Your second time will be better.

Better than the first.

You now know what to expect.

The second …

… time you present.

… day on the job.

… time using software.

… lesson [insert yours here].

… date.

… time you cook that recipe.

… visit to the gym.

… time you fly (as a passenger or pilot).

… day of school / university / college.

… time on a bike (peddling or powered).

… race.

… time hiking.

… sale.

… assignment.

… time you reverse park.

… client proposal.

… time skiing.

… project.

Then the next time after that will be better again.

“Do the one thing you think you cannot do. Fail at it. Try again. Do better the second time.” – Oprah Winfrey

Ah … the proverbial bus.

A common metaphor for business.

Or strategy.

Or change.

You have a choice as to where to position yourself.

Are you on the bus?

Are you off the bus?

Have you missed the bus?

Are you on the wrong bus?

Whatever the choice …

… do try to avoid being under the bus.

Thrown or otherwise.

“They first got the right people on the bus (and the wrong people off the bus) and then figured out where to drive it.” – Jim Collins, “Good to Great”

You are on a journey.

You hopefully have a destination in mind.

Parts of the journey you will not enjoy.

There will be bumps and bruises along the way.

There will be fears and frustrations.

Obstacles and detours.

Things may not go to plan.

And that’s okay.

You will learn.

You will adapt.

You will grow.

So, love the journey you’re on.

“You’re not going to enjoy every minute of the journey, but the success you’ll find at the end will make it all worth it.” – Muhammad Ali

You will know when it’s time to rest.

Your body will feel it.

Your mind will crave it.

Your soul will love it.

Time to turn off and …

Refresh.

Recharge.

Retreat.

Reactivate.

Reaffirm.

Realign.

Reanalyse.

Reawaken.

Rebalance.

Reconnect.

Recreate.

Refocus.

Reignite

Reload.

Renourish.

Revive.

Rejuvenate.

Renew.

When did you last rest?

“We must always change, renew, rejuvenate ourselves, otherwise we harden.” – Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

“Rest when you’re weary. Refresh and renew yourself, your body, your mind, your spirit. Then go back to work.” – Ralph Marston

Focus on what you can control.

Your reactions and responses.

Your attitude and effort.

Your behaviour and actions.

Telling the truth.

The people you surround yourself with.

(Yes, that is something you can control.)

Your self-talk.

Your work ethic.

The food you eat.

Answering with a “yes”.

Saying “no”.

The books and blogs you read.

How much social media you let in.

(Yes, including this little piece of content.)

You cannot control “them”.

“If I really want to improve my situation, I can work on the one thing over which I have control – myself.” – Stephen R. Covey

That flash of insight.

The awakening of an idea.

A sudden realisation.

The burst of inspiration.

An unexpected discovery

The “aha” moment.

It has come to you.

Now, what are you going to do with it?

“A moment’s insight is sometimes worth a life’s experience.” – Oliver Wendell Holmes

Seek out others who are different.

Engage with different views.

Learn or study something new.

Try new experiences.

Challenge your assumptions.

Write out your own thoughts.

Ask questions.

Become aware of biases.

Read widely.

Look for distinctions.

Observe and interpret.

Take a class.

Change your mind (it’s okay … you’re allowed).

Listen.

How will you expand your thinking?

“Thinking: the talking of the soul with itself.” – Plato

The team knows what is hampering the business.

Ask.

The team knows where the problems are.

Listen.

The team knows how to solve the problems.

Encourage.

The team knows how to collaborate.

Support.

The team knows how to succeed.

Celebrate.

“None of us is as smart as all of us.” – Ken Blanchard

You will find yourself impeded.

Obstructions and obstacles come in many forms.

Processes and people.

Barriers and bureaucracy.

Constraints and conditions.

So find another way.

When the door is shut.

Knock on the next one.

When you receive a “no”.

Go find a “yes”.

When all you get are negatives.

Search for positives.

When the path is blocked.

Choose another.

Focus on what you can do, rather than what you can’t.

“Don’t let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do” – John R. Wooden

Be patient.

There is nothing for it but to wait.

For the process takes as long as it takes.

For the necessary signatures to be obtained.

For the approval to be given.

It is out of your control.

But if it’s within your control.

Then no need to be so virtuous.

Streamline that process.

Rationalise the signature requirements.

Push approval levels down the hierarchy.

There is no time to delay.

“Patience is a virtue, and I’m learning patience.  It’s a tough lesson.” – Elon Musk