4 little words that have the power to change anything

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I'm one-week out of a pretty incredible networking event.

And isn't funny how after about 7 days the luster starts to wear off, the empowerment fades, and the inspiration for change is covered back up with old patterns and real life? In that moment with feel like it's going to last FOREVER! Some tiny bits may, but that energy and all of its momentum only lasts for so long.

For me, there was something that I'm choosing to carry with me for the long-haul. 

Janet Donovan, President and CEO of Girl Scouts in the Heart of Pennsylvania, spoke at last week’s EMPOWER Women’s Leadership Conference hosted by The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce. During her morning Keynote, Janet spoke about her experience as a U.S. Navy Two Star Rear Admiral and former Deputy Commander in the Office of the Judge Advocate General (JAG) of the Navy, plus having more than 20 years of executive experience, and encouraged each of us to think about compiling a list of people to be on our “personal board of directors.” These people would be our go-to for personal and professional assistance in all areas of our lives, would speak our names in a crowded room, and offer guidance and mentorship in times of need. She spoke about the value of making “the ask,” and being vulnerable enough to reach out to our list of people.

The value in that 45 minutes was immense, and her stories backed up her brilliant advice. There was A LOT to take away from her wisdom and knowledge, but there were 4 little words tucked deep into one little tangent that made the most lasting imprint on my mind.

“What will it take?”

In church this weekend, our parish’s AH-MAZING priest, Fr. John Lapera, gave his homily on the power of questions. He spoke about how questions are not evidence of a LACK of faith but proof that we have it. It’s because of the questions that we acknowledge the fact that we DO have faith—longing to understand more is a result of our desire to become more faithful.

“What will it take?”

I love this question! It inspires ACTION, sparks CREATIVITY, and is evidence of FAITH.

We all have dreams and desires in our hearts. Goals we want to achieve. Ideas we want to bring to life. Companies we want to build! Families we want to have!

But here’s what ends up happening: When we think of those goals, all we think of is that we haven’t achieved them yet. All we see is the gap between where we are and what we haven’t achieved yet. We look at your current circumstances and swirl around in the place of mediocrity… complacency. Then we make up stories for why it’s “good enough” and “who am I to want more?” And put our desires on a shelf.

We defend our current situation, make excuses for it. Say, “Oh, when I lose the weight I’ll buy the wardrobe.” “When I hit 6 figures I’ll hire an employee.” “When I get promoted I’ll start dating.”

I hate to break it to you, but those STATEMENTS aren’t going to make anything magically happen. Those STATEMENTS are not going to inspire you to take action, get creative, or have faith that your dream life is inevitable.

It’s the power of QUESTIONS that will change your current situations.
It’s the power of THIS QUESTION that will change your life.

What will it take… to buy the new wardrobe? …hire an employee? …start dating?

You already have the answer, you just haven’t asked the question.

This week I want to EMPOWER you:

•  To have a little more faith in yourself. 
•  To have a little more faith in the one who planted those dreams in your heart. 
•  To embrace a little more creativity to explore what it will take to make it happen.
•  To take one tiny action.
•  Then another.

And let me know how it’s going, okay? Because by you moving toward your dreams, you EMPOWER others to move toward theirs. And this world really needs a little more of that.

I have faith in you. <3