Tweet

Three Questions That Can Change Your Life!

Guest post by: Pat Mussieux

Article Overview: Do you remember the movie, "The Wizard of Oz"? Remember the tin man, the lion and the scarecrow and their journey down the yellow brick road, with Dorothy? They were looking for the Wizard of Oz...........we're all looking for something, or someone.

Three Questions That Can Change Your Life!

My friend Kate and I were discussing milestones in life and, in particular, some of the questions we ask ourselves when we hit a certain age. Do you remember the movie, "The Wizard of Oz"? Remember the tin man, the lion and the scarecrow and their journey down the yellow brick road, with Dorothy? They were looking for the Wizard of Oz...........we're all looking for something, or someone.

Many years ago, a good friend of mine - Lee Buzzard - was giving a presentation and he was explaining to the audience that, since he was a Canadian citizen and often worked in the United States, going through Customs was a regular routine. Each time he passed through Customs, he would be asked three questions:

* Who Are You?

* Where Are You Going?

* What Do You Have To Declare?

Wizard of OzLee went on to explain that our life journey is similar to passing through Customs - so we should regularly ask ourselves these three questions! I know that is exactly what I did when I turned 50 years of age - and I didn't quite like the answers. Much has changed since that time, for me. Those major life changes took a tremendous amount of confidence, courage and having a strong support network.

I often think of, and reference, the movie, "The Wizard of Oz", in my own presentations. Since most of my work is with women, the theme of this movie is so relevant. Over the past 25 years and, as recently as this past weekend, I encounter women who are looking for brains (to learn more), looking for courage and confidence, and looking to find their heart again - much like the characters in the movie. I have spent years working in the field of personal development and have mastered many of the mindset tools and techniques required to live my best life and to ‘have something to declare' on my own personal journey.

Who Are You?

What comes to mind when you ask yourself that question? For many women, we have lost ourselves - lost our sense of identity. For many women, also, when we reach the age of 50, for instance, we begin to wonder what else is out there in life - our role as mother has changed, our careers have peaked, and our lifestyle may be changing significantly.

Where Are You Going?

When I ask this question, and it is one of my favorites, I am often met with blank stares. Women who have been in the corporate world for years are at a stage where it is more about significance than it is about success. For entrepreneurs, it is often about working with more quality clients than it is about the quantity of clients. For mothers, it is a very serious question of what to do with my life now that everyone is grown and I am not needed in that capacity any longer. What tends to take over our mindset is fear, uncertainty and a feeling that we are ‘settling' in our lives.

What Have You Got To Declare?

And that's the real question! I coach many women and help them to identify their strengths, their unique abilities, their talents - all of which can take them in any direction they choose! However, many are stuck...........stuck in a rut.......stuck in a comfort zone........staying with the familiar when, deep in their hearts, they know they have so much to offer.

I get very frustrated when I am in discussion with women who say they want to grow their business, change their career, try new adventures ........BUT.........they don't have the money, they can't find the time, they don't have the energy and so on and so on. They need to get off their ‘buts' and get on with it. My excitement and ‘job satisfaction' come from working with women who are willing to do anything, pay anything, and go anywhere to live life to the fullest.

It's exciting for me, and for my clients, to experience the energy, the successes and the rewards to stepping up to the plate - stepping out in life - stepping into their greatness! There is no need to do this alone - great teams have great coaches. Great athletes have great coaches. I know that when I tell women that I am a great coach, I often get looks of shock - it's like they're saying to me, "how can you be so bold'? I am bold because I do know my strengths - I know my talents - I know my unique abilities. I know I can help you with those 3 questions - but you need to ask yourself: "Am I ready? Am I serious? Am I willing to do, and pay, what it takes?"

Only you hold the key to your future. What are you waiting for? If not now, then when?

Assignment

1. Stop and ask yourself the 3 questions: Who Am I? Where Am I Going? What Do I Have To Declare?

2. How happy are you with the answers?

3. What is one thing you are prepared to do this week to begin to live your best life?

Do some of these exercises and I guarantee that you will start to live your best life. When you try new things, you are developing the confidence and courage to move forward and invent the life you truly want to live.

Related Articles
  Your Life Purpose
  Achieving Your Goals Might Require This
  Become a Better Version of Yourself
  Ambush
  The Bird At The Window!
  Here's How To Embrace Change
  The questions which lead to nowhere
  Do you Believe In yourself?
  Are You Alive or Just Living?
  The $64,000 Question
  There is always a better way!
  Stuck In A Rut? - The Best Way To Escape Your Problem Is To Solve It!
  Dealing with Blind Spots
  I Don't Need A Business Plan
  The importance of joyful work in the second half of life!
  Are You Looking for A New Start in 2009?
  Small Business Survival Tips For THIS Economy
  When you feel like jumping ship!
  Questions, Jeopardy Style
  How to Deal with Financial Pressure in Your Business

Article Tags: Change Your Life, confidence and courage, goal setting, Pat Mussieux, who I am now



Related Forum Posts
The Second Life Platform - Greetings! I'm not sure how many of you have heard of or are sensitive to Second Life and its related entities. However, Second Life is a fantastic platform to mimmick real life business operations in a real currency based economy. There are plenty of successful stories for creative individuals, but I'd highly suggest doing your research and appreciating Second Life for what it is, and what it isn't.
Re: The Second Life Platform - [quote="JBunion":fhe23fsu]Greetings! I'm not sure how many of you have heard of or are sensitive to Second Life and its related entities. However, Second Life is a fantastic platform to mimmick real life business operations in a real currency based economy. There are plenty of successful stories for creative individuals, but I'd highly suggest doing your research and appreciating Second Life for what it is, and what it isn't.[/quote:fhe23fsu] Hi JBunion, I've heard about the site. So are you currently a member? And more importantly, have you tried to open a store front in that virtual world?
Re: Charge what you're worth - [quote="Tami Szabo":292ze3jd]People will pay you what you ask. Very few will ever up the price. You are the one who decided what you are worth. The key is that we believe our services are worth the price we are asking.[/quote:292ze3jd] Hi Tami, You're absolutely right. In "Think and Grow Rich", Jessie B. Rittenhouse says "For Life is a just employer, He gives you what you ask, But once you have set the wages, Why, you must bear the task. I worked for a menial's hire Only to learn, dismayed , That any wage I had asked of Life, Life would have willingly paid" (Napoleon Hill 35). I think the same can be said when setting prices on eBay or Craigslist, especially when people are trying to haggle you.
Re: Spellcheck? - [quote="TheAnonymousMan":2f894q6j]When discussing the majority of people I would definitely say that most people hit the "Change" or "Ignore" button without thinking too much about the correct spelling of a word. All bosses are concerned about is getting the report to the Directors meeting on time.[/quote:2f894q6j] That probably depends on what the "majority" are trying to accomplish. I have word set to alert me about misspellings and grammatical problems, so I fix most as I go. But I also add names etc to the dictionary because I get tired of seeing the red and green squiggles when I know the info is right. If you're only going to click "Change" or "Ignore" then why bother to take the time to use spell check????? Business people that I work for want the info compiled in a timely manner and they want it right - which is fine because that's the way I strive to do any project. Sending out a memo, letter, report etc with obvious spelling and grammatical mistakes makes the person and the company look bad as far as I'm concerned. Shri
Re: Quote of the Day - "Don't be embarrassed about asking "stupi - One of my favorite requests when leading a class, workshop, lecture, interview, whatever... There are no Stupid Questions, don't be afraid to ask - someone else has the same question, but is afraid to ask On the other hand - try anticipate the questions Back to the first hand - Some People ARE dummer than a ROCK


Share this article with your friends. Fund someone's dream.

Leave a comment below or share on the left and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.

Newsletter

Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!

Name:
Email:

Popular Articles

Do You Have An Entrepreneurial Vision?

Ten Ways to Make Blogging Work for Your Business

What is Give Back Marketing?

Suggestions

Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.