ARE YOU ON A SINKING SHIP?

By Vernalee

Remember the Titanic? It was considered unsinkable. Figuratively speaking, a sinking ship could be a bad relationship, a dead end job, a drowning marriage, a wayward child, or any circumstance in life that may take you down. A downward path may encompass an emotional or a physical descent. If you are on or navigating a sinking ship, you basically have 3 viable survival options: You can either get off – before it hits, when it hits, or after it hits, but before it sinks. Sometimes, we are optimists and feel that we can coast and ride out the storms in our lives; life jackets or not! Our success rate sometimes cannot be predetermined or accurately predicted. When we are confronted with obstacle courses, and when and if there are opportunities to make wise decisions, we must do so! Don’t procrastinate! Time does not wait on no one and time may not be on your side! Invariably, our decisions determine our destiny. Never forget that on April 15, 1912, despite its sophistication, the RMS Titanic, on its maiden voyage from the UK to NYC sank when it collided with an iceberg! “SOS;” Don’t underestimate the reality of a situation. As the old folks say, “Be safe, not sorry; sink or swim!” Your life may depend upon it! Photo credit: The RMS Titanic courtesy of www.en.wikipedia.org

I AM...

By Vernalee

Are you magically persuasive? Yes or no. Before you answer, though I am as gregarious and as talkative as they come, don’t take my word for it. See what the experts have to say. According to Lolly Daskal, President/CEO of Lead from Within, “If you know the right words, you can just about get anything you want.” Power words are the secret weapon of persuasion. “Here are seven of them–study them, use them, practice them, and watch what happens. 1. You In a Yale study, you ranked as the No. 1 most influential power word in English. You shows compassion and empathy, which are at the heart of persuasive speech. The only way to boost the power of you is by using the person’s name. “You know it’s true, [name]” makes your pitch suddenly very meaningful. 2. Imagine The word imagine expands the idea of what’s possible. Imagine you’ve won the lottery. Imagine you have the funding you’re seeking. Imagine living in your ideal house. It’s a word that opens opportunity–a word that says to skip all the worries. It bypasses critical thinking and goes straight to what feels good. 3. Act Nothing is more powerful than action. When people act to make things happen, they move themselves closer to what they want–regardless of the outcome. 4. Because The power of because lies on two fronts. For logical thinkers, there is great appeal in connecting cause and effect. But because works on emotions, too. If someone’s in line at Starbucks and asks to cut in front, the likely answer is no. But if that stranger adds “… because my child is waiting for me outside,” people are far more likely to say yes. Stating a reason helps people connect logically and emotionally. 5. Now Immediacy is what everyone wants: Get what you want now. Make a change now. You can start now. Tomorrow is too late, yesterday is over, and now is exactly the right moment to start. 6. Believe It’s not about the logic of a situation or even the reality, but what we can will into being. Believing is the first step in making something happen, the element that allows us to overcome limitations. If you believe in yourself, everything is possible. 7. Guaranteed When you describe something as guaranteed, people are immediately put at ease. It offers assurance that a risky decision is safe, that investing is safe–or, at worst, that there is recourse for dissatisfaction. It’s a word that offers security, and it gets you what you want, when you need it. I guarantee it.” So please accept my indulgence as I “Vernalize” my final thoughts around these 7 powerful words. If YOU mobilize yourself at the right time and the right place, with the right folks, IMAGINE what you can accomplish. The sky is the limit because you BELIEVE in yourself. You did not need anyone to convince you what you need to do NOW. You did not wait; you ACTED immediately. You took the right steps. I GUARANTEE that you will rise to the top BECAUSE your actions followed your words!

I am who I am because of this “Vernaism“, “If it is to be, it’s left up to me!” Photo credit: www.pininterest.com; Source: www.inc.com

THE BALL IS IN YOUR COURT

By Vernalee

If the ball is in your court, it is up to you to make the next decision or step. You can pass the ball, throw it, kick it, bounce it, run with it, strike out, or hit a home run. You can even leave the ball on the court. It’s your call; your choice. The consequences also belong to you. There is no dribbling around it! You have the option to be the coach, player, or referee. You are in control as long as you have the ball. Where am I going with all of this? Basically, it’s up to us to determine our outcomes. Therefore, play to win! To assure favor, work from your court, a place of familiarity; a place that drives you; motivates you; and mobilizes you to success. Utilize and maximize your home court advantage! Those who sit at court side may or may not cheer you on! Does it matter? Understand this. You matter! You are in the game; they are sitting. Don’t let your guards down. Make the winning shot. Know your opponent. Angle the ball with great precision. Swish! Shoot; Nothing but nets! Victory is great; it’s therapeutic. Stay in the game. You can’t win if you don’t play. I stick by my motto, “If it is to be it’s left up to me!” Photo credit: speakuplondon