Stay Focused - Ask for advice quickly before you get into trouble.

Stay Focused

“Without Counsel plans are frustrated but with many counselors they succeed” -King Solomon-

 "If I hadn't had mentors, I wouldn't be here today. I'm a product of great mentoring, great coaching... Coaches or mentors are very important. They could be anyone--your husband, other family members, or your boss." 

Indra Nooyi, the CEO of PepsiCo

"Thank you" is the best prayer that anyone could say. I say that one a lot. Thank you expresses extreme gratitude, humility, and understanding.”

 -Alice Walker

My Take

One lesson I have learned over the years is that we are not alone in our quest… Whatever that quest may be. The knowledge and guidance we require and the strength needed to endure any situation is always at our fingertips. We just have to ask for help.  As always however, to gain access to this vital guidance there is a secret door that needs to be opened, and a secret code needed to open it.  Luckily the secret is out.

Real genius is nothing else but the supernatural virtue of humility in the domain of thought. -Simone Weil

The closed door that slows our momentum and sometimes stops us dead in our tracks is in our heads.  The not so secret code needed to open this door is humility.   It takes humility to ask for help.  

So, 30 years ago I was hiking with a friend along a cliff in Laguna Beach California.  What a beautiful sight, clear blue sky and the pacific ocean in all its spender beneath us. We ventured on a trail that seemed to wonder down and around the cliffs giving us amazing views while providing a bit of an adventure.  Well soon we found that the trail became narrower and soon we found ourselves high up on a steep faced rock cliff ready to plummet to our deaths.  Well it seemed that way to me.  This was no joke at the time, and still gives me chills when I think about it.  I found myself flat up against the steep rock face on a trail that had narrowed to the point of only being able to put one foot in front of the other while trying to somehow hold on to the slope.  I’m stuck!!!  Somehow I found myself fifty feet up a horrifying steep cliff with nothing but rocks and Pacific Ocean below. If the wind blows in the wrong direction it’s going to blow me off and I’m falling to what would be certain death, eaten by sharks and never to be found.   I looked down and actually considered jumping to a small spot of sand thinking if I can just hit that spot I may survive.  I was stricken by fear and truly paralyzed in my mind as to what to do.  I was so consumed by the moment I had difficulty seeing what was so obvious.

 My friend that had easily passed this spot in the trail and had maneuvered up to a spot that continued much wider and much easier to navigate called out to me. Hey what are you doing he said, come on.

 Ok, so this is how ridiculous I was thinking. Instead of quickly calling out and saying hey I’m stuck, I need help, and asking how did you get up there? I felt the need to figure it out on my own. I’m thinking if he can do it I can. Even if I have to fall to my death proving it. I actually was concerned that my friend would think less of me and worse what others may say when he told this tail of failure at my expense.  Remember I was actually thinking of jumping to a sandy spot fifty feet down rather that ask for help.

  Well I’m here telling my tail of failure because my friend scampered down the trail like a Billy goat and helped me manage my fear. He helped me adjust my feet so I could take just one more step forward. That was all I needed, one more step and the trail widened enough to get my footing so we could continue.   Thank you mugsy for saving my life that day, and so many other times since.

Stay focused – Ask for advice quickly before you get into trouble, Put your ego and pride aside and get help from others who have traveled the difficult path before you.