Stay the Course - Keep Running!

Ever seen a baby giraffe take its First Steps?   Gangly and awkward. Their front legs are about 10% longer than their hind legs (National Geographic.com!) and their weight isn't optimally distributed.   No matter...the baby giraffe keeps on struggling...just to stand up.   The struggle continues as they get their balance and take those crucial first steps.    As with nature and our lives, it is not the starting that determines success...it is the continuing... Staying The Course...to Keep Running.     When full grown and developed, the giraffe can run at speeds of up to 34.3 mph (that .3 matters when your predator can only run 34 mph!)...amazing!   Goes to show that things don't always have to go right, look right and there are time when you will look awkward, but stay the course...keep running.   Can I admit something?  The last few days were tough.    I am an encourager (couldn't tell, could you?).  That is what a coach/mentor does...he inspires and instructs...he encourages.  I don't know any other way.  I even use exclamation points in my text messages.    When you are an encourager, you hear a lot about peoples challenges (I don't mind...I am built for this!).  This week was full of them for people.  Not the normal, "it will be ok" kind of stuff, but "real challenges".   I am also a problem-solver.  As a result, I get vested into the persons challenge and try to determine strategically what can be done.  I offer my own brand of tough love when the person seems to be off-course from what they said they wanted.  I hold them accountable.   Last night, the "little voice" that is in each of us spoke to me and told me to tell them to,   "Stay the course...keep running."   Whatever you are facing today that seems insurmountable I want to tell you to Stay the Course...keep running.   "I didn't pass the insurance exam" - Stay the course...keep running.   "I am down to my last $100 dollars and don't have gas to run appointments" - Stay the course...keep running.   "I am struggling to turn my business around and I'm scared I am going to fail" - Stay the course...keep running.   "Something big I had counted on fell through, I don't know what to do next"- Stay the course...keep running.   "I am overwhelmed by all the things I am facing"-  Stay the course...keep running.    When a child takes their first steps we celebrate the moment but we know it is just the beginning of the process.  Many of us are engaged in things that are new and we expect that life would "celebrate" us for taking the initiative.  The euphoria of first steps makes some of us think that the rest of the new journey should be a cakewalk.  That taking the first step is all we are required to do and the rest will fall into place.   If only life were that easy.  Life is not always fair, but it is just.    Fair would be to give everyone the same thing, regardless of merit or effort.  One for you...one for me.  Ever had somebody get something that you got, but they didn't work for it?   Just means people get what they pay for, what they sweat for, what they earn.  Success requires a price.  To pass a test or make it through a test. To build a business or handle your business.  There is a price to pay.    The currency of life is persistence, tenacity, stick-to-itiveness, grit, hutzpah, staying power, fighting back come hell or high water.   Think you have run out of the currency of life?  Check your pockets...you have some left...   Stay the Course...Keep Running.    Until tomorrow, I wish you Money, Power, Success!