What Do You Want?

Friday, May 14th, 2010

I know it’s easy to talk about what you don’t want, but have you gotten clear about what you do want?

Getting clear about what you want to happen in any part of your life is a big and necessary step in attracting the future events, situations and people that you desire. Because energy attracts like energy, focusing on what you want causes you to produce positive feelings (a higher vibrational energy) and that energy goes out and comes back atcha in one way or another.

*a note about focusing on what you want: while it’s a worthy endeavor to focus your attention on your desires, focusing on the actual WANTING part is actually you bringing attention to the LACK in your life. The universe is much like a search engine so be careful how you phrase your desires because saying and thinking that you WANT this or WANT that will tell the universe to bring you more of WANTING this or WANTING that. So, once you know what you want, start ATTRACTING it to your life by getting excited for this or that’s arrival or merely stating that you are in the process of attracting this or that. Feelings are more powerful than words too – conjure up how it will look and feel to have what you desire!

Now back to the universe’s fabulous ability to follow your orders – or in other words, the power of getting clear about what you want…

I experienced this like bloody clockwork recently.

I had a speaking engagement last month and two things went on that mama did not like – they were particularly unsavory as this was not the first time they had happened – this event was more like the proverbial piece of straw that broke the camel’s back. Okay, at the risk of sounding like a diva who demands room temperature evian and green M&M’s to be placed just so in her dressing room decorated to replicate her living room at home, let me tell you about my two event “pet peeves”: 1. When I arrived, no one acknowledged or noticed that I had arrived – it’s so much fun to feel like you’re crashing a party. 2. The A/V guy was stumped when my Apple laptop wasn’t connecting to the projection system and didn’t get my presentation up on the screen until about minute before I had to go on stage. Good times.

Change comes when things get intolerable. I think you know where I’m going with this one. After that event, I got really specific on what I want when I speak at an event. This is what I said to myself/the universe/anyone who cared…

I want someone from the organizing committee to greet me when I arrive at the venue.

I want A/V technicians who have taken the time to understand Apple products and can support me and my MacBook Pro.

I envisioned how it would feel to have those beautiful things be my experience at each event…ahhh, so good.

Cut to the very next event – about a week later.

My client (in Ottawa) picks me up at the airport and drives me to the event!! This was the first of it’s kind and completely dreamy. Upon arrival, the A/V team is extremely friendly, professional, and exuded confidence – they don’t flinch when I plunked down my Apple. Someone asks me if I would like a glass of water or coffee!!!! This moment is a total bonus, but again, treatment I rarely receive. FYI, I travel with my own stainless steel water bottle because there are many events I speak at that filling up at the washroom tap is needed. But I digress…

I spoke at another event yesterday and it was another experience that brought me what I want. It brought me what I think is an exchange of positive energy so we have some good vibrations to work with.

Once I finally got clear on what I want, it happened.

Is there an opportunity for you to get really clear on what you want in some part of your life? Is this a good time to create a list that describes all that you desire and how it will feel to have it? Try it out. Come back and post what happened.

You’ll be amazed at what happens when the universe receives clear instructions and has all that high energy to send back atcha in one way or another.

Big Love,

Susan

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Failure – it doesn’t happen TO you, it happens FOR you

Tuesday, May 4th, 2010

Is failure synonymous with disaster?

Many people answer “yes” to that question, but I disagree.

I experienced failure last week. I delivered a keynote speech at a conference and let’s just say that it was less than spectacular. Okay, it sucked and blew chunks all at the same time. Bad. Really bad. It was a combination of a bad set-up and then when mama took the stage, the badness just kept on going. Sigh.

Here’s the failure in a nut-shell: I arrived in the dark, massive hotel ballroom which had a trade show happening on one side of the room and the stage with all the tables for the audience was on the other side and no divider to keep things separate. Not welcomed by anyone on the committee, I then introduced myself to the A/V guy to get my technical preparation rolling. I spent a half-hour with the A/V guy (I usually spend that precious time visualizing the success of my speech…oh well) who can’t seem to have my APPLE laptop successfully connect to the projection system. Despite the fact that this is his JOB, he is at a loss as to what to do. After scribbling out my notes in preparation to do my speech sans slides, he solved the problem and got my logo up on the screen in the eleventh and a half hour. My mind was officially spinning with one side of it happy to be reunited with the original plan, and the other half pissed off because it was ready to rock it with a mic and a dream. I was introduced on to the stage and it was no love connection between me and the half-asleep audience – did I mention that the room was dark? Ahem. The vibes were creepy and low and I was unable to rise to the occasion and win them over. The attitude and behaviour of this crowd was certainly different and added to the weirdness of it all. As I looked out into the crowd, I watched some folks chatting, some folks reading the morning paper, and some folks getting up and leaving – I wasn’t mad at them, by the way – it was more jealousy. A speech that has previously gotten standing ovations and has provoked both cheers and laughter, was a stink bomb – a big one.

Was I bummed about this gig? Yes. Especially since I hired professional videographers to come to the event and record all the magic.It was an expensive failure to boot. Awesome.

I am still kind of bummed, but I am peaceful with it. This failure didn’t happen to me, but rather, it happened for me. It was a giant signpost sending me in other directions rather than going down that road again. Here’s what the sign says:

- “don’t take speaking engagements with that sector of professionals again – it has yet to go well with them and this one sealed the deal”

- “make sure you talk specifically about the set-up of a hotel ballroom with future clients so you aren’t competing with a trade show and not trying to entertain and inspire a bunch of people in a gigantic, dark room”

- “in your contract, request to be met by a committee member upon arrival to the event”

- “be prepared to do your speech without your slides – if the technology works, BONUS.”

- “don’t speak at big events where the morning keynote is viewed by the delegates as a drop-in or a chance to read the morning newspaper.”

And the list goes on, but you get the picture. These failures in our life are major groomings that give us instincts, knowledge and experience that we will need for future endeavours. I have had other failures throughout my speaking career that protect me against speaking during the lunchtime (the lasagna always wins, people) and prevents me from speaking to people in the education field after a 4 course lunch a few days before the Christmas break – that wasn’t pretty.

Closer I am to refined.

My dear friend and curling team mate, Debbie O’Reilly, always says, “You gotta lose before you know how to win.”
Of course, Debbie is referring to losing curling games and learning the lessons that will help us to win more curling games in the future. When we “lose” in life, we are being handed the same kind of sign to go another way and to do things differently when we get there.

The question is…Can you stand in the midst of failure and be peaceful by contemplating the new direction you need to take and the lessons you need to learn?

I am delivering three keynote speeches next week and rather than being fearful because of what happened last week, I feel better equipped and hopeful. Because of my failure, I know a little bit more about how to increases my chances of making them a great success.

Big Love,

susan

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