Tag Archive for inspiration. good ideas

5 Questions To Determine If A Change Is A Good Idea

January 30, 2023 John Uncategorized No comments

Something needs to change in your life. But you’re not sure if it’s a smart thing to do. 

Use these GenuLines questions to help you make the wisest decision. 

5 Questions To Determine If A Change Is A Good Idea

Change is synonymous with living. It may come into your life out of the blue and take you by surprise.
 
Other times you know it’s coming and you rush to prepare.
 
sign symbolizes change
 
 
Yet even though change may be your choice, it still may feel scary and overwhelming. You may find yourself wondering: should I make the change or not?
 
To help you, GenuLines offers 5 questions to determine if a situation is something you can change. The idea here is to make you feel more in control of your life.
 
These questions can help you decide which situations you should change, and which aren’t worth your time or effort.
 
Let’s get started.
 
 
1. Will it Make Me Happy?
Before you commit to any change ask yourself: will it give my life meaning? Will it make me feel happy?
 
To answer that question, you have to know what it is you want from life.
 
One way to do that is to consider your beliefs and your core values. Include those dreams you had for your life when you were younger but forgot about when you got older.
 
2. Can it Help Me Reach My Goals?
Now that you know what makes you happy, it’s time to take a look at your life goals. Start by making a list of all the realistic goals you want to achieve in life.
 
Then, divide them into three categories: short-term, medium, and long-term goals.
 
The final step is to take action. This may force you to step out of your comfort zone, but if that’s what it takes to make a change for the better, why not?
 
It takes a positive attitude, a bit of patience, and a whole lot of self-love.
Also, remember that your goals themselves may change.
 
So, it’s important to stay flexible, especially when you’re setting new goals.
 
3. Is This Something I Want?
We’re programmed to try and always please as many people as we can. It can be exhausting.
 
You spend time wondering if people like what you’re doing or if they’re satisfied with your work. If you’re going to change any aspect of your life, make sure it’s for you and not to please other people.
 
After all, it’s your life. No one is going to live it for you.
 
Another thing to remember is that the only person you should compare yourself to is you. There’ll always be someone who’s better than you or is more successful than you.
 
The best thing to do is to focus on your progress. Be proud of how much you’ve achieved and concentrate your energy on where you’re going next.
4. Will It Improve My Life?
You might be thinking of moving to a smaller house or changing your job. Change can also come on a smaller scale.
 
You could be thinking of upgrading your security system, Or planting a garden,
 
Whatever it is, think about all the ways it can improve the quality of your life. Any type of change you pursue must make your life easier, less stressful, and a lot more fun.
5. Am I Letting Fear Hold Me Back?
Being afraid is natural, but letting fear control you isn’t. We’re all afraid of failing, of uncertainty, and a whole bunch of other stuff.
 
Yet, there’s one thing that successful people don’t do; they don’t let their fears take over their lives.
 
They learn how to face whatever it is that’s putting those butterflies in their stomachs. Then, they take a deep breath and jump in.
 
Whether it’s fear of public speaking or fear of heights, you have to muster some courage. Then power through the fear, no matter what the outcome is.
 
You’ll come out the other side a stronger, more experienced individual.
Conclusion
Everyone goes through a wide array of changes in their lifetime. You can either join in and embrace all the good that change has to offer, or you can stay behind.
 
If you choose to stay, you’ll always be standing on the sidelines of life. Living with discontent, never fulfilled.
 
So, draw a deep breath and take the plunge. Who knows?
 
You might even come to enjoy the ride!
 
JohnK 1-30-2023
 
stick man hears about changeOverheard: “The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do”
                                        ~ Steve Jobs
 
 
 
 
Article image by Markus Spiske on Unsplash
 
 
disclaimer for change
 

What Does It Mean to Think Strategically?

January 3, 2022 John Uncategorized No comments

I’ve always felt that improving how you think will go a long way toward improving what you think. The result is a marked improvement in your life.

 As a new year begins, GenuLines offers a closer look at the thought process.
 

What Does It Mean to Think Strategically

 
“The purpose of life is a life of purpose” – Robert Byrne
 
Have you ever thought about what it means to think strategically? Does it mean to create strategies like in a war?
 
Is it a skill you are born with or something you learn? Strategic thinking seems like vague buzzwords.
 
Man thinks
 
 
 
The kind that CEOs toss around to sound important.

Learning

Actually, strategic thinking is a skill we can all learn. It’s how we plan, think, and ask questions to grow and learn while we work toward a goal.
 
It’s embracing what you were like when you were young child. When you asked questions like, “why?”
 
Thinking strategically grows out of a combination of knowledge, experiences, and your hunches. It’s about taking calculated and uncalculated risks that we hope will pay off in the future.
 
It’s about shifting your focus. You go from just doing things to thinking and planning what should be getting done.
 

Three Behaviors That Inspire Thinking

Strategically Switching your focus is easier said than done. To cultivate a mind of thinking strategically, these three behaviors can help.
 
Question why. Don’t accept doing a task a certain way because it’s the way it’s always been done.
 
Ask yourself why it’s done that way. Or if there’s a better way to do it.
 
Thinking strategically is about knowledge to help you make an informed decision. Asking questions and listening to others’ opinions is important.
 
It supplies you with the information you need to make a well-informed decision.

Observe everything

Spending every minute doing stuff and getting things done might seem productive.
 
But it doesn’t allow for you to think strategically about what you are doing.
 
Instead occasionally step back and observe what’s going on. Look for areas that could be more efficient. Who’s doing what and how much each activity is helping things move forward.
 
Look at the big picture. See the way the pieces fit together.

Reflect on your day

Think about what gave you energy or took it away.
 
Reflect on the activities that helped the organization move ahead. And the ones that wasted your time.
 
Reflection time each day allows you to ask yourself if you’re on the right path. Whether you develop solutions, and stay on track with your goals.
 
This is where inspiration and creativity have a chance to grow in a visible way.

Takeaway

When you focus on doing and making something happen by doing this and doing that, you’re working hard. But you’re not thinking strategically.
 
Of course, working and doing is necessary up to a point.
 
Instead stop focusing on just getting things done. Take a step back and set goals for what you want in the future and how you can help the organization win.
 
Thinking strategically is inspiring. You move away from going through the motions in a mindless way.
 
You don’t jump at the commands of others. Or you plan and observe and put ideas into motion.
 
And that takes you (and your team) to success.
 
JohnK 1-3-2022
 
stick figure hears about how to think
Overheard: “The essence of the independent mind lies not in what it thinks, but in how it thinks.”
                           ~Christopher Hitchens, Lettets to a Young Contrarian
 
 
 
 
 
disclaimer for how to think

Motivation Through Adversity- A Proven Path

November 8, 2021 John Uncategorized No comments

A life lived without adversity of some kind is rare. At it’s worst it can seem as though motivation is lost.

With that in mind GenuLines takes a look at a few who made their difficult roads work for them

Motivation Through Adversity- A Proven Path
People sometimes feel that they have no hope. They find themselves in dire situations and believe they’re never going to recover.
 
For instance, a person born with an issue that sets up barriers right from the start.
 
It’s understandable why they feel defeated. But there are examples of people who beat the odds and thrived in the process.
 
reminder of motivation
 
The Miracle Worker
One example is Helen Keller. At the age of 11, she lost both her sight and hearing due to an illness.
 
Her live-in teacher, Anne Sullivan, helped Keller prepare for college. She went on to became a prolific author and activist.
 
And she set up schools for the blind and deaf.
 
Birth of Greatness
You may have heard of Helen Keller, but have you ever heard of Nick Vujicic? Nick was born without arms and legs.
 
He’s now a motivational speaker and evangelist.
 
You can find plenty of videos of Nick doing activities as well as or better than people who have all their limbs. He refuses to let hid situation get in his way.
 
Super Effort
You may remember Christopher Reeves. He was an American actor famous for playing Superman in the 1990s movie series.
 
He developed quadriplegia after a horse riding accident. Shortly after the incident, he used his fame to help others who experience similar fates.
 
There are plenty of other examples of people who rose above their disabilities. It is a source of inspiration and motivation to others who feel helpless.
 
No Quit
These are all examples of people who would be likely to give up based on their circumstances but refused to do so. Their situations were in no way easy to deal with, and they all had long journeys to rise above their situations.
 
They not only accomplished something but excelled at it.
 
Someone in your life may be facing a particularly difficult situation. You can help them by showing the inspiration of the people mentioned in this article.
 
The Takeaway
Even you’re not in a dire situation you can get motivated by these inspiring people. For instance, if you are facing a problem, think about what these people had to go through.
 
Their experience will lend you some perspective. It’ll help motivate you to look for a solution.
 
And don’t look at this as reveling in their misery. Instead, you’re celebrating their lives.
 
And their ability to overcome the adversities they faced.
 
JohnK 11-8-2021
 
Stick figure hears about motivationOverheard: “Adversity causes some men to break; others to break records”
                               ~ William Arthur Ward
 
 
 
 
disclaimer for motivation
 

8 Ways Leaders Pull the Team Through Tough Times

June 28, 2021 John Uncategorized No comments

Leaders who get that title can put the group on their shoulders during the toughest times. It’s inspirational, and it can even change the world.

 
This GenuLines look at how it’s done should inspire you, even if you don’t plan to change the world.

8 Ways Leaders Pull the Team Through Tough Times

It’s easy to be a leader when things are rolling along. In fact, it can be downright awesome.
 
picture of leaders
 
Especially if you get your own castle or palace (this may not apply to the typical shift manager).
 
But what if your team is in the trenches under fire? You need some serious leadership skills to hold it all together.
 
 
 
Consider the following.
 
1. Grit
The definition of grit is courage, resolve, and strength of character. Blend these qualities and you come up with one word: toughness.
 
Good leaders hold the team together in tough times by staying committed to the battle.
 
2. Optimism
Grit tends to relate to the present. But optimism is a component of leadership that looks to the future.
 
A leader who has a positive view of the outcome is creating a mental framework for the team to pull through. This is because they foster the belief that something great is on the other side.
 
3. Pragmatism
Leaders need to be gritty and optimistic. They also need to be practical.
 
Their intelligence and common sense will steer them through a given situation. Viewing the future through rose colored glasses can lead to costly mistakes.
 
4.Selflessness
A bad captain will try to save their own skin. A good captain makes sure crewmembers get off the sinking ship first. (that said, it’s not necessary to go down with the ship)!.

5. Resolution

Tough times are ripe for dissension and mutiny, but a good leader holds command. Sometimes you have to show tough love.
 
Put the proverbial foot down when members of the team start talking smack. They’ll thank you later.
 
6. Encouragement
A good leader encourages the team during a tough stretch to help them find the drive to make it through. Sometimes encouragement can be as simple as a casual look-in to the group.
 
They’ll pat some backs, and give smiles or friendly words.
 
7. Preparedness
A good leader makes preparations for the team’s bad times.
 
The plan to cover all the possibilities, including what to do if things don’t go exactly the way they were hoping.
 
8. Bravery
Fear can undermine the entire mission. This is true whether the war is on a battlefield, a sporting field, or the sales floor.
 
A good leader is brave and inspires the team with that bravery.
 
JohnK 6-28-2021
 
Stick figure hears about leadersOverheard: “A person always doing his or her best becomes a natural leader, just by example.”
                               ~Joe DiMaggio
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
disclaimer for leaders

Five Effective Ways to Find Inspiration

January 28, 2020 John Uncategorized No comments

Inspiration can come to you in a flash. But it can also avoid you when you need it most. 

GenuLines invites you to read on for some ways to get access to this thing called inspiration.

(you can listen to the article by clicking on below or scroll down to read)

____________________

 

banner to help inspiration

Five Effective Ways to Find Inspiration

light bulb of inspirationAt a loss for inspiration? Here are five techniques you can use to try and coax something new and exciting out of your brain.
 
They won’t always work, but give them a shot. They may just surprise you!
 
 
 
Go for a Walk
Walks are inspiring for many reasons. For starters, they allow us to take a break from what we’re doing and to change our environment.
 
In turn, this leads to new input. This can help us to gain a new perspective on whatever problem or task we’re wrestling with.
 
At the same time, walking is a monotonous task that allows our default mode network to kick in.
 
You could end up daydreaming, which is often, a source of great inspiration.

Ask the Right Questions

Sometimes, inspiration is merely asking the right questions. This can help to re-frame the problem and see it in a new way.
 
Let’s say you’re wondering how to solve a problem and you can’t come up with an answer. Make up a name.
 
Then try asking yourself how ‘Johnny’ would approach it. Likewise, instead of thinking about what you want something to be, decide what you don’t want it to be.

Take a Break

Sometimes, the best thing you can do to spark some creativity or solve a problem is to take a break. With a time-out, you stop trying to force the idea.
 
You ease your stress, and that lets ideas come to you much easier. This is why we’re often encouraged to sleep on big decisions.
 
Listen to Music
Music can be a great inspiration. It alters our mood and energy level and takes us to different places.
 
Often, you’ll find that music can leave you lost in thought. So try listening to some tracks while you mull over a subject, and see if that helps.

Talk it Over

You’ve seen ideas depicted as light bulbs. Or, as lightning strikes that show up in a flash, fully formed.
 
When you ask them most people admit that their best ideas formed slowly. They’ll tell you that they gestated for days, months, or even years before showing up.
 
Often, the best ideas come to us when we discuss them with other people. Even if we’re just thinking aloud, this can help us to see new perspectives.
 
And it can lead to new breakthroughs.
 
JohnK 1-28-2020
 

stick figure talking about inspirationOverheard: “Things work out best for those who make the best of how things work out”

                                        ~John Wooden
 
 
 
 
 
 
disclaimer about inspiration