The Ripple Effect

One of the most thought-provoking and positive things about sharing our journey online is the ability to impact people we’ll never meet.

We get caught up in our metrics and achieving new goals, and we forget that others may admire something entirely different. Our tendency is to keep the list of incomplete items front and center, so we can’t possibly miss it. We narrow our focus and skate over what we’ve accomplished and the lessons we’ve learned - how far we’ve come.

People are moved by more than success in your journey. You never know who’s watching and how they interpret your efforts. Often, you note failures and missed opportunities while others celebrate your persistence, willingness to get up and go again, and ability to learn, think differently, and do better next time. In other words, they aspire to your level of determination and growth, and just maybe, it encourages them to stand up and try one more time.

What do your kids see in your journey, your neighbor down the street, the struggling Mom in another state, your coworker down the hall, or the frustrated young woman around the globe? What if your work inspires one person to get up and try again for their goals, to believe in themselves enough to make a fresh start?

Your work has a powerful ripple effect. Keep showing up and moving toward your dream, and imagine the wave of women, young ladies, and students who are emboldened to do the same.

This is how we spark a movement of people who see and believe they can do what they love at work and play or how we generate a wave of new business owners who take the next step and bring their creative skills to the world. Let’s ride that wave.

It's Not Downtime; It's Deposit Time

Stepping out onto the back patio, iced coffee in hand, I appreciate the opportunity to dial back the intensity and scale up the creativity. These long sunny days invite us to actively deposit into our creative account. It’s not an actual bank account but the space in your mind that holds all your lucrative, unique ideas.

Eastern Shore, Maryland

If you’re feeling depleted or need a boost, you’re in good company. Spring was a fast-paced season. From planning promotions to writing emails, social media to new product designs, and connecting with customers—all activities that require your unique touch to be memorable. Don’t think of summer as downtime; it’s deposit time.

You can dial it back and infuse the sights and sounds around you to replenish your creative coffer. This season of greater outdoor adventure is your chance to refill the imaginative energy you withdraw all year long.

We’ve learned that this mindset isn’t nice to have; it’s a must-do. Your distinct gifts are what make your work valuable, whether in a career, job, side gig, or full-time business. You need a clear mind and a full creative cup to deliver.

I heard someone recently suggest taking time to learn nature’s first language: silence. See the beauty of what’s unfolding on your neighborhood walk, hiking the trails, or strolling the shorelines. Notice the colorful beach towels and festive umbrellas. Enjoy the patterned plates, vibrant fruits and vegetables at the market, and the bubbly spirits. And, oh, the sunsets.

Mother Nature works hard to inspire you, elevate your thinking, and plant the seeds of ideas destined for your fabulous future. Accept the invitation and slow down long enough to receive it.

For more on this topic - visit our BizCreatv page.