Creating Mastery

Creating Mastery

First, you need to define what it truly means to be a master.  The challenge is learning from near wins, figuring out how to overcome the challenges of coming so close to something but never quite grasping the brass ring.

Sarah Lewis, a featured TED Talks speaker, tells us that "Mastery is in the reaching, not the arriving.  It is in constantly wanting to close the gap between where you are and where you want to be."

When you learn how to cherish the journey, perhaps missing the mark, but always keeping your eye on your target, you are one step closer to mastery of your goal.  Think of it as a journey to the top of a mountain. You see the mountain, you can visualize it, even if you have never been there.  You have ideas of what it takes to reach the summit and start your preparations.  It is all up to you where this journey takes you.  To master the climb, to achieve your goal of reaching the summit, you have to take the necessary steps.

The longest journey begins with the first step.  This is true whether you are trying to climb that mountain or climb the corporate ladder.  If you do not start somewhere, you will never reach the next rung, much less the summit.

In order to correct past mistakes, it is necessary to begin again, to start all over or at least from where you perceive you made your mistake.  That is the goal of Second Chance Solutions, to teach you that you are not stuck with anything if you have the drive and tenacity to make the necessary changes, always striving for that which is just out of your grasp, or as Ms. Lewis says, "pursuing a kind of excellence in obscurity."

If you find success in hitting your target, is that the only time you can achieve that?  Mastery is being able to achieve it over and over, again and again.  Master your first impression by always striving to make it the best you can.  Never settle for second best.

by Karen L. Boggs

Help your Customers to Choose

Although Thanksgiving is not yet upon us, the holidays are officially here.  Stores have decked their halls, and shelves overflow.  There are so many things to choose from, how do we even start?

Marketing asks a consumer to make choices, often a difficult task for people.  We employ a host of techniques: research, feedback, analysis of competition products as well as our own product line.  Does this work make it easier for the consumer to choose?

Sheena Iyengar, a psycho-economist, has fascinating insight into the process of consumer choice.  Wattime well spent in avoiding the mistake of over-complicating the process, and stressing the consumer.

Enjoy!
Laura

The following video is one of my favorite of Seth Godin's presentations.  It shows so well the apathy behind leaving things broken, and the power that can come from correcting.  I think it highlights best what our group is trying to accomplish with Second Chances, the ability to redo.

Enjoy,
Laura

So You Think Science is Staid? Listen In.

Do you have a crazy invention?  You might be a candidate for an IgNobel Award.

The video below is quite amusing, demonstrating how sometimes ideas are born of necessity and the creative ideas people come up with to combat or alleviate the particular situation.  Human nature can be quite creative.  Listen then join the conversation.

This is a situation where people have taken a chance on creating a new invention; sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't, but it is usually ingenious and sometimes even deserves to be acknowledged.

 These people are not worried about the image they portray to the world and their fellow man.  They are not looking for a Second Chance to make a First Impression.  It is not always necessary.  They provide a couple of services to their fellow man, one is comic relief, and a second can be a truly unique solution to an existing problem.

Have you ever thought of an idea to combat a problem in society or for the potential betterment of your fellow humans?  If you would like to share with us, we welcome your comments.

Second Chance Solutions, ideas for getting a Second Chance to Make a First Impression.

by Karen Boggs