Successful Blog

Social Networking in Another Culture that Speaks a New Language

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Ask Someone

The Living Web

Most folks find meeting new people and learning new situation stressful in some way. Yet, to keep moving forward, we have to be the “new kid who doesn’t know anything.”

And it’s not always timely or convenient. Just as we seem to know everyone, we turn a corner — online or offline — that takes us where it seems like we’re social networking in another culture that speaks a new language.

Are you like me? I become the proverbial “lurker.”

I find meeting new people in groups overwhelming. I stand on the sidelines hoping that folks’ll meet me instead. I take up observing rather than taking part. Observation is a start, but it’s not a great place to settle in. If everyone is doing the same thing, the middle of the “room” can be awfully empty.

I know better. I know situations are easier when I ask someone how things work.

If only I could remember that I don’t need to learn EVERYTHING by doing it wrong first.

Where do we find that networked, traveling, bilingual, cultural expert to help us hit the ground running on whatever new terrain we’re embarking? He’s everywhere. So is she.

The world is filled with smart people who answer questions. The trick is not to make the situation overwhelming and to learn little bits not tackling huge things. If we only ask each person one question, we can get a little education with out stressing any one of them. We’ll also get lots of tricks, techniques, and points of view to help us through the new situation. In no time we’ll be socially adept, culturally comfortable, and fluent in the new language, and someone will be asking us the questions we now have.

Whatever it is you’re trying to learn or conquer, don’t just watch. Wonder. T
Then ask a question.

Will you learn something small this weekend?

–ME “Liz” Strauss
Work with Liz!!
The first eBook is coming . . .

On a Street Called Hope

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What Would You Find On a Street Called Hope?

In a town somewhere,
does it matter where?
You can find Hope Street.

I walk down it in my mind.
A knowing look shines on the faces of the people I see.
Most can’t say how they found their way to Hope Street.

Hope Street

I can say that I don’t go there as often as I might.

What would you find on a street called Hope?

–ME “Liz” Strauss
Image source: sxc.hu

Shine Even Brighter

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Even the Humblest Star Still Shines

Shine!

Just a few words, a reminder, that we’re all meant to be brilliant.

It happened recently — to a friend, to me, and to another.

A dark voice tried to steal light by making false and nasty statements. It’s a tactic straight from the playground. He’s never got past that, but we’re adults. We turned the channel.

As far as we know, the world didn’t appoint that one voice with the right to make public judgments based on no information.

Loud, dark voices can’t take your attention. So don’t give it to them.

Shine even brighter. Say thank you, and leave those dark voices to their playground. Shine until you remember the kids you knew who were even tougher.

Shine with the things you’ve accomplished and those you still will. Shine knowing that you’ll never need to make someone feel smaller to shine as bright as you are.

Liz's Signature

The Most Powerful Force in the Universe

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In Business and in Life

relationships button

It’s been said that only two things motivate us — fear and love.

Every cause, every effect, every random act of kindness, every apparent generosity can be traced back to a fear that something will be lost or love that wants to be shared. It seems reasonable and in keeping with humans as I know us.

Through my life, I’ve found other pairs of words to describe this same concept.
In his Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen Covey talked about deprivation and abundance. Allan Cox, in his new book, Your Inner CEO, describes the looming threat and the guardian presence. I’ve often spoken of dealing from a point of weakness or a point of strength.

Each pair of words really points to the same thing. We can be motivated by a need to protect ourselves or by a feeling of open participation.

We Get to Pick

Even with our best effort and imaginings, we have no control over many things that happen around us. (Maybe we could, but I’ve yet to meet anyone who’s quite that evolved.) We have total control over how we respond to all of that input. It’s in that response that our motivation most counts. Here’s what I mean.

Living in Fear, Deprivation, and Weakness

  • When I respond with fear, people sense that I’m holding back. I know it too. I can’t bring all of my potential to a situation. Part of my brain is taken up with strategizing how I’ll respond when something goes wrong. If a friend has offered help, fear makes it easy to believe that friend thinks of me as someone in need. Life is about self-preservation.
  • When I respond from deprivation, I can’t enjoy a success of my own or of that of someone I admire. I’m always looking for what I’m lacking. If a friend gets a promotion, I think that could have been, should have been, never will be me. Life is about whether I get my piece.
  • When I respond from a place of weakness, I look for the slight in the words or the actions of the people around me. I’m protective and defensive, and I often find what I seek. Life is about whether people care about me.

Living in Love, Abundance, and Strength

  • When I respond with love, people sense I’m fully present. By definition, all of my potential is focused on the moment and the people I see. If a friend has offered help, I can answer with gratitude and partnership, believing in the good intentions that fuel the gift. Life is about enjoying the people I’m with and what we’re doing.
  • When I respond from abundance, I can enjoy every success I see, because I know that the universe has plenty for everyone. I can give what I know, because I know more will come back to me. If a friend gets a windfall, I can celebrate, knowing that my turn is still available, and my time will come. Life is about sharing good things with everyone.
  • When I respond from a place of strength, I overlook a slight misstep, and I forgive the signs that we’re all human. I know that most unkind events are merely how I interpret them and not really about me. Life is about understanding people, not them understanding me.

That last sentence of that last point is the key.

When we live in a world of fear, deprivation, and weakness, our world shrinks. We become the center. When we live in a world of love, abundance, and strength, the world expands and our lives revolve around other people.

It’s such a lonely existence to be the center of the universe. It’s an unhappy state to always be protecting things from what we imagine could be. Holding tight to one place means we never move forward.

Peak performance in business and life requires from love, abundance, and strength.

There is no difficulty that enough love will not conquer . . . — Emmett Fox

Love is the most powerful force in the universe.

How will you use it to change your business and your life?

–ME “Liz” Strauss
Work with Liz to reach your potential.

Let Go

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No Strings, No Pain

hand releasing blue balloon

I had this thought.

What if we all let go?

What if we let go

. . . the ribbons and the strings?

What if we laid down

. . . the burdens and the pains?

Then . . . could we hold each others’ hands?

–ME “Liz” Strauss