Social Media

Alright I felt the need to digress about the world of social media as a tool to share.  By now anyone who is reading this has some type of relationship with the way we as a world now communicate.  You know the examples: facebook, twitter, linkedin, youtube, and many many others.  When we sign up for these sites we as individuals have an idea of how we want to use them, at least at first we do.  Some may feel that if they don't use them at all they may be missing out on something, or at least that is the "word on the street" according to many.  Some like myself may be turned on to these sites as an opportunity to further expand and share their professional endeavors, and just the same the "word on the street" according to the business gurus is the same, if your business is not communicating via social media you are missing a great opportunity.  So, after several days of creating and exploring in this world as a business owner I have learned a few things...
 
I have learned that it is very challenging to stop going on to these sites, often thinking about what the next move is, who is looking at what you are putting out there, "oh one more thing."  I literally had to stop myself from being completely immersed, and it doesn't help that social media is available (and at your finger tips) on our mobile devices!  The lesson that I am learning is that I have to do a really good job of not being so attached to what I am doing, what I am not doing, who is doing, and many more thoughts that "we" can create for ourselves.  I am learning that it really is not healthy to be so involved here, let alone on anything where it can easily affect and effect our well-being.  The thing is I don't have a problem with this in my personal world, and the reason is I don't use many of these sites.  I am a private man (some would say), not an introvert per say, and thus I stick to the phone call, email, and text mode of operation.  However, can't be too private when your are promoting and marketing a business, nope doesn't work that way.  I understand this, and I have accepted it and embraced this opportunity.  I say "opportunity" because anytime you can step out of your comfort zone, you are learning and being exposed to something new.  When this happens we expand and grow.  Therefore, this is the deal and I have signed up for it!

Alright, I thank all of those that can hear me for allowing me to share my thoughts here.  I know I am not alone in this and for all that can relate I hope you are able to know when it is time to step away and breathe.  I have promised myself that no matter where my path in this venture takes me, I will not be so completely immersed into the world of social media where I stop living.  There are many successful business folk out there, and as successful as they are, many do not have a good quality of life as a result of the time they spend trying to be successful.  I choose to always have a good (healthy) quality of life while I continue to balance (remember that lesson) my professional world.  With out me there is no Can You Hear Me?  I must always remember what is the most important part here as I hope you all can as well.  Until we meet again, be strong out there, stand up, and stay up!

Finding The Balance

Glad to be back and sharing some some words while I continue to move forward on this path I am on.  I find myself thinking today about the needed balance for us to be well, while we find ourselves immersed in to the needs of our personal and professional worlds.  This is the kind of balance that helps us stay on track, allowing for positive choices and outcomes.  As straightforward as it sounds it is often a very challenging task to accomplish, and more importantly maintain.  Sometimes, it is not until we are at that heightened level, one filled with a high level of stress and challenge that we find ourselves saying "whoa slow down, step back and reevaluate."   I found myself right there over the last couple of days...

I have been busy working on my business, lately the focus has been on our marketing and advertising campaign, which has had me immersed into the social media world, and what a world it is.  This task not only takes time but a real focus because once you put it out there, it is out for all to see, and for myself I want to make sure that our message is understood while representing our goals and objectives. So, as I found my mind consumed with this, I was also dealing with a personal matter with a friend who is not well.  This is a friend who I care about deeply, one that I want to support and see get to a better place for himself.  However, this friend has been on a destructive path for quite some time now, not being able to take action to change some ways and get the help he needs so that he can change for the better. I had to make a choice by setting some boundaries and distancing myself because his interaction was effecting me in a unhealthy way.  This was a hard thing to do as I want to be available and present for him, but it is at that point where I must back away, only hoping that he can take control of himself and current situation.  The only way that I could reclaim my balance was by setting a boundary, and as difficult as that was for me to do it was the healthiest and right decision.

So, there is a good example of balancing the personal and professional worlds.  It has been a challenge for me over the last few, the personal challenge of dealing with a friend in need was on my mind, and I was seeing how it was effecting my action and focus with my work.  I was not operating at my best because my mind was not where it should of been and my balance was off.  I was able to identify this, recognizing why I was experiencing this discomfort and challenge, knowing that I needed to reclaim my balance.  Without my balance, where I could take action to be well and present, I was destined to fall backwards, a place that we are all susceptible of going to when we are taxed.  I hope my example can help those who can hear me?  We all have to balance much in our day in and day out existence, and as always its a learning process, one where we must recognize the signs, take action, and embrace that we are doing the right thing, even when it comes with challenge. We are a resilient being, at times more than we care to believe.  May this find you all well and may the days ahead allow you to breathe and exhale, while finding your own balance when needed!

Can You Hear Me?

Working hard on my business plan and development of Can You Hear Me?  I am learning how to balance the mindset of being a social worker (one who strives to help others change for the better) and being a businessman (one who must develop, market, and sustain a successful business model). There have been challenges that I have created for myself along the way, and challenges that have created themselves.  Both have been opportunities to learn and understand what I will need to embrace as I move forward with my business.  I am practicing what I know to be true, and what I have shared with those that can hear me.  I recently designed a company logo that I will now be able to use for my future website (coming soon), advertising opportunities, presentations, etc., as well as taking one more step into the social media world that I was advised would be beneficial towards my marketing efforts and business exposure. You can find Can You Hear Me? now on Twitter @DJcanyouhearme

As always, be kind to yourself while you allow for the learning that comes with our everyday practice.  You love it and live it.  May this find you all well!

Effort Is

PATIENCE

   RESILIENCE

      OPPORTUNITY

 GUIDANCE

         RELATIONSHIPS

      EMPOWERED 

SELFLESS

  STRENGTH

Is It Worth It?

Alright here we are 2012, fresh and new.  Did you know that there is an extra day this year (366 of them)?  Yup it is the year of the leap and we are gifted with more time!  I write today with my mind and heart in a place that I visit from time to time.  That place that asks us Is it worth it? (am I motivated).  And if so Can I do it? (am I able).  I am sure that many of us have asked ourselves this, and as a result of have embraced the learning and challenge that comes with.  For myself the questioning alone presents a roadblock that quite honestly I have created.  It tells me that I am fighting the process, and by doing so I am hindering my ability, not my capability (remember that lesson?). This is easy to recognize if you have been there before (through experience and wisdom), it can take form as fear, self-doubt, and many other factors and insecurities that manifest themselves during the process. I am here to tell you that once you recognize and identify this happening, your opportunity to change the behavior will increase.  It's the difference between outcome and behavior. Most try to change the outcome by various methods, but often do not focus on the behavior(s), the one's that we can create when we go through that tug of war due to our wanting.

You with me?  Many professionals, writers, change agents, spiritual guides, etc. say that this internal struggle that comes from us "wanting" is an attachment that creates the suffering, and as a result of this the uncertainty of our wants really take over.  The want (and subsequent outcome) is what we struggle with and in turn we create for ourselves unnecessary challenges and obstacles.  Now its not that we should not have the wonderful things in life, no matter how you identify what that is, we can.  What I am saying is that you just have to do a little surrendering and let things take there course as they may.  As someone once told me, "you must be vulnerable in order for the true experience to present itself." Life is as much a blank canvas as it is a complex road map, and it is our opportunity to find the right way, the one that will allow us the ability and opportunity to do the right thing. 2012 is going to be whatever you make it to be.  It will always be filled with opportunities to grow and move forward, amongst the challenges and roadblocks that you must embrace along the way. Remember what it is you are asking of yourself, recognizing that no choice is also a choice!  When you take this approach the path will open up, you will move much closer to answering the questions, Is it worth it? (am I motivated) Can I do it? (am I able).  As always keep your head up while knowing that tomorrow is a blank page, an opportunity to keep adding to that work in progress!