> Hi Taylor and Dien and All Sow Pub visitors!

> But even so, every now and then I find I
> have to defend myself from others who want
> to say "you CAN'T do this" or
> "CAN'T do that"....

****And the question I ask those naysayer types is, "How come?" (Asking "Why" tends to really intimidate those types of thinkers, so I try to be gentle with them as much as possible!)

> It's not just now with my business plans and
> ideas, but it also happened before with my
> academic career....

****Dien, I have found it happens ALL the time. I have this theory that basically anyone can get in anywhere by carrying a clipboard, a briefcase and walking tall and looking straight ahead.

And the "least of these" types can intimidate the "most of those"....case in point...when I was a 21 year old College Student I was studying at the United Nations. I was an Africanist at the time, writing a research paper on the Sahelian Drought....and as a part of my project I interviewed an East German diplomat.

(Yes, this was before the fall of the Berlin Wall, I am showing my age!)

I interviewed him for maybe 45 minutes and he was SQUIRMING in his chair....I thought it was REALLY funny! I maintained my dignified, clipboard briefcase persona throughout and got some great material for my paper which netted me another A....

I also noticed as an Investigator in my last job I could literally get ANYWHERE in the hospital doing the same thing....people literally move out of your way if you show that you know WHO you are and WHERE you are going...there is a Napolean Hill quote in there somewhere....

Whenever people tell me "You can't!" I stop and say, "Oh yeah, just watch me!"

And someone recently said something to me and I asked, "Is that a dare?" Knowing if I even dare MYSELF I will more than rise to the occasion. My mom used to tell me as a child, "Julie, knowing you, once you set your mind on something LOOK OUT!"

This past week I solved some HUGE problems for a close family member who had fallen so far into the fear trap that there appeared to be no way out.

From my vantage point its all about perspective and attitude. Choosing to be a victim or choosing to be a victor. Choosing your destiny or accepting the junk that falls in the road in front of you in the guise of an obstacle.

My family member wrote to me, after I outlined the steps I had taken to solve the dilemma, "Thank you for being such a calming force" and I was so tempted to write back, "And how can YOU become a calming force for yourself in the future?"

Instead we spoke on the phone, and I coached this individual into a proactive plan. Lets hope it sticks!

So this was a very long winded discourse on the next time someone looks at you and says either "I can't" or "You can't" you can ask "How come?" and tell some supportive "Yes, You Can!" stories.

We all have them.

Maybe you ought to catalog your own. Go through your mind and polish yours up, so you can tell one of your "I CAN's" in 30 seconds or less.

One of the greatest things about coaching is I even give myself some fun assignments, without even meaning to do so!

With Purpose and Passion,

JULIE




Dare to Discover Your Passion, Decide to Live Your Destiny!