If you are going to go, go FAR.

 

Signs are everywhere that guide us, wake us up and turn us back in the right direction.  I’ve found that to be true of people, too.  So, why bring this up?  Because I’ve learned over and over again that if you don’t listen or heed to signs or the people you trust, life continues “as is” and that is not necessarily a good thing in most cases.  Change is almost always good.  And, it almost always entails a journey.  It’s just a matter of how far you want to go.

 

This past couple of weeks I’ve had not only a lot of signs, but spent some time with a couple of mentors that I cherish – not to mention individuals who I can’t believe have taken the time to care and nurture me.  Amazing people that have traveled farther than almost any humans have braved to go.  I also had dinner with an extrodinary client and she (unknowingly) slapped me in the face with a truth.  Like me, she was an athlete in her younger years.  She didn’t brag, but I could tell that she’d excelled.  We were talking about how athletics has inspired our adult professional life.  She pointed out that we learned to work hard to win.   We were conditioned over many years.  And, learning to work hard and experiencing athletic success has translated into our adult lives to always aspire to a higher level.   Always reaching futher down the road.

 

Over the last five months, I’ve been going 1,000 miles an hour and for the life of me, could not figure out how to slow down.  Or, even if I should.  From the exterior view, success has been abundant both personally and professional.  But, on the interior there has been nothing but what I call my “internal hamster wheel.”  Questions over and over again.  Should I stay, or should I go?  Where am I going?  Am I going too far?  Why am I hanging so close? Those were the questions spinning around in my soul.

 

It didn’t take much time for one of my mentors to answer all of these questions for me—in just one short statement.  The statement I lead this blog with is it – “If you are going to go, go far.”  My dad used to say something similar to me.  “If you are going to do something, be the best.”  But, the “go far” really hit me this past week.   It means more than topping everyone else, it means doing what you do FOR YOURSELF and to your satisfaction.  Don’t let people hold you back.  Don’t be afraid to go out on a limb and pick the best apple.  And, remember. ..you should be the one to take the first bite of that apple.

 

The road I’ve been on really took its turn the first of this year.  As most of you have probably noticed, blogging for me over the last five months has simply not happened.  After having some good time to write and be inspired around the New Year, life went crazy and I had to make some tough choices.  To blog or not to blog. . .that was the choice.  It felt terrible to quit in the middle of the Oprah New Year’s series – even sort of embarrassing.  But, it came down simply to work and family.  I have been in survival mode, but not necessarily in a bad sense.  I discovered – or acknowledged – for the first time that I really love what I do for a living.  And, that I love to work in general.   For years, I’ve gone through the days feeling guilty, bad about myself and in denial about this fact.  But, over these last five months I’ve also come to realize that there is nothing wrong with loving what you do. 

 

Now, work does not just include my day job as the owner of a Boise-based PR firm.  It also includes the fact that I love working hard to be the best wife, mother, sister, mentor and friend.   Accomplishing those things—being good at work, home and friendship—is really what makes me happy.   And, instead of feeling bad or guilty – I need to travel even further.  Because there is a long way to go.  But, to be the best I can be—I also need to make some changes. More, yet not going about more in the same ways.

 

I no longer want to be the professional that my clients find sent them work product at 1 am or the woman who got hemorrhoids because she sat on the sofa for hours and hours working.   Really.  Sadly, that happened to me several times recently.  When I mentioned this issue to a close physician friend of mine, the first thing she said to me was – “Steph, sounds like you have been spending a lot of time sitting on your . . .”   Yes, you know the three letter word.  And, yes.  It’s true. 

 

Truth be really told, this is going to be hard for me especially with work.  I am lucky enough to have a list of clients that I truly love and enjoy working with and for –so, each new possibly makes me want to go wild with creativity and hit the ball out of the park.  I’m also competitive.  So, I want to make sure my clients get service, strategy and creative thinking like they can get no place else—not in Boise, not in NY, not in LA.   But, delivering this can be tough on myself and those who work around me.   Learning to put limits on what I can do and say “no” is one step toward change, but also trusting more and teaching more to those who surround me.  Simply. . .believing.

 

I also need to extend this—first and foremost—to my family and close friends.  I think most of these people know how much I cherish them, but not taking care of myself or not being there to support them when they are trying to “go far” is not acceptable.   

 

And, that brings me full circle.  I’m going . . .and going far.  With all of the signs and encouragement from family and mentors, that’s exactly where I’m going – as far as possible.   You are all invited to come along.  If I can inspire just one person to finally be at peace or to take the far-reaching journey to the top, then my life will be complete.

 

Let’s GO!!!