Cause and Effect or How I learned Not to Put My Finger in a Flame
Dr. David Rafeedie
One characteristic I brought into adulthood with me is curiosity. I have always been curious about almost everything. I have done a lot of reading concerning the most inconsequential things and dug into the subject because I was curious. My curiosity has made me a lifelong learner, and I am incredibly grateful for it. However, it can at times be a trying characteristic and even painful. For example, when I was around five or six years old, my mother was standing at the gas stove cooking something. I was standing next to her watching her cook. But what had caught my eye were the flames of the burner. I remember that flame. I remember it because when my mom turned her back for a moment, I stuck my finger in the flame. Ouch! Out came the butter. I don't know why my mom put butter on the burn. It still hurt, but it tasted good. Then, as I grew older, I started catching bees in my bare hands to see how nasty the sting would be. So I have always been curious, but I haven't always been smart.
I mention those stories to illustrate there is a cause and effect for everything in life. Put your finger in a flame and get burned, grab a bee, and get stung. We even have old sayings to remind us. Sow the wind and reap the whirlwind. April showers bring May flowers. You reap what you sow. What goes around comes around. You get the point.
Here are a few cause-and-effect truths that everyone in business or their professional life should keep in mind. These truths apply to all of life. To make progress in life, business, or almost any endeavor, you will find these truths essential. You will recognize them, and some of you might wonder why I would waste the ink. The truth is, most people are so busy "doing" they do not take the time to reflect and do these three things.
Sow vision reap direction. Having a clear picture of what your business will look like in three years is an essential step in achieving your dream. A clear picture of what you will be like and your place in your business is vital for personal growth and the growth of your business. You must have a clear picture, so you will know you are there when you achieve your vision.
Sow direction reap plans. If you think of vision as your destination, it gives you direction for your business, profession, or personal life. And when you have a direction, then you can plan how to get there. Think of it as mapping out the pathway to your destination as you would on a road trip.
Sow plans reap progress. Think of your plans as action steps to get you down your pathway to making progress toward your vision. Your plans consist of achievable and measurable goals that will take you down the road to your destination. Think of the action steps as necessary stops on the trip to your destination.
Since I am mixing metaphors between farming and road trips, allow me to say that you will need rest stops along the road to your destination because sometimes you need to take a break and rest. Also, on the road to your destination, you are going to run into roadwork and obstacles. That is when you need a co-pilot to help you look at the map and discover routes that get you through. That is where a coach can be invaluable
Now back to farming. I am no farmer, but I know that seeds do not fall into the ground on their own. Sowing is an intentional process. And everyone sows! You are either sowing for progress or sowing to stand still, which in today's fast-changing business climate, you are losing ground.
Cause and effect. Make a choice and reap the consequences. Good or bad. Do nothing, reap nothing. Every choice you and I make has ramifications. Every choice you and I make will bring with them some change. Choices need to be made wisely and change needs to be managed well. Sowing requires seeds. Road trips require maps. In other words, some help outside of ourselves will cause us to make better choices and manage change better than if we did it all by our lonesome.
I am passionate about partnering with leaders like you for change and growth. Email me at info@davidthecoach.com, text me, or feel free to call me on 520-709-1860. If you like, text me your phone number, and I will contact you to start a conversation to explore a coaching relationship.
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