Upward Spiral

Ever have that out of control feeling where things just get better and better and no matter what temporary setbacks you encounter, you are able to overcome them? I really like that feeling a lot. This is what I am calling an “upward spiral” and here’s what that might look like for you:
* You make the right choices
* You expect that things will somehow go your way
* You create an environment where it’s okay to take reasonable risks and in turn you get more than reasonable rewards
* You have a sense of urgency and things get done – you don’t procrastinate, but rather act when appropriate on the best information you have at the time
* You have support and know where to ask for help when you need it…and then you actually ask for the help and get the support
* You are positive rather than negative
* You have optimism rather than pessimism
* You have hopefulness rather than hopelessness
* You have a balanced life filled with meaningful work and enjoy family, friends, fun, and a balanced and healthy diet with plenty of exercise and activity
* You have abundance and you give generously from that abundance rather than through sacrificing
* You are grateful
You, you, you, you, you…all these points begin with you. Know why? It’s because these are all choices that you make. It doesn’t happen by accident – it happens on purpose…and with purpose.

Okay, so check this out – this is how I’m feeling again in University Advancement after a few weeks – we’re at the beginning of an “upward spiral” with some small successes at first and we’re ready to make a habit out of success. It’s like us, it’s what we’re used to, it’s what we expect, and we won’t settle for anything less.

Sidebar: Sometimes on our way to success, we have to redefine success. Remember that most of the time it’s not about absolute perfection, it’s about finishing…and perfectionists tend to have a difficult time finishing. However, while perfection is overrated, superior performance is not.

We just had an amazing event, a real success, Thursday evening where we brought our more than generous friends of the campus together with the students they support through scholarships. That feeling; that energy – that’s what success looks like. The stories of the first to donate scholarship funds to the most recent to donate scholarship funds – not that different from the stories of the recipients of their generosity – stories of overcoming temporary setbacks; stories of gratitude; stories about choosing success. Now we did have a little microphone glitch, but the President was fabulous (again) and used a temporary setback (feedback actually) to the collective benefit of everyone in the room. She chose success.

My advice: Create your own upward spiral – make the choice; give yourself permission; launch yourself to atmospheric heights. The view is heavenly.