Of course, when you can attend 10 hours worth of dynamic professional motivational speakers for $1.95, you have to know up front that there are some ringers. That's how they make their money. And yes, there were some ringers, a financial expert, a real estate expert and an internet business mogul. They made me want to hop up and go spend the money I didn't have to spend (thank-you economy) and made me believe that I too, could be worth countless millions if I would just let loose of that $99.95, $29.95 and $49.95 and buy their amazing "How To" seminars, that would, of course be hosted at a later date.
Have to admit, it was tempting, very tempting, especially when they offered the "money back guarantees".
Oh well, I didn't head out there to learn how to be a mogul, I went there to find my center, to re-invent my way of thinking and once again feel grounded in this yucky economy of ours. I was one of a mere 50,000 plus that sat there for the whole day and enjoyed listening to the passionate presentations of Steve Forbes, Colin Powell, Lou Holtz, Zig Ziegler, Rudy Guiliani, Goldie Hawn, Bill Cosby and many, many more. Even including the "Bonus" speakers, they were all amazing, absolutely amazing and you simply sit in your seat and repeat "Wow" over and over again. I think at some point, everyone should attend one of these, just be sure to sit on your hands when the little lights started flashing for those "bonus" special offers.
Okay, big question for all of you out there. Have you ever attended an event at any sports or concert arena? What happens at intermissions? Yep, that's right, you get an instant influx of people that ALL have to go potty at the same time. I'm absolutely sure that the water level in the reservoir probably drops substantially from all of the constant flushing and hand washing. So, imagine, if you will, 50,000 caffeine, pizza, chocolate chip cookie and popcorn filled patrons all making a mad dash for those few and far between, sacred rooms!
Why do they not have enough of those things to go around when they know darn well just how many people their arena can hold? There was an endless line at the ladies' room that was sooooooo long, that it snaked through the food court, wrapped around a corner and out into the common area at the entrance of the arena. I tell you what, if you would have had the foresight to load in the inventory, you could have made a fortune selling Depends to all of those people in line. I'm really surprised that they didn't have that as one of their speaker's subjects!
I am at this point, probably about 80 or 90th in line with hundreds more behind me, tottering from one foot to the other, squirming, frantic women, all desperate to be as lucky as me. (You see, I learned early on, that you leave a little bit ahead of everyone else to avoid the lines, but then apparently so did 80 or 90 other women!)
Hey, this line is moving pretty quick. That's great! Before I know it, I am in the glorious room of women who all seem to have the look of pending relief on their faces. And that is when I see the miracle worker! Mind you, this is not a job that I would ever think about, let alone realize that it existed, but folks, the management at the Georgia Dome has got this down to a science! They have a uniformed, very polite POTTY POINTER! Yep, that's right. Her whole entire job revolves around watching those doors open and close and point the next in line to her destination stall. How profound. They obviously attended one of these little seminars before and that is where they got this fantastic idea. Profound and amazing, only way to describe it. Gee, I wonder if they had the same thing in the Mens' room. I'll just leave that one alone.
Back to the seminar. This is what I learned, condensed, but it's all here.
1. Yes, we are in trying financial times in our world.
2. Yes, if you have a job, you are one of the lucky ones.
3. You and only you can make the difference in what happens to you. If things are bad, yes, it may take time to make a comeback, but YOU have to believe that YOU can overcome what has happened to you and take the first steps to recovery. There are a lot of ways to make it happen, but the first step is believing in yourself! Short and sweet. You have to believe in you! Second step, you know that secret dream that you've kept tucked away in the very back corner of your mind, well, it's time to let it see daylight! Bring it out in the open. Third, talk to people about your dream, come up with a game plan and see if you can get other people excited about it/you. Last, MAKE IT HAPPEN!
Okay, so what are you waiting for? Go do it! This includes me. My business has tanked because of the economy and I've wallowed in self-pity at the crux of it all for the past 3 months. Enough is enough. Time to take control, give that dream some life and make it a reality! Maybe it needs re-tooled a little (or even a lot) to give it life again or at all. Look at it, study the need and the market, punch it up with a little Vitamin C and do it, do it, do it!
You're right. No one has any money to spare and it takes every dime just to keep gas in your car, feed the family and pay the bills. I'm right there with you! We Can Do This! We Can! Find yourself someone to hold you accountable! Make them a part of your team and don't give up!
Okay, I'm done, but I'm not gone! God gives you a morning, you put your feet on the floor, take a deep breath, and there you go. You're victorious in the first battle of the day. Push those warm covers aside, put on those slippers and robe and take the dog out! But don't forget to start the coffee pot on your way out the door with your pooch. You come back in and there's that wonderful smell of brewing coffee. Toast is toasting, coffee brewing, and slowly but surely, you begin to pull yourself together. Then there's that incredible sunrise, you know the one I mean, full of pinks and oranges in that crystal clear autumn sky. Wow! All of a sudden, you realize that YOU are alive and have received the greatest gift of all.
From here on out, it's one foot in front of the other, a positive attitude, believing in yourself and taking time to dream that dream, because, somewhere in that dream, is a future for you and it's worth fighting for until you can claim "to the victor go the spoils".
Short and sweet without all those words I just put there for you to read, the answer to pulling yourself back together and making things whole again, starts with the daily miracle we call morning and the giver of that gift. The next part is YOU, all YOU and everything that YOU have to give!
So...It's You! Now what are you going to do about it?
Grab the brass ring and live your life!
You don't have to be Rudy or Steve or Colin or Goldie or Bill to motivate people. You just need the power within you to make it happen for yourself and others around you. Remember that Potty Pointer? Well, she may not have the most glorious job in the world, but it takes a lot of puzzle pieces to make it all come together. The one thing I remember about her is definitely her smile. She never had a negative tone, not a sassy word, just a smile and her own way of handling that mob of squirming, wiggly, frantic women that she had to deal with all day long. God bless her and God bless you.
Go be a potty pointer and seize the day!
Love y'all,
Katydid!
