TIP #50: Find People Touchstones
I'm indebted in my career to people who have been (or who currently are) touchstones for me. According to Webster, touchstones are used to determine "the quality or genuineness of a thing."
People touchstones are hard to find, but you'll know them for their candor. They're the ones not working a personal agenda. They're the ones who have your best interests at heart, who are able to see the big picture and are comfortable offering their no-strings attached perspectives. They're the ones telling you the truth as they see it, who are willing to pull you back from the edge or push you out of a do-loop.
People touchstones keep you grounded, "real" and able to offer the best of who you are through your work. As far as I'm concerned, we all need that kind of help to thrive in this what-have-you-done-for-me-today world. Being a touchstone and having people act as touchstones for you will help you be winning at working.
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Posted by Nan Russell at 10:26 AM
July 18, 2006Thought for the Day
"Remember always that you have not only the right to be an individual; you have an obligation to be one. You cannot make any useful contribution in life unless you do this."
~~Eleanor Roosevelt
Posted by Nan Russell at 07:55 AM
July 06, 2006TIP #49: Keep Paddling
Canoeing over the weekend on a remote wilderness lake, we passed a family in kayaks heading back toward camp. We overheard the younger of two boys telling his father he was "too tired" to paddle.
On our return, 13 miles and four hours later, I knew exactly what he meant. It was tiring to keep paddling. But in order to reach the shore, there wasn't a choice. So, paddle we did.
Dreams and goals and careers are like that canoe trip. Just when you're too tired, too discouraged or too overwhelmed to keep going, you need to find the strength to trudge on. It's when you want to give up that you need to keep going.
You see, it's up to you to get where you want to go in life. You're the one with the paddle. Rest when you need too, but keep paddling!
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Posted by Nan Russell at 01:07 PM
