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Point to Ponder
Winter arrived in
style over night this past Friday.
As we slept warm in our
bed last Friday this strange white flaky stuff fell from the sky,
blanketing the cars, the roads, the flower beds, the decks, and even
the pond at which I ponder.
We awoke Saturday to
about 2 inches of wet snow at our place in the country. A novel
experience - the 1st time it happens each year. Not one I enjoy as
it is a glimpse of snowfalls and shoveling to come. Ok, this year I
am almost ready as I shoveled at least 10 tonnes of gravel for the
parking pad - which is now covered in white. But I am still not
looking forward to moving it around until it starts melting next
spring. Just being honest. I am, however looking forward a couple of
years to our retirement when we will be able to slip away to a
warmer climate for at least a couple of the winter
months.
Now before you
think I have gone negative, I do have a point to
this ponder.
We had a marvelous day
at CAPS Edmonton with one of our best attended programs this
year, a very talented MC (Michelle Devlin) and a very smart
presenter (Jane Atkinson). I left encouraged and inspired to
tackle a few of my own challenges to changing what I do in the
evolving industry.
When we drove home to our
place in Mundare, guess what? It had snowed there too! I was not
looking forward to cleaning the driveway and pulled up on the side
of it so I could shovel. This is where this takes a positive turn,
just in case you were wondering.
 As we got out of the car, a young girl about 8
or at the most 10 was walking across the street. Her first words
were, "Do you live here? Would you like your driveway
shoveled?" Her rosey cheeks radiated her willingness, with
just a hint of hesitation. I asked, "How much?" Her reply, "5 bucks."
My immediate reply, "Go for it!"She proceeded to shovel.
We proceeded to clean out the car. We asked her if she wanted to use
our shovel as it was a bit bigger. She said no. Interestingly, her
shovel was taller than she was. She worked at it and got most of the
snow off in a short while.
I asked her how many jobs
she had done that day. Her reply, "You're the first. The rest were
either not home or didn't want it done." Sad that her
entrepreneurial offer was not recognized or accepted. Their
loss!
This is not the actual
girl, but the sizing is about correct. She was an eager
beaver.
When she finished her
cheeks were even rosier. I paid her and slipped her a tip, just
because. And she headed off in search of another client. Usually
when I finish shoveling the driveway and the parking pads I am a tad
tired and warm, perhaps cold too. Interestingly enough, I had a
distinct warm feeling when she finished. I was encouraged and
inspired at the same time.
She reminded me of what
it was like to set out to do something, to deal with rejection, and
to continue searching. She reminded me what it was like to have
youthful confidence and enthusiasm in approaching a challenge or a
job. She reminded me of the importance of continuing to ask and to
ask again. Often, we quit when the next ask might be the one that
gets us to 'YES'.
So the next time you find
yourself up against a challenge; perhaps hearing 'NO' a few more
times than you'd like, remember this young teacher of
mine.
If she can do it, so can
I - so can you!
Keep working,
keep shoveling, and keep asking.
I will attempt to keep
her in mind the next time I am cleaning off the driveways. I
live in hope that she will remember us and come back. Please come
back little girl, it is still snowing. And it will continue. She
could learn the next lesson of repeat business...
smile!
Until Dec.
Bob
PS: I'm off to Phoenix on
Thursday. Trust it will have some warmer climes, but I did
hear it snowed there last week. It will be fun, none-the-less.
I'm hoping to reconnect with some of my fellow members of the NSA-AZ
chapter. I have been a member for the last 3 or so years, but seldom
get to a meeting.
Archives of past issues of Ideas @ Work! are available on our www.ideaman.net website. We will be adding archives of Bob's Mid-month Musings as well.
Last Minute News Busy month...
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reading
Bob 'Idea Man'
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