This is the Reverb 14 prompt Kat McNally invites us to reflect on today:
…from the brilliant Tracy Brisson, founder of The Opportunities Project. Tracy is a feisty and fearless advocate for educational and employment opportunity, and always seems to be wearing fabulous shoes. Tracy writes:
Like many folks, I picture myself as a modern day Wonder Woman, trying to use my superpowers, to do lists and pure force to get what I want. In 2014, I found that my effort wasn’t often tied to my desired outcomes — except when it was.
In 2015, is there something you’d like to try harder at because you believe it would make all the difference?
Conversely, what is something you could stop trying so hard at that might actually help you manifest what you’d like?
Clearly this prompt requires several responses. I’ll begin by putting on my serious hat. There are a couple of things I want to try harder at in 2015. First is working on a collaborate project with a very dear friend. My part is to do some illustrations for a fabulous story we’ve created. I LOVE LOVE LOVE our project – it lights my heart up in ways I can’t even describe. But I’ve managed to paralyze myself entirely by convincing myself my art skills are nowhere near where I’d like them to be to do justice to this project. And while there’s certainly truth in that, that’s SO not the point. This is a love-filled, joy-filled, fun project and I threw ice cold water over it and myself. So 2015 will be ushering in a reboot of project how-much-more-fun-can-we-have-with-this-and-not-explode?
The second thing I want to try harder at has to do with my business. I have so many incredible fun-to-me ideas about things I want to do, new ways to engage with my clients, new offerings. And because I pretty much despite marketing, I manage to jump ahead to all the anticipated grief around that before I’ve actually put any effort into it at all. Gotta change that in 2015!
Conversely, what I could stop trying so hard at is having a detailed strategic plan for my business offerings. I know that’s utterly contrary to expert advice but I think it might be a whole lot more fun to just fling things out as inspired. That’s so much more how I like to operate. And why shouldn’t I be honoring my own expertise at knowing me and my biz?
So there you have my serious responses. But I can’t resist commenting on the other piece Tracy mentions in her prompt – about feeling like Wonder Woman. I love the playful energy of thinking of ourselves as super heroes. And I laughed when I saw Danita has created a line of Wonder Woman jewelry based on a painting she did – including a cuff. How fun is that?
While I don’t think of myself as any particular well-known super hero like Wonder Woman, I do love to occasionally head over to the Random Super Hero Generator and welcome in a new identity. And so here’s what showed up for me today.
“Deborah Weber possesses the power to spin like a whirlwind. She also has the power to take control of bees and she has learned to make duplicates of herself. Deborah Weber has mastered the ability to deflect lasers and she has been known to create wood out of thin air. She developed the talent to steal the skills of her rivals and use it against them. Unfortunately, Deborah Weber endures the burden of being completely incapable of jumping.”
Pretty impressive isn’t it? And the fact that I can collaborate with my Bee friends – now that’s downright amazing!
And of course being a super hero of any kind requires appropriate costuming. While I’m not sure exactly what my costume will entail, I do believe I should incorporate at least some of this vintage beekeeper’s outfit. A bowler hat with netting seems pretty fabulous to me. What do you think?
Now it’s your turn. What do you want to try harder at in 2015? Try less hard at? Like to think of yourself as a super hero? What kind of costume would be perfect? Do tell – you know I love to hear.
Deborah – LOVE your response and I am excited to hear more about this project you are going for! Yahoo for the super hero Generator – super fun! Christine
Thanks Christine. I hope you’re checked out your super hero powers – it’s always good to know. 🙂
I think you’re going to have a great year in 2015!!! And I love the random superhero generator – I might have to use it myself when I respond to this prompt.
Life is exponentially better with the random superhero generator in existence. Fact! 🙂
I’ve read about alchemist creating gold from led but wood from a thin air? That’s awesome!
LOL – I know. Pretty amazing superpower to have isn’t it?!
You should absolutely honour your own way of doing things. I know if I wait to have a detailed strategy, I’ll lose interest long before i get anything done. Best of luck with your projects!
Thanks for the good wishes Tat!
I love your reframes, D!
Oh and that cuff!!
It really is delightful isn’t it – I’m sure Wonder Woman would trade her traditional ones for it.