Have You Shut Down?

"I always loved running...it was something you could do by yourself, and under your own power. You could go in any direction, fast or slow as you wanted, fighting the wind if you felt like it, seeking out new sights just on the strength of your feet and the courage of your lungs." - Jesse Owens  Believe it or not, your career is just like running. Whether you work in corporate or own your own business, YOU are in control of where you go, what you do, who you work with, and how you do it. Disagree? Stick with me.

It all comes down to OPTIONS — how many doors do you have at your disposal to open when the time comes? When you want to make a change, when you want to make a move — are those doors there for you to open and step through?

If not — today is a great day to begin opening them.

Unfortunately, we tend to limit and close our doors frequently. What happens? We then feel closed in, no real direction, no opportunity for growth, and we get frightened. We shut down — we hide.

I've always said there are two states to your career — growing or shrinking. Which one are you? If your career or business is not growing, it's shrinking.

So how do you develop more options and doors in your life?

  • Develop a plan. Not a 100-page plan, a one page plan.
  • Get out and meet new people. At least 2-3 times a week.
  • Start exposing yourself. To new ideas, new knowledge, new experiences.
  • Get motivated. Re-fuel your motivation gas tank every day.

If you begin to see your career or business with a 'doors open' attitude, I promise you will begin to grow exponentially. Try it.

What do you do to get more options in your life? How do you open more doors?