B. Hunter Associates

Not so long ago, I graduated from my basement level cottage business to a notable business address. The one thousand square foot street level office was my dream come true. When my friend Karen came to visit, she brought two Cactus plants. They were not only the first gifts, but also the first plants in the newly opened office. We placed them on the new Broyhill credenza where they could be seen and cared for.
After several months we noticed that the cacti had lost their luster. They had only a tinge of their previous green color; they looked near death. We obviously had no experience in caring for cactus. But being aware that Karen could make a return visit, we moved them aside instead of tossing them. They remained alive and alone in the back of the office -in the corner- for next months.
In an attempt to right-size the office the following year, we moved to a vacant smaller office across the hall. It was a nicer location with lots of windows facing the street. It had lots of morning and evening sunshine. In the moving day haste, someone placed the cactus plants in a vacant window space away from the walking traffic. We literally forgot they were there.
Then one morning, I entered the office and was greeted by a beautiful and bountiful array of blossoms from the cacti; they were pink on one plant and white on the other. We learned that our newly rejuvenated office acquisitions were called Christmas cacti and always capable of this splendid production. They just needed to be in the right place! We were so glad that we didn’t discard them; they were just what our office needed!
Sometimes in our career/life pursuits, we unknowingly end up in the wrong place. We become lackluster and unresponsive and at best a mediocre producer. We need to be somewhere else; but, we don’t know where. Career experts suggest that you will know that right fit when we find it because, like the cactus, we will bloom.
Our sunshine and nourishment for optimal career success may be around the next corner…or in the next job opening. Make and take every opportunity to move about and explore the options in your present work setting. Take a leap of faith and move.
Use the resources available and stay the course with optimism. Only then will you find your space and take your place!
For greater insights and assistance: Call Success-Coach Brenda

When Life Seems Low…

Have you had a certain attitude that comes when things aren’t happening the way they should-or at least the way you think they should? Things like that great plan you had to gain more money, more power, more prestige or more energy; your plan to do more, go farther and live better…you fill in the blank. But in short, your last anticipated great thing didn’t make it. I call it ‘low’–like valley time.
I don’t know how it happened and can’t quite put my hands on the wrong to correct, but I do notice a downward trend-even if momentary. On these threatening occasions, the one thing I do know is that I desperately want out; I want to at least be back to my normal if I can’t get ahead.
There are three things that I consider in moments like these. First I thoroughly face the issue or situation to determine what happened. What it is from all angles; to be sure that it is more than an accident (wrong place/wrong time kind of thing). Next I check my compass-point and goal status: where was I headed in the first place? Did I have a solid and clear destination or was I just wandering around waiting for something great to happen? Finally, I gather up all of my energy and make a new plan (or an initial one if there wasn’t one to start with): a strategic, energized and executable and properly motivated process that is specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time bound.
I hope that you recognize the previous sentence as the SMART guidelines for setting goals. It does not have an absolute guarantee for preventing gloomy occurrences in life, but it does will help you to move closer to success at a greater frequency.
If you need additional assistance and accountability, call a coach. I’m a phone call away: (615-319-1223) BMH

"When an old man dies, a library burns down." - African proverb.

Begin building your legacy today!