Tweet

Beyond the Fence

Guest post by: Rebel Brown

Article Overview: How often do we hear that we can’t be successful, can’t expect to have what we had before, can’t expect success to come again.

Beyond the Fence

There’s a hole in my world since my little dog Lyra passed away. I’ve released so many furry, finned, scaled, or feathered children in my life – I know the drill.

But this time is different. The energy that’s missing without her saucy self in my life is palpable. I’m only now realizing how much she taught me about life and the determination to pursue our dreams.

Lyra was a pedal to the metal, take no prisoners kinda gal. She was pure spirit and energy - unfettered, fearless and focused on living every minute to the max.

She didn’t take no for an answer. When she saw a deer up the hill behind our house – she chased it.

• When we put up a fence to keep her close to the house – she climbed it.
• When we made the fence higher (try 9 feet) – she climbed higher.
• When we added a solid top that she couldn’t quite wiggle over – she dug down deep and went under that barrier.

She was bound and determined to get to those deer (or the bobcat, mountain lion or coyotes) – and so she did. I still laugh when I remember her fluffy derriere disappearing over that fence time and again. She seemed to fly over a fence 10 times her height. Nothing deterred her from reaching her goal. I loved her all the more for it.

Lyra’s life is a lesson for all of us in today’s economy.

We all have goals – our dreams of successful careers and businesses. Yet the new economy threw a chink in many of our plans. Today that chink continues to stop some of us. How often do we hear that we can’t be successful, can’t expect to have what we had before, can’t expect success to come again.

How often do we listen to those naysayers and embrace their beliefs? Even a little bit? Even though there are examples of success all around us?

• Maybe we shift our expectations, downsize our futures and constrict our dreams in the face of the looming barriers to our success.
• Perhaps we act from fear, expecting more bad things to happen, preparing for the worst, becoming more and more tentative as walls “appear” all around us.

I've done just that and more. In small ways, but still I’ve done it. Expecting less for myself – because everyone around me says there is less. Accepting barriers that five years ago I would’ve blasted through, because I felt like I'd been beaten down.

No more. I’m done with that. It’s time to Defy Gravity and set my expectations and goals back where they belong – over the centerfield fence. That’s where Lyra played, and that’s where she taught me that I can play - where we all can play.

I think it's time we set our sights beyond the fence, instead of settling for life inside the barrier.

Last weekend I made a list of the expectations and goals I have ‘downsized’ in the past year. And I upped the ante – reset my sights to swing beyond the fence and go for the big results. Thanks to Lyra – I caught myself in a downdraft. Now - I’m redirecting my course.

What part of your life or career are you holding inside the fence? Is it time for you to climb your fence and soar?

Related Articles
  Is Your Salesforce Having Trouble Closing Sales?
  How Beliefs Can Sabotage the Sale
  Illegal Workers: More Businesses to be Audited - Part 2
  The Close
  Are you standing out or blending in?
  U.S. Dollar Forecast for 2009
  Hot Way to Sell More Insurance
  Fuzziness is Rampant
  Motivating Staff – (Empty) Words Are Not Enough!
  Treat Little Customers Like Big Customers
  Wanting What We Can't Have
  EXTEND YOUR BOUNDARIES
  How to Close Sales Now and Stop Playing the Follow-up Game
  Are YOU Walking The Talk?
  Be it Resolved: Venture Capital is an Attractive Nuisance
  When You Have The Urge, Throw Up And Never Throw Down.
  Fire Fence Sitters By Eric Slife
  You Got ‘em, Now Keep ‘em
  Refine Your Work Life Balance by Setting Healthy Boundaries
  The Bird At The Window!

Article Tags: fence, life inside, sights beyond, swing beyond



Related Forum Posts


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

How To Calculate A Minimum Fee For Your Services

The Strong Leadership Formula

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.