that will connect, language with which they are familiar.

Begin with others. Leadership is influence. Your influence will ultimately be a product of the impression you make. Communication is the product of both verbal and non-verbal efforts. Impressions are the product of communication. You are constantly communicating a message. Are you well representing yourself?

Relationships can never be taken for granted. They have to be created. What you are communicating is fundamental to the creation you are experiencing. Have you made the connections you need to and want to make in this life? Purposed connection requires preparation and performance.

Children make impressions that are, for the most part, unintentional. As adults we have to take responsibility for the life we are creating. If you want new people in your life and you want to make an intentional connection with them then make the impression you intend to make. Dress to connect. Speak to connect. Listen to connect. Begin with them. Find the verbal and non-verbal language that works and engage it. The impression you make is the place to begin. Be impressive. Do well, my friends.