Know When to Act

The delicate balance: when to pounce and when to walk quietly. S Gullikson

Brand Yourself: Communicate Your Values
As you go forward, remember your values, live them and communicate them, personally and professionally. Just as we each have a name, we each have a “position” in others’ minds. Create the positioning that is your truth so that you attract similar energy.

Watch Where You Step and Don’t Wear Blinders
If things are going well, we may be whisked away by the excitement. If things are going poorly, we may become mired in our own problems, and forget to look where we are walking. It is true that we should “keep our eyes on the ball,” rather than looking up when we are swinging the golf club.

On the other hand, there is an adage about “marketing myopia” - the railroads failed because they thought they were in the railroad business rather than in the transportation business. It is best to not wear blinders, but also good to know when to keep your eye on the ball.

Keep an Even Keel
It is so easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of careers going well, or our thriving personal situations. Fly high but stay grounded so that if the bubble pops, we do not fall too hard or too far. Appreciate the good times and stay grounded about the bad times. Remember that “this, too, shall pass.” Life is not always smooth sailing. There are times we are running with the wind and there are times we are running into the wind, just as in sailing. Find the right breeze and fill the sails with air whenever possible. Tack, or change course when necessary!