Liz Strauss at Successful Blog

Thinking, writing, business ideas … You're only a stranger once.

January 22, 2010

Do You Sleep in the Freeze or Invest in the Spring?

ME Liz Strauss wrote this at 8:12 am

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about seasons of life and work.

When the sailors went home last fall, some cleaned up their boats and go involved in other things. Some might have figured they were done and sold their boats off. I suppose some “hibernate” — put their in storage because the season for sailing is over. They sleep in the freeze.

frozen_harbor_-112210


The sailors who love sailing know just saw it as part of the yearly progress of the sailing “routine.” Winter is a luxury of time to fix what was wearing, mend what was tearing, and replace the broken things. They assess, check, invest, and work toward the days that bring back the summer breeze. They invest in the spring.

It’s a fact that that eventually the ice melts, the harbor always comes back in spring.

But you has to work on your boat, study the climate, and live your goals to set sail even better than before the water froze..

Most work that we love seems to have some cycle with a winter and a spring. A downtime offers an opportunity to get us running sleeker, faster, and in a more stable fashion again.

Most who do well when spring returns have been working all winter on a plan. We use the time have to build our skills, restring our offers and invest in our networks so that when up time and sunshine return we are sailing again. It’s even more than productivity and good business, it’s being invested in ourselves, our lives, each other and our dreams.

What are you doing to invest in the spring?

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Filed under Motivation/Inspiration, Productivity, Successful Blog | 8 Comments »




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8 Comments to “Do You Sleep in the Freeze or Invest in the Spring?”

  1. January 22nd, 2010 at 1:50 pm
    Katybeth said

    Chicago in the winter;days without sun, dark by 4pm. I use the time to plan for the Spring, and to plan for things to look forward to now. The cloudy days and cold tempetures pull me inward naturally and lend themselves to reconciliation and reflection which I hope will bloom in the Spring.

  2. January 23rd, 2010 at 4:54 am
    Stacey / Create a Balance said

    This winter, I decided to take more time to pause, to reflect, and to plan for what I truly want to accomplish in 2010. As a result, new ideas are now jumping out of my head, sometimes too fast for me to catch all of them. :)

  3. January 23rd, 2010 at 7:01 am
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Katybeth,
    I hear you. I reflect a lot during these gray days too.

    I’ve been using all winter to plan for the coming changes in this winter economy. I see lots happening by spring. I’m ready to hit the ground running and spring has started early for me. :)

  4. January 23rd, 2010 at 7:07 am
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Stacey!
    Welcome!
    That extra time in winter that draws us in with less to do can be a bonus to use just the way you’ve taken advantage of it. We get the chance to stretch our minds out to connect things we don’t usually connect into new ideas. Sounds like you’re got renewed vigor to start racing into spring!

    You’re not a stranger anymore!

  5. January 27th, 2010 at 5:19 pm
    Penny said

    This past year I crossed some major hurdles in my life. As a result I am investing a lot more in me.

    This is the first winter I have worked harder and longer on my own businesses than during our tourist season.

    Things are already expanding. It will be fun to enjoy the fruits of my labor when summer is here.

  6. January 27th, 2010 at 6:47 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Penny,
    What a great way of looking it. Investing in yourself is what you’ve been doing and you’ve got some good days coming. I can’t wait to hear about them. :)

  7. February 3rd, 2010 at 8:25 am
    Nimit Kashyap said

    Good post, great way to explain things.

  8. February 8th, 2010 at 11:16 am
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hey Nimit!
    Thanks for taking the time to comment. :)

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