The “Something to Think About” questions usually paralyze me, and lately there have only been a couple per issue. This time there’s FIVE. I dread these, mostly because I don’t want to sit down and think about them [you're actually supposed to rip out the page and make your own workbook--has anyone out there done that?]. Especially during this month, when the questions seem to be geared toward people who don’t know what their dreams and goals are. But I’ll answer them–maybe I will come up with something useful.
- When you think about changing yourself, what would you focus on first? Once you’ve changed, what kind of person would you be? How would your change affect the world? “Write an imaginary news headline or press release announcing the event.” The headline/press release writing sounds like an activity you have to do at an office team building event. I’m so skeptical about this. But here goes: “Area Woman Gains Confidence, Gets Great Gig” You know, I have flashes where I’m massively confident about myself, and I can make something happen. I just wish I could have flashes of ineptitude and stupidity to mar up my massively confident self instead. How would my change affect the world? Well, you’d be reading and seeing a lot more of me, and frankly, maybe the world would be a happier, more sensible place.
- “To plan where you’re going, you need to know where you are.” Make a list of your skills, and when you see them all written out, maybe you can match up a wish with a skill. The example they use here is a “talent for bringing people together with a wish to help a local art show that needs some good PR.” Hmmmm…..again, not a task I’m thrilled about doing, but we’ll see. I wonder if this is good for the old thought of meet people and volunteer, and once people get to know you, your work, and your reliability, they may start hiring you. I’m actually starting to do this–the talking to people is the hard thing for me, but I do know a lot of random stuff, and it’s nice to be able to give people ideas or outlets they may be able to use. I have a decent amount of business sense with how business works. I’m pretty good at understanding people and “getting” where they’re coming from. How does that help my dreams to succeed with this website? Try to find a way this idea would be good to publish? I’m actually not sure….I’ll mull this one over a bit.
- This one’s dated–don’t think about work on this upcoming Labor Day. Instead, “explore your most playful schemes.” Come up with five and figure out steps you can take to make one happen. What does “playful scheme” even mean? Does it mean, Go get a massage and have a cupcake? Or does it mean, If I could do anything, oh, I’d like to do x with my life? If it’s the former, then don’t you just make a plan to do it? Or just do it? Like the way I think I’m just going to go get a cupcake this afternoon, because, boy, could I use one!
- “Still not sure what you want? Try approaching it sideways. Think of people you envy or admire.” What about their lives do you wish you had, and how could you make them happen? Well, let’s try to think about this in terms of just becoming a published writer. My little buddy Staci knows a lot of people and has worked a lot of places. You’ve gotta know people, right (though friends have told me that I have some weird/amazing connections that are about 2 degrees away from me, I still don’t feel like I know people)? I have been networking a little more and working on my ability to small talk–my problem is that I like listening to others and don’t like talking about myself–MUCH. Oh, I like giving my opinion, but touting my skills is something different. My friend Astrochick is pretty good at setting boundaries, and I’ve really learned to be better about that from her. If we’re out with our respective men, and she’s had it for the night but nobody else is ready to go home, she’ll say good night. I’ve started doing that, and I think it makes everyone happier (I don’t resent staying out when I don’t want to, and the people who are out can continue to have a good time). She’s also good with saying, “I want to better myself in x area,” and she goes out and does it. I’m still too much of an, “OOOOoooo! Shiny!” type of person. I like writer Jen Lancaster–I don’t really know her, although we hung out in a group one evening–because what I pick up from her talents is that she’s really good at taking an idea and selling it. The whole putting-together-a-winning-proposal-and-making-it-happen type of thing. Her third book is coming out in a week or so. I think I could be as successful as she is (by successful, I mean getting book deals) if I sat down and thought about what would sell and then go through the tediousness of outlining a book and showing someone why it would work. OK–three things to work on. That’s about enough bitten off.
- Network! Network! Network! Who do you know–who knows somebody–who knows somebody who can help you? Even though I’m not big on the networking–mainly because I think there’s some mystery about doing it right and I’m not good at small talk–I know it’s valuable. I do know a good amount of people who know people….and I think there are some connections I just made that would get me some work.
