The Question I Now Always Ask!

Have you ever done something you shouldn’t have done?

You walked across the street when the traffic light was red? You hurriedly strode through a door not holding it for the slow moving stranger behind you? 

If so, you’re in good company. 

We all can think of things we shouldn’t have done.  Some we may forget. Others remain with us.

There is one that remained with me. It took place a few years ago.  I learned greatly from what happened.  

A client referred his colleague to me. His colleague was struggling with sales and business development. He had a huge goal to meet.  At first he was excited about the loftiness of the goal. He loved the challenge. He was certain he would achieve it. 

As time passed, doubt set in. He was nowhere near his goal.  So he worked longer hours. This kept him away from his wife and children. Doubt turned into fear. Falling asleep was difficult. He tossed and turned most of the night.  He couldn’t get his active mind to rest, only to worry.

Exhausted, drained, and joyless, he tried to hide his emotional and mental state.  He couldn’t.  He was going through the motions, but not able to close any business.

When I met his colleague, he appeared to be a good person who was suffering.  Poor past choices had led to legal and financial issues that weighed heavily on him. He blamed others for his situation. The failure of his past was strangling him. Bitter, he couldn’t move beyond it.

I broke my own rule.  I decided to work with him even though my instincts told me to “AVOID.” 

I have learned that it is a mistake to work with those who block me from contributing and supporting them.  I can't be at my personal best - to do my best work. 

I could see that this man was suffering and I knew I could help him.  However, he would have to want to breakthrough and achieve his goals. Instead he chose to stay stuck. No one, nor anything, was going to help him get to where he wanted to go. I realized this too late. I had seen the signs earlier on, but had ignored them. 

Have you ever closed a sale when your instincts told you to “AVOID?”  If you’re not in sales, have you ever done something that you knew was not going to be beneficial, but you did it anyway?

My mistake was to discount my instinct.

My instinct was right.  And it would cost me. It cost me emotionally, financially, and timewise.  A red flag had been raised and I looked past it.

I had ignored my rule: Don’t take on any client who doesn’t allow me to be my best with them.

The positive: a tough lesson well learned.

Before I agree to work with a prospective client or enter into various situations or relationships, I now ALWAYS ask this question...

“Will this choice add to my life and energy or deplete me?”   

Each day we are faced with so many choices.  I have found this question to be my guiding light. It leads me in the direction that I want to go.

I hope that it can be yours too.

Let me know what else you use to make choices that enhance your life force.

Love and ALL green lights,

Nanci

PS: Join me on Monday, October 12 at Noon ET for my free teleseminar. I will be sharing the 6 Key Questions and Thoughts that will lead you to live and work an extraordinary life.  They've enhanced my life, my happiness, and my work.  I can’t wait to share them with you!  I know they will create positive energy and change in your life too.