Innovate or Die or the More Politically Correct Innovate and Grow

"Innovate or die" or do I be more politically correct and state, "innovate and grow"? At 5:04 am these were the deep thoughts that were meandering through my mind.  Eli had recently woken up yelling for mommy to come and after patiently waiting I knew he wasn't going back to sleep so I trudged upstairs and jumped into bed with him.  He fell back to sleep but I didn't as my mind began racing and settling in on "innovate or die" repeating again and again. OK, I'm not going back to sleep, got the message, and got out of bed.

I generally laugh at others when they say they wake up early and can't go back to sleep because 98% of the time I can, but not today. I know that the thoughts are stemming from my own coaching call yesterday which helped me pull together some of the research I've been doing to help me look at my own work and business from a different lens as well as asking me some big questions such as "What is the pay off for being great, but pretending not to see my own greatness?" that both felt uncomfortable as well as right on mark. 

I realized it's hard to shift to a new lens because I'm looking at it from an familiar and comfortable paradigm (lens, view what ever word works for you) on how I do my work, who I work with and what the processes are with clients as well as the bigger, this is how I think I should do it....oh shit, it hit me that I am "shoulding" on my self big time. A paradigm shift is lurking.

I realized that my comfort with what I do in my work has actually become a huge weight dragging me and holding me down.  More importantly I realized that I've gotten lost in the work and details forgetting what my real purpose is in my work. And that is what my coaching has been about.

Interestingly, this is some of what I do with and for others...hmm what's that about? 

• The teacher  (aka coach and consultant) needs some new lessons? 
• The teacher is ready to grow? 
• The teacher has a new or bigger message? 
• The teacher is ready to take a deeper look at her own values and ask am I in alignment and finally,
• am I playing a big enough game?
• what am I afraid to really acknowledge?

After the relentless innovate or die thoughts I decided to get up and meditate - and I've got to admit this isn't my usual 5 am process but what felt like was needed to settle my mind and figure out if I was going back for a cat nap or getting up for good.

Meditation with a racing mind is interesting....as you keep acknowledging and letting go, more wants to be heard, until you hit that point where there is silence.  These are the thoughts that showed up...

• innovate or die
• innovate and grow
• innovation
• the search for deeper meaning in a complex world
• who's running your life anyway?
• what do you claim in your greatness?
• innovate = not always average
• paradigm shift

Then I felt the urge to actually blog about this and here I am.  Amusing, interesting and I figured I'd go with the flow and trust that it's not about this being read, it's about getting it out there in the world so that I can expand and if it is important to be read and touch some one it will be - no strings, no attachment. Pretty much my feelings for this Knee Deep Blog anyway.

And if you are reading this...do ask yourself these seven questions.

Although I wrote them from a more personal perspective, they do really relate both personally and in your business (life).

1. What do I claim in my greatness?  These are the things that you, some times wait for others to tell you, but if you weren't afraid to state them you would as well as the things you know you say all the time.
2. What am I afraid to acknowledge to myself?
3. What is the pay off for being great, but pretending not to see your own greatness?
4. What do I most value?
5. AM I living in alignment with these values and the things I claim in my greatness?
6. Am I playing a big enough game?
7. What am I going to change?

So what do I claim in my greatness?

PS if you do create your own list, it's really about just creating the list...without the "why"...then I double dare you to stand in front of a mirror and state these things....if you squirm your homework is to state them again and again until you can say them and know you really mean it

• I'm a kick butt coach
• I'm great at confronting situations with difficult people by using humor and holding them with respect
• I'm fun and often funny
• I'm phenomenal at facilitating conversations that allow others to be passionate without trying to make sense and connecting the dots for them or their team at the end
• I know a lot about business systems
• I love the power of vision
• I am great at helping people understand how to connect their goals, planning and action for results into their vision and values
• I love marketing and know much more than the average Joe or Jane
• I love researching trends
• I'm great at creating a safe and non-judgmental place for others to be vulnerable and call it like it is for them in their work
• I'm hugely objective (Tim actually uses the words, you're one of least judgmental people that I've ever met and that is one of the reasons I married you...so I know in claiming greatness it's really about not giving your power to others to claim for you, but every time I hold an objective or non-judgmental place in my work or personally this pops into my mind as an anchor to be objective because in that moment it really isn't about me at all)
• I have a lot to say (as if you couldn't guess) and it's relevant
• my purpose is to help myself and others see our magnificence and how that does make a difference in the world
• I'm great at attracting the right clients
• My life is more important than making money, and in my greatness the money flows

I could go on, and I will for both myself and my next coaching session. In writing this list I recognize that these are things that I really haven't publicly claimed although pieces of them are said or acknowledged by others.  Hmmm, looks like I have another exercise for clients.

Have a great one....have fun with your own greatness list...may it help you innovate your own thoughts and actions.

Michele Corey, writing for Knee Deep Blog A dose on insight and a little crap from your not always average home based business and Internet mom and Money Wise Women: A Blog for Women that are ready to get their financial house in order

PS. Now you can find me simply by typing in http://www.kneedeepblog.com

Comments

[Michele]

Yes, it's perfect to blog when I'm feeling inspired. My client got to feel the inpiration too this morning.

The banner is now up...typepad was helping me figure out why it wouldn't properly load...hence the big green blob for a few days. Now it has a border that I've got to get out. How do you like the new one and my greatness?

Rachel at http://thebannerqueen.com did it...do let her know I sent you! :)

[Kathy Mallary]

P.S. Did you know that your blog banner has turned into a giant green screen? Are you getting ready to project some new greatness up there or what?

[Kathy Mallary]

I love it when you blog after a coaching session...

=^)

Luv,
Kathy M.

P.S. Have I told you lately that I think you're G-R-R-R-R-E-A-T?!?