Speaking at AADOM's 2011 National Conference

It is important to have a clear vision and yet to be open to the path.  When we are open to the path the possibilities and opportunities become even bigger than we ever dreamed possible.  I was not going to be a speaker, or write a book, and definitely not be President of NSA-MN when I planned my vision for my business.  I was strictly going to be a practice management coach.  In fact speaking and writing weren't even on my radar.  Honestly, I was afraid to even consider them because I did not believe I would be able to do either.  How funny, now they are top on my list of favorite things I get to do! 

We have to plug our ears to all the noise that tells us what we should or must be doing.  How many times have you thought, I should do this or I must do that because of something you heard from a family member, friend or colleague?  To avoid the noise of others we have to take the time to ask ourselves what is it we really desire?  I am a part of a master-mind group that Skype's with each other every other month.  In a recent session we discussed business success.  It was very interesting to see how different each one of us described what business success looked like.  How wonderful that we get to choose.

The following are simple steps to keep your vision clear and path open. 

• Write down your vision and post it somewhere you can see it when you start each day. 
• Evaluate anything new that comes your way instead of just reacting or responding. 
• A great question to ask yourself is how does it support or feed my vision.  
• Are you excited when you think about it and does it feel good in your gut?
• Let it go if you can't answer yes to all the above questions.

A can-do attitude is a must to live a life we choose.  Doing what we choose is not always easy.  Sometimes others may question our decisions or try to discourage us.  Sometimes we have to overcome obstacles.  That is why it is so important to be clear on our vision and believe in our self. 

When someone or something attempts to lead us to believe we can't do something, act on the challenge.  The action I suggest is to ask yourself questions.  Ask yourself, why can't I?  What is stopping me from doing it?  Are these just difficult and complicated challenges or are they impossible? 

For example, we can read or train to learn how to do many different things.  They may be difficult, complicated and take time but we can eventually achieve it.  However, things like height, nationality are impossible to change.  The impossible still need not stop us.  If it seems impossible, ask yourself, if this is true than what else can I do to overcome what I cannot change?  If we allow ourselves to think outside of the box and be creative we can often find another solution.  My mom always said, "There is more than one way to skin a cat"!  Although, I never figured out why one would want to.  LOL   

Stop limiting yourself based on your limiting beliefs.  The sky really is the limit!

ME on the cover of Dentistry Today, 2012 Leaders in CE!!! What a kick!  Talk about a sky's the limit moment for me!

 

I would like to share an excerpt from my book, "Rise & Shine" for you to ponder.   

"We have each been given the gift to choose our own path and write our own story.  Our story is not only what we control and make happen.  It is also how we act versus react to difficult or unplanned events.   Our success evolves when we engage and embrace the surprises, bumps, and roadblocks and persevere."

I guess what I am trying to say is that me, a freckle faced farm kid from ND, never in a million years dreamed a life like this.  If I can live beyond my dreams so can you!