Posts Tagged ‘Storytelling’

Thought for the day: Is Asking for Help Cheating?

 

Adam Urbanski, who is known as the Marketing Mentor, gave a powerful demonstration about how something learned in childhood can linger on and affect your behavior as an adult.

Before reading his demonstration, here is a question to set the scene:

 Do you remember hearing your school teachers tell you, “Eyes on your own paper” or “No asking for help”?

Every child learns that asking for help is cheating. While this makes sense when you’re talking about a math test, you probably decided that asking for help is not all right.

You carried this message through your childhood into adulthood.

You’re wondering, “How can you know that about me?”

Adam’s demonstration is living proof.

At a seminar for business owners, Adam Urbanski asked people to write down as many marketing ideas in 3 minutes as they could. At every table, the scratch of pens and rapid click-click of keys sounded throughout the room.

At the end of the 3 minutes, he said, “I notice that nobody asked for ideas from the other people at your table.” He paused, letting the message dawn on people, then he added,

“I never said you couldn’t ask for help.”

True. After all, this wasn’t a school spelling test. Yet, people are so accustomed to being expected to figure things out for yourself that you take the trait to the extreme.

Is it hard for you to ask for help?

  

I’m about to tell tales on myself, because you might be doing the same thing to yourself.

Thinking about how hard it was for me to ask for help made it the perfect thought for the day.

As a child with what society calls a disability, I hated asking for help. 

I am mostly blind and have been since birth. Born on US Independence Day, it’s no wonder I have a strong independence streak.

Like any character trait, being a self-starter has many good points. But it can be a double-edged sword.

growing up mostly blind, I quickly learned that anyone outside the family considered me to be “less than” anyone else simply because of what they perceived to be a disability.

I hated having to ask for help. I wanted to figure out how to do whatever needed doing on my own. I had to prove I was just as capable as a sighted person.

People tend to close their eyes and then decide they couldn’t do whatever it is without sight, so therefore it can’t b done.

That’s like saying that because I can’t walk a tightrope, nobody can.

My strong will serves me well even to this day, because I am innovative and creative. However, I had to learn an important lesson about asking for help.

While I would never want to assume I can’t do something, I finally realized that I could be independent and also ask for help.

Believe me when I say this was a hard-learned lesson that took me years to figure out.

Do you believe asking for help is cheating?

 

Maybe the same person who inspired me will inspire you!

Inspiration from Ford

 

The great automotive pioneer Ford’s lesson is a powerful one.

Ford did not know everything about cars. He was not highly educated. Many people did not expect him to succeed, but he had a powerful asset. He knew his strengths.

Ford gathered a team of experts in various fields and industries around him. Whenever he needed to know something about any subject, he knew exactly whom to ask.

This habit left Ford free to work from his strength.

 

Work from Your Strength

 

My friend Devon Brown, the Success renegade, knows his strengths. He is brilliant making videos and taking action. He freely admits that he doesn’t know how to do the technical stuff.

Devon has people on his team to do the techie stuff. He has the ability to clearly state the outcome he wants from a piece of software. He leaves the programmers to make it happen.

he has enough familiarity with technology to know how to say what he needs done. And this is key.

because there is a difference between working from your strength and giving up your power entirely.

Gather people whose strengths are your weaknesses and whose weaknesses are your strengths, and you have a winning combination.

You may be wondering,

  

How can I learn to ask for help without feeling like I’m cheating?

 

Here are some things you can do to start feeling empowered when asking for help:

Honestly evaluate your own character strengths and weaknesses. You are not doing this to beat yourself up but to make the most of the best aspects of yourself.

Evaluate your skills. Know where you are capable and where you need someone strong where you are weak.

Find people who are effortlessly good in the areas that are uncomfortable or difficult for you.

Decide it’s easy to ask for help, and you’ll notice that it truly can be! The decision of easy VS hard is all in your head, so why not choose easy?

Notice the strengths and abilities of people around you. Appreciate them without comparing yourself against them.

Notice anytime you use words like should or but. These words are alarm bells that you are judging yourself.

Appreciate your own strengths without adding “but I’m not” to it.

Build a Power Team around you so that you, like Ford, know exactly whom to consult with various issues.

Notice how much easier things flow for you when you gain the support of others who are strong where you are weak.

How about a fun way to build a Power Team around you?

 

When you take The 21–day “I AM a Gift to the World!” Challenge, you will accept 7 secret missions that ask you to celebrate certain key people around you.

As you participate in the challenge, you might even start building your team of awesome people whom you can consult.

You’ll find The 21–Day “I AM a Gift to the World!” Challenge at www.ProfitableStorytelling.com/iamagift

See you there!

Social Bookmark This Post

 

Follow Your Bliss!

Ronda Del Boccio, The Story Lady

#1 Bestselling Author of The Peace Seed, Personal and Global Transformation through Storytelling

Author of 5 books and counting...

The Instant VIP: Insider Secrets to Fame, Freedom and Fulfillment as an Expert Author

When Assassins and Allies Conspire: Visionary Tales, Vol. 1

That Was Easy: The Busy Business Owner's Guide for How to Write a Book Fast

I'll Push You Steer: The Definitive Guide to Stumbling through Life with Blinders On.

For a complete list of my books in their various formats, visit my Amazon.com Profile

and the 90 minute DVD Training Story Power

********************************

Ronda Del Boccio is a transformational speaker, mentor and author known globally as The Story Lady because she teaches authors, entrepreneurs and business owners to easily connect with your ideal customers and contacts through the power of your story.

She is the author of numerous stories, poems, and articles, as well as her books I’ll Push You Steer, and other upcoming books.

Disclosures

 

P. S. The day you were born, the whole UNIVERSE celebrated! Take FREE The 21-day "I AM a Gift to the World!" Challenge

Just click the banner or www.ProfitableStorytelling.com/iamagift !

 

Like this post? Buy Ronda a latte!

What Are Some Good Journal Writing Prompts to Break a Habit?

 

Writing is a powerful way to discover what is going on in the deepest recesses of your spirit. It could even help you break a habit.

Stewing VS Writing

It’s amazing how different it is to let yourself write about your experience as compared to simply mulling things over in your head.

Just stewing, mulling, or mentally going through things in your mind often brings no change in the emotion. No resolution. No shift.

Here’s a story about one of the many wonderful people in life. I’ll call her Amy, and she may be a lot like you.

 Amy’s String of Bad Breakups

After her latest heart-wrenching breakup, which was the worst ever for her, Amy said, “Why is it I always end up with a guy who’s bad for me?”

Have YOU ever asked a question like that, either to yourself or a friend?

Certainly, there is no one answer for everyone. All Amy knows now is that she feels awful. She may not even realize there is a pattern she has the power to break.

But inherent in the way she asked, with her voice full of angst, is self-loathing,

Unfortunately, Amy invests energy into emotionally beating herself up, but she could choose to focus on breaking the habit.

  

Chances are excellent that nobody will be harder on you than YOU.

 

What Amy said next revealed just how much she was beating herself up emotionally about what she calls her bad luck with men.

Amy said, “ I must be exceptionally stupid.”

What a hurtful thing to say about yourself!

How about putting this into a different perspective.

  

Psst!

have you ever tried getting someone’s attention?

You start with a whisper.

If that doesn’t work, you speak up.

If that doesn’t work, you tap the person or speak louder.

  

Hey!

 

If that doesn’t work, you may shout, jump up and down or take the person by the shoulder.

You will keep doing things more forcefully until you capture the person’s attention, right?

 

That’s how the universe or God works.

 

Amy didn’t get the message the first couple times she had the same experience, so she had some even worse ones to capture her attention.

There’s a reason so many different traditions speak of God as a “still, small voice” or something similar.

The idea is that you first get the message softly.

If you don’t pay attention, you get a louder message.

If you still don’t listen, the message gets louder and louder until you finally decide to change something.

You have to be still and present to catch the message the first time.

 

Given all this, you might be wondering if you’re stupid, slow or otherwise damaged for not getting the softer message.

No! You are NOT damaged goods. You are not stupid. You are simply receiving messages that can actually show you the key to changing the pattern until you get the message. Plain and simple.

  

Life is about learning and growing.

 

As you become more observant, you will discover that you catch the lesson sooner, before the universe has to shout to get your attention.

So rather than stewing and chewing over things in your mind, now you can write.

Write all your feelings

Write the patterns you notice.

Write a plan to make any changes you choose to make.

  

The Power of Writing

 

Writing your observations is an excellent way to get past the habit and break its hold on you.

Flow –  Let your thoughts flow. Write freely.

No need to edit.

Gentle –  Be gentle with yourself.

Love –  Show yourself love. You are a cherished creation!

The question Amy asked about why she has this habit is a good one.

However, asking from a place of love, or at least from neutral, is a powerful starting place.

The test –  Be your own friend.  If a good friend treated herself or himself the way you are treating yourself, would that feel right?

 Facing the Blank Page

Perhaps facing a blank page leaves you feeling uneasy.

Journal writing prompts can help you start.

Prompts help you ask good questions, move through the emotions and enter a journey of self discovery.

 

Useful journal writing prompts to break a habit

  

Here are some good questions to get you started.

What is the pattern I observe?

What am I trying to gain?

What is the most loving thing I can do right now?

 

Write on Purpose!

 

There is a program that guides you along a path of self discovery and personal transformation called Write On Purpose.

You receive a dozen kinds of writing prompts to guide you through different situations, such as

• overcoming signs of stress,
• moving through stages of grief, and
• creating the life of your dreams.

You also receive a powerful teaching in both audio and written form to support you along your journey. You can write in your very own Personal Transformation Zone that is uniquely and especially yours. This is your private arena to cut out all distractions and be with yourself.

Additionally you become part of a community of other people who enjoy writing for self discovery, personal transformation and self expression.

Claim this package and get started right away at www.askTSL.com/wop.

Social Bookmark This Post

 

Follow Your Bliss!

Ronda Del Boccio, The Story Lady

#1 Bestselling Author of The Peace Seed, Personal and Global Transformation through Storytelling

Author of 5 books and counting...

The Instant VIP: Insider Secrets to Fame, Freedom and Fulfillment as an Expert Author

When Assassins and Allies Conspire: Visionary Tales, Vol. 1

That Was Easy: The Busy Business Owner's Guide for How to Write a Book Fast

I'll Push You Steer: The Definitive Guide to Stumbling through Life with Blinders On.

For a complete list of my books in their various formats, visit my Amazon.com Profile

and the 90 minute DVD Training Story Power

********************************

Ronda Del Boccio is a transformational speaker, mentor and author known globally as The Story Lady because she teaches authors, entrepreneurs and business owners to easily connect with your ideal customers and contacts through the power of your story.

She is the author of numerous stories, poems, and articles, as well as her books I’ll Push You Steer, and other upcoming books.

Disclosures

 

P. S. The day you were born, the whole UNIVERSE celebrated! Take FREE The 21-day "I AM a Gift to the World!" Challenge

Just click the banner or www.ProfitableStorytelling.com/iamagift !

 

Like this post? Buy Ronda a latte!

What Are Some Good Journal Writing Prompts to Break a Habit?

 

Writing is a powerful way to discover what is going on in the deepest recesses of your spirit. It could even help you break a habit.

Stewing VS Writing

It’s amazing how different it is to let yourself write about your experience as compared to simply mulling things over in your head.

Just stewing, mulling, or mentally going through things in your mind often brings no change in the emotion. No resolution. No shift.

Here’s a story about one of the many wonderful people in life. I’ll call her Amy, and she may be a lot like you.

 Amy’s String of Bad Breakups

After her latest heart-wrenching breakup, which was the worst ever for her, Amy said, “Why is it I always end up with a guy who’s bad for me?”

Have YOU ever asked a question like that, either to yourself or a friend?

Certainly, there is no one answer for everyone. All Amy knows now is that she feels awful. She may not even realize there is a pattern she has the power to break.

But inherent in the way she asked, with her voice full of angst, is self-loathing,

Unfortunately, Amy invests energy into emotionally beating herself up, but she could choose to focus on breaking the habit.

  

Chances are excellent that nobody will be harder on you than YOU.

 

What Amy said next revealed just how much she was beating herself up emotionally about what she calls her bad luck with men.

Amy said, “ I must be exceptionally stupid.”

What a hurtful thing to say about yourself!

How about putting this into a different perspective.

  

Psst!

have you ever tried getting someone’s attention?

You start with a whisper.

If that doesn’t work, you speak up.

If that doesn’t work, you tap the person or speak louder.

  

Hey!

 

If that doesn’t work, you may shout, jump up and down or take the person by the shoulder.

You will keep doing things more forcefully until you capture the person’s attention, right?

 

That’s how the universe or God works.

 

Amy didn’t get the message the first couple times she had the same experience, so she had some even worse ones to capture her attention.

There’s a reason so many different traditions speak of God as a “still, small voice” or something similar.

The idea is that you first get the message softly.

If you don’t pay attention, you get a louder message.

If you still don’t listen, the message gets louder and louder until you finally decide to change something.

You have to be still and present to catch the message the first time.

 

Given all this, you might be wondering if you’re stupid, slow or otherwise damaged for not getting the softer message.

No! You are NOT damaged goods. You are not stupid. You are simply receiving messages that can actually show you the key to changing the pattern until you get the message. Plain and simple.

  

Life is about learning and growing.

 

As you become more observant, you will discover that you catch the lesson sooner, before the universe has to shout to get your attention.

So rather than stewing and chewing over things in your mind, now you can write.

Write all your feelings

Write the patterns you notice.

Write a plan to make any changes you choose to make.

  

The Power of Writing

 

Writing your observations is an excellent way to get past the habit and break its hold on you.

Flow –  Let your thoughts flow. Write freely.

No need to edit.

Gentle –  Be gentle with yourself.

Love –  Show yourself love. You are a cherished creation!

The question Amy asked about why she has this habit is a good one.

However, asking from a place of love, or at least from neutral, is a powerful starting place.

The test –  Be your own friend.  If a good friend treated herself or himself the way you are treating yourself, would that feel right?

 Facing the Blank Page

Perhaps facing a blank page leaves you feeling uneasy.

Journal writing prompts can help you start.

Prompts help you ask good questions, move through the emotions and enter a journey of self discovery.

 

Useful journal writing prompts to break a habit

  

Here are some good questions to get you started.

What is the pattern I observe?

What am I trying to gain?

What is the most loving thing I can do right now?

 

Write on Purpose!

 

There is a program that guides you along a path of self discovery and personal transformation called Write On Purpose.

You receive a dozen kinds of writing prompts to guide you through different situations, such as

• overcoming signs of stress,
• moving through stages of grief, and
• creating the life of your dreams.

You also receive a powerful teaching in both audio and written form to support you along your journey. You can write in your very own Personal Transformation Zone that is uniquely and especially yours. This is your private arena to cut out all distractions and be with yourself.

Additionally you become part of a community of other people who enjoy writing for self discovery, personal transformation and self expression.

Claim this package and get started right away at www.askTSL.com/wop.

Social Bookmark This Post

 

Follow Your Bliss!

Ronda Del Boccio, The Story Lady

#1 Bestselling Author of The Peace Seed, Personal and Global Transformation through Storytelling

Author of 5 books and counting...

The Instant VIP: Insider Secrets to Fame, Freedom and Fulfillment as an Expert Author

When Assassins and Allies Conspire: Visionary Tales, Vol. 1

That Was Easy: The Busy Business Owner's Guide for How to Write a Book Fast

I'll Push You Steer: The Definitive Guide to Stumbling through Life with Blinders On.

For a complete list of my books in their various formats, visit my Amazon.com Profile

and the 90 minute DVD Training Story Power

********************************

Ronda Del Boccio is a transformational speaker, mentor and author known globally as The Story Lady because she teaches authors, entrepreneurs and business owners to easily connect with your ideal customers and contacts through the power of your story.

She is the author of numerous stories, poems, and articles, as well as her books I’ll Push You Steer, and other upcoming books.

Disclosures

 

P. S. The day you were born, the whole UNIVERSE celebrated! Take FREE The 21-day "I AM a Gift to the World!" Challenge

Just click the banner or www.ProfitableStorytelling.com/iamagift !

 

Like this post? Buy Ronda a latte!

Thought for the Day: What Are Your Unique Gifts?

The juggler made his fancy tricks seem effortless. He clearly loved what he was doing.

every eye in the room was glued to his performance. And when he dropped one of his batons, nobody minded.

Here is his performance for you to see. In case you do not see the video player below, you may click this link to watch the juggler.

Comments like these could be heard in the lobby after the performance:

• I wish I was that talented.
• that was amazing.
• I could never do something like that
• He must be specially gifted.

What do you feel when you watch someone perform with ease?

Take a moment to consider.

Was the performance amazing? Yes. Was it beautiful? absolutely.

Does he have a special talent? Yes and no.

Certainly he has both a talent and a passion for performance and a keen desire to juggle. He also has plenty of practice.

His skill came because of countless hours of practice. “This only took 5 years of my life to learn, so feel free to applaud me,” as he himself said.

That effortless juggling routine came to him not because God gave him a special juggling gene or a special super power. Anything can look effortless when the person doing it has long practice.

What about you?

This is your thought for the day:

What Are Your Unique Gifts?

Here’s a story from my own childhood. Perhaps you have a similar memory?

I remember watching my grandmother make gnoci, an Italian pasta made of potatoes. She made it look so incredibly easy. But when I, at about age 6, tried to do exactly what she did, my attempts were clumsy at best.

“I’ve had lots more practice than you,” she told me. “It can be as easy for you one day as it is for me.”

Nana was right. “You’re amazing,” I told her.

“No, I’m not amazing. I’m just cooking for my family.”

To me, she had a special gift with cooking, but she thought nothing of it. She made wonderful meals with such ease and grace.

Anything looks easy when you know what to do so well that you hardly have to think about what to do next. Being boastful about something you do easily is certainly not a way you want to behave.

Acknowledging your ability with humility and gratitude is good.

People have a tendency to downplay their own skill. Chances are you already have a talent that is just as spectacular as the juggling to the people around you.

But perhaps you are unimpressed with your special talent because it is so easy for you. What you do easily may seem so mundane to you.

How valuable is your skill to someone who does not have the ability?

Cooking is pure magic to someone who could burn boiling water. Fixing the toilet is a miracle to the tool impaired.

In other words, you don’t have to be a juggler, a movie star or a world class athlete to be important.

You matter.

You are worthy.

You are valuable.

YOU are a gift to the world, just as you are, with all your faults and foibles, with all your gifts and glory.

Whether or not you believe me, please come and take The 21–Day “I AM a Gift to the World!” Challenge, where you will receive 7 fun Secret Missions. You will find it at www.AskTSL.com/gift.

You’ll have to find out what those missions are when you get there. But don’t worry; they’re fun and they won’t take you a lot of time.

You’ll discover and celebrate your unique gifts when you join the challenge.

See you there!

Social Bookmark This Post

 

Follow Your Bliss!

Ronda Del Boccio, The Story Lady

#1 Bestselling Author of The Peace Seed, Personal and Global Transformation through Storytelling

Author of 5 books and counting...

The Instant VIP: Insider Secrets to Fame, Freedom and Fulfillment as an Expert Author

When Assassins and Allies Conspire: Visionary Tales, Vol. 1

That Was Easy: The Busy Business Owner's Guide for How to Write a Book Fast

I'll Push You Steer: The Definitive Guide to Stumbling through Life with Blinders On.

For a complete list of my books in their various formats, visit my Amazon.com Profile

and the 90 minute DVD Training Story Power

********************************

Ronda Del Boccio is a transformational speaker, mentor and author known globally as The Story Lady because she teaches authors, entrepreneurs and business owners to easily connect with your ideal customers and contacts through the power of your story.

She is the author of numerous stories, poems, and articles, as well as her books I’ll Push You Steer, and other upcoming books.

Disclosures

 

P. S. The day you were born, the whole UNIVERSE celebrated! Take FREE The 21-day "I AM a Gift to the World!" Challenge

Just click the banner or www.ProfitableStorytelling.com/iamagift !

 

Like this post? Buy Ronda a latte!

post by Ronda Del Boccio

I will be sharing the power of storytelling for personal and business development Thursday, March 4 on Missing Power Radio, and I invite you to listen.

Here is the show description:

Discover the missing power you can not find in your life. It may be balance in life, finding new sources of income, dreaming as a kid once again, learn to read to grow !! !! .

Join us live via phone or computer.

You can also go to the page on BTR and Listen to the show, either live or later.

Ronda Del Boccio | the Story Lady | | ProfitableStorytelling.com | radio interview | storytelling | storytelling for business