JoJo’s World Tour: Perspective

• By Johanna Nuding+
• Posted in Change, Life, Uncategorized, Unsolicited Advice, Unsolicited Advice
• On June 4, 2013
• 3 Comments.

I slid into the halfway mark of 2013 in style by finishing up my part of the European leg of Beyonce’s “The Mrs. Carter Show World Tour” working with a fantastic group of people.  When I started the year that wasn’t even in my scope of possibilities.  But, as a freelance marketing expert I open myself up to a kaleidoscope of professional opportunities.  Every business alive (that’s thriving, anyway) has an understanding for the need of marketing in the mix.  And, an even deeper look under the corporate hood reveals that every department within a company has a need for good marketing/communication skills and know how – yes, even accounting, human resources, e-commerce, IT, building maintenance, etc.  These departments aren’t necessarily marketing themselves to the general public, but there are plenty of situations internally where they need to defend or sell an idea within their department or up the food chain and a good communicator with an understanding of marketing is going to do a better job of getting that done.  And when they can’t, the smart ones find someone who can.

That said, I consider the entire world my playground of opportunity for business success and personal growth.  While I’m fostering personal relationships I keep my eye out for professional opportunities.  It’s the most comfortable, enjoyable and fulfilling way for me to work.  I surround myself with intelligent, insightful, fun-loving people and opportunities naturally materialize. Optimistic, like-minded people gravitate to one another and can do great things working together in a nurturing environment poised for success.

Look around your office.  What attitudes surround you for the majority of your day?  Are they team-oriented, goal-driven, self-starting, glass-half-full kind of thinkers?  Or are they finger-pointing, gossiping, Facebook slacking, glass-so-empty-we-better-get-to-the-pub-and-have-another-and-complain-about-our-job-and-manager kind of cohorts?  If your answer is the latter, then I have a little nugget for you to noodle on… If I want to be the smartest person at a company, I’ll work for myself.  A chain is only as strong as it’s weakest link.

I believe it’s imperative to surround yourself (personally and professionally) with people that challenge you to be better – to want to be more creative and open-minded, continue learning, exercise more, help others, be kinder, eat healthier, be more adventurous and try new things.  I actively work to surround myself with people who inspire me to be a better version of myself than I was the day before.  In life and in business, this philosophy has NEVER steered me wrong.  Sometimes the growth arrives as a business failure, but with huge lessons learned making me smarter and better-equipped to accept the next opportunity that comes along.  Business prosperity and personal growth won’t always go hand-in-hand, but with a positive perspective you’ll find the result is always success.  And success is winning.  And winning is a powerful motivator for continued success.  Good things can snowball just as quickly and easily as bad things!  It’s all in your frame of mind.

There’s a whole wide world of possibilities out there just waiting for you.  I consider myself living proof.  I won’t say there aren’t times of uncertainty, but such is life.  I’ve learned to find comfort in the unpredictability and just have fun playing the game.  Life really is a game – Milton Bradley knew that in 1860.  You can choose not to participate, but that doesn’t mean you aren’t playing.  It just means you’re likely losing.

When I was in school and Daddy wasn’t particularly pleased with the crowd I was running around with, he told me, “Johanna, you will never bring them up to your level, they’ll only bring you down to theirs.”  At the time, I was so pissed and offended at that statement, and I’m sure I rolled my eyes at him.  However, I later realized there was some truth there.  Our thoughts attract things into our lives and if the majority of the stuff you’re hearing, talking about, seeing and doing isn’t uplifting to you and isn’t steering you in a direction of positive growth, then you’re being pulled down into the muck with the masses.  If you find a lot more negative attitudes than positive ones around you, it’s time to plan your escape!

So, what can you do today to move yourself one step closer to having your dream job, meeting your life partner and/or living your best life?

Spend today taking an inventory of the beliefs, attitudes and values that surround you.  Truly be aware of the people that occupy most of your time.  When you get home this evening compare those beliefs, values and attitudes to your own.  Do they match?  Are you feeling fulfilled and uplifted or cynical and defeated, or worse – completely indifferent?

If your circle is weak, you already know what to do.  De-clutter your life. Clear the piles off of your desk. Organize that “junk” section of your house. Donate unused stuff and rarely worn clothes to a charity. Go for a walk.  Join a club.  Listen to live music.  Stop going to bitch sessions disguised as happy hours and start spending quality time with the few people in your life that you want to emulate.  Watch a documentary and learn something new.  Cry your eyes out and then watch a movie that makes you laugh your ass off.  Meet new people. Just get out there!  No longer allow yourself to sway safely on the swing set of monotony.  Start living and introducing fresh perspective into your life.  New opportunities will certainly follow.

If your circle is strong, excellent!  Engage and open yourself up to the possibilities around you.  Say “YES” more than you say “NO”.  Put your trust in people and they won’t want to disappoint you.  (It’s a funny thing about trust – people are so scared to do it, but it’s the super glue of emotions bonding people together.)  Mutual trust opens doors of possibility.  Learn to forgive, let go and move on.  Recognize that you are a powerful creator and acknowledge that fact each time opportunity knocks on your door.  “Well, hello there!  I’ve been expecting you.”

I realized a few months ago that I started preparing for my dream job back in Mrs. Fincher’s third grade classroom when I signed up for Storytelling – the competition began by sitting in a room listening to a teacher tell a story. The competing students drew numbers and then went into a room one-by-one and retold that same story as accurately and vividly as possible to an audience of peers, parents, teachers and judges.  Almost 30 years later, I still love telling a good story.  I call it “Live and Tell” these days – I’m unafraid performing social and life experiments out in the world and telling you as concisely and entertainingly as possible my lessons learned.

On this such occasion, I offer you this takeaway: The quickest path to having everything you want is to change your mind.  Just as you have unwavering faith in your God, you must have unwavering faith in yourself.  You, too, are a powerful creator.

I look forward to watching you grow with me.